Page 41 of The Situation Ship
“Absolutely no loafers,” Isaiah interjected as she pulled out a few boxes.“Even if I’m attending as a guest, I need to be able to run in case of an emergency, and I don’t want to have to worry about losing a shoe.”
“Dress shoes it is. I love a decisive man.” Melina winked. Poppy didn’t like how her eyes lingered on Isaiah, but maybe she was sizing him up for the tux.
“Maybe a soft leather, not patent,” Poppy added.She didn’t want him to get blisters.
“Bowtie or necktie?” Melina asked.
“Bowtie.”
“Neither.”
They spoke in unison and glared at each other.
“I’ll leave you to talk; I have an idea of size, so I’ll go pull you out some options.” Melina set off to put the clothing items into one of the changing rooms.
“C’mon, Mr Detective, get your butt in the changing room; the more you resist, the harder it’s going to be.” She smirked, taking his hand. “Don’t look so tortured. Shopping is meant to be fun. I promise it isn’t going to hurt.” She opened the suede curtain and pushed him inside.
“Can I have some privacy?” he asked her in the mirror as he started to remove his t-shirt.
“I didn’t expect you to be bashful,” she teased.
Isaiah called her bluff and started to unbutton his trousers, so she closed the curtain.
“How are you getting on?” she asked a few minutes later, growing restless.
Isaiah stepped out in a black Armani tux with a simple dress shirt without the bowtie, fidgeting with his belt.
“You clean up well,” Poppy commented. The jacket showed off his strong frame, as Melina had put it. She didn’t know what else to say, but knew she was blushing and told herself to get a grip.
“It’s a little tight.” Isaiah tugged at the shirt collar and undid the two top buttons. She decided she wasn’t going to force him to wear a tie.
“It’s tailored, and you wear your shirts about two sizes too big. This is perfect,” she said, fixing the button on the suit jacket.
“My goodness.” Melina nudged Poppy as she reappeared to check on them. “Never let him dress himself in future.”
Something was missing. “He needs cufflinks and a watch to complete the look.”
“The tux is enough,” Isaiah said, removing the jacket. “I have a watch –it was my father’s, and it’s not coming off.”
“Vintage. I like it,” Poppy said, glancing at it. The strap was very worn. “But how about a new strap?”
“Fine, but only the strap.” Closing the curtain, Isaiah handed out the tux, and Melina took it to wrap it up.
“Have you had enough fun?” he asked, putting his holster back on.
“Nope. It’s not like there’s much else we can do, and this is the first time I’ve ever got to take someone shopping,” she admitted. “You wanted me to stay close, so let me have my way.”
“If this keeps you entertained and out of trouble, then have at it,” he said, following her to the women’s shoes. “I can wait while you pick out a dress.”
Poppy picked up a pair of sparkly gold heels. “I already picked a satin cream cocktail dress while you were changing,” she told him, adding the heels to the counter to be wrapped up with the rest.
He frowned. “That was quick. Don’t you want to look around a bit longer?”
“It’s not much fun for me.” She’d just picked the first dress she’d seen in the window; she didn’t find much joy in shopping for herself. Her aunt’s voice had a way of worming its way into her head and picking her choices apart.
Noticing him looking at the jewellery through the glass counter, she changed the subject. “Shopping for your woman back home?”
She’d never thought to ask before. He wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t attached. Still, even if last night’s intimacy had just been an act, she doubted he would go so far if he had someone waiting. At least, she hoped not. After spending twenty-four hours a day together, it was hard to remember how little they knew about one another.
