Read Online Worth the Challenge by Karen Erickson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Erickson
Ads: Link
hadn’t wanted that kiss to end, as if she wanted more…
It got to him when, really, he shouldn’t give a damn.
Anticipation rode him hard all morning and now that he’d finally seen her, he couldn’t help but think she looked a bit of a hot mess. Her long, wavy hair was unruly, as if not a drop of product had ever touched it and again, not a lick of makeup on her face. No jewelry, not even earrings dotted her ears, and her clothes were rumpled, a little faded, like they’d seen the inside of a washer and dryer more times than he could count.
He felt like a conceited ass, mentally ruminating over her fashion faults, but damn. The woman was the epitome of the pretty-but-naïve country girl come down to the big city. Left alone in Manhattan, she’d be eaten alive in minutes.
Seconds.
He saw the pitying smile Becky had shot in Gabriella’s direction earlier. He could practically read her mind as Becky drank her in.
Poor, pitiful thing.
He’d thought much the same. So he couldn’t blame Becky. Hell, they were all snobs at Worth. They lived and breathed fashion. Glamorous, jet-setting lives, that was the message Worth Luxury portrayed and all three of them tried to live as close to that message as possible. His brothers were most likely the biggest snobs of the bunch, even worse than him.
“Don’t worry, she doesn’t come close to Rhett’s usual type,” Alex said to Hunter in reassurance.
Case in point.
Becky had escorted Gabriella out of the meeting the moment Alex gave her the signal. They were most likely sitting quietly in Becky’s office at this very moment, someone from legal with them as they went over the contract yet again and had Gabriella sign all the paperwork that came along with working for Worth Luxury.
“He does like blondes,” Hunter said, shaking his head.
“Yeah, fake ones,” Alex added.
Rhett was starting to feel insulted. “You two talk like I’m not here standing in front of you.”
They all seemed reluctant to leave the room. It was a Friday afternoon and they had weekend fever. “We’re just giving you crap,” Alex said. “We know you won’t mess around with her.”
Hunter snorted. “Yeah, right.”
Rhett shot Hunter a death glare before he turned his back on him. “I’m tired of defending myself. Besides, the both of you met your wives at work. So the constant ‘don’t screw around with the help’ message is pretty damn hypocritical.”
“He has a valid point.” Alex clapped him on the shoulder, sending a pointed look in Hunter’s direction. “We need to lay off and let him do his thing.”
“I can’t help my concerns,” Hunter started, but Rhett cut him off, turning to face him once more.
“Why are you so damn hard on me all the time? Do you really think I’m that big of a jackass? Would you rather I leave so you wouldn’t have to see my face every single day? Push me out of the city like you did before?”
“I had nothing to do with you going to California. You brought that all on yourself,” Hunter pointed out.
“Right. As usual, thanks for the reminder.” He was sick and fucking tired of Hunter’s mouth, the constant turbulence that made up their relationship. Gracie had tried her best to be the mediator between the two of them. It had even worked…for a while.
But just like that, Rhett showed any signs of weakness and Hunter was all over him. Getting his digs in, he was never afraid to voice his concerns whatsoever. In fact, he took great pleasure in pointing out what a giant screwup Rhett was.
“The way you handle yourself for the next six months while you work with Gabriella will be telling,” Hunter said, his voice, his expression serious. There was no anger there, just brutal, honest truth. “I want to believe in you, Rhett. I really do.”
“Then do it. Don’t stand there and insult me like you’ve always done. Support me.” Rhett shook his head, trying his best to fight off the wave of disappointment that threatened
It got to him when, really, he shouldn’t give a damn.
Anticipation rode him hard all morning and now that he’d finally seen her, he couldn’t help but think she looked a bit of a hot mess. Her long, wavy hair was unruly, as if not a drop of product had ever touched it and again, not a lick of makeup on her face. No jewelry, not even earrings dotted her ears, and her clothes were rumpled, a little faded, like they’d seen the inside of a washer and dryer more times than he could count.
He felt like a conceited ass, mentally ruminating over her fashion faults, but damn. The woman was the epitome of the pretty-but-naïve country girl come down to the big city. Left alone in Manhattan, she’d be eaten alive in minutes.
Seconds.
He saw the pitying smile Becky had shot in Gabriella’s direction earlier. He could practically read her mind as Becky drank her in.
Poor, pitiful thing.
He’d thought much the same. So he couldn’t blame Becky. Hell, they were all snobs at Worth. They lived and breathed fashion. Glamorous, jet-setting lives, that was the message Worth Luxury portrayed and all three of them tried to live as close to that message as possible. His brothers were most likely the biggest snobs of the bunch, even worse than him.
“Don’t worry, she doesn’t come close to Rhett’s usual type,” Alex said to Hunter in reassurance.
Case in point.
Becky had escorted Gabriella out of the meeting the moment Alex gave her the signal. They were most likely sitting quietly in Becky’s office at this very moment, someone from legal with them as they went over the contract yet again and had Gabriella sign all the paperwork that came along with working for Worth Luxury.
“He does like blondes,” Hunter said, shaking his head.
“Yeah, fake ones,” Alex added.
Rhett was starting to feel insulted. “You two talk like I’m not here standing in front of you.”
They all seemed reluctant to leave the room. It was a Friday afternoon and they had weekend fever. “We’re just giving you crap,” Alex said. “We know you won’t mess around with her.”
Hunter snorted. “Yeah, right.”
Rhett shot Hunter a death glare before he turned his back on him. “I’m tired of defending myself. Besides, the both of you met your wives at work. So the constant ‘don’t screw around with the help’ message is pretty damn hypocritical.”
“He has a valid point.” Alex clapped him on the shoulder, sending a pointed look in Hunter’s direction. “We need to lay off and let him do his thing.”
“I can’t help my concerns,” Hunter started, but Rhett cut him off, turning to face him once more.
“Why are you so damn hard on me all the time? Do you really think I’m that big of a jackass? Would you rather I leave so you wouldn’t have to see my face every single day? Push me out of the city like you did before?”
“I had nothing to do with you going to California. You brought that all on yourself,” Hunter pointed out.
“Right. As usual, thanks for the reminder.” He was sick and fucking tired of Hunter’s mouth, the constant turbulence that made up their relationship. Gracie had tried her best to be the mediator between the two of them. It had even worked…for a while.
But just like that, Rhett showed any signs of weakness and Hunter was all over him. Getting his digs in, he was never afraid to voice his concerns whatsoever. In fact, he took great pleasure in pointing out what a giant screwup Rhett was.
“The way you handle yourself for the next six months while you work with Gabriella will be telling,” Hunter said, his voice, his expression serious. There was no anger there, just brutal, honest truth. “I want to believe in you, Rhett. I really do.”
“Then do it. Don’t stand there and insult me like you’ve always done. Support me.” Rhett shook his head, trying his best to fight off the wave of disappointment that threatened
Similar Books
