But that never happened. She’d grown up with no one. She still had no one. Just her job. Oh, and Hunter, but he was temporary.
“You really believe that?” He brought her hand up to his face and rubbed his jaw along her knuckles. The faint stubble that grew there prickled, spreading warmth throughout her limbs. “It must have been scary.”
“It was.” Her mouth went dry when he held her hand against his mouth and kissed her there. Gentle, sweet kisses, one after another, that were meant to soothe her frazzled nerves.
But those kisses didn’t necessarily soothe. More like amped her up and made her burn for more than just simple kisses on her hand…
“No wonder you’re so tough.”
She frowned. “You think of me as tough?” Did that please her? She wasn’t sure.
“Oh yeah.” He nodded slowly and tugged on her hand, leaving her no choice but to lean closer to him. “Very tough. You wear your sleek sophistication like armor, but just beneath it you’re soft and warm. Like a cuddly little kitten.” He grinned.
Which made her realize he was teasing, and she needed that so badly right now. She hated it when things got too serious. “I am definitely not like a cuddly kitten.”
“Maybe when you bare those fangs and wield those claws, you are.” He laughed and shook his head. “That’s what Alex calls Tessa. Kitten.”
“That seems terribly—sexist.” And quite romantic, if she were to be honest. A sweet, personal nickname. There was probably meaning behind it that no one else knew or woul
d understand. How she wished for that sort of intimacy with someone.
Could that someone be Hunter? No, that was her dreaming the impossible dream. She’d be a fool to believe they could have what Alex and Tessa shared.
“She seems to like it. Of course, she likes everything about Alex. Even his asshole-ish ways.”
Gracie laughed, marveling at the intimacy they shared at this very moment. He was talking about his brother not in a professional manner, but as if he and Gracie were friends. Lovers. He’d shared pieces of himself, his history, and she’d done the same.
Was he always so free when it came to sharing those personal bits of information? She doubted it. He had reason to keep most of it quiet, due to his being such a public figure and part of a famous family—at least in the fashion world.
It made her feel special, that he would share so much of himself and his family with her. Did that also make her foolish?
Probably so. But she was too enraptured with Hunter at the moment to care.
She carefully extracted her hand from his grip, and he gazed at her pensively.
“You’ll come with me to dinner with Rhett, won’t you?” He asked like he was afraid she might turn him down. Vulnerability flared in his gaze, his expression turned to worry, and she was touched that he wanted her there.
Touched even more he was afraid she’d say no.
“Yes, as long as you don’t mind taking me along with you,” she answered.
His smile could’ve blinded the sun. “You’ll be a good buffer. Maybe we won’t fight with you there.”
“Anything I can do to help keep the Worth family peace,” she joked.
“You’re become far more valuable than you think,” he said, his voice serious, his expression solemn.
She had the distinct feeling he spoke the truth. And that scared her to bits.
Chapter Seven
The restaurant was small but loud, with a giant bar that ran the entire length of one side of the building. Every stool was occupied and there was a large group of people waiting in the small lobby, yet Rhett somehow got them right inside. They ended up sitting at a fantastic table outside on the small enclosed patio, their waitress instructed by Rhett to bring them three margarita specials pronto.
“They make the best margaritas ever,” Rhett assured them after she left with their drink order.
“Are you trying to get me drunk?” Gracie teased, her gaze skittering to Hunter’s briefly before she looked away.
Memories swarmed him of the last time he was with her after a few drinks—naked and tangled in the sheets. Just like that, a faint sweat broke out on his forehead.