Page 35 of Darn Knit All

I showed him how to place the measuring tape around my neck, laying the plastic flat against the dip in my collarbone.

“See?” I asked, demonstrating. “This is the measurement you want to capture.”

He nodded, his gaze narrowing as he observed my movements.

“Next we do the shoulders.” I stepped closer, tilting my body so he could see how I laid the tape across my shoulders.

“We measure from the collarbone across to the end of the collarbone, here.” I pulled the neckline of my shirt away to show where the knobby part of my shoulder ended. “Generally, you measure on both sides then average it to get the shoulder numbers.”

“Generally? When would you not do that?”

“If someone has one arm larger than the other or has a disability. You want to make sure that the fit is comfortable for them.”

Theo nodded.

I ran him through the other areas, showing him how to measure my breasts, waists, hips, thighs, and other areas.

“Okay.” I handed him the measuring tape. “Your turn.”

I rolled my shoulders back and turned to face him more fully. He gripped the tape, his quiet inhale brushing my hair as he leaned in.

The tape took on a different feel as he laid it gently against my skin. His fingers were warm as he manipulated it to take the first measurement.

“Like this?” he asked.

“Perfect,” I murmured.

He hummed to himself as he moved to my shoulder. The tape slid across one shoulder, then the other, as Theo asked me to turn this way or that.

“Next, bust,” I said, trying to sound professional as he finished recording the number.

I tried to ignore the heat crawling up my neck when his hands hovered inches from my body. He met my eyes briefly, a question lingering in his gaze. I swallowed hard, gesturing for him to continue.

“Sorry if this is awkward,” he murmured as the tape encircled me at chest level. His knuckles brushed lightly against my sides, sparking a trail of goose bumps along my skin.

As he moved from measurement to measurement, my thoughts became a jumble of scattered pieces. My attention narrowed to where his hands touched my body, where the tape rasped across my clothes, where his breath brushed against my skin.

He pulled a chair closer to sit in as he began to measure my lower body.

“Easier than crouching,” he murmured, nodding his head toward his prosthetic.

I nodded, unable to speak as a coil of tension wound tight in my middle. Leaning forward, Theo frowned a little as he began to measure.

The heat of his hands penetrated the thin fabric of my leggings, his touch gentle as he wrapped the tape around my thigh.

“Like this?” he asked, glancing up.

“Uh, yeah.” Our gazes held for a long beat, something unexpected passing between us.

This is Theo. You’re not interested in Theo, remember?

I watched his Adam’s apple bob before he dipped his head, continuing with his measurements.

“Calves next,” I murmured, hyperaware of Theo being so near to my abdomen.

He nodded once, leaning further forward in his seat to reach my lower legs.

The gentle rasp of the tape and our breathing were the only sounds in the silence of the room.

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