Page 48 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

‘Think of it as a kind of armour.’

‘Wow...now I really can’t wait to meet them.’

The owner came back and indicated for Erin to come into the changing room. She left Ajax outside.

The clothes that the woman had chosen—far from the classic Chanel-type suits Erin had been envisaging—were relaxed. Elegant and not a million miles from what she would have chosen herself. There were trouser suits with pencil trousers and structured jackets. Dresses in every colour of the rainbow, long and flowy, that swirled around Erin’s body. Beautifully cut jeans and soft cashmere tops. Silk shirts...

And then the evening wear.

Erin tried on a dress that she could appreciate might fit a more conservative environment than a restaurant or his friends’ charity auction, but to her it seemed even more daring than anything Georgiana had picked out.

It was made of a green silk that made her hair look even redder than usual. It had spaghetti straps and a piece of fabric that covered her breasts, with cut-outs at her waist. The dress then fell in soft, Grecian-style folds to the floor.

Erin said, ‘Um... I’m not sure about this one—’

She stopped when a movement caught her eye, and looked up to see that Ajax had pulled aside the curtain to look. She could feel the heat in his gaze from a couple of feet away and quivered inwardly, remembering how it had felt to have his body surge into hers the previous night, stealing her soul piece by piece.

‘We’ll take it,’ said Ajax. ‘And the rest.’

Ajax pulled a pair of jeans and a silk top out of the pile of clothes, and a pair of high-heeled sandals.

‘Put these on for now.’

Erin knew she should protest, but she was ashamed to admit that having Ajax telling her what to put on, dressing for him, gave her a bit of a thrill. She put on the clothes and the boutique owner told her that everything else would be packed and sent to the villa.

Erin sighed. She’d have to try and remember this wasn’t how things worked in the real world.

When she’d changed, they walked outside and found Ajax’s car waiting. They got into the back and it moved into the traffic.

‘Where are we going?’ she asked.

‘Just a little taverna I know.’

‘Just a little taverna’turned out to be an exclusive restaurant, tucked away in a picturesque square in the ancient Plaka area. It was full already, with a mix of tourists and glamorous locals. Erin was in awe of the Greek women, blinging with jewellery and stunningly beautiful.

A table was found for them in a discreet corner. When they’d sat down, Erin said, ‘More opportunities for us to be seen out and about?’

Ajax shook his head. ‘No, actually. I’m hungry and thought you might be too. There are no paparazzi here.’

Erin’s insides dipped. Was this a date?

‘So what is this? What are we now? Friends?’

With benefits?She didn’t say that.

Ajax’s mouth quirked. ‘You know, that’s one of the things I like most about you—your directness.’

Erin wasn’t sure if that was a compliment. She could imagine other women being more coquettish. It just wasn’t her style.

‘I could say the same of you.’

She shivered a little at the memory of how ‘direct’ Ajax had been that first night. In the elevator.

‘We’re lovers,’ Ajax said then. ‘Lovers for as long as this mutual attraction lasts.’

Erin wanted to ask,How long?But a waiter arrived and took their order, brought water and wine.

Erin took a sip of the chilled white wine. ‘What if one of us loses interest first?’ She knew it wouldn’t be her, as humiliating as that was to admit.

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