The immediate tension radiating from Hunter was palpable. Any mention of a party or a good time on Rhett’s behalf and Hunter was ready to think the worst. “No offense, but that sounds like the last thing I want to do tonight. I’m beat. How about you, Gracie?”
She was surprised by his kind words. At least he hadn’t blown up at his brother. The two seemed to fight over every little thing. It was kind of ridiculous. “Sorry, Rhett, but I’m awfully tired too.” She felt bad, but she couldn’t imagine going out to a club, hanging out in a crush of people with loud music pounding in her veins.
Rhett shrugged, a little smile curling his lips. He had a nice mouth, very similar to Hunter’s. Their features were remarkably similar. “It’s all good. Maybe tomorrow. You are staying tomorrow night as well, right?”
“Yeah.” Hunter slid a quick look her way. “We are. But we’ll be working most of the day.”
“Same here, of course.” Rhett flashed the big grin. “Right in the trenches with the both of you.”
He was awfully hard to take seriously. No wonder he had the spoiled party boy reputation. He lived up to it completely.
She had a feeling though, that Rhett was just misunderstood.
Hunter paid for the meal—a business expense, he called it—and they left the restaurant. They parted ways, Rhett driving home in his latest model Porsche that probably cost a small fortune and Hunter escorting Gracie into the backseat of the hired car that would take them back to their hotel. She collapsed in the soft leather seat, leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes.
She wanted—needed—sleep. Needed to clear her head and forget about how wonderful it had been, hanging out with Hunter and his brother. Like they’d both really wanted her there, not because she worked for Worth, but because they actually liked her. Wanted to spend time with her and include her as a part of their life.
Their family.
Gracie blinked her eyes open. She was being ridiculous. They didn’t give a crap about her beyond her working for Worth, and they definitely didn’t think of her as family. She was merely deluding herself.
“Did you enjoy your dinner? You didn’t eat much.” Hunter’s soft, deep voice washed over her and she kept her gaze locked on the window, watching the city lights pass by.
“I guess I wasn’t that hungry. But yes, I had a good time. Your brother is fun.”
“You really think so?” He sounded shocked.
“I do.” She turned to look at him briefly and she realized her mistake the moment her gaze met his.
He looked too good sitting there in his black T-shirt and jeans. A dressed-up Hunter was a sight to behold. A dressed-down Hunter? Even more so.
“You’re too hard on him,” she murmured when he hadn’t said anything in reply. “I think he just wants your approval.”
“When he puts in a few years of time at Worth actually working, then he’ll get my approval.”
She shook her head and looked away from him, keeping her head averted. He wasn’t listening, so he wouldn’t get it. Rhett just wanted to belong. Wanted both of his brothers’ genuine approval and was struggling to get it.
Gracie could relate. She’d always wanted to belong. To have that easy acceptance others had and took for granted.
“Rhett’s charming. It’s what he does. He laughs and jokes and drinks himself into oblivion. He likes to spend money and look good and always have the best-looking woman on his arm. Everything is about flash and appearance for him and nothing else,” Hunter said bitterly.
She turned on him once more, anger coursing through her blood and making her brave. “He didn’t seem that way to me. Yeah, he might be a bit immature for his age, but since he’s the baby of the family, I’m guessing there was a lot of babying on everyone’s part when it came to Rhett. Am I right?”
Hunter gave her a short nod in answer, his lips grim, his eyes dark.
“Well, then I’m going to assume no one has ever really cut the apron strings and forced him out on his own. He needs to learn a little independence, do some growing up. I think he’s doing that right now, out here in California where he doesn’t really have you both to rely on. It’s good for him.” She paused, letting her words sink in. “He doesn’t want to fight with you, Hunter.”
“I know.” Hunter sighed, the sound harsh in the quiet confines of the car. “I think it’s more that I want to fight with him.”
“But why?” She was incredulous. Why would he want to continue the animosity between them?
“You really want to know why?”
She turned to look at him once more, saw all the anger blazing in his eyes, the frustration tensing his jaw. “Yes, I really want to know.”
“Damn it, it’s because I’m—I’m jealous.” Hunter thrust his head back against the headrest hard and closed his eyes. “Yep, I said it. I’m jealous of my brother, the slacker. He doesn’t do shit but have a good time and Alex is still wanting to bail him out. Help him out, forgive him and forget it, whatever, Alex always does it. I work my ass off and yeah, Alex appreciates me, I know he does, but he always goes that extra step with Rhett. An extra step that he never takes with me, he never has.”
Gracie felt like she’d made a breakthrough. Had he ever confessed that to another person? “Because Alex knows he doesn’t have to. You can do it all on your own.”
“Maybe I don’t want to be the dependable one. Maybe I want to fuck off and have a good time. Get drunk and party and make out with some chick whose name I can’t remember in the middle of a crowded nightclub.”
Jealousy crept her ugly hands all over Gracie’s heart, and she tried to ignore it. But it was so hard. “Do you really want to do stuff like that?”
Hunter shrugged, rubbed a hand over his face. “Hell no. Not really. It just feels good to want it, even briefly, you know?”
She did know. She knew all about unwanted responsibility being thrust upon her at too young an age. She didn’t like to think of how scared she’d been to get an apartment on her own and work the job she’d had and go to school. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Two lifetimes ago.
“I thought you liked your work.”
“I do, I love it. But I’m not as obsessed with Worth as Alex is. He’s a workaholic. He lives and breathes Worth, and it finally took the love of a good woman to get him to relax once in a while.” Hunter shook his head with a rueful smile. “I bet that bastard dreams about Worth every night. He’s ridiculous.”
“And ridiculously good at what he does.”
“Exactly. It takes that sort of effort to maintain the success that Alex has. I work my ass off and I secretly think I don’t want to do it anymore. Isn’t there something more to life than working? Can’t I take a vacation for once and relax?”
“Why don’t you? I know Alex would never begrudge you vacation time. We all get it.”
“I can never make the time. I’m caught up in the hamster wheel almost as bad as Alex is. Every once in a while, I just realize I want to stop. Not permanently. I just…need a break.”
The car pulled up in front of the hotel, and the conversation ceased completely when the driver opened the door for them to exit. She entered the lobby, Hunter just behind her and she strode toward the bank of elevators, turning toward him when they arrived. “Thanks for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.”
The air became charged as they stood staring at each other. She didn’t know what to say, what to do and when the elevator dinged its arrival, she hurried into it, Hunter following her inside.
The doors slid shut, and it was just the two of them headed up to their hotel rooms, which were right next to each other. How convenient.
How dangerous.
“Early morning tomorrow, right?” she finally asked to break the weird tension.
“Yeah, has to be extra early if we want to beat the traffic, what with the drive.”
She nodded, nibbling on her lower lip. “I’ll be up already, considering I’m on East Coast time.”
“Same.”
“Are you an early riser, Hunter?”
He shot her a knowing glance. “Not as early as you, I gather.”
Considering she’d sneaked out of his apartment before the sun had even come up that one night they’d spent together, yeah. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment. “Shall we meet in the lobby say around six-thirty?”
“Let’s make it six-forty-five and you’ve got a deal.”
“Okay then.” She clutched her hands together, hopped from one foot to the other. She was nervous, rightfully so, and she wondered if he’d try to make a move on her before they entered their rooms.
She was half hoping he would.
They got off the elevator on their floor and went to their rooms together, not even bothering to make small talk. She was tired, her body felt heavy, and she planned on taking a shower as soon as she entered her room.
Well, unless Hunter had other plans…
“Good night, Gracie.” She watched in shock as he stopped, took his key card out of his pocket and pushed it into the slot of his room door, getting the green light so he could open it.
“Um, good night.” She did the same, opening her door and slipping inside the quiet, dark room. The door closed behind her with a soft click, and she suddenly felt terribly alone.
Disappointment crashed over her, thick and suffocating. She probably would’ve turned him down if he’d asked, but she’d secretly wanted him to make a move on her. Kiss her, urge her to come into his room with him, something.
But he hadn’t said a word. Simply went into his room like he didn’t give a crap about her and wished her good night.
Confusion swamped her, and she went into the bathroom, flicking on the harsh overhead light. She turned on the shower and stripped off her clothes, stepping beneath the hard, hot spray of water and trying to wash her emotions away.
But she just couldn’t. She ended up lying awake half the night despite knowing how busy they would be tomorrow. All because she could think of nothing else but Hunter and his family.
And what could never be.
Chapter Eight
Gracie watched the two men as they spoke animatedly to each other. Lots of arm gesturing and shakes of their dark heads, their similar voices rising together for one brief, tense moment before they both settled back down, an agreement reached after the rising storm.
But there would be another storm. She’d realized quickly that it was a constant, turbulent winter when it came to these particular Worth brothers. Never any sort of violence displayed between them, thank goodness. Always tension, though, and sometimes it was nearly unbearable.
Was it wrong she found Hunter even more attractive when he was angry? His blue eyes blazed, his face tensed, all sharp bones and angles, and his jaw clenched so tight she was afraid he’d crack his teeth. The irritation vibrated from his body in waves, reaching her, affecting her.
Arousing her.
At least all of that anger wasn’t directed at her. He’d look at her and his eyes would soften, as would his mouth. He’d smile, he’d nod, all the while with a smoldering gaze.
If she could fan herself without anyone noticing, she would. It was almost that necessary.
All day as they’d worked together, prepping and planning for the spring launch event, it had been like this. She’d only escaped the brothers once, when she met with an event planner Rhett had called in earlier. They’d given her the job to discuss party details, behaving as if such tasks were beneath them.
Men. Sometimes they hadn’t a clue.
Late afternoon, and the sun had started to set, leaving the interior of the Worth store washed in a golden warm glow. The windows were plenty and vast, allowing lots of natural light within, and she planned to use that fact fully to their advantage during the party.
She swallowed hard and ducked her head, glancing over her notes once again. Sitting at a table that was usually reserved for customers, she waited for Hunter to finish his conversation with Rhett. Then they would most likely head back to the hotel, eat a quiet dinner via room service—separately. Take a shower—separately—and go to bed—again, separately.
She thought she was okay with that. Believed that it was for the best. She didn’t need the trouble or heartache any sort of physical or emotional interaction with Hunter would bring. She’d already allowed herself to become far too entangled for her own good.
Frowning, she glanced up, saw that the brothers had separated. Rhett was nowhere to be found. Hunter was headed straight toward her, his stride as determined as the expression on his face.
“Are you ready to wrap it up soon?”
“I’m almost finished.” She’d been done for a few minutes but needed the time to compose herself. Gather her scrambling thoughts and see if she was willing to be as daring as she felt.
“Good. I already called the car service. They should be here in about twenty.” Offering a curt nod, he turned on his heel and left, the tension radiating from him palpable.
“Hunter.” She bit her lip the moment she said his name, nerves clamoring within her as he slowly turned around to face her. Expression perplexed, dark brows lowered. He scowled at her, she could feel his confusion and she wished she could offer him a bit of comfort. Anything to make him smile.
“What?” he asked when she didn’t say anything and she smiled weakly.