Page 73 of In Love and Revenge

‘Do you work with Phillip?’ He says the host’s name so easily, like he’s a friend of his.

‘No, I don’t. I came here tonight as a plus one.’

‘I see. How are you feeling? Still hot?’ He lifts the back of his hand to my forehead in a move that’s way too familiar.

I step back quickly to create space between us. The bite of branches from the bush behind me dig into my back.

His eyes crinkle at the corners like he’s amused, and he leans in close. ‘Don’t be shy, young lady. I don’t bite. Unless you want me to.’

He moves back with a wink. I stare at him, my breath coming in shallow pants. All these months wanting to get to speak with this man. Wanting to be close to him. And now I’m paralysed as his eyes drink me in.

‘I’m Aurora Thorne,’ I blurt.

He looks blank, his brow furrowing like he’s trying to place the name but isn’t quite there yet.Bastard. He never came to court. None of the board members did. There was one lone representative from the company, and that was it. It was as if they didn’t even deem my father’s case worth their time. As long as he was convicted and they had a scapegoat to blame then they didn’t care.

They washed their hands of my father the day they fired him and handed their suspicions over to the authorities.

If Dominic Ainsworth had been in court, then he’d recognise me. Remember my name, my father’s name.

‘George Thorne’s daughter,’ I add with a hint of bite in my tone.

A flash of recognition passes across his face briefly before he clips, ‘I see.’

‘I’ve been hoping we’d meet.’

‘Have you now?’ He chuckles, but something about the sound makes the hairs on the back of my neck prick up.

‘Yes,’ I press on, determination burning in my veins. ‘I’ve been looking into my father’s case. And I believe the company might have more information that could help him, and—’

‘Who did you come with?’

‘Sorry?’

His eyes roam over me hungrily as he admires me in my dress. The thing feels itchy suddenly. I wish I’d worn something less fitted. Something with a higher neckline.

‘My father is innocent. He—’

‘Whoever it is, they’ve abandoned you in this large house,’ Dominic continues. ‘If you were my date, I wouldn’t have taken my eyes off you for a second.’

I swallow. ‘I’ve seen some records that—’

‘Tell me, young lady, who’s the lucky man?’

The spiky bush seems inviting again as he lifts his eyes to mine.

‘That’d be me,’ a deep voice interjects.

Rich brown hair appears a couple of inches above Dominic’s head before Rafael steps around him, placing himself by my side. The heat of his body spills from him like a furnace as he snakes a possessive hand around my side and grips my hip.

I hate him, but at the same time, I’ve never been so glad to see him in my life.

Dominic reaches out and claps Rafael on the shoulder. ‘Makes sense,’ he says, looking at me. ‘A beautiful, young blonde.’ He smiles and turns to leave. ‘Well, have a good evening, you two. I’ll catch up with you later, Rafe,’ he calls over his shoulder.

‘How can you be friends with a guy like that?’ I exhale with a mixture of relief and regret as every dream scenario I’d had of interacting with Dominic Ainsworth goes up in smoke.

Rafael’s jaw is clenched hard, and he’s glaring into the house with narrowed eyes as Dominic’s cologne disperses into the night air.

‘He’s married,’ he states flatly.