CHAPTER 24
Graham opened his mouth to speak, the words hanging in the air before he could even form them fully. “Isla, about New York…” But before he could say anything more, Isla’s sharp response interrupted him.
“Not going,” she said, her voice firm, a clear and resolute rejection.
“But you didn’t let me finish,” he replied, his tone teasing, but with an edge of persistence.
This time, though, Isla didn't cut him off again. She gave him a sidelong glance, her eyes narrowing with suspicion, though curiosity was slowly beginning to creep in. “I’ve been invited to a party tonight, in New York,” Graham continued, watching the subtle shift in her expression. He didn’t need to look away from her to know the precise moment her interest piqued.
“A party?” Her voice wavered just enough for him to catch it—suddenly all ears, as if she couldn’t quite hide her excitement at the very mention of the word. Her gaze locked onto his, wide-eyed and alert, her entire attention now captured by the prospect of it.
Graham felt a sharp, almost painful twist in his chest. It wasn’t the idea of the party itself—it was the realization of how much he could give her, how much he could offer her if she were just willing to step into this world with him. The thought of her sitting in a cramped, empty house while he lived out this life made him ache in a way he couldn’t quite explain. He wanted more for her. More than this small town. More than the limits she had placed on herself.
“Like I said,” he went on, his voice softening just slightly, “I’ve been invited to this party in New York, and since Vanessa left, I don’t have anyone to go with. I was thinking... if you might consider accompanying me.”
Isla froze, her eyes still locked on him, no words escaping her lips. There was a flicker in her expression—a subtle, but unmistakable excitement hidden beneath her feigned indifference. Graham could see it, though. The way her fingers began drumming lightly against the table in rhythm, tapping out a quick beat, betraying the careful calm she was trying to project.
She pretended to pause, as though she were mulling it over, but he could see right through it. Her eyes—bright, sparkling with anticipation—told him everything. She was excited. Her body was practically humming with the thought of it. She wanted to go.
And yet, Isla wasn’t willing to admit it just yet. She was playing it cool, trying to maintain control, but the joy in her gaze was undeniable.
Graham couldn’t help the faint, satisfied grin that curled at the corner of his mouth, seeing the way her usual reserve faltered under the weight of his offer. There was something endearing about her innocence,
Isla’s voice trembled slightly as she asked, “I-I... Is it really important?” Her uncertainty was palpable, but there was something else in her eyes too—curiosity, hesitation, perhaps even a spark of excitement.
Graham, for a moment, couldn’t quite understand where she was coming from. “What?” he asked, his gaze narrowing as he tried to read the flicker of emotion in her eyes.
“I mean... is it really important for your business, or anything?” she clarified, her voice trailing off. “If so, I wouldn’t want you to go alone... That could look bad.”
Something that shone through her gaze—an eagerness she couldn’t entirely mask. She wanted to go. She needed to go, though she didn’t want to admit it.
A mischievous grin curled at the corners of Graham’s lips, but he concealed it quickly. “Oh, sure. Very important business party,” he said smoothly, his voice laced with teasing assurance. The words were playful, but he knew they were enough to entice her.
Her eyes were wide, sparkling now, though she tried to mask her enthusiasm. “Then, I suppose I’ll have to go with you after all,” she said, her tone light, as if she were making some grand concession—perhaps to humor him, or to ease the discomfort of what she was really feeling. But Graham saw it. He saw the subtle shift in her posture—the way her body seemed to lean in, even if only for a brief moment.
A wave of desire hit him, fierce and consuming. He wanted to sweep her into his arms right there, kiss her until she forgot everything else, until there was nothing but the two of them. She was so... innocent, so utterly priceless in her vulnerability, and that innocence was part of what made her so captivating.
But he knew better than to rush her. To push too fast would only send her running, and he wanted her—no, needed her—right by his side, for this and everything that would come after.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice lowering slightly with a genuine note of appreciation. “But there’s a dress code for the party,” he added, watching her every move with careful attention. “You need to wear something red. Something... really sexy.”
Isla blinked at him, her expression a mixture of surprise and confusion. “Really?” Her voice had dropped just enough for him to hear the uncertainty lingering beneath her words. “But I don’t have anything in red, or... sexy,” she finished in a soft, almost embarrassed murmur.
Graham’s lips parted into a slow smile, the kind of smile that didn’t reach his eyes at first, but instead seemed to deepen as he studied her. He could already tell. She didn’t have anything red or sexy. He knew that without question. Between Maggie’s nunnish style and her father’s obsession with dressing her like a doll, she had likely never even considered something so... provocative.
And that’s exactly why he’d said it.
Here’s an enhanced version with more detail and tension:
And then, as if everything had clicked into place, Graham knew he had her exactly where he wanted her. A silent grin tugged at the corners of his lips, but he quickly masked it with a forced cough, playing it cool. “Well then,” he began, his tone smooth and deliberate, “I suppose you’ll have to go shopping. Get the whole attire—dress, shoes, a bag, and all the accessories to match.”
He made a show of counting the items off on his fingers, his voice steady, but his eyes never leaving hers. If he had her attention when he mentioned the party, now he had it all. Every part of her focus was trained on him, wide-eyed, her elbows pressed on the table, chair scooted in closer as she leaned forward.
“Really?” she asked, her voice almost breathless, before she quickly caught herself. “I mean... do I really need to?”
Graham, fighting the urge to smile too broadly, nodded seriously, keeping his expression even, though the flicker of satisfaction was hard to suppress. “In fact, I think you should get your hair and nails done as well,” he added, as though offering her simple instructions, treating her like a new project he was overseeing. His voice was casual, but there was a sharp edge of command to it.
“Everyone will be dressed like that. I wouldn’t want to stand out and embarrass you.”he blinked at her, confusion momentarily clouding her features, Graham’s eyes softened for a split second, his heart giving a jolt. Embarrass him? He almost laughed aloud at the thought. This girl? She would outshine everyone at that party. She didn’t even realize it yet, but the moment she stepped into the room, heads would turn. She was that beautiful, that radiant—her innocence and grace like a beacon in a room full of pretension. But he didn’t correct her. Let her think she needs to impress him. Let her believe that he’s the one being saved.
“Of course,” he said, a quiet note of amusement hidden in his voice. He glanced at his watch, snapping back into business mode. “But for all of that to come together before tonight, we’ll need to leave now. We’ll be in New York in an hour.”
His words hung in the air, and for a moment, there was no argument. She simply stared at him, her lips parting slightly, and then, without hesitation, she nodded.
“I’ll get dressed then,” she said, her voice suddenly quiet, almost as if she were still processing everything.
Graham couldn’t stop the thrill of anticipation from rising within him. He’d already planned this—the shopping, the transformation. He knew what she would look like when she finally stepped out in that red dress, the perfect match for the woman she was becoming under his careful guidance. And he would be there, watching it all unfold, watching her shine.
As she stood up to leave, he leaned back in his chair, watching her every move. The game had just begun, and he was more than ready to play.