Page 142 of In Love and Revenge

I stretch my arms above my head, eyeing the way his navy t-shirt hugs his broad chest. We need another break. As determined as I am to find something that will help my father, I know that when I push myself for too long, I make mistakes. I miss things and have to circle back around to them again. Looking at Rafael and how capable he is, I’m not sure he has the same issues. But I still want to make sure he doesn’t give himself eye strain or worse.

‘I need to film a blog post for some items a brand sent me. Can I use your dressing room?’

He frowns, eyes still on a court transcript. ‘Course you can. You don’t need to ask. And it’sourdressing room.’

‘It’s for a new summer line. Lots of cute dresses.Shortones,’ I add.

His focus doesn’t break.

I twirl a strand of hair around my finger. ‘Can you ... hold the camera for me?’

That gets his attention. His eyes lift to mine with a gleam of interest sparking in them. ‘You want me to film you?’

I tilt my head, my tone suggestive. ‘That depends. Are you going to touch yourself while you watch me?’

He sits back in his chair, his gaze dragging down over me and hovering on my breasts in my t-shirt.

He licks his lips. ‘If I don’t, I’ll be wishing I was.’

‘Come on.’ I stand and hold out my hand. He threads his fingers inside mine, following me upstairs to his bedroom and into the large dressing room.

Row upon row of immaculate suits line the walls, but there’s a section that’s been cleared, which now homes my meagre collection of clothing.

‘I’ll film with your things in the background. It’ll look better,’ I tell him, crossing the room to open the box I’ve been sent from one of the brands I regularly work with.

‘We need to take you shopping again,’ he grunts, scowling at my clothes like they’ve personally offended him.

‘It’s fine.’

‘It’s not fine,’ he huffs. ‘You’ve hardly got any clothing, Aurora.’

‘Thought you preferred that.’

I roll my eyes when he keeps glaring at my pathetic-looking rail of items.

‘We’ll go tomorrow. I have a personal shopper who can help us source everything. Get you some new dresses. New shoes. Handbags. The lot.’

‘Why?’ I shrug. ‘It’s not like I’ll wear fancy designer things when I’m cleaning people’s houses for them and walking their dogs. Unless ...’ My throat burns. ‘You’re not embarrassed to be seen with me, are you?’ My mind flits to Seraphina and how stylish she looked that night at the restaurant. ‘I know I’m not polished and wearing all the latest—’

‘Bloody hell, Aurora. Who put that idea in your head?’

His outburst has me snapping my eyes to his. His nostrils flare. He looks ready to go into battle.

‘No one,’ I flounder. ‘I was just thinking out loud.’

His face softens. ‘Beauty, the only reason I want to take you shopping is because I want to give you everything. Not because I want you to look a certain way. I love you whatever you wear,but ...’ His eyes drop over me as I shimmy into the first new sundress I need to film. ‘But that one you’re definitely keeping.’

‘You like it?’ I smooth my hands over the front of the white dress. It’s got tiny red rosebuds embroidered all over it, and the chest area gathers and ties in a bow, lifting my breasts up.

‘Does it come in more colours?’ Rafael asks.

‘Pink with white daisies, I think.’

‘Order that one as well. And get two.’

‘Two?’

‘In case I rip one off you.’ He reaches down and squeezes the crotch of his jeans. ‘Damn, I can’t get over how sexy you are.’