Chapter 236
CHAPTER 26
“Now, onto the next.” Graham’s grin spread wider, a dark gleam in his
eyes. He couldn’t wait for this part. Taking Isla shopping. The
thought alone sent a surge of anticipation through him. He was
looking forward to watching her in the changing rooms, to see how
she would react to the array of dresses, how she’d slip in and out of
them, her body lithe and graceful. But there was one thing that
excited him the most–watching her in the dresses that would hug her curves just right, and imagining her in them later at the party.
Isla’s voice cut through his thoughts, sounding uncertain and a little
anxious. “You’re coming with me?”
Graham saw her hesitation, the worry in her eyes. She thought he was going to hover, interfere, perhaps judge her choices. But he wasn’t here to be overbearing. No, he was here for the view, for the thrill of seeing her in dresses that would undoubtedly make her look even
more irresistible.
“Yes,” he said, keeping his tone casual, “Well, you don’t know where
the best shops are, and we need to be quick. The party’s tonight,
remember?” He gave her a reassuring smile, his voice laced with
confidence. “You can pick whatever you like. I don’t know much about
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women’s dresses anyway.”
And that was the truth. He hadn’t a clue what style would look best
on her, but he was already anticipating how she would look in the
dress. The thought alone sent a thrill through him.
Isla nodded, seemingly accepting his excuse, and off they went. But as
they entered the boutique, Graham quickly realized that things
weren’t going as planned. Isla seemed determined to shop on her
own. She disappeared into the fitting rooms, and he was left outside,
helplessly waiting as she tried on dresses one after another. She never
came out for him to give his opinion, to watch her twirl or model the
gowns for him. Instead, she slipped in and out of each outfit behind
the curtain, making her decisions without so much as a glance in his
direction.
He was beyond frustrated. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
Graham had imagined all sorts of scenarios in his head–where she
would walk out in a dress that would take his breath away, where he’d
see the sparkle in her eyes as she chose something that made her feel
powerful and seductive. But no, Isla was doing everything on her own,
methodical and independent, picking out dresses without giving him
the chance to see or comment.
She emerged from the fitting rooms only once, her arms full of
shopping bags, holding all her choices–everything decided on her
own. Graham could feel the weight of his disappointment. He’d been
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The End Of a Marriage
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
