Worth the Challenge (11 page)

“Totally understandable.” Ella stood as well. “I hope she feels better soon.”

“I’m so glad we were able to spend time together.” Tessa went to Ella and embraced her, giving her a quick hug. “I had fun.”

“So did I.” Ella released her tentative hold on Tessa, touched that she was so kind, that she truly seemed to enjoy their spending time together.

She wished for the opportunity to hang out with Tessa again, though that was highly unlikely.

They all said their goodbyes, Tessa got Rhett to promise he would send her a postcard from Maui and then she left the restaurant in a hurry. The moment Tessa was gone, Rhett looked at Ella expectantly. “Still want to finish this dinner?”

“We should.” She sat, realized that most of the food was gone already and she’d hardly touched it. Who’d eaten it all?

“Yeah, but do you want to?” He settled in beside her once more and she realized they must look like a couple, sitting next to each other instead of on either side of the table. As if they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, which was so far from the truth, it wasn’t even funny.

“Um…” This sort of food wasn’t her style. It was good, but the portions were small and when food that she couldn’t recognize was involved, that freaked her out a little bit.

“Let’s get out of here.” He smiled and shook his head. “I’ve never really liked this restaurant.”

She watched in astonishment as he pulled out his wallet and quickly threw down two one-hundred-dollar bills onto the table, followed without hesitation as he led her out of the restaurant and out into the bustling night. People swarmed the sidewalks, passing them by with such speed she pressed herself against the front of the building, not wanting to get trampled.

“Are you still hungry?” he asked.

Ella burst out laughing. “You want the polite answer or the honest answer?”

“Definitely the honest answer.”

She remained silent for a moment, though a faint smile still curled her lips. “I’m still hungry.”

Rhett grinned. “Then let’s go. I know the perfect place.”

He liked her laugh. She didn’t hold back. Let it burst forth in all of its joyful glory. He’d been stunned when he first saw her, her transformation was that dramatic. New hairstyle, new clothing, she wore makeup…

Studying her a little more closely, he realized the cosmetics were lightly applied, merely emphasizing her beauty rather than making it. The outfit flattered her slender figure and the haircut was a mere trim, controlling what he’d once thought of as unruly.

Tessa had polished a diamond in the rough. And now she shone so bright, Rhett was more than a little dazzled.

They’d gone to a pizza joint close by, each of them ordering a giant slice and a soda. They sat side by side at the crowded counter, too busy eating to talk and besides, the place was too loud, it was so packed with customers.

Plus it gave him time to think. Muddle over what he was doing, how risky his behavior was. Buying new clothes for Gabriella, spending time with her that had nothing to do with work, it wasn’t smart.

Yet he didn’t want to stop.

“I studied the brief,” she suddenly said.

Glancing in her direction, he watched as she wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Her slice of pizza was gone—she’d consumed it almost as fast as he’d eaten his. “The brief?”

She nodded slowly, took a sip of her soda. “The one you gave me?”

Hell. He looked like an idiot. “So what did you think?” In the industry, “the brief” was a sort of written concept, what they believed the perfume should be about. He’d included notes, thoughts and even a few photos, not really knowing what he was doing.

He hoped she wouldn’t trash it. Tell him he was out of his mind.

“I liked your ideas. I’m excited to tour the island and get a sense of what you’re trying to capture.” The serene smile she gave him was like a punch to the gut, stealing the very breath from him.

He turned toward her, his knees colliding with hers for the briefest moment. Lust streaked through him, even with such an impersonal touch but he tried to ignore it. “I’m glad you liked it. I have a lot of plans for when we get there.”

She arched a delicate brow. “A lot of plans? I can’t wait to get started.”

“I bet,” he murmured, double meaning behind his words.

They stared at each other silently, the buzz of conversation surrounding them muting to a dull roar. All he could see, focus on, was her. The depths of her pretty blue eyes, the slight upward curl of her lips, the scent of her, clean and sweet even in the crowded, smelly restaurant. An undercurrent passed between them, thick with promise, heady with pleasure, and he cleared his throat. She blinked at the sound, as if he had startled her.

“Let’s get out of here,” he murmured.

“All right.”

She hopped down from the stool and he followed, placing his hand low on her back, guiding her out of the restaurant. They emerged into the stifling night air, the sounds of the city extra loud, and he glanced down at her, catching her gaze.

“Do you mind walking to the hotel?”

“Is the walk as far as the last time we tried this?” The amusement in her tone was unmistakable.

He chuckled. “Much, much shorter, I promise. We’re two, maybe three blocks from the hotel at the most.”

“That’s doable.”

They walked side by side in silence and for some inexplicable reason, he wanted to reach out and grab her hand. Pull her with him down the street, into the hotel, the elevator, her room.

Where he would push her against the wall and kiss her. A real kiss this time, with tongues and heat and soft little moans. He would race his hands all over that slender body, cup her breasts, caress her skin, grind against her until she was wet and panting and begging for it.

Sweat misted his forehead and he tried his best to push the wicked imagery from his brain.

But it was no use. The idea was there, front and center, and his fingers literally itched to take hers. Lace them together, stroke the top of her hand with his thumb. He’d never wanted to be so connected to a woman before in his life.

He recalled the night in the taxi, the way she’d touched his thigh. She’d wanted him then and had let him know it, albeit shyly. She hadn’t made a move whatsoever tonight.

Disappointment threatened and he told himself to shove it deep. He was being an idiot. This woman who wasn’t his usual sort was destroying his brain cells and common sense, bit by bit.

“There’s the hotel.” Her soft voice broke through his lusty thoughts and he glanced up, saw the Warwick Hotel in the near distance. “Thank you so much for walking me here.”

“Want me to walk you up to your room?”

She turned her head so sharply in his direction, he was afraid she’d give herself whiplash. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

Christ, yes
, he wanted to say. “I’m not going to push myself on you, Gabriella, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

“Of course, I’m not afraid of you.”

“Good.” He smiled. “I’ve never instilled fear in a woman before. I’m the nicer brother of the three.”

“I heard you’re the bad brother.” She clamped her lips shut, her eyes going wide.

He stopped in front of the hotel and so did she. Great. So she knew about his past? But then again, who didn’t? “My reputation always precedes me.”

She cocked her head to the side, contemplating him. “You’re actually quite the gentleman.”

If she was referring to the other night, she didn’t know how much it took for him to use such restraint. Normally he would’ve jumped her. Hell, he would’ve had his hand up her skirt and his fingers beneath the front of her panties by the time the cab stopped at their destination.

“I’m trying to walk the straight and narrow,” he said, his voice tight, his jaw aching from gritting his teeth.

“Really?” She
tsk
ed and shook her head. “Well, isn’t that a shame?”

Gabriella turned on her heel and entered the hotel, not once looking back.

And leaving Rhett in the dust.

Chapter Eight

The moment Ella stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac, the fragrant, salty sea air washed over her, lifting her dragging spirits. She’d slept hardly at all last night, spent the long hours tossing and turning in her more-than-comfortable bed. A mixture of emotions had run through her all the while—such as worry over messing up the most important job of her life by having sex with her boss. Images of her tumbling into bed with said boss, their naked bodies wrapped around each other, their mouths fused...

Needless to say, she’d kept herself awake with her overactive imagination.

Slacking when she should’ve been preparing to leave and apprehensive at seeing Rhett after last night’s interlude, she’d boarded the private Worth jet full of nerves. Pointless considering he’d hardly paid her any mind, spending the majority of the trip on his laptop, tapping away at the keyboard. He’d barely glanced in her direction. She should’ve been insulted.

More like grateful he didn’t notice her wretched state.

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured to herself, her gaze locked on the swaying palms in the near distance. They were only at the airport and she was already enchanted. What might happen when she saw the ocean, when they finally arrived at the hotel? Full sensory overload?

“It is.” Rhett stood beside her, the sound of his deep voice warming her from the inside out. As was his way, he placed his hand on the small of her back, gently guiding her toward a woman standing a few feet away, a colorful lei clutched in each hand. “Our carriage awaits.”

She loved it when he touched her, even so casually. His fingers were like a hot brand that burned through the thin layer of her shirt. “You have a car waiting?”

He met her gaze, a faint smile curling his sensual lips. “Being wealthy has its perks, Miss Durand. I try and take advantage of them as much as possible.” The smile grew. “Besides, this is for business.”

They stopped just in front of the woman, who beamed brightly at them. “Aloha.” Burnished skin, almond-shaped eyes and with her glossy black hair, the woman was lovely. She held one of the leis out and Rhett automatically bent his head. The woman draped the lei around his neck, then turned to Ella.

“Aloha, welcome to Maui,” the woman murmured as she slipped the fresh flower lei over Ella’s head. “I trust your stay will be most pleasant.”

“Aloha. Thank you.” Ella bobbed her head inanely, feeling the fool. Everything her father had taught her, all the things she’d picked up traveling as much as she had, most of her life, and a few minutes in Rhett’s overwhelming presence on a tropical island trashed it all.

“The car’s just over there.” He waved a hand toward a silver four-door car that was unlike any sedan she’d ever seen before. “They’ll bring our luggage later.”

“Um…okay.” She glanced back toward the jet, saw that they were indeed unloading their luggage. She may have traveled for years, but she’d never had such luxury treatment in her life.

They approached the car, Rhett opening the passenger door for her and she slipped inside. The interior was sleek, the black leather seats butter-soft, the dashboard an intricate modern work of art. Leaning forward, she smoothed her hand along the top of the dash. She’d never cared much about cars, had an old beater at home, but she could get used to this.

Rhett slipped inside, settling his big body into the driver’s seat. He started the car, the engine roaring to life, and he shifted into gear, driving right off the tarmac. “It’ll take about a half hour to get to the resort, so sit back and enjoy the view.”

She knew he meant the view of the island, but she couldn’t help but steal glances at the man to her left. The innate power that radiated from him in palpable waves, the way he gripped the steering wheel with his large hands, it drew her. Made her want things she had no business wishing for.

Like him.

She rolled down the window all the way, allowing the varying island scents to hit her with their full potency. Sweet floral blooms, misty salt air, the heady warmth of the sun, a tantalizing combination of fragrances that made her thrust her face through the open window. Closing her eyes, she inhaled sharply, capturing the breath in her chest for as long as she could stand it before she exhaled long and slow.

“Are you conducting your own personal analysis over there?”

His voice, laced with amusement, startled her and she moved away from the window. Pressing her back against the seat, she hit a button and the window rolled up, cutting off the riot of scents assaulting her. “Don’t make fun,” she murmured, immediately wincing the moment the words left her mouth.

From the time she was young, she’d known she was different. Scents affected her, altered her mood, reached deep within her and never let go. In her early teens, her father had realized her nose was as sensitive as his and so he began a rigorous routine of training. Pulling her into his lab for long, laborious hours, teaching her of molecules and how bringing sometimes-horrible smelling scents together created a perfume people would spend far too much money on to dab on their skin.