When his stomach growled, he laughed and released her. “I’m starving. How long until dinner?”
“It’s ready now.”
“I’ll set the table,” he said, already moving.
It was domestic. Simple. And strangely perfect.
***
By the end of the second week, the bruises had faded. The burn on her neck would take longer, but the pain was gone. She resumed her classes. Her body felt like hers again. Her mind—mostly. At least the nightmares had stopped.
Alec was back at work full time. He checked in often—texts, calls, dropping by between tasks—but she was alone for long stretches. He didn’t want her returning to her crack-of-dawn shifts just yet—if ever—and she certainly wasn’t working for Regina again.
She wandered his house, read half a dozen books, sat on his balcony, stared out at the fountain, and had far too much time to think.
He was sweet, tender, kissed her often, held her close every night, but nothing more.
Was he giving her space to heal? Or quietly pulling away?
The confusion lingered—surfacing in the quiet moments, tugging at her until she had to do something about it.
At the start of week three, the doctor dropped by for a follow-up house call and declared her fit—ready to return to her usual activities.
Allactivities.
She was on Alec’s second-floor balcony, plotting her seduction, when she heard him calling her name. Abandoning her plans for the moment, she slipped into the bedroom just as he walked in from the hall.
He held a garment bag in one hand, a sleek white shoebox in the other.Manolo Blahnikacross the lid in elegant script.
Emily’s lips parted. Her idea of “designer” came from the clearance rack at T.J. Maxx.
“What’s this?” she asked, breath catching despite her best effort at casual.
“Dev’s hosting his annual charity night,” he said, smiling at her in a way that made her knees unreliable. “I’m working security for part of it, but I thought you’d like to come.”
He unzipped the garment bag, black silk spilling out.
“Cari is on the board of the Women’s and Children’s Shelter. She runs the fundraiser. Dev
shakes down his friends for money, and everyone gets to dress up. It’s formal.”
“And you knew I’d have nothing to wear,” she whispered as he lifted out a short dress—low-backed, revealing, very Devil’s Pointe, but elegant. Very Alec.
“There are shoes in the box,” he added.
“Manolos,” she whispered, more than a little awestruck. “I don’t know what to say. I’ve never worn shoes that cost more than rent.”
He set the box and garment bag on the bed and pulled her into his arms.
“Don’t say anything except yes.”
Emily looked up at him, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Yes. I’d love to go with you. It’ll be good to get out and actually be human again.”
“There’ll be games to raise money—kinky ones, naturally. You don’t have to participate—” he assured her. “Technically, that’s against policy, but I think Dev would make an exception.”
“I don’t want to be treated with kid gloves.”
