Page 20 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

She sat back down, buckled up and grabbed an available magazine and buried her face in it.

* * *

A few hours later Axel was staring out of the window that took in a view of the Eiffel Tower nearby. His apartment was at the top of one of Paris’s iconic Haussmann buildings, on the corner of a wide boulevard.

He barely noticed the view though—it had been a long time since a view had caused him to stop and take a breath.

But he couldn’t deny he’d enjoyed watching Hope’s reaction to the apartment as she’d walked around, hands clutching her bag to her as if afraid she might reach out and sully something with her touch. He’d seen it through her eyes. The neoclassical design with slim, elegant modernist furniture. Open spaces. Parquet flooring. Sculptures dotted around the main living space. Tasteful art on the wall but nothing too showy. No vivid colours.

She’d stopped at the window where he stood now and she’d gasped. ‘You have a view of the tower. That’s so cool.’

It was cool. He hadn’t thought of it like that. He’d purchased this apartment because of the view but not to enjoy it. He didn’t have time.

He heard a rustling sound behind him and turned around and for the first time in years he was facing a view that blanked his mind of everything else.

Hope stood a few feet away…transformed into a vision of such elegance and beauty that he couldn’t speak. He could only look, and take in the gold dress that hinted at high firm breasts, a tiny waist, and then fell to the floor in silken folds. All the way to where perfectly manicured toes peeped out from matching sandals.

He’d noticed the difference in her earlier, but now her skin looked more luminous. Her eyes even bigger. She looked visibly self-conscious. ‘I hope I’ll do.’

Axel shook himself out of his stupor and managed to string some words together. ‘You look beautiful, Hope.’

Her face went pink and it had a direct effect on Axel’s body.

‘Thank you, you look…um, nice too.’

Nice. That word again. He put out a hand. ‘We should go.’

Hope turned around to precede him from the room and Axel nearly tripped over his own feet when he saw the expanse of her bare back. Graceful and curving out at her buttocks. He felt an irrational need to ask her to put something else on. Something more concealing, which he knew was ridiculous.

He hovered his hand about an inch away from touching her as they got into the elevator and descended to the ground floor, where the concierge rushed to open the door and let them out into the warm late summer evening.

Hope sat in the car and Axel had to tense his jaw when he saw a flash of sleek, toned thigh through a slit in the dress. Was this the most provocative outfit he’d ever seen on a woman? No! He had to get it together.

* * *

Hope was close to hyperventilating and she had to force herself to take deep breaths, but she hadn’t been right since she’d walked into that apartment earlier. It was the kind of place you saw in movies. When she’d spotted the Eiffel Tower through one of the windows she hadn’t been able to hide her delighted response. But seriously…the freaking Eiffel Tower!

It glittered in the distance now as they crossed the river. Hope was also not right after seeing Axel in his tuxedo. He’d been gorgeous before…but in a classic black tuxedo that had to have been made specially for him, the way it hugged his powerful frame, he was simply breathtaking.

He looked even taller, broader. More powerful. Sleek. Achingly sophisticated and suave. He oozed with the privilege of his illustrious background and the pride of his ancestors.

Bizarrely, it made her want to prod a little to see what it would take to ruffle that very civil and cool surface. She’d had that impulse the very first time she’d seen him on the private jet.

His hand rested on his thigh and she couldn’t help but notice how masculine it was. Hope could imagine him getting his hands dirty. Doing manual labour.

He looked at her and she cursed the way heat crept up from her chest to her face. ‘So what is this event we’re going to?’

‘A banquet in aid of different charities. I’m patron of several.’

Hope absorbed this. ‘Is there anything I need to be aware of?’

‘Not really. Just stay by my side and follow my lead.’

Hope had a slightly anxiety-inducing feeling it wouldn’t be that simple. ‘What if someone talks to me?’

‘Talk back. They’re just human beings.’

‘But what if I say something…wrong?’