Page 15 of One Weekend in Quebec City

She pauses, pen hovering above the notepad, and lifts her head. “Keep going.”I can tell she’s treading lightly.

I notice my hands are clenched tight, andmy knuckles are white. Inhaling deeply, I force my muscles to relax and uncurl my fingers. Uncrossing my long legs, I lean forward and look directly into her eyes, willing her to believe every word about to spill from my lips.

“I am nothing like him, Shelby. And I sure as hell don’t operate the way he did.”A muscle ticks in my jaw. “He cheated on everything. His wife, his partners, his employees. From the day I walked through those glass doors, I’ve been spending every waking moment trying to clean up the mess he left behind. I intend to turn things around so my mother can hold her head high again and my brother and sister have a legacy they’re proud of.”

She nods slowly as though the puzzle pieces are clicking into place. “The fact that people are comparing you to him must feel incredibly unfair.”She sets her pen down, giving me her full attention. “Especially when you’re working so hard to be different.”

My shoulders relax a fraction. “It feels like a goddamn prison sometimes. Like I’m chained to his legacy, and no matter how hard I fight, I can’t escape it.”I run a hand through my hair, the controlled facade slipping further. I haven’t even been as forthcoming with Linda. With Shelby, opening up comes easy, almost automatically.

“Let’s talk about Hayden.”

I welcome the reprieve, though I’m not convinced it’s much of one. “He isn’t officially with the company yet.”

“What will his role be when he does join the team?”

“That’s the problem.”I growl.

I can see her journalist senses have officially sparked. “Is this on or off the record?”

“I promised to be an open book. And I trust you to be professional. I know you won’t do anything to hurt me or my family with this article. Right?”I meet her gaze head-on and hold it, searching for any signs she’s not the person I suspect she is. My skin tingles, and my heart thumps loudly in my chest. My cock twitches in my pants because I’m staring into the prettiest eyes.

“I’m not in the business of misusing trust, Spencer,”she says, her voice surprisingly steady. “I’m a journalist. My job is to find the truth and tell it. The truth about you and your company. Not to create scandal where there isn’t any.”She pauses, adding with a small, challenging smile, “Unless, of course, there is scandal to be found.”

I chuckle, the low, rich sound vibrating through me. “I like you, Shelby Bailey. You’re sharp. And you’re honest.”My gaze drops to her lips for a fleeting, heart-stopping moment. “And you’re incredibly beautiful.”

Her breath catches.

This is dangerous territory. This pull, this attraction between us. I sense it. I’m sure she does as well. It’s undeniable.

And it’s completely unprofessional.

“You were starting to tell me about your brother.”

“I was. Sorry. I got distracted.”

She blushes.

“Hayden is twenty-seven and busy working his way through all the single women in Paris.”

“Oh.”

“Exactly. He’s more inclined to be like my father than I am. I’m hoping he gets it out of his system before he returns to New York.”

“Jealous he might tempt a few of the models?”

“Of course not,”I say, a little too quickly, a little too defensively. “I’m just cautious. It’s bad enough I have the image I do. The endless parade of beautiful women my brother entertains would be a feeding frenzy for the paparazzi and give the board members a heart attack.”

“But you date models as well, Spencer. I’ve seen the photos.”

“Sure, I’ve taken beautiful women to dinner. They’ve been my guests at events I have to attend. It’s a part of the publicity factor,”I correct, my tone serious again. “Not the reality. I’m selective, Shelby. I’m not interested in casual flings. I’m looking for something honest. Something real.”My gaze locks onto hers. “Something like what I think we might be finding here.”

ChapterSeven

Shelby

My heart pounds against my ribs in a frantic rhythm that drowns out the soft background noise of the lounge. He’s laying it all out there. And, God help me, I’m falling for it. I’m falling for him.

This is wild. We’ve spent a day together, and I feel like there’s more happening here than just an interview.

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