Page 6 of Worth Every Risk

Alec focuses on his chopping, as if realising he’s said too much. For a while, we fall into an uncomfortable silence. Not that silence is ever comfortable for me. It’s part of the reason I talk too much. I feel obligated to fill the void, but after the intensity of our conversation about the Hawkston’s, I feel it even more so.

Soon, the weight of the silence becomes more than I can endure. “I met the gardener out the front. He’s a peculiar guy. Not very friendly.”

Alec’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t look up, focusing on his chopping. “Really? I’ve always liked Steve. Really cheery guy. I didn’t know he was in today.”

“Steve?” I frown. “He said his name was Matt.”

Alec’s knife pauses mid-chop. “Matt?”

“Yeah. Tall guy. Huge. Really broad.” I hold my arms up to span the distance of the guy’s chest. I exaggerate, hoping to make Alec laugh.

He doesn’t, and unease prickles my spine. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Matt’s not the gardener.”

“Huh? But he was cutting the lawn.”

“Ooh, you want to stay out of his way when he’s doing that…”

I’m about to question him further when Alec’s eyes shoot over my head, obviously catching sight of someone behind me. A tingling pressure erupts on the back of my neck, telling me that someone’s standing there.

I turn on my stool, which conveniently—or perhaps not conveniently—spins round far too easily. I nearly fall off, managing to stabilize myself at the last second, fixing my gaze on the man in the doorway.

Oh, crap.

It’s the gardener. Except—holy shit—he doesn’t look like a gardener now. His dark hair is wet, thick, and combed back off his forehead, making his dark eyes appear even moreintense, and the way he’s fixing them on me has me swallowing nervously, but I can’t stop staring at his face.That bone structure is insane. His cheekbones are so sharp they look like chipped flint. He’s just had a shower, and the realisation brings a whole host of—not entirely unwelcome—images into my mind. Water, skin, muscle…

I blink to focus on the real-life man before me, rather than the imagined showering version. A charcoal grey suit hangs from broad shoulders, fitting him perfectly; the phrase ‘like a glove’ suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. I’ve never really noticed suits before, but this one is different. It looks expensive, so I guess you get what you pay for. His white shirt is a burst of light in the otherwise dark impression of the man, and the pale blue silk tie is a river of calm down his chest. He’s breathtaking, and very,verycorporate.

His dark eyes flit away from me as he directs his attention to Alec. “I’m going out for lunch. I’ll be back for dinner. Just me tonight. 8 pm.”

“Absolutely, boss.”

Whatever spell this man has me under splinters, leaving the unbearable truth.

This istheboss.Lucie’s dad. This is Mr Hawkston, who’s always working and never home and who I was highly unlikely toevermeet.

Oh, my God.I’m dying.

His unflinching gaze lands right on mine and he steps towards me. "Aries.” He holds out his hand. “Matt Hawkston.”

We’re not seriously shaking hands a third time, are we?I glance at it like I’m not sure what to do with it, but then I pick my jaw off the floor and grab his handagain. It’s so big he could crush me with it.

“I’m so sorry. Really. I had no idea that you wereyou, outside in the garden.” I press my free hand to my temple. “And now you’ve gone and done a Superman—”

There’s a noise behind me. Did Alec justsnort? Matt’s irises dart from me to Alec, and I know he heard it too. The silence that follows that small shift in Matt’s attention is enough to make my heart rate peak. He might not be snorting, but he probably thinks I’m a complete idiot too.

Matt drops my hand, but holds eye contact. It’s so intense that I want to screw my eyes shut. “Superman?” Matt finally says.

“Yeah. You know. You’ve stripped off the disguise.”Oh, fuck. Why can’t I stop talking?“Fifteen minutes ago you were working that sexy gardener thing and now you’re all suited-up like a corporate superhero—”

“Stop.” His command has my mouth sealing shut.Shit, shit, shit. “I assume Mrs Minter selected you because you’re the best for the job, but I’m not seeing that right now. If you’re caring for my child, you need to do your research. Any time you take her anywhere, you need to know who you’re meeting. You make sure it’s safe. You might trust your gut to make decisions that affectyourlife, but I don’t want you using it to care for my daughter. At least not until I know you better. No more mistakes. Three strikes and you’re out.”

For once, I’m speechless. Then I say, “Out?”

“Yes. Out. Home. Back to Scotland. If you put my daughter at risk in any way, I’ll put you on that train myself."

And with that, he’s gone, leaving nothing but a hot, uncomfortable embarrassment filling my body, and the lingering scent of expensive cologne hanging in the air.

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