“Do you like it?” Rene smiles.
“I love it.”
“It’s an important day for your family, isn’t it?”
“Yes, very important.” I nod. “My brother is getting married to his high school sweetheart and we’re all very excited.”
“Well, I’m sure the two of you will look stunning in your tuxedos. You’ve come to the right place. Did you bring your heels so we can double check the length of the pants?”
“It’s a beach wedding. I’ll be barefoot.”
“You’re wearing a tuxedo on the beach?”
“Yep, it’s going to be terribly hot, but it’s only a few hours of my life, right?”
Rene circles me where I stand. “You shouldn’t wear anything under it.”
“Nothing?”
“It’ll be so much sexier without a shirt at all. Just wear it like that.”
I smooth my hands down the side of my hips and look at my reflection.
“A red lip is all you need.”
“You sound like you’ve done this before,” I say to the middle-aged woman.
“I’ve been a seamstress for most of my life and I know what looks good on a woman’s body. This looks great, if I do say so myself.”
“I love it.” A bass heavy voice startles me. Brick has stuck his head inside the room. “And she’s right, you don’t need the shirt.”
“You’re so intrusive,” I fuss.
“They’re finished measuring me and I just wanted to be the first to see you in your tux.”
“Ask permission next time.”
“You have so many rules.”
“Actually, no, just the basics of common decency.”
The two of us look at each other in the mirror, the underlying attraction between us becoming more and more palpable despite my attempt to ignore it.
I clear my throat and divert my eyes, while Brick simply shakes his head slightly, trying to break the tension.
“I’m going to have a look at your selection and make sure we have all the measurements we need, Mr. Jennings. We don’t have a moment to waste since your event is happening soon.”
Rene checks over the tuxedo style and measurements the tailor shows her. “Yes, this will do quite nicely,” she says. “And I know we can deliver this in time.”
She smiles at us both. “I think the two of you will make quite a handsome duo in your matching tuxedos.”
I glance at Brick again and there’s a barely concealed electricity between us crackling in the air.
“How much do I owe you?” I ask Renee, dreading the answer based on the state of my bank account.
She looks up awkwardly at Brick, and they exchange an uncomfortable look.
“What?” I say to the both of them. “Why are you both looking at each other like that?”
