Part 1 (1/2)

Worth It.

Worth The Scandal.

Karen Erickson.

Strictly business? Try telling that to her heart....

Worth It, Book 1.

Alexander Worth, President and CEO of Worth Luxury Goods, is a man never to be crossed. His unwavering sense of responsibility to the family business requires him to always be in complete and utter control. Until it comes to Tessa Crawford.

She's quietly professional, shy, voluptuous...and she works for him. Which means she is the one woman he must never touch, no matter how hard his gut twists with need for her.

After rising above her disadvantaged childhood, Tessa knows the last thing she should do is risk throwing it all away by falling into bed with her s.e.xy boss.

But on an extended European business trip, all self-imposed barriers burn away in the heat of their sizzling chemistry.

Once back home, though, whispers of corporate espionage turn into full-blown scandal-and Tessa finds out the hard way where Alex's loyalties lie.

Determined to soldier on, she picks herself up and carries on with a secret, yet welcomed burden. Never guessing that Alex will make a reappearance in her life, ready to show her once and for all that family does, indeed, come first.

Warning: Contains a sweet-yet-strong woman, and a bossy alpha male brought to his knees by the woman he desperately loves. Involves enough begging and groveling that the reader may be tempted to ”accidentally” leave it for her significant other to ”find”. For instructional purposes only, of course!.

Dedication.

To Bethany, for giving me the idea for this book. I still have the notes scribbled on a few pieces of paper stuffed in my desk drawer.

Chapter One.

He watched her.

The way she walked by his office toward her desk, her hips swaying seductively with every step. She dressed impeccably, if a tad too conservative for his personal tastes. The black skirt she wore hit just at the knee, perfectly respectable in all manner and in accordance with the rather strict dress code they upheld at Worth Luxury.

Yet it was downright sinful, how the sleek fabric clung to her every curve, especially her a.s.s. Alexander Worth had never considered himself much of an a.s.s man-until she appeared.

And preceded to tempt him every single day with those d.a.m.n skirts she wore.

She was the reason for his newly discovered distraction. He couldn't hold it together in meetings or during the endless conference calls he found himself involved in lately. His thoughts always drifted, as did his gaze. Unerringly it would land upon her pretty face, usually scrunched in concentration, tendrils of dark brown hair tickling her cheeks. Her fingers flew over the keyboard of her computer as she typed with a speed that both shocked and impressed him.

When he kept the door to his office open, he had a direct view. And more often than not, that door remained open, much to the curiosity of the other employees at Worth who'd worked for him for years. Who knew his habits and how much he cherished his privacy.

But the view was too d.a.m.n sweet to ignore.

Worth the Scandal Without a doubt, she was the best a.s.sistant he'd ever hired. Efficient, professional, almost as much of a perfectionist as he was, too bad Tessa Crawford aroused him like no other.

Which meant he really needed to fire her.

”She's a hot little number, isn't she?”

Snarling, Alex lifted his head at his younger brother's words, ready to lash out. He immediately schooled his expression, thankful Hunter stood with his back to him. ”What did you say?”

”Your secretary.” Hunter turned and faced him, a wolfish grin on his face.

He shut the office door, Tessa disappearing from their view, and then settled in the chair that sat across from Alex's desk. ”Even with the uptight way she dresses, there's no hiding that curvy body of hers.” Alex pressed his lips together, anger coiling tight in his gut. His younger brother by two years was both an innovative businessman and a known charmer of the ladies. The very last thing he needed was his brother setting his sights on Tessa. ”She's not for you.”

”Says who?” Hunter c.o.c.ked a brow. He couldn't resist a challenge.

And Alex should've known better than issuing one, even inadvertently.

”Says me.” He relaxed his hands, which unbeknownst to him had curled into fists. ”Leave her be, Hunter.”

”I never said I wanted her.” Hunter stared at him. Hard. He was rather perceptive, d.a.m.n his hide, which gave him the upper hand in negotiations.

Thank G.o.d, Hunter was on his side. Most of the time. ”Why do you care?”

”She's young. Naive.” Alex grabbed his cell phone, pretending he was occupied with the list of text messages he scrolled through. ”A shark like you would eat her alive.”

Hunter chuckled. ”Isn't that the point?”

7.

Irritation flashed through Alex at the callous way Hunter thought of Tessa.

He'd use her up and spit her out. Charm her, bed her, make her fall in love with him and then leave her alone and hurting, just like he did to every other woman he met.

Alex couldn't have it. ”For once in your life, keep your d.i.c.k in your pants and ignore her. Like I said, she's not for you.”

”Who the h.e.l.l is she for then? You? ” Hunter sounded infinitely amused at the suggestion.

Alex dropped the phone onto his desk where it landed with a loud clatter.