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order to find the best match for him. Evan cleared his throat, and they looked over,
their laughter fading.
Evan fidgeted, watching Paul s gaze move slowly up his body until their eyes
locked. The store faded to black around them, taking with it the satellite radio
music, Miggy s beaming face, and Jeremy s fussy voice. The moment spun out, and
this time Evan could tell Paul felt the same intensity.
A hand shot up between them, fingers snapping with impatience. Hello!
Evan jerked his head back, startled, and looked down at Jeremy Balustrade s
annoyed face.
Let s reel in the schmaltz and get on with the fittings. The Tigers are playing
the Yankees tonight, and I want to watch the entire game, okay? Jeremy noticed
their surprised expressions. What? Just because I m a wedding planner I can t
enjoy professional baseball?
Miggy took Evan s arm. Come on, Evs. Let s go to the mirror for your fitting.
She led him across the room to the raised platform flanked by mirrors, saying out of
the corner of her mouth, Do not upset the wedding planner.
Gretchen manipulated him like an action figure, and fifteen minutes later,
announced that he was finished. Evan stepped off the platform and looked around
for Paul, but the man was nowhere in sight. Jeremy noticed him searching and
sighed. He s changing out of his tuxedo. Never fear, he hasn t left.
108 Hank Edwards
Oh, no, I wasn t looking for& Evan started, but Jeremy looked away and
flicked his fingers in a shooing motion.
Miggy turned from a wall of sparkling hats with a green sequined pillbox on
her head. Is it me?
If you get lice from that hat, I am not helping you apply the special shampoo,
Evan grumbled before he turned to step through the black curtain into the storage
and fitting area. He parted the curtains of one of the dressing rooms and gasped in
surprise at the sight of Paul removing his pants. Paul was bare-chested and
beautiful, his underwear brilliant white against his tan skin.
Oh my God! Paul exclaimed and yanked up his pants. His foot caught in one
of the cuffs and he stumbled backward into Evan s arms.
Evan caught Paul, barely, gripping him beneath the arms. The heat of his
contact with Paul seared into Evan s skin, and the scent of Paul s deodorant and the
underlying salty spice of his sweat swirled into his face. Evan s cock hardened with
an intense jolt as he looked down the length of Paul s muscular torso to the round
hump of Paul s package snug beneath the white cotton of his underwear.
I m so sorry, Evan said, unable to take his eyes off the rounded white bulge of
his crotch. I m so sorry.
Paul struggled up from Evan s grip, then hopped on one foot until he could free
himself from the leg and pull up his pants. He fixed Evan with an incredulous look.
Really? You walked in on me in my underwear again? Really?
Evan backed out through the curtains. I m sorry, Paul. I thought this was the
changing room where I had left my clothes.
Paul followed him out into the narrow aisle, holding the tuxedo pants together
at his waist. Well, you didn t. You used the one across the aisle.
Evan nodded, his throat dry and eyes wide as he struggled to keep them on
Paul s face and not stare at his bare chest and notice that Paul s nipples were hard
nubs of excitement. You re right. I m sorry. Really, truly, honestly sorry.
Paul stared at him a moment, then surprised Evan by taking a step closer.
Why are you so nervous around me?
Evan blinked at him. What?
Why are you so nervous around me? Paul stepped even closer, his blue eyes
fixed on Evan s face. You stammer, you drop things, you spill stuff on me. Why is
that?
That that wasn t my fault. The spilling. That happened because of Bandit.
Do I make you nervous? Paul asked, his voice low, eyes serious.
Evan let his gaze meet Paul s in the shadowy aisle framed by black velvet
curtains. His heart thundered in his chest, and he lost the ability to speak for a long
moment, able only to stand and stare at Paul. A tide of emotion swamped him, and
in a single spark of clarity, he recognized this moment for what it was: Paul was the
man he had been seeking all summer.
Plus Ones 109
Despite the fact that Paul had dated a number of men the last few months,
Evan could no longer deny the depth of his attraction to Paul. Paul got him. They
shared the same outlook on quite a few things. And like Evan, Paul seemed to take
life with a healthy dose of sarcasm, but knew when to dial it back and handle a
situation like an adult.
This was the time for Evan to confess his true feelings. It was now or never, to
hell with Paul s handsome boyfriend. If Evan didn t admit his attraction for Paul
right now, he would never be able to tell him.
Evan cleared his throat. You do make me nervous.
A smile flickered across Paul s lips. Why?
There s something& different about you.
Paul furrowed his brow. Different? From who?
Anyone else I ve met. Evan felt numb. Was he really saying these things to
Paul? I ve dated a lot of guys this summer.
Paul nodded. I ve noticed.
Evan flinched. You have?
It s made me wonder if you know what you re looking for. Paul leaned in even
closer, close enough that Evan could feel the man s breath on his face. Do you?
I m looking for someone who gets me, someone who understands my weird
sense of humor and can handle my sarcastic comments. I m looking for someone
who will challenge me when they think I m wrong, but celebrate the times I m
right.
You re looking for someone to fall in love with, Paul said, his voice little more
than a whisper. Just like me.
Evan licked his lips. Yeah. Someone just like you.
Paul smiled. I meant that I m looking for that type of person too. He cocked
his head. Do you think we could fit together like that?
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