Page 39 of Salvaged Hearts

“She put up with your stubborn ass for the last two years, I guess that’s as good as it gets.” Luke chuckled darkly, but my eyes tracked my soon-to-be partner as she slowly studied the preparations across the ballroom, as if she had taken notes of the details naturally. “Damn, Hart. You got some drool on your chin. Gotta say, I don’t know how I didn’t see it before. You’re so obvious.”

His observations didn’t sit well with me but worked in our favor. Jerking my head toward the open double doors, I said, “Come say hi.”

“Not in the habit of taking orders.”

I deadpanned. “Stop your bitching and come say hello under a new pretense.”

“You could’ve used charm school, asshole.”

“Know a lot about that, do you, Rivera?”

“The chief of police has more niceties than you do.”

“Which is why he deals with the public, and I don’t,” I supplied.

He snorted. “Thank god for that. The irony of you in PR will never get old.”

“Don’t get used to it. That will be Alessandra’s role shortly.”

“Now, who the fuck isAlessandra?” His low chuckle ran nails down an invisible chalkboard. “That some backward pet name thing you have going? You’re the only bastard I’ve heard full name her.”

“Because she’s mine and deserves a title as elegant as she is.”

“Jesus Christ, you’ve got it bad.” His sentiment made me realize exactly how much conviction I’d put into those words despite the way they sounded absurd in my ears.Mine. I’d never had a person that felt like mine. “This whole time?”

“No,” I answered honestly. “But it’s rare for me to underestimate someone, and she’s bested me at every turn. If you’ll excuse me.” With that, I abandoned Luke to make a beeline toward the most intelligent woman in the room, where she’d been cornered by the event planner outside. Her smile was nearly blinding as she laughed, listening to the woman’s concerns. Eyes full of stars, Alessandra glanced at me across the terrace and through the ballroom, a timid smile growing as I approached.

For a moment, as my staff hurried to step out of my way, and vendors carrying teetering platters and décor rushed to do the same, I wondered what it would feel like to have someone look at me that way authentically. For a woman to light up because I was walking toward her. She was convincing, wearing her role well, despite what I assumed was a brutal clash of her morals.

Her need to help and her hatred for dishonesty.

As she’d predicted, her family hadn’t taken the news well. Less so when our official engagement photos released.

The fan favorite was an image of her standing beside the rail of my balcony, with me crowding her against it. We were both laughing. I could still feel her body nestled against mine, feel the slight shake of her hand as she settled it on my chest and looked up at me under too-thick lashes. Could remember exactlyhow fucked up I felt knowing I was about to derail this young woman’s entire future for my own benefit.

I’d meant what I said. She was wasted as an assistant. Wasted in my company at all, to be frank. At least her new title was more fitting. But it wasn’t enough.

Alessandra Rhodes was the master of a mind destined to bring men to their knees. I’d known it for a while now but wasn’t sure how or when I’d get to use it. Her ability to appease debutantes and executives with an arsenal of personal knowledge was just a parlor trick.

As I watched her laugh, the sun bouncing off her warm complexion, I remembered that some corner of my mind had logged away the fact that her touch didn’t make me want to hide.

Women and I had a turbulent history. Frankly, I'd take the snake every time if I had to choose between sticking my hand in a rattlesnake hole and braving the dating world.

But Alessandra didn’t want my money. Didn’t give a shit about the fact that I bore my father’s last name or was now at the head of an American empire. She’d been honest in her distaste for me as I offered her a world most women would kill to get a foothold in. Her help was contingent on my innocence and my determination to provide for my niece’s legacy.

And I’d been waiting for the opportunity to see if my fascination with her faded. Only, as I finally closed the gap on the terrace, I realized not an ounce of it had dissipated. The woman was immune to status. I just had to pray her steadfast morality would also apply to our cause.

Clearing my throat to announce my presence to the vendors chatting with her, I stepped into their circle, hands tucked into my pockets. “Apologies, ladies, but I need to steal my fiancé for a moment before the crowd arrives.”

Her gaze on mine overshadowed their pleasant laughter, even as both women gushed their understanding with, “Of course, Mr. Hart,” and, “So happy for you, Mr. Hart.”

“Thank you both,” I said, nodding and shifting into her space as her throat bobbed, big gray eyes looking up to mine. My hands wrapped around her biceps, our bodies pulling together as I sensed the scrutiny of so many eyes on the couple of the hour. I hated few things as much as I loathed growing up in the spotlight. Thirty-five years, and that hadn’t changed. I couldn’t imagine what it felt like to her, being thrust into it so suddenly. “You alright?”

Tone saccharine-sweet and smile cemented in place; she prattled on at a speed that put auctioneers to shame. “I can’t move my face for fear of wrinkling the layers of cosmetics; there is a small knife disguised as a bobby pin tearing the skin from my scalp where they put this barrette in; your stylist put me in heels as if I needed to betaller, four people have asked me if I’m pregnant which either means they’re socially incompetent or this dress makes me look fat, and my big brother called to tell me not to throw my life away and that men get lost at sea all the time.”

I disguised my laugh by sipping my whiskey and hiding the expression behind my glass. She reminded me of Mattie. “This new blunt side of you has me wondering if the demure woman in the office beside mine ever existed.”

The spark in her eyes and the subtle crinkle beside them said this smile was authentic. “The doormat was an expected pretense.”

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