A luncheon at the Ritz will require a beautiful and bright cocktail dress. I stand in front of the closet and let my eyes move along the color coordinated rack of clothes.

Then I see it. A fitted hot pink dress with a low neckline and a cute peplum. It could work, but it is brighter than I was thinking of. For a winter occasion … I hesitate, unsure if it’s something I can pull off, but the dress is so beautiful I can’t bring myself to put it back on the rack.

What the hell. I’ll just try it on and see what it looks like.

I slip it on and to my surprise it looks really, really good on me. I don’t think I have ever worn something so effortlessly classy. It must cost the very earth. I turn around and twist back to look at the dress from the back in the mirror. The dress hugs me in all of the right places and cleverly accentuates my small bum so it looks quite substantial. Whoever Thorne hired to stock this wardrobe for me really knows their stuff.

Helpfully, that person also put a pair of black Manolo Blahniks directly underneath. The back of the shoe is adorned with a tiny black ruffle along the front that goes perfectly with the peplum on the dress.

I take the time to make my eyes smoky. It highlights the blue of my eyes. I find a lipstick to almost exactly match my dress. That goes on next. An updo would be too formal for a luncheon, so I clip my hair back with black velvet clips.

After I give myself a quick once-over and decide that I feel confident with the end result, I spray some perfume from a selection of bottles on the dressing table. I’m not sure who I’m trying to impress, but I must kill the excitement that is uncoiling at the pit of my stomach when I think of how Thorne will react to my appearance.

Feeling confident I shrug into a black velvet coat and leave the room. I meet Anabel coming from the other end.

“Oh my, oh my, lass. You’ll knock the spots off all the other women,” she says with a cheeky grin.

I smile back shyly. “You don’t think it’s too bright?”

“Child. You’re a sight for sore eyes.” She leans forward. “And Mr. Thorne’s eyes are very sore these days. He works too hard.” She tuts. “Too many hours that man puts into his work.”

I blush.

“Well, I won’t hold you back. I just came by to see if everything was to your satisfaction. And if you need anything else.”

“Yes, everything is just great. Thank you.”

She turns to go, then whirls back. “Oh, and you don’t need to make your own bed. Theresa will come around to do it while you are at breakfast and if you decide to have breakfast in bed, she will do it when you leave.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I know, child, but you wouldn’t want to do Theresa out of a job now, would you?” she says with a wink.

I smile and shake my head. She goes the way she came and I descend the stairs. Halfway down I am suddenly incredibly nervous. I pause and give myself a small pep talk. You’re simply going to be Thorne’s arm candy for the day. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of thinking that you are anything more than just a trophy that he is using for his pleasure.

As I resume my journey down, Thorne steps into the hallway and looks up at me. My breath hitches. He is in an immaculate dove-gray suit, white shirt, and charcoal tie. It’s not something I expected. I’ve never seen him in anything but black. Black suits, black T-shirts, black jeans. His hair is pulled back and out of his face, and he is freshly shaved.

He looks incredible.

His lips part when he sees me, but instead of his usual scowl or cold nod of acknowledgement, he becomes completely still. He stares at me almost in disbelief, or shock. It’s like he is seeing me for the first time. Then he blinks, and the stunned look is gone from his face.

He walks towards me and, as he did the night before, he extends his hand out to me. I don’t hesitate this time. When I place my hand in his, he rubs the back of my hand with his thumb and brings it to his lips. My whole body tingles with electricity.

“Will I do?” I breathe.

“You’ll do, Chelsea Appleby,” he murmurs against my skin.

My tense body relaxes, melts like chocolate in the summer. I stare up into the beautiful icicles in his gray eyes. How long I was lost in their desolate beauty I don’t know. It could have been a few seconds, a few days, or even years, but I know I wanted to stay there forever.

There is a cough to the left of us, and I jump and whirl my head towards the sound. For a moment there, we were the only people in the universe. No one else existed.

“Ryland is bringing the limousine around,” James says.

We walk together to the front door as the car rounds the fountain and pulls up by the steps.

James moves forward to open and hold the door for us.