“Do you like the REKD music?” Ezreal asked.
“Yes,” Ryan said gathering his music. “I wish it was available in piano.”
“I’ve been working on sheet music. I can send you some as long as you promise to practice.” Ezreal pulled out his phone. “If you don’t have an email address, give me your mother’s.”
“Woah. Okay.”
Ezreal handed over the phone, and Ryan typed in the information.
“You just have to promise that you won’t share it with anybody. It’s a copyright issue. Our attorneys are always harping on me about stuff like that.”
“You meanI’llhave music that no one else does?”
“Nobody outside of my department.” Ezreal’s expression turned serious, no more the shy, distracted professor-type. For the first time, he looked very much the serious businessman. “If it shows up anywhere else, I’ll know where to look.”
Once again, Sara found herself impressed by him.
“I would never betray your trust, sir. I promise. And I’d never risk my dad’s job. He says this is the best place he’s worked and is the happiest I’ve ever seen him.” Ryan backed up toward the door. “Thank you.” He turned and ran out, leaving the two of them alone.
She glanced at Ezreal who was rubbing his neck, wearing a bemused expression.
“What?” she asked.
He chuckled. “I know I’m too old to feel odd about this, but outside of work I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to being calledsir. That was always my dad.”
“It was an adjustment for me too when I first started teaching. Did you come to check out the music room again?”
Ezreal shook his head, looking embarrassed. He was so different from any man she’d ever met before. With his soft-spoken manner, he came across as gentle and patient. So different from the alpha male she’d married and who’d tried to dominate and control her. There was something calm and appealing about Ezreal. Probably because of her past, she’d never found men soothing to be around. He was.
“Did you come for anything in particular?” Sara asked.
“No.” His ears went red. “Is that a problem? I can go—”
“No,” Sara said quickly. “You’re always welcome to come by. In fact, I’m ready to start work on your costume. This would be a good time to get your measurements.”
Ezreal gave a slight nod.
“Let me get my tape measure and something to write on.”
When she returned to the living room, she found him studying her family pictures on the walls. She waited for the inevitable question about where her husband was, but it didn’t come.
“I’ll need you to stand here please.” She indicated the middle of the room, under the light which she’d turned on. When he was in position, she said, “Raise your arms to the side.”
Ezreal did. With the tape measure in one hand, she reached around him. He was broader through the chest than he looked, and she had to step in close to reach around him. It brought her flush up against him, her face close enough to his neck that she caught a faint whiff of his aftershave. He smelled yummy and, without thinking, she inhaled.
His breath caught, bringing her back to where she was. Sara fumbled the tape measure.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, grabbing the other end, her heart beating so hard it was making it difficult for her to breathe. She needed to get a grip.
Sara glanced up at Ezreal and found him staring at her, his eyes wide, the pulse in his throat pounding as hard as hers. His ears had turned a flaming red. She felt mortified to have embarrassed him. Quickly, she reached around him again, keeping her head turned away this time. She wrote down the number, hoping he wouldn’t notice how her hands were trembling. Then she took the measurement of his waist and jotted it down.
“Um, I need your hip measurement, but I’m going to need your help with that one.” Sighing, she glanced at his hips and then his face. His eyes were round again. If she looked anything like he did . . . She burst out laughing. “I am so sorry, but the look on your face.”
Ezreal dropped his arms, the corners of his mouth twitching. And then he laughed too. He reached for the tape measure and Sara handed it to him.
“W-w-where?”
Sara’s chest tightened that she’d unsettled him enough to make him stutter again.
