Worth The Risk. Zara Cox
took my hand as his gaze made another subtle pass over my body. ‘How old are you, Leonora Branson?’
Nope, not going near that one. ‘Old enough to have run a successful company for six years with a portfolio of satisfied customers.’
‘Doesn’t really answer my question, does it?’ he said.
‘No, it doesn’t. Besides not playing games I also don’t give out personal information. Is that going to be a problem?’
‘Only if you have a problem with me being impressed that someone so young would be in the position you’re in.’
The unexpected compliment blew a hole through my irritation, just as the pressure of his hand on mine was eroding my intention not to be seriously seduced by his drop-dead gorgeousness.
I knew I was younger than I looked, a fact that had surprised a few people who thought at twenty-six I had no business running a multimillion-pound company. ‘I...’ God, what had he said? Something about being impressed? ‘Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome,’ he said in a deep, gravel-rough voice that reminded me of what I did to myself last night.
I tugged at my hand. He kept a hold of it for another long second, a frown flicking over his face as his jaw clenched and unclenched.
The depth of his examination began to grate. Then the grating turned into something else. Something darker, saucier. Something that emphatically reminded my pussy that a vibrator wasn’t enough any more and what it truly yearned for was a hard, experienced cock.
Please. Not now.
I exhaled in relief as he dropped my hand and then relief morphed to irritation as he turned to the sports car.
‘Are you leaving in that?’
‘I should hope so, since I asked for it to be delivered for that very purpose.’
It took monumental effort not to grit my teeth. ‘You should’ve informed me you would be driving yourself. As you can see, I came to pick you up.’
He tossed a mocking glance at the Rolls Royce and his mouth quirked. ‘It’s a gorgeous ride, but I’m in the mood for a little more horsepower this morning.’
Calm. Be calm. ‘Very well. Shall we arrange a time to meet later?’
‘I have meetings scheduled all day. Then a hot date with the sexy roulette table at the Casino de Monte-Carlo later. She’s always a tease, but an enjoyable one.’
In anticipation of a hectic Monday getting the crew ready to sail, I’d given myself the day off tomorrow. I watched it disappear in a puff of smoke. ‘Why did you ask me to come here this morning if you can’t meet with me?’
‘I asked you to come because it’s a half-hour drive to my hotel. And I believe in time efficiency.’ With that, he opened the passenger door and raised an eyebrow at me. ‘So are you coming, Miss Branson?’ The suggestive decadence in his tone should’ve made me madder. But my traitorous pussy grew damper.
‘I can’t just leave the car here.’
‘There you go again, throwing obstacles in the way of our fledgling...liaison.’
I cast a look towards the hired driver of the limo and nodded, dismissing him and the waste of money Gideon had just cost me.
I grabbed my small purse and the folder I’d brought with me before heading over to the Aston Martin, where Gideon Mortimer stood holding the door open for me.
That small act of chivalry was still unravelling a tiny wave of shock through me as he slid behind the wheel. The throaty engine roared to life the same time I was hit with a lungful of whatever delicious aftershave he was wearing. It was like a shot to the chest from a double-barrelled gun. Compounded by the power of the car when he accelerated out of the airport and the play of his thighs when he aggressively changed gears, I was struck dumb for several minutes.
The busy streets of Nice were filled with tourists at this time of year but Gideon seemed to know how to avoid getting caught up in traffic. At the first set of red lights, he slanted a glance at me. ‘Is the crew issue resolved?’
Shit, he had to give me the tough question straight off the bat. I took a moment to savour my freedom for one last time. ‘If you go ahead and lease the boat, I’ll resolve the crew issue but I won’t act on it until we have an agreement. If and when we do it’ll bring the manpower total to twenty-seven. Trust me, I can make that work.’
A cloud drifted over his face. ‘Trust isn’t a commodity I find very easy to part with.’
The little rush of affinity warmed me before I killed it dead. If the Devil didn’t trust, there was a good reason for it. ‘The other company you’re thinking of going with, have you used them before?’
He cracked a hard smile. ‘Don’t come at me with that angle, Leonora.’
It was the second time he’d used my given name. When had we even agreed to that? And why did each enunciation make me wildly hot?
‘Why not? Why would you decide to go with them and not me?’
‘Because they’re weren’t as...intransigent.’
My fingers tightened around the folder. ‘I can guarantee you a better service.’
He remained silent for a short mile. ‘That remains to be seen. Now, run me through your list,’ he said briskly.
A little more settled now we were on a business footing, I went through the extensive list of everything, from how often the sheets were changed on board the yacht to the ingredients used on the most elaborate meal. I’d found out early in my career not to leave any detail unmentioned.
By the time I was done, he was pulling up in front of the Riviera One hotel in Nice. The cheapest room in the six-star hotel was upward of fifteen hundred euros a night with a stay in the presidential suite extending to the tens of thousands. It was number one on my client recommendation list.
I wasn’t even a little bit surprised that Gideon was greeted by name by the doorman when he stepped out of the Aston Martin.
‘Bienvenue, Monsieur Mortimer.’
‘Thanks, Pierre, it’s good to be back. How are the wife and kids?’ he asked after he tossed his keys to the valet.
‘Very well, monsieur. I must thank you again for that letter of recommendation.’
Gideon clapped the man on the shoulder. ‘If you must, but that’s the last time. Thank me again and I’ll have you fired.’
Pierre looked startled for a moment, before he chuckled. ‘Understood, monsieur. I’ll make sure your bag is delivered right away.’
‘Good man.’
He sauntered into the stunning atrium of the art deco hotel as if he owned the place, striding over to the VIP concierge desk. ‘Everything is ready for you, Mr Mortimer. If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to ask and I will personally see to it,’ the chief concierge said.
‘I know you will. I might even start by asking you to teach true customer service to a few people I’m thinking of doing business with,’ Gideon replied, sending me a speaking glance as he pocketed his black key card and headed to the lift.
‘If that comment was aimed at me, I’ll have you know I haven’t had a single complaint since I started my business. In fact, I have several glowing testimonials I’m happy to show you if you want.’
He had the audacity to grin. And, oh, what a spectacular sight it was. It transformed his face from devilishly handsome to downright sacrilegious, stopping my breath dead two seconds after the brilliance of it hit me square in the chest.
Sweet God.
I entered the lift and clung to the railing, desperately willing