advice that saved her from some major pitfalls. Before his move to this location she had worked in his store for over a year and had learned how to take measurements.
“The Embry-Quincy wedding is in the Red Room.” He smiled and offered her the tape measure hanging around his neck. “I believe the new member may need his nerves soothed.”
Diana smiled. She’d often been called upon to settle a guy whose mind was on other tasks. She glanced at the dressing rooms. Jeremy named his rooms after those in the White House. It gave the place a little elegance, he said, and who wants to dress in Room 3 when they could have the Red Room? Diana still remembered the expression on his face when he gave more credence to a false name than to a nondescript number.
Taking the tape measure, she dropped her purse in his office and knocked lightly on the door of the dressing room. “I’m here to take your measurements,” she said before going in. She wanted the man to know she was female in case Jeremy had told him to remove his pants. Or if he was shy.
“Come in.”
Diana stepped through the door and quickly closed it. Although Jeremy’s dressing rooms were huge and set up like the entrance to a home, with a foyer section and a comfortable living room, sporting a large mirror that covered one wall, Diana couldn’t be sure the client wasn’t standing near the door in full view of whomever was outside. When she turned back she saw only her reflection across the spacious gray-colored carpeting. The subdued floor contrasted with the bright furnishings. Walking several steps past a wall that set off the foyer area, she came face-to-face with the last person on the planet she expected to see.
Diana didn’t know which one of them was more surprised.
“What are you doing here?” they asked at the same time.
Diana recovered first. “I’m here to take your measurements if you are the replacement in the Embry-Quincy wedding.”
“Scott Thomas, nice to meet you.” He extended a hand as if they’d never met. Diana ignored it and he folded both arms across his chest. The action brought his white shirt up a little higher over legs that were long, strong and naked. She wished her heart didn’t step up its beat, but she couldn’t deny it. Teddy had put the thought in her head that he was handsome. That was an understatement. He was a crowd standout. And with him half dressed, Diana wondered what he’d look like totally naked.
Clearing her throat and mentally shaking those thoughts from her mind, she asked, “Shall we get started?”
“I didn’t know you worked here.”
“I agreed to help Jeremy out because he has a lot going on in the shop. And I expect you have other places to be.”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Then...” She pulled the measuring tape from her neck and took a step forward. “That is, unless you’d like a male to take your measurements. They’re all busy right now, so your wait will be a little longer.”
“I’ve waited long enough,” he said. “Let’s get it over with.”
Diana took a deep breath and approached him. “Turn around.”
He presented his back to her, and she reached up to measure its width. Then the length of his arms. She tried doing his waist from behind, but he turned in her arms. Diana caught her breath. For a moment she didn’t think she’d be able to keep her feet on the floor. Gripping the tape measure, she fought to keep control of her shaking hands. Finally, she dropped to the floor to measure his inseam.
“Spread your legs, please,” she said. Blood hammered in her head. She could feel the heat of his nearness. Her face flamed as blood rushed up her features, burning her ears.
“Why don’t I just tell you my size?” Scott asked.
For a short moment Diana was unsure what he meant. Then sanity returned, and she realized he meant his suit size. She could feel more heat pump into her face and ears, and she wondered why they didn’t melt and slide off. She dared not look up at him.
“Your suit size is not always the same. And you want to look your best at the wedding.” Diana couldn’t imagine him looking any other way.
“Of course. Anything less and Jennifer will have my head.”
Diana raised herself up on her knees and prepared for the final measurement. She willed her hands to remain steady. Swallowing and ignoring the roar of blood and unwanted memories inside her head she touched his leg just above the knee. It was a test of her own ability to continue this procedure. She’d done this hundreds of times. She’d measured guys who were model perfect, silver-screen-idol caliber, and never had to keep her emotions in check. But Scott Thomas was throwing her usual calm into aggregated chaos.
His leg was warm, as strong and solid as a tennis player’s. She moved the tape measure higher. Time seemed to slow down, and her hand moved with the slowness of passing years on its way to the juncture between his legs. The catch in his throat and the heat of his body found a place in her brain that told her to get the measurements done as quickly as possible. But that instruction didn’t reach her hands. She pulled the tape measure down and extended it to his ankle, then to his sock-clad feet. Unconsciously, she brushed against him. His arousal was hard and he jerked away from her touch.
Diana’s head snapped up and she met his eyes. They were dark, almost liquid. She’d seen that look directed at her only one other time. And from the same face that now stared into hers with a longing so deep it wrenched her heart.
Scott reached down and pulled her up to him. She stood as if reaching for the sky. Scott’s body was long. Diana climbed the mountain of him until she was on her feet. She could feel the full length of him. For a moment she luxuriated in the warmth that covered them like a shared aura. They faced each other, their mouths only a kiss away. Kiss. The word registered in her brain. Lightning speed brought her up short. She pulled free of Scott’s arms and hurried to the door. With her hand on the knob, she turned back.
“I apologize,” she said. “I’m finished with you. You can dress and leave.”
Outside, Diana stood breathing hard, clutching the tape measure as if it was an anchor keeping her pinned to the ground. She took several breaths. What had happened to her? What was she doing? She’d never done anything like that before, but this time she found it hard to control herself. She wanted to touch him, wanted to keep running her hands over his hair-roughened skin. She wanted to feel his arousal, allowing him to lengthen and grow in her palm.
Stop! she screamed at herself. She had to calm her thoughts before Jeremy emerged from one of the dressing rooms. He knew her well enough to tell if something was happening to her, and there was no doubt in her mind that something had happened. And more would have happened if she’d let it go on any longer. How could she feel this way? She hated Scott Thomas. She’d always hated him. How could she want to kiss her? Oh, God, how could she want to have sex with him?
She gasped at the thought. Was that what that was? Had it been so long since she had sex that she wanted to have it with a man she didn’t even like? Diana stopped all thoughts of Scott. He was probably dressed by now and would open the door behind her at any moment. She didn’t want to be standing there when that happened.
Rallying her thoughts, she took the card with Scott’s information to Jeremy’s desk and gave it to him.
“Thanks for the
