Worth the Scandal by Karen Erickson Read Free Book Online Page A

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    “And your room is here, Miss Crawford,” the concierge said, indicating the door with her hand.
    Tessa glanced toward the room, then turned to look at Alex. “I thought I had my own room.” Had he changed the arrangements?
    “You do.” He kept his expression schooled, not revealing even a hint of emotion. “The suite has two bedrooms, Tessa, each with connecting bathrooms. It should be more than enough privacy.”
    Privacy yes, but she wouldn’t be able to get away from him at all. She would be in his constant presence and knowing he was sleeping in the room next to her for two nights? Absolute torture.
    Would it be like this at every hotel they stayed in?
    “Please, Miss Crawford.” The concierge smiled and tilted her head toward the bedroom. “If the room isn’t up to your standards, perhaps we can find other accommodations for you?”
    “This will be fine, Bianca. Thank you,” Alex interjected, his voice smooth and gracious.
    Tessa walked into her room, her eyes widening at what she saw. Whereas the living area was designed with beautiful neutrality, her room was a feminine study in various shades of cream. A sheer canopy draped over the grand bed which was covered in a sumptuous cream and gold coverlet. Gorgeous lights hung from the ceiling on either side of the bed, tassels dangling from them and a dainty white desk sat close to the bed. A bright and cheery arrangement of cream-colored flowers sat atop a table in the center of the room and Tessa went to it, bending close so she could breathe deep the heady scent.
    “Do you like it?”
    The sound of his deep voice made her whirl around. He stood just inside the room, the concierge nowhere to be found.
    They were completely alone. Nerves jittered within her, and she clasped her hands behind her back. “It’s beautiful.”
    “The entire hotel is like this. No surprise my brother chose it. He has expensive taste,” Alex said wryly.
    “It’s close to the Milan shopping district,” Tessa pointed out. The Milan Worth Luxury flagship store was in the center of the Via della Spiga , Milan’s renowned fashion street. “I’m sure your brother chose the hotel for its convenience.”
    “I’m sure Hunter did.” Amusement laced his tone.
    She went to the window, pulling back the heavy drapes so she could peer outside. It was dark, well past nine o’clock and the city streets below were filled with traffic. “We need to be at the store tomorrow by nine at the latest to prepare for the opening.”
    “And the store opens at ten.”
    “Correct.” Letting the drape fall back into place, she turned to face him. “It’s late. We should probably—turn in.”
    He studied her, his dark brows furrowing. Even after waking exceedingly early, hours of travel and a drastic time difference, he appeared unfazed. His suit had nary a crease or wrinkle and the stark white of his shirt against his tanned skin sped up her heart rate.
    “Aren’t you hungry?”
    “Not really.” Her stomach chose to growl at the precise moment she gave her bogus answer. She was starved but after being around first the skinny flight attendant and then the model thin Bianca, Tessa thought it best she retire without a meal for once in her life.
    “You’re lying.”
    She shrugged, and her cheeks heated with embarrassment. Why did she always look her worst in front of him? “I’m sure I can go one night without dinner. I’m tired.” That was a lie too. She was wide-awake. It was only around three-thirty New York time and she was too excited being in a foreign city for the first time to consider going to bed yet.
    “So you’d deny yourself authentic Italian cuisine because you’re tired?” He literally scoffed. “I don’t think so. Why don’t you freshen up and I’ll take you to dinner.”
    She gaped at him. What in the world? “You don’t have to do that.”
    “I want to do it. Be ready in twenty minutes.” He exited the room and shut the door behind him, leaving Tessa