Simone wasn’t unique in thinking that there was something about this man that would make even the coldest, most desiccated heart burst to life. Still, her own compliments were bland by comparison. If it bothered him, he didn’t let on. All he did was stare at her. He opened his mouth and then closed it, almost hesitating. She’d never seen Leo hesitate at anything. Perhaps he thought there was something wrong with her appearance. She’d been used to criticism from her parents. Trying too hard to please them, yet never being enough.
‘What?’ she asked. ‘Is it my hair?’
‘Your hair looks effortlessly beautiful. It’s perfect.’
Way to punch a woman in the solar plexus. It was like she couldn’t breathe.
‘I—I, thank you.’
Leo nodded. ‘I have a gift for you.’
Simone clenched her jaw. Right, so that was what this was about. Would he ever stop? Each time he offered her something it was another reminder that he believed she was somehow lacking. What was it this time? Jewellery, because she didn’t sparkle enough?
He’d married her, so he’d just need to get used to her as she was rather than keep trying to change her.
‘We’ve been—’
‘I know, but I thought of this dress immediately I saw them.’
He reached his hand out from behind his back and held up a pair of shoes.
They weren’t justanyshoes. These were teal patent leather stilettos which matched the colour of the dressperfectly. Yet what made them more striking was the flash of a red sole, contrasting magnificently with the blue green of the leather and matching the hint of red in his tie.
Red is the colour of harlots, Simone.
Her mother’s words shot into her consciousness. Even after all this time, those old censures returned like a tainted muscle memory. Worse now since she’d married Leo because everyone thought of him as a god who deserved a goddess, not a mere mortal like her.
‘I have perfectly good shoes.’ She looked down. Hers were nice. Elegant, neutral pumps that went with everything.
Leo followed her gaze, slowly, like he was taking her all in.
‘You do. However, these…’
He held them up and wiggled his hand as if that would tempt her. Simone’s eyes caught the pristine red of the sole again. The man was like the serpent dangling a shiny apple in front of her. Punishingly handsome and all temptation, just like she’d expect the devil to be.
Leo might be able to get away with pretending that the dress he’d given her was just some old thing that cost nothing, rather than a coveted collector’s item. He couldn’t with these shoes. She knew exactly how much they’d cost. Whilst they were a drop in Leo’s ocean of money, they represented a life she didn’t have or want any more.
And yet the way they gleamed under the lights. They’d lookgorgeouswith what she was wearing. Those towering heels would make her much taller…
‘No.’
‘If you’re afraid of wearing heels this high, there’s no need. I won’t let you stumble.’
She’d been used to high heels once. They weren’t practical to her life after she’d taken up the role as an executive assistant, running around after billionaires who wanted her at their beck and call. Yet his refusal to put those tempting, magnificent shoes away caused a swirl of irritation to spark up inside.
‘We’ve talked about this. I don’t need expensive gifts.Especiallynot clothes. I’m not you.’
‘Thank God for that,’ he said. ‘Yet there’s something I know. You want them. I can see it in your eyes.’
Shehatedthat he could and how right he was.Shedidwant them. Wanted to put them on with their gorgeous red soles, slick on some red lipstick even though she didn’t own any and to hell with the words of her mother in her head, even after all these years.
She loathed that conflict inside of her, sensations and memories she’d thought were long buried. That fire of irritation lit to the hot burn of something a lot like anger.
Leo held out the shoes. ‘It’s not as if they’re a choker of diamonds. They’re shoes. Why say no when you know you want them?’
‘Fine,’ she said. He’d won. She placed her clutch on the stairs behind her. Balancing against the handrail, taking off one pump and dropping it with a thud, then another. He didn’t hand her the shoes, instead, Leo stepped forwards and placed them on the floor in front of her. For a moment she had the strange sensation he was bowing down to her and the rush was intoxicating like a shot of the hazelnut liqueur she enjoyed. It was sweet and went straight to her head.
She slipped her feet into the heels, took a moment to adjust. The way they felt, her calves bunching. The height they gave her. Red be damned. She didn’t care. She wanted them and she’d wear the hell out of them, even if it was only for tonight.
