Free Worth the Scandal by Karen Erickson Page A

woman. When he caught sight of her he smiled, a look of relief in his eyes. “Ah perfect, she’s back. Tessa, I’d like to introduce you to Helene Rousso. Helene, this is Tessa Crawford.”
    “How do you do?” The woman smiled and offered Tessa her hand, which she took, slightly shell shocked.
    Helene Rousso? Daughter and head of the Rousso fashion dynasty? Tessa’s knees literally shook as she shook her hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Ms. Rousso.”
    “Please, call me Helene.” She sent a smile in Alex’s direction. “She’s a pretty little thing, Alexander. And so respectful. Wherever did you find her?”
    Tessa frowned. Was every woman in attendance this evening a catty witch?
    “We’ve known each other for quite a while,” Alex said smoothly, slipping his arm around Tessa’s waist and pulling her in so she was plastered to his side.
    “Indeed?” Helene arched a perfectly plucked brow. “She’s not your usual type, Alexander. You always seem to prefer a more—refined woman.”
    Tessa wanted to die. Or just magically disappear. Bianca had been bad enough. This woman was completely evil.
    And totally insulting.
    “I went against type, Helene.” Leaning in, he dropped a kiss on Tessa’s forehead. “And I’ve never been happier.”
    A few other words were spoken, trite and meaningless, before Helene slipped away with a smirk. The call for dinner was announced and Alex took her hand, leading her to a table where they were the first two to sit down.
    “That was awful. I’ve always admired Helene Rousso,” Tessa said, full of remorse.
    “Helene is a wretched cow who loves to tear people down more than anything in the world.” Alex took a sip from the water glass in front of him before he turned to her. “Don’t let her bother you.”
    “She only said what everyone else is thinking.” Tessa shrugged. She’d known from the beginning this was a bad idea, accompanying Alex to the ball. She’d told him so, too, but he’d convinced her it would work.
    Looks like she was right, much as she hated to admit it.
    “Hey.” Reaching out, he tucked two fingers beneath her chin, lifting her face so her gaze met his. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks. Remember what I told you earlier?”
    She nodded, her skin heating from his touch. Such an innocuous touch, yet it affected her completely. “I don’t know why you’re doing this,” she whispered. “Pretending to be with me, it makes no sense.”
    His eyes darkened, to that familiar, turbulent swirl of gray and blue that she adored so. “I agree. It makes no sense.”
    Tessa gasped, tried to jerk out of his grip but he firmed his fingers around her face, keeping her in place. “But it’s there between us,” he continued. “Can’t you feel it?”
    She blinked up at him, struck dumb by his words. What did he mean? Was he attracted to her too? Did he feel the same chemistry that seemed to buzz between them every time they were together?
    “You do feel it,” he whispered harshly. “I know you do. And as much as I want to deny it, the more time I spend with you, the harder it is for me to do so.”
    His fingers gentled on her face, stroking along the line of her jaw. Feather light and so soft she released a shuddering breath and closed her eyes. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said just before she felt the brush of his lips against hers.
     
    He was an absolute fool, making such a public spectacle of himself but Alex couldn’t resist. Not with the sadness filling Tessa’s eyes, hurt over Helene Rousso’s thoughtless and catty insults.
    That he would partially confess he wanted her. That he would kiss her while hundreds of people milled about—it was completely unlike him. His brothers, hell, everyone he knew and dealt with on a constant basis would wonder what was wrong with him.
    Tessa. That’s what was wrong with him. Though it didn’t necessarily feel wrong.
    Being with her felt inexplicably right.
    That he felt such an