Page 380 of His Virgin Romance Series

“Okay,” I said, deciding to let Leah guide me here.

While she was gone, I hopped into the shower and had a nice long bath. Then I blow dried my hair to a glossy sheen, put on my makeup, making sure to keep it simple and classy, then I slipped on an oversized t-shirt and went to the living room to wait for Leah. She took one hour and forty minutes and by the time she walked in I was impatient and very nervous.

“Where were you?” I asked.

“Sorry,” Leah said. “It took longer than I expected.”

She had slipped on a black mini with wedge heels. It was an understated and slightly forgettable look, but I had a feeling she had done that purely for my benefit. I took the dress she handed to me and stared at it. It was a strapless white dress with a small V at the neckline that I was sure would highlight my cleavage. The dress itself was figure-hugging, with a hemline that toed the line between modest and mini.

“Don’t you think this is a little much for an art exhibition?” I asked.

“Nope,” Leah said shortly. “Put it on.”

I went into my room and slipped it on. I had to call Leah in to zip me up at the back, but once she had finished I had to admit, her choice had been spot on. The dress was simple, and the color was inconspicuous. But perhaps therein lay its charm. It hugged my figure perfectly and accentuated what little cleavage I had. It made my legs look a foot longer than they really were and it made me stand out without trying too hard.

“Wow,” I said, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

“Told you.” Leah nodded. “You have to learn to trust me.”

I smiled. “I will never doubt you again.”

“Shall we?”

I gulped and nodded. “Let’s go.”

By the time we got to the gallery it was almost ten o’clock, and the place seemed relatively crowded. People were milling around holding champagne and wine as they chatted with one another and took in the artwork that had been displayed around the gallery.

Leah and I walked in and made a slow circle around the gallery. But it was Leah who spotted Miles’s work. She gasped and grabbed my hand. “Oh, my God.”

“What?” I said, looking around in alarm.

“Look,” Leah pointed.

I looked in the direction she was staring, and my breath caught as I saw my own image reflected back at me. The painting was a new one, however. I had never seen it before. Miles had used every color imaginable to create my face. I was looking to the side like I was avoiding everyone’s gaze, but the way he had captured me made it look like I was not of this world. I looked ethereal and mystical and the way my shadow was cast made it look like I had wings.

“Damn,” Leah said, as we approached the painting for a closer look. “I wish there was a man out there who saw me this way.”

I couldn’t speak. All I could do was stare up at my face, touched that Miles had created something so beautiful in my image. If this was really how he saw me, then I couldn’t have been more flattered.

“You okay?” Leah asked me.

I nodded wordlessly.

“Do you regret coming tonight?” Leah asked, watching me carefully.

I smiled and shook my head. “No,” I said. “I’m really glad I came.”

I looked around, but I couldn’t see Miles anywhere. I couldn’t leave now without seeing him, without saying something to him. At that moment, I turned and caught sight of him. He was standing a few feet away talking to a posh-looking couple who reminded me of the type of people his parents might be friends with. For all I knew, they probably were friends of his parents.

He was wearing a black suit, with a white open-collared shirt. He looked suave and cool and extremely handsome, and I felt my heart falter in my chest.

“Wow,” I heard Leah say in the background. “He’s even more handsome in person. Go say hi.”

I felt her nudge me, but I didn’t move. I was frozen in place, wondering what I should do. Just as I was trying to figure that out, Miles looked up and caught sight of me. He stared for a moment, looking almost surprised to see that I had turned up, and then a slow smile spread across his face. He excused himself and started walking towards me. It was like the world was fading away and there was nothing and no one but Miles.

And that was when I knew… I was in trouble.

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