He has a point. The thought never crossed my mind. “Camos? Fatigues? Or whatever you call them over here.”
“We wear camos for stable work, but on our own time, we can wear what we want.”
Oh boy. Now that I’ve seen him in a uniform and dressed as a civilian, my mind is going to go wild picturing him in an array of different outfits. I wonder what he looks like in a dress uniform. A tuxedo? “Let me, uh, just check out, then we can grab something to drink.”
“Brilliant, I’ll just be looking at the smartwatches.”
I quickly walk over to the sales associate and practically throw my temporary debit card and the case at him. I’ve never wanted to be out of a store so fast. I spot Sam walk over to the watch display with a confidence and posture that reminds me of a male dancer. There’s no denying that my body responds well to his presence.
A few minutes later, we’re walking side by side past the world-famous Harrods department store. Sam’s shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans.
“You got here pretty fast. Where exactly are the Knightsbridge barracks?”
“On Knightsbridge Street.” He snickers.
I snort. Of course they’d be. “I guess I walked right into that one. I just assumed it was named after the area, not the literal street.”
“To be fair, I made the same guess when I first arrived in London.” He grins and points down the street we’re crossing. “If you walk down Lancelot Place and make a right on Trevor Street, the barracks are right across from Hyde Park behind the posh Bulgari Hotel.”
“Fancy.”
“For the horses, maybe, but not for us.” He shrugs. “Our rooms are the standard-issue army size.”
“So in other words, you live like most Londoners, in a closet-sized room.”
“Exactly.” He nods. “What about you? What part of the city do you live in?”
“I’m in Whitechapel, near Aldgate. But come September, I’m not sure where I’ll be living.”
“Why? Can’t you stay in Whitechapel?”
“It’s too expensive.” I shake my head. “For the last three years, I’ve been living in a flat owned and subsidized by my university. I graduated last semester. When the term on my lease ends, I’ll have to find a new place.”
“Congratulations are in order to you.”
We stop at the signal. Under the lights, his eyes are that warm caramel color. A small bit of stubble coats his chin. The rugged look suits him. All he’s missing is a horse.
“Thanks.”
“What did you end up studying?”
“Take a wild guess,” I tease, curious to know what he’s thinking.
“Maths?”
“Strike one.”
He strokes his chin. “Chemistry.”
“No way. I’m not a science person.”
The light changes. We join the throng of other pedestrians darting across the street.
“OK . . . landscaping design.”
“That’s closer, but still wrong.” I giggle. “I’m a fashion designer.”
“Fashion?”
