To Love Honour and Disobey

‘You think?’ She grinned. ‘The woman in the boutique assured me it was for evening wear.’

He bet she had.

‘It has a wrap that goes with it. So I won’t freeze.’ She was looking at the dress again thoughtfully. ‘But I can’t wear a bra under it—the straps will show.’

‘Wear strapless.’ He choked.

‘I don’t have strapless.’ She frowned and then smiled. ‘But I can get one. We can call in at Harvey Nicks on the way.’ She shook the dress on the hanger so it shimmered more. ‘And I can’t wear knickers—the lines will show.’

Oh, she just had to be doing it deliberately. ‘Umm.’

‘G-string.’

‘OK,’ he said roughly. ‘Sounds good.’

‘So you’ll go, then?’

What choice did he have? ‘Yeah.’

Ana barely suppressed her giggles as she walked with him to his apartment. The look on his face had been priceless. No bra? No knickers? Ana had never had the experience of turning someone to jelly at her feet before. It was hilarious—and heady. But he had to go to the wedding. If she had to hog-tie him and carry him in there, he had to go. She knew what it was like to fall out with family. He was hurting now—if he didn’t show he’d hurt more. He had parents who loved him—who’d made life hard, for sure, but who had loved him. Where there was love there was hope, right?

She looked around his apartment as he disappeared upstairs. It was totally different from when she’d been in there a year ago. It had been stripped and modernised. Light and spacious, the kitchen was fantastic.

‘What do you think?’ Seb called.

‘Phil did a good job.’

‘Yeah.’ He walked through to where she was with just a towel slung low round his hips.

Ana stared. He’d shaved. He’d showered. He’d gone back to gorgeous.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked, unable to tear her eyes from his frame.

He hadn’t dried himself properly. Droplets of water clung to his chest—tracking down his oh-so-toned abs. Her body began its meltdown—Seb and water. There was nothing like Seb and water.

He looked surprised at her question. ‘Need to iron a shirt.’

Not sexy. Not sexy. Seeing a man in a towel ironing a shirt was not sexy.

Right—her boobs weren’t getting the message. Nor was her womb.

Ana had to put herself in time out. ‘I’m going to get to grips with your car.’

She took his key and went out to where the sleek machine was parked. Tossed the bag with her shoes and dress into the back and sat in the seat and figured out the windscreen wipers.

He grinned wickedly when he slung into the seat beside her. ‘Harvey Nicks, here we come.’

Ana kept her eyes on the road. She hadn’t seen Seb in a suit in a while. And if she looked now they’d have an accident. Fatal.

But Seb had come to life. Any trace of hangover was obliterated as, frighteningly at ease in the lingerie department, he happily browsed through the racks of silk and lace and nothing-much-else. He held up a couple and looked surprised when she turned on him crossly.

‘Can’t you go and be embarrassed in the corner like any normal man would?’

‘And miss out on all this? No way.’ He grinned as her colour rose. ‘All right, I’ll go look at the bikinis. That make you happy?’

Ten minutes later she stood in the booth and sighed. There was no denying it. There was no bra on earth that could be worn under the dress. She had to go commando.

‘You can get away with it. Not many could.’

Oh, hell, she was going to have to walk in public like this? Thank heavens for the wrap. Ana turned to the assistant. ‘I feel bad about not buying…’

‘Don’t worry. Your husband is out there buying up a storm.’

‘He is?’ Her husband? He’d announced their relationship to the store?

The woman nodded. ‘Now he’s sure of your size…’ Her brow raised.

Ana didn’t need the mirror to know she was cherry red. The shop assistant clearly thought there was some kind of Pygmalion thing going on with her and Seb because she’d already sent for one of the girls from an exclusive make-up counter.

‘It won’t take a moment to touch up your face.’

Touch it up?

‘This is all part of the service?’

The assistant smiled. ‘We like to take care of our valued customers.’

Goodness. He really must be spending up big.

She sat on the chair in the spacious changing room and held still for the ‘touch up’. Glancing into the mirror, she couldn’t believe the effects wrought after just a few dabs here and there. And the lipstick was just the shade.