Evelyn froze for a moment, the reality of the situation finally dawning on her. A hot blush instantly spread across her cheeks.

"Oh! Right! I'll just wait outside then. Just call me when you're decent," she stammered, already turning to flee.

She hadn't taken two steps before Alexander's voice halted her. "Wait."

She turned back, her expression one of pure confusion.

Alexander studied her for a long moment before releasing a soft sigh. "I didn't mean for you to leave the room. Come here. Assist me."

His words instantly transported Evelyn back to her first night at Serenity Oaks—when he had demanded her help undressing, only to dismiss her immediately after.

Evelyn hesitated, then the words tumbled out. "Alexander, you're not going to get angry and throw me out again, are you?"

His eyebrows rose slightly. "Do you truly believe I am that capricious?"

It had never occurred to him that she viewed him in such a light.

In his own mind, he had always maintained perfect composure and control around her.

Evelyn barely suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. The answer was an obvious yes.

But she kept that thought to herself. Instead, she simply shook her head. "No. Of course not. Let me help."

She stepped forward, her fingers lightly brushing the fabric of his shirt as she reached for the first button.

Before she could make contact, his hand closed firmly around her wrist.

A wave of warmth spread from his touch, making her pulse jump erratically.

Startled, she looked up—and realized just how little space separated them. She was close enough to see the individual dark lashes framing his intense eyes.

She'd never noticed them before. But now, their unfair thickness and length struck her with unexpected force.

Alexander's expression was inscrutable. "I didn't ask you to undress me. I merely require you to hold my garments."

Whether it was his blunt correction or her own sudden awareness of her eagerness, a fresh wave of heat crept up Evelyn's neck.

"Oh. Okay," she said, straightening her posture, determined to appear unaffected.

Alexander shrugged out of his suit jacket and handed it to her. He then began on his shirt buttons. His fingers moved with practiced ease, each button revealing more of the firm, toned musculature beneath.

Evelyn hadn't intended to stare. But once the smooth planes of his chest and the defined lines of his abdomen came into view, averting her gaze felt utterly impossible.

This was the first time she had seen a man's body so clearly, so close.

She never would have guessed that Alexander's impeccably tailored clothes concealed such a powerfully built physique.

Does he train regularly? The thought appeared in her mind unbidden.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely registered that Alexander, completely unselfconscious, had finished changing into the outfit she selected.

When he finally looked up, he found the tips of her ears and her neck flushed a deep, telling crimson.

Her face was turned away, her eyes squeezed shut, and her lips trembled slightly.

A faint, amused smirk touched Alexander's lips. "Evelyn," he called, his voice laced with unmistakable humor.

"Huh?" She jolted, her eyes flying open—only to find him fully dressed.

Just as she was about to reclaim her composure, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward.

She gasped, stumbling off-balance directly into him.

Her free hand shot out, bracing against the back of his wheelchair to stop her fall, eliminating the last inch of space between them.

Before she could recover, Alexander leaned in close. His voice dropped to a low, teasing murmur that vibrated against her skin.

"What's the matter?" he whispered, his breath warm against her ear. "Didn't you insist on seeing me try it on? If you desire a proper view, you really should get closer, don't you think?"