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.”

across my face, feeling a

523 FASHION FLIRTATIONS

confidence. “I suppose the mirror does add a special touch,” I

between us. “It’s not the mirror,” he insisted, leaning in so his

affection in his eyes, wrapped around me like a baronial

just the physical aspect of us standing

the silent communication and understanding that had grown between

gaze shifted from our reflection to meet my

to narrow

with the early morning light casting a soft glow around

mirth. With Luke behind me, his hands on my shoulders, I felt grounded, as if everything in

the love, and the shared life that seemed to

his own–to be there, to support, to cherish. As I leaned back slightly, feeling his solid

there, in the way

Luke about me trying to choose a dress for work today, and guess what! It didn’t take long before Luke rummaged through my

here,” he muttered, pulling out

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

tossing the offending dress over his shoulder. “Not a

223: FASHION FEIRTATIONS

search, pulling out dresses of varying colors and styles, each one more outrageous than

my head in

with a grin, holding up a sequined monstrosity that seemed to glitter under the

at

dress out of his

for something more subtle,

“Fine, fine. But where’s

the

up as I took the dress from him, inspecting it with a critical eye. “Now we’re