Page 33 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

Erin couldn’t help wondering if thisGeorgianahad dressed other women for Ajax. His wife? Even if he hadn’t loved her, they’d have had to feel some affection for each other? Shared a bed at least?

‘I...’ What could she say? She’d agreed to this. ‘Okay.’

‘A statement will be put out by my PR team in advance of the event. That will hopefully nip most of the speculation in the bud.’

‘I’d like to see it beforehand.’

Ajax arched a brow. ‘To make sure it’s legally acceptable?’

‘Of course.’ Erin couldn’t stop her professional instincts from kicking in, even though she was fairly certain Ajax’s team would be going out of their way to ensure the statement held no hint of a more permanent relationship in the near future.

‘I’ll have my assistant send you the draft copy.’

‘Thank you.’ Erin felt stiff and formal. The space was suddenly too small around her, as if all the air was being sucked out of the room. Ajax seemed huge. A solid wall of muscle.

‘I should go and check on Ashling...she’ll be getting hungry.’

Ajax looked at his watch. ‘I have to go into my offices for a few hours. Go ahead and eat later without me. I’ll find Damia for you and send her up.’

He left.

Erin went straight to the French doors and opened them, sucking in a lungful of air. Had she made a huge mistake in agreeing to go along with Ajax’s plan for them to be seen out together? That last exchange had been as chaste and civil as any conversation between two colleagues. He hadn’t even touched her. And yet her skin was prickling all over, tight and sensitised.

It was so humiliating to still be attracted to the guy when he’d moved on so long ago...

‘Miss Murphy?’

Erin whirled around to see Damia in the doorway, holding Ashling, who immediately put her arms out for her mother. She pushed all thoughts of Ajax and the future and how he made her feel out of her head and focused on her baby.

She smiled at the young woman. ‘Please, call me Erin.’

CHAPTER SIX

THEFOLLOWINGEVENING, Ajax stood at the bedroom door, where it was open just a crack. He felt like a voyeur, but he couldn’t move a muscle. He was frozen at the vision of Erin, standing in front of the mirror, looking as stunned as he felt.

He’d always known she possessed an understated kind of beauty—the kind that mocked you for not noticing it at first. But now there was nothing understated about her...she was breathtaking.

She wore a strapless floor-length dress. Black. Its structured bodice-style design pushed her breasts up and cinched in her waist, and then the dress fell in soft silken folds to the floor.

Her skin looked very pale. She wore no jewellery apart from an elaborate diamond necklace and a matching cocktail ring. Luxuriant long black lashes framed smoky eyes. Blusher highlighted cheekbones so high and defined they could cut glass, and a nude gloss on her lips made them seem plump and provocative.

As if she was asking to be kissed.

Ajax was finding it hard to remember why that would be a bad idea.

Georgiana was talking to her. ‘Your short hair really sets the look off. What made you decide to cut it?’

Erin replied, ‘The baby...she kept tugging on it.’

Ajax tried not to let that image get to him, but it was hard. He remembered Theo pulling on Sofia’s hair, and himself lifting him out of her arms when she got irritated. He couldn’t imagine Erin getting irritated...

Georgiana said, ‘Most women wouldn’t get away with it but with your bone structure...’

Ajax could see that Erin was self-conscious, embarrassed by the praise. Again, not like Sofia, nor any of the women he was used to. They were born confident, expecting compliments, reveling in them. Erin looked as if she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

Erin smiled at the stylist. ‘Thank you for your help. I wouldn’t have had a clue where to start.’

Georgiana winked. ‘That’s what I get paid the big bucks for.’

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