I kick off my boots and flip the buttons on my fly, pushing my jeans down my thighs.

Coral’s wrong. I don’t understand. I’m the third in the threesome that’s the cause for her marriage breakdown. What the fuck had I been thinking? And why the fuck am I doing this now?

“A month, Coral,” I say sternly, lifting a foot in turn so Zoe can yank my jeans off. I look down where she’s kneeling before me, my jeans in her hands. I hang up on Coral. “All right down there?”

She flips her eyes up, coming face to face with my groin. She’s unmoving again.

“You know, Zoe, if you can’t learn to control yourself around me, I might need to find myself another personal shopper. This is getting awkward.” I give her a cheeky grin, and she shakes her head to herself, rising and claiming a shirt she’s selected to go with one of the suits. It’s pale blue. I nod agreeably and let her help me into it. She even fastens the buttons for me.

“So, tell me again what the occasion is.” She passes me the trousers.

“It’s the launch evening of the complex I just bought in.” I get the trousers on and turn to face the mirror while Zoe holds the jacket behind me. I slip my arms through and pull it in, rolling my shoulders.

“A new suit for a party?” she questions on a raised brow, and I raise mine right back. “Last I heard, Jesse Ward didn’t do mundane launch parties at apartment complexes.” She’s read between the lines. The fresh face. The new suit. Grabbing a tie, she lays it down my front. Her head cocks one way. Then the other. “No tie,” she declares, her eyes falling to mine in the mirror.

I hold them, smiling, as I pull the cuffs of the shirt down. “If you say so, Zoe.” I turn to face her.

“I’ll just double-check the inseam.” Her eyebrows lift as she lowers down my body. “Hmmm, could do with letting out a little.”

“Sort it and have it delivered to The Manor?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks, Zoe.” I drop a friendly kiss on her cheek when she stands, so grateful she makes shopping as pain-free as possible, and I’m soon back in my own clothes, this time without Zoe’s help. I flip the collar of my Ralph polo up and slip my shades on.

It’s time to plan my seduction.

I pull up behind John’s Range Rover, looking up at my rearview mirror when I hear the familiar sound of a Porsche. I pull my smile from nowhere and get out. “Sam,” I say, making my way up the steps to The Manor. “It’s a bit early, isn’t it?”