7. Scarlett
Ihaven’t had a long-term relationship in my entire adult life. Six months, tops. Most of the time, it didn’t bother me. I loved my work, my friends, and the freedom of my own space. The only time it was a problem was when Mom got on my case about it. Or so I had thought until I pulled my beat up old prius into the valet parking at Rivers’ House for Stef and Grayson’s pre-wedding soiree. Leave it to a billionaire family to call it a soiree. I mean, who the fuck used words like that in this day and age?
I’d give anything not to have to walk in there by myself and see Rhett Rivers for the first time since the catastrophe of a mediation meeting four weeks ago. Maybe I should have paid someone to come with me. Some super-hot guy who was really tall and built. How fucking lame would that be?
So yeah, this was the only other time I found myself wishing I wasn’t so relentlessly single. Because now I had to walk into that reception room, chin held high, and face the man who brought out both the very best and absolute worst in me.
I stepped out of the car and handed my keys to the waiting valet. Fuck, this place was enormous. Gray stones, a slate roof, dormer windows, fifty balconies. Okay, that might have been an exaggeration, but there were a lot of balconies. The circular drive was bigger than my living room, and the fountain could probably fill a swimming pool.
Inside, I had to fight a twinge of self-consciousness as I smoothed down my dress. It was just as opulent, with high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a grand staircase that made a statement. And okay, that statement was along the lines of, ‘Why yes, we are obscenely wealthy and it’s very important to us that you know that,’ but whatever.
I tried not to look for him. I really did. But the second I stepped into the reception room; my eyes started scanning. It was like a magnetic force pulling my gaze across the crowd until finally, there he was.
He looked... well, fucking amazing. Of course he did. His hair looked like someone had just run their fingers through it, which made my own fingers tingle. His tuxedo fit like a glove - just like everything else in his life, probably. It was infuriating, really.
My heart stuttered in my chest as our eyes met briefly. Those impossibly deep brown eyes that could go from smoldering to smirking in a heartbeat. A ghost of a smirk played across his lips, and I felt that familiar mix of irritation and... something else I refused to put a name on.
Then I noticed the woman he was talking to. A slim, statuesque redhead in a sparkly emerald gown that clung to her curves. Her hair tumbled over bare shoulders as she laughed, head tilted back to expose her slender throat, clearly captivated by whatever Rhett had said.
An unexpected flare of jealousy lanced through me, and I tore my gaze away, heat flooding my cheeks. What the hell was wrong with me? This was Rhett Rivers. A man who represented everything I despised- greed, self-interest, total disregard for the environment. I did not give two fucks who he talked to.
“Hey, you.”
I turned at the sound of Stef’s voice and felt a rush of relief at the distraction. “Hey! You look great!”
It wasn’t a lie. She wore a body-hugging, floor-length gown in shimmering silver. “Thanks. Grayson got it for me. And may I say, you look fucking hot in that dress. You decide you don’t want to go back to the hotel alone tonight, you’ll have your pick of guys to choose from.”
“You think? Anyone you recommend?”
“I’m sure I can find a few to introduce you to.”
“Sounds great.”
Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it. Dammit, I couldn’t stop myself. Just a quick glance to check if he was still talking to the stunning redhead. Yep, he was. Double dammit, because I had all the subtlety of a brick and Stef totally caught me.
A mischievous grin spread across her face. “Ooooh, like that, is it? You got a thing for Rhett, and you’re weirded out seeing him with another woman.”
I felt my cheeks flush. “What? No! Of course not. I was just... looking around.”
Stef laughed, not buying my denial for a second. “Sure you were. Don’t worry, the exact same thing happened to me.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“When I got here for Esme’s wedding last year,” she explained, her eyes gleaming. “I caught Grayson hugging that exact same woman in the foyer. It was a moment, let me tell you.”
I frowned as I tried to process what she said. “Oh. Well, she gets around, I guess.”
Now she was really laughing. What the fuck? “No, you’ve got it all wrong. That’s Caitlyn Rivers.”
Right. Okay. So, she’s a relation. But was she a close one? I mean, what if she was his fourth cousin, three times removed? Pretty sure those types could do the horizontal tango.
Stef must have seen the perplexed look on my face, because she quickly clarified. “Caitlyn is Rhett’s sister.”
“Great. Not that I care.” Liar. “How about we grab a drink, and you introduce me to one of these single guys you were talking about?”
“Good plan.” Stef led me to the bar and ordered us a glass of champagne each.
When I turned back to face the room, Rhett had moved on from Caitlyn and was laughing with a very elegant, sophisticated blond woman.
I downed half my glass in one gulp, trying to ignore the weird fluttering in my stomach as I watched Rhett laughing. No, flirting Who was she? A colleague? An ex? The thought made me unreasonably irritated. You DO NOT CARE, I told myself.
“Earth to Scarlett?” Stef waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my distracted staring. “You still with me, girl?”
I turned away so I couldn’t see him anymore. “Yup! Let’s do this.”
“Okay, first let’s go get Esme. She’s always good for this sort of thing.”
“Perfect!”
We found Esme, stunning in a burgundy velvet dress that accentuated her slim figure and blond hair, standing with Wolfe. After Esme and I had said hello, Stef took charge.
“Sorry, Wolfe, we need your wife.”
“You can’t have her. She’s mine.” He pulled her close to his side and pressed a kiss to her hair.
“Cute. But it’s an urgent mission. You can have her back as soon as it’s done.”
Esme laughed. “Sorry, babe. It sounds important.” Wolfe let her go reluctantly and as soon as we were out of earshot, she said, “What’s up?”
“Our girl needs a hot date for the evening.”
“Ooh, I’m on it!” Esme said enthusiastically, scanning the crowd. “Let’s see, let’s see...” Her blue eyes lit up. “Ooh, there’s Nate Carmichael. He’s a lawyer too, works at Henderson Ross. And he’s pretty cute, in a wholesome boy-next-door way.”
I followed her gaze to a tall, sandy-haired guy in a navy suit. He was good-looking. I’d give her that.
“What do you think?” Stef nudged me. “Should I call him over?”
I stole one last glance at Rhett, just in time to see him throw his head back in laughter at whatever the blonde said. “You know what? I’d love to meet Nate. I’m ready to mingle.”
Ten minutes later, I was regretting agreeing to this. Turned out that Nate Carmichael had all the personality of a wrung-out dishcloth. And could talk about trademark law in minute and exhausting detail. Jesus fucking Christ.
I was seconds away from faking a family emergency or pretending to pass out when a familiar voice cut through Nate’s drone.
“Sorry, Carmichael. I’ve got someone Scarlett has to meet.” My heart stuttered as Rhett stepped up beside me and laid his hand on the small of my back. The warmth of his touch seared through the thin fabric of my dress, raising goosebumps along my skin. I fought the urge to shiver, keenly aware of his solid frame so close to me.
Nate blinked in confusion. “Sure. No problem.”
He gave a small, awkward nod before wandering off, leaving me alone with Rhett. Exactly the situation I’d been trying my fucking hardest to avoid.
I turned to face him, my pulse kicking up a notch at his proximity. Up close, I could make out the faint lines around his eyes when he smiled, could smell his crisp, woodsy cologne. My gaze drifted to his lips as he spoke. “You can say thank you. It won’t kill you.”
“Get fucked.”
He chuckled. The sound skittered over my skin, making me bite my lip. His eyes dropped to the action, and I definitely wasn’t imagining the way they darkened. “You’re fucking torture, you know that?”
“Yeah, well, you’re an asshole.”
“That’s not new information.” Completely ignoring the fact that we were in a crowded room and that all his family were nearby, he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. “You know what we should do?”
“Wh-what?” I hated the way my voice shook.
His smile was devilish. “We should fuck. Just one night together. I’ll make you come so many times you’ll be ruined for any other man.”
Molten fire poured into my system, and I couldn’t catch my breath. Couldn’t speak.
“Say yes, Scarlett.”
My name on his lips was like a physical caress, sending desire uncurling low in my belly. I curled my hands into fists, struggling against the unexpected rush of want. Fighting the urge to give in. To drag him from the room and let him take me hard against a wall.
The desire swirling in his eyes was spellbinding, making me sway toward him.
This was ridiculous. I couldn’t let Rhett get under my skin like this. He was arrogant, entitled, reckless. I loathed everything he stood for, remember? “Absolutely fucking not. Never. Not even if you were the last person on earth.”
The way he looked at me, the heat in his eyes...it was such a fucking turn on. I had to get out of there before I did something stupid.
I turned on my heel and hurried away, my heart pounding as I wove through the crowd.
I needed air. Space to catch my breath and get myself together. Rhett had an unnerving ability to get under my skin and make me question everything. The way my body reacted to him went against all logic and reason.
I found myself in a quiet hallway, leaning back against the wall and closing my eyes. Deep breaths. In and out. Get it together, Scarlett.
The sound of approaching footsteps made my eyes snap open. Please don’t be him, please don’t be him. But of course, because the universe loved torturing me, it was Rhett striding toward me with that self-assured fucking smirk on his face. And he was still the sexiest man I’d ever set eyes on. What a raging asshole.
“I never took you for a coward. Or someone who runs away from a challenge.” His voice was low, that delicious rumble doing nothing to calm the storm of desire swirling inside me.
“I’m not running,” I lied, pushing off the wall to face him head on. “Just needed a break from all the... socializing.”
He came to a stop in front of me, so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. Could smell that intoxicating cologne surrounding him like a sensual cloud. “Is that what you call it?”
“Yep.” I tried to sound nonchalant, unaffected, but my voice came out breathier than intended.
The corner of his mouth quirked up, and he took another step closer, eliminating what little space remained between us. My back hit the wall as he crowded me, caging me in with his arms on either side.
“I don’t believe you.” His voice was a gravelly murmur against my ear, sending delicious shivers cascading down my spine. “I think you’re running because you want me just as badly as I want you. But you’re too afraid to admit it.”
Denying it was pointless. The rapid staccato of my pulse, the way my breaths came in shallow pants...my body’s reaction gave me away. He knew the effect he had on me, and he relished it.
“Maybe I am afraid,” I admitted, tilting my head back to meet his smoldering gaze. “Afraid of how much of a disappointment you’d be in the unlikely event that I’d ever let you fuck me senseless.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw and his eyes darkened to burnished whiskey. “Then let me take that fear away.”
His mouth claimed mine in a searing kiss, swallowing my gasp of surprise. It was rough, demanding, his tongue sweeping past my lips to deepen the contact. I melted against him, all thoughts of resistance forgotten as desire blazed bright and hot between us.
My hands slid up his chest, fingers splaying over the crisp fabric of his tux, pulling him closer. Needing to feel every hard plane of his body against mine. He growled low in his throat, the vibration resonating through me and making me shudder.
One large hand tangled in my hair, angling my head for better access. The other found my waist, his fingers digging into the soft flesh there with scorching pressure. I arched helplessly into him with a breathy whimper.
He swallowed the sound, his kiss growing more intense, more demanding. Possessive. I was drowning in the potent combination of his scent, his taste, the firm insistence of his mouth on mine. There was nothing in that moment but blinding, searing need.
Until he pulled away, leaving me gasping and so fucking desperate. “It’s such a shame you said no. We could have been great together.”
Before I could form a shred of rational thought, he walked off. Just left me there. I lifted a shaking hand to my forehead, dragging in some deep, steadying breaths. God, my heart was pounding, and my legs were shaking. There was no way I could go back into that room. I’d text Stef and tell her I had a headache. Yep, that was the perfect plan. I could go back to the hotel and curl under the covers and not think about Rhett fucking Rivers. Or fucking Rhett Rivers. Whichever way you wanted to put it.