Just Sign Here - Cara Dee Page 0,15

two big leather chairs.

Antonino snapped his fingers and pointed to the round podium in the center of the floor, silently telling Peyton to get up there. “How long’re you in town this time, Ed?”

“Just a week, but we’ll be back in the beginning of June,” I replied. “Do you think you can squeeze in his second fitting before we leave?”

“Eh. Sure. Should work.” He lowered his glasses from the top of his head and grabbed his measuring tape. “Want me to keep his patterns on file?”

“Please do.” If I got my way, we’d be back here.

Noticing that Peyton was trying to get my attention, I met his gaze, and he mouthed “You’re crazy” to me. Then he rubbed his fingers together, indicating that it was going to be a costly visit.

I merely flashed him a smirk.

It might come as a surprise to him later to learn that I didn’t have any expensive hobbies or much to spend money on. My lifestyle was far from cheap, naturally, but I didn’t indulge out of boredom. I wasn’t nuts about gadgets. I didn’t have a yacht or a garage full of cars. I had one. One car. And a motorcycle I hadn’t ridden since Julia was born.

I didn’t golf, I wasn’t part of some ridiculous country club, I didn’t know how to sail, I couldn’t play any instruments, so there was no fancy grand piano at home…

I liked to fish, but I hadn’t gone in years.

Now Peyton was in my life, however temporarily, and I felt like spending some money on him.

Sue me.

When Antonino was done measuring and his son had wheeled in a garment rack, we were left alone for a bit to decide on shirts, what needed to be taken in, and some fabric samples. But in my experience, it was best to let Antonino decide. He was a fantastic craftsman who’d been doing this for over fifty years.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” I leaned back in my chair and folded one leg over the other.

Antonino had closed the sliding doors, much to my satisfaction.

“This is mildly terrifying,” Peyton muttered. He stepped down from the podium and flipped through the selection of shirts. “I don’t know which one to choose.”

“You’ll try all of them, and then we’ll see which ones are keepers.”

He’d taken off his suit jacket and shoes while Antonino had taken his measurements. Now I just needed Peyton to remove the rest of his clothes.

He glanced at me hesitantly. “Are you really going to watch?”

“Unless it makes you uncomfortable.” I used the same words I’d used yesterday.

He mumbled something under his breath that I couldn’t hear, but then he started unbuttoning his shirt.

I drew a deep breath and rested my arms along the armrests.

Only thing missing, really, was a cigar. Perhaps a glass of whiskey too.

He draped his white shirt over the rack and brushed his fingers along the items Antonino’s son had selected. Peyton had such a stunning body, but I was an idiot for hoping I’d see more of it. Of course he wore an undershirt, and he had no reason to take it off.

It made me abandon my chair and take charge. I walked over to him and picked a dark navy shirt for him. “This will look good with a gray suit.” Wasting no time, I ushered him up onto the podium and joined him there, where I finally got my hands on him. I was all business, keeping my personal pleasure about this to myself. “We’ll need some ties and cuff links for you as well.” I smoothed down the fabric along his arms, then his chest—my God, his chest—and helped him button the shirt. “What do you think?” I gestured to the full-length mirror a few feet behind him.

He turned around and inspected the shirt.

I subtly checked out his ass under the guise of tucking the shirt into his dress pants.

“I like it. It feels amazing.” Peyton twisted his body in the mirror to study his profile, and I clenched my jaw. What were the odds of him actually not being straight? I’d banked on it earlier. Now I was having doubts. “Is it weird that I’m excited about owning a three-piece? They’re so classy.” He gave me a quick glance. “You wore one the first time we met.”

I inclined my head. “They place you one level above everyone else.”

“How did you find me?” He faced me fully and unbuttoned his shirt.

I didn’t meet his gaze. I wasn’t embarrassed by any means;