Worth the Scandal Read Online Free PDF Page A

hundreds of fluttering birds brushing their wings all over her skin. She glanced up, caught Alex staring at her, his gaze hard, probing. Licking suddenly dry lips, she offered a tentative smile and his eyes softened though he didn’t smile in return.
    “Have you ever flown before, Tessa?” His voice was low, almost intimate, as if he spoke only for her ears.
    Slowly she shook her head, mesmerized by the way he stroked the armrest with the tips of his fingers. Could only imagine those fingers touching her. “I’ve never had the opportunity, no.”
    “You’re nervous.”
    His statement surprised her. “How can you tell?”
    “You’re clutching your hands together so tight, your knuckles are white.”
    Glancing down, she saw her hands resting in her lap, fingers curled around each other, knuckles white just as he said. She relaxed her grip, disentangling her hands so she could rest them on the plush, padded armrests. “I am a bit—apprehensive.”
    He smiled. It was small, just a bare curve of his sensuous lips, not even flash of teeth but it was so beautiful, so unexpected, the sight of it took her breath away. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. You’re perfectly safe.”
    “But the plane is so small.” She glanced around, saw the flight attendant glaring at her from where she stood preparing coffee. Only one cup, most likely for Alex and she’d probably made none for her.
    “The pilots in charge of the plane are excellent. If I put my trust in their hands, then surely you can too.” He took the cup of coffee offered to him by the flight attendant. “Thank you, Lora. Do you have a cup prepared for Miss Crawford?”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.” Her apology didn’t sound particularly sincere. “I’ll get a cup for you right away.”
    Lora started to leave, but Alex stopped her. “Aren’t you going to ask Miss Crawford how she takes her coffee?”
    The flight attendant turned and faced Tessa, her expression like a brittle mask. “How would you like your coffee, miss?”
    “Cream but no sugar, please.” Lora offered a stiff nod before turning on her heel and walking away.
    “You didn’t have to do that,” Tessa murmured to Alex when Lora was out of earshot.
    He scowled. “She ignored you. It was rude.”
    A thrill moved through Tessa at his defending her. Not that it meant anything, not really. He was just being polite. Taking care of his employee, nothing more nothing less.
    The flight attendant returned in moments with Tessa’s coffee and offered it without a word. Tessa took it with a whispered thanks, clutching the warm cup as Alex asked for Lora’s assistance with setting up the thin tabletop that pulled out between the two chairs. Lora was full of flirtatious banter and irritating giggles, practically batting her eyelashes every time Alex looked in her direction. Tessa thought the woman was making a fool of herself.
    Alex didn’t seem particularly interested, either, despite the fact the woman was certainly his type. Tessa had seen enough photos of him in the tabloids and fashion magazines, usually with a gorgeous, extremely thin but big-breasted blonde model on his arm wearing the most stylish gowns money could buy and the biggest smile on her face. Not that Tessa could blame one of them for the smiles.
    Oh, she would give anything to be one of those coveted women, her arm curled through his or perhaps his arm around her waist, his fingers burning into her side. Her smile would light up all of Manhattan if that were ever to happen…
    The plane moved, starting forward with a jolt that caused Tessa to jerk in her seat, spilling coffee all over the front of her blouse. “Oh, no.”
    Tugging the front of the drenched, suddenly hot shirt away from her, she gazed down at the stain, embarrassment making her cheeks heat. She’d packed well, of course, but she had no idea where her suitcase was or if it was easily accessible, especially now that the plane was in motion and most likely preparing