Read The Affair: Week 5 for Free Online Page A

She looked . . .
    . . .
fantastic
in it.
    “Oh my,” Sophia said, stepping back and grinning. “This is definitely one to show Mr. Montand, don’t you think?” She set down a sinfully sexy pair of strappy sandals in front of her. “Leave the jacket,” the saleswoman directed when Emma reached for it after she’d buckled the sandals around her ankles. Emma saw the sparkle in Sophia’s brown eyes. “He’s not going to want it on you. Trust me.”
    Emma’s cheeks went hot, but she followed a beaming Sophia out of the dressing room. Vanni was sitting in a Louis the XIV–style armchair, reading a newspaper, his tea service set out next to him on a circular table. Despite his T-shirt and jeans, he looked every bit the insouciant, confident prince of the palace.
    “Well? Stunning, isn’t she?” Sophia said.
    Vanni glanced up as Emma came to a stop. His expression didn’t change that much as he looked at her, but something in his eyes made the burn in her cheeks amplify.
    “Well?” Emma asked when he didn’t say anything.
    “That one. Definitely that one,” he said, his mouth set in a rigid line as he went back to his reading.
    Sophia looked ebullient as she gave Emma a wink. With a sinking feeling, Emma thought she knew why. Emma had cringed upon seeing the price tag on the dress.
    She would have thought she’d blush less each time Sophia indicated the outfit was worthy for Vanni to see. Instead, the heat in her cheeks only seemed to mount every time he glanced up and considered her with a stare that was both cool and assessing and scorching hot at once. She was embarrassed to admit it but she was actually becoming aroused by those dispassionate-seeming perusals that really didn’t
feel
remotely aloof at all.
    She walked toward him wearing a fantastic ivory cocktail dress that gave the illusion of transparency without actually being sheer, along with several ropes of pearls and matching pumps. Emma especially loved this one. It was an updated, sexier version of something a glamorous 1920s flapper heiress might wear on a jaunt across Europe. Vanni looked up and froze in the action of folding his paper.
    “That’s it,” he told Sophia briskly, his mouth hard. “We’ll take them.”
    “Which ones, Mr. Montand?” Sophia asked eagerly.
    “All of the ones I’ve seen.”
    “Vanni—” Emma started to protest.
    “Did you bring her swimwear and lingerie?” Vanni asked Sophia, cutting her off.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Choose several weeks’ worth of items for her. We’ll take one of the swimsuits now, but have the rest delivered to this address,” he said, handing Sophia a business card and what appeared to be a credit card.
    Emma gave him a helpless, annoyed glance over her shoulder as Sophia bustled her back to the dressing lounge. The sales associate was all smiles as she helped Emma undress. Three other associates entered, each of them leaving with armfuls of garments and teasing Emma about how lucky she was. She had a feeling they were referring to the man sitting out in the sitting area more than they were the dream wardrobe he’d just bought her without a second thought. Sophia followed them a moment later carrying the final load. Emma picked up her bra—she’d had to remove it to do several of the dresses justice. She’d speak to Vanni about this privately. They’d agree to one dress,
two
if he said it was required given the events at the race, but—
    In the reflection of the mirrors she saw the door open. Vanni walked in and shut the door behind him. Emma turned around, instinctively covering her bare breasts.
    “Vanni?” she asked, her confusion mounting when she saw the single-minded intent gleaming in his light eyes.
    He twisted the lock on the door.
    “What are you doing?” she asked incredulous when he stalked toward her.
    “It’s all right,” he assured, his nostrils flaring slightly as he glanced down over her. He reached for her hands and lowered them deliberately. Her