Page 38 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

‘I saw that.’

Erin felt only a flat kind of acceptance. It would have been strange if he’d had a sudden change of heart, and the last thing she or Ashling needed was someone not being consistent. But still... It was confirmation of his intention to have very little to do with his daughter.

Erin reminded herself that it was absolutely necessary to set out these boundaries. Her own mother had used to just appear at random times and stay for a day or two, making Erin hope and wish that she was coming back for good, only to disappear again. As she’d grown older she’d refused to see her mother on those visits, needing to protect herself from the inevitable disappointment and her resentment at being squeezed into the space between two conferences when she happened to be in town.

Erin said now, ‘It can be renegotiated at a later stage if you want to make any changes. Maybe when she’s older you’ll feel differently.’

Someone jostled Erin from behind and she fell forward into Ajax’s chest. He caught her to him with his hands on her bare arms. They were pressed together, chest to chest. She could feel his heart. Or was it hers, pounding too hard?

He looked down at her, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her again, but he said, ‘I won’t want to make any changes.’

The haze of desire in Erin’s head cleared. She pulled back, steadied herself, and for the rest of the evening kept a rictus smile on her face. Thankfully Ajax kept their physical contact to a minimum from then on, just hand-holding or lightly touching her back.

She had to nip this seed of hope in the bud. The seed of hope that somehow he’d change and realise that ofcoursehe wanted a meaningful relationship with his daughter. She’d learnt a harsh lesson from her mother, and she couldn’t afford to forget it now.

A few days later, Ajax was looking out through the window of his home office. Laid out before him was the back garden, with Athens in the distance. But he could only see the little tableau unfolding on the lawn.

Erin, Damia and Ashling and much excitement. Ashling had just taken her first steps. Erin appeared to be crying and video calling someone—Ajax guessed it had to be her father—and Damia was holding Ashling. She let her go and the little girl wobbled on two sturdy legs towards her mother as Erin filmed her. Then Erin threw the phone down and caught Ashling to her, standing up and twirling her high in the air.

Ajax could hear their shrieks of delight from here. But it was as if there was a block of ice in his chest. Numbing him. Keeping him safe. At a remove. Memories of Theo’s first steps threatened to surface, but Ajax pushed them ruthlessly down.

The pane of glass between him and them was more than a physical thing. Every self-preserving instinct inside him told him to stay far away from this moment, even as another part of him ached to see it.

He could feel his skin getting clammy and his heart starting to pound erratically. Nausea climbed up from his gut. He turned away and walked blindly out of his office and out of the villa, his heart rate only returning to normal as he got further and further away.

It was early evening, and Erin was standing in front of the mirror again, with Georgiana behind her. She felt completely intimidated by what she was wearing.

‘Isn’t this a little...too much?’

Georgiana stood back and looked at Erin, almost comically insulted. ‘Do you haveanyidea where you are going for dinner? Do you know how impossible it is to get a booking? You have to book years in advance!’

Erin said, ‘I feel naked.’

‘You lookamazing.’

Erin found it hard to believe. She was wearing a jumpsuit—dark brown-silk, long harem-style trousers. So far, so respectable. But the top was merely two pieces of fabric, slashed almost to the navel, held up by a clasp behind her neck, leaving her back bare.

Her hair was slicked back. Her eyes looked even bigger than usual, shimmering with gold. A gold bangle encircling one upper arm and chunky gold earrings were the only adornments. She wore gold high-heel sandals.

Georgiana said, ‘It’s daring, chic and elegant. Every man within a ten-mile radius will want you.’

Erin smiled weakly. One thing was sure: she was making up for all those times she’d stayed in studying when her college mates had been out partying.

There was a knock on the door and Erin’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Surely Ajax would take one look and be horrified? He didn’t strike her as the kind of guy who went out with women who were practically naked from the waist up.

She turned around slowly and steeled herself, barely aware of Georgiana slinking away. There was silence. Ominous. Thick with a tension that Erin remembered from before...in that elevator.

She risked a glance at Ajax, and gulped. His eyes were wide and he was looking her up and down. Her skin tingled. She felt sure he had to be horrified.

He was wearing a black shirt and black trousers. Thick hair swept back. She was glad he wasn’t in a tuxedo—she couldn’t handle that again.

Erin finally blurted out, ‘It’s too much, isn’t it? I’ll change... Georgiana tried a dress before this. I can put that on.’

She’d turned, as if to go back to the dressing room, but Ajax said roughly, ‘No, it’s fine. You’re fine.’

Erin turned around again. ‘Are you sure?’

A muscle ticked in his jaw. ‘Absolutely. We should go.’

---