Page 34 of Falling into Place
The woman nodded. “Okay, my name is April, just let me know if I can help,” she said to Brooks.
Carly sifted through a stack of dark-wash jeans and held up his size. “What do you think of these?”
He shrugged, then his face cleared as if he’d remembered something. “Hey, that reminds me. You didn’t happen to accidentally grab a pair of my jeans that day you were at my house, did you? When you packed up the clothes to return?”
She busied herself with a collection of cotton polos. “Hmm?”
“They were a pair of Levi’s. I can’t find them.”
“Huh. No, I didn’t see them.”
The warmth of his body alerted her he’d moved closer. “Carly.”
She found a size medium and yanked the hanger off the bar. “We should try this; white is a good color for you.”
One of his hands gently grabbed her shoulder, shifting her in his direction. She looked up to find him looking at her intently, a spark of accusation in his eyes. With a touch of mischief.
Wow, she’d forgotten about this side of him. The one that had all the girls at their high school walking around with hearts for eyes.
“They were the ones I was wearing that day at the coffee shop and you said you couldn’t see my ass,” he said matter-of-factly. “Are you sure you haven’t seen them?”
The distant click of a shutter reminded her Cam was nearby. She tried to step away from him. “Why would I have?”
“Because you hated them and you won’t look at me.”
“I don’t think I like what you’re suggesting.”
His lips twitched as if fighting a smile, but he let her go.
She shoved the items she’d gathered so far at his chest. “Go try these on.”
“All at once?”
It was a good thing Cam was just taking stills, because a video recording might have picked up her muttered “Wiseass” before she instructed him to start with jeans and the green crew neck.
She followed him to the fitting-room area, and a few minutes later, he walked out in navy chinos and the white polo.
“That’s not what I asked for.”
“I know. How does it look?”
She waved him closer and stood from the chair she’d sunk into. “Good.” Really good.Click, click.“I was right about the white.”
“Everything still just feels ... tight.”
She pinched the soft fabric between her fingers and tugged. “Look how much room is in here. It’s not tight, you’re just used to wearing shapeless clothes that fit like a garbage bag.”
“Wow. I wasn’t sure before, but now I’m positive you stole my jeans.”
She ignored him. Well, his words, anyway. It was hard to ignore his body in the confined space, the nearby triple-paned mirror accentuating his lean, muscled form. “You should buy this. The navy goes with anything. What’s next?”
He shrugged and went back in. Cam announced she’d gotten enough, and as she left, Brooks shouted a goodbye from the fitting room. Carly slipped out while he changed to grab a few more items and tossed them over the door.
Eventually, he came out in a pair of distressed jeans and the green shirt, and Carly’s breath caught in her throat. She covered her reaction with a whistle, hoping a sassy response would distract him.
Eyes going wide, Brooks placed his hand, palm open, dramatically on his chest. “Is this what it feels like to be objectified?”
“Yes. Welcome to life as a woman.”
