The Love From Vengeance

323: FASHION FLIRTATIONS

ARIEL’S POV

I stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around my body, and I was getting ready for work. Yesterday, Andre agreed with me to take my spot back at his company. He was such a wonderful friend. If it were some folks, they’d go ahead to do something that was not on the right side.

Luke was walking around the room, making a phone call. I just stood, watching him until he was done. He let out a sigh since his talk on the phone was more of an argument than a conversation. But staring at me, he smiled.

“Is it just me, or do you look absolutely pretty whenever you step out of the shower?”

He walked closer to me.

“Oh really, you think so?”

“You haven’t noticed?” he raised an eyebrow. Oh, right, I forgot. You can’t look at yourself unless you go and stand close to a mirror.

“There’s a mirror right there.” I gestured towards the mirror fixed on the wall in the

room.

“Go take a look at yourself then.” Luke grinned at me.

I sighed and moved towards the mirror. The cool air of the room contrasted with the warmth still radiating from my skin. Luke followed closely behind, his presence a

comforting fervor at my back.

Standing in front of the mirror, I caught our reflections. The contrast between my towel–wrapped form and his casual, everyday attire highlighted the intimacy of the

moment.

Luke’s hands found their way to my shoulders, his touch gentle. Our eyes met through the mirror; his gaze was soft yet intense, making my heart flutter.

“See?” he said quietly, his voice soothing to the fullest. “Absolutely stunning.”

spread across my face, feeling a

523 FASHION FLIRTATIONS

a special touch,” I teased, meeting his gaze in the reflection.

resonated through the small space between us. “It’s not the mirror,” he insisted, leaning in so

eyes, wrapped around me like a baronial embrace. Our

than just the physical aspect of us standing

back the depth of our connection, the silent communication and understanding that had grown between

our reflection to meet my eyes directly,

seemed to narrow

morning light casting a

his hands on my shoulders, I felt grounded, as if everything in my life had led me to this point of

the love, and the shared life that seemed to promise

a gentle squeeze of my shoulders, a wordless promise of his own–to be there, to support, to

the way we stood, in the way we looked

and guess what! It didn’t take long before Luke

let’s see what we have here,” he muttered, pulling out a dress and

up for inspection.

leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, and raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me you’re not going to suggest that I wear that neon pink

chuckled, tossing the offending dress over his shoulder. “Not a chance.

223: FASHION FEIRTATIONS

time.” He continued his search, pulling out dresses of varying colors and styles, each one more

you trying to torture me?” I exclaimed, shaking my head in mock dismay. “I think- you’re secretly enjoying this.”

up a sequined monstrosity that seemed to glitter under the

person at the

out of his hand. “I’d blind everyone within a ten–mile

something more subtle, shall we?”

up in defeat. “Fine, fine. But where’s the fun in subtle?” he teased, finally pulling out a sleek, black dress

underneath the

critical eye. “Now we’re talking,”