Page 36 of Dead Serious with Benefits
“Ah, a dagger straight to my heart,” I said with a snort. It was nice to see he was capable of sass instead of his typical deadpan.
Humming to myself, I walked into the bathroom, reaching for the light beside the wall and stopping when I could see my own reflection just fine. Reaching up, I adjusted my hair, pulling the robe loose and draping it on the hook beside the door. I frowned at the dark circles under my eyes and made a mental note to book a spa appointment. I was letting my daily skin maintenance fall by the wayside, and it was starting to show. At least the rest of my body didn’t look nearly as rough as my face...though it was probably time for some trimming.
Shrugging, I stepped back out and grabbed the clothes I’d left on the bed. I could see Arlo’s shadow as he moved almost silently, only the soft whisper of cloth giving away his presence. I lingered at the edge of the bed, wondering if I might see him come out. There was no way he didn’t know where I was, considering I was still humming.
If he peeped, I would have my answer as to whether he was a sexual being and interested in me. If he didn’t...well, that wouldn’t be a clear sign either way. He was unfailingly polite, so it wouldn’t be out of character for him to respect my privacy even though I was obviously putting myself into a position where he could get a full view. A view I honestly wouldn’t have passed up, one could call it arrogance, but I took good care of my body for the most part, and...well, genetics had been kind as well.
But he didn’t, so I pulled my clothes on, smiling as I finished the tune. It was difficult to tell how interested he was in me, and to what degree, which was...refreshing. I hadn’t thought about it before, but several partners had been blatant in their attraction for me. Not that that was a problem, who didn’t want whoever they were dating or sleeping with to show interest in them?
Still, a bit of mystery was nice. Nottoomuch that I felt like he was playing games or going along for the ride, neither of which I suspected. Arlo struck me as the type of person who, if he weren’t interested, wouldn’t have called me, let alone agreed tocome here for a fitting so he could join me at a rather dull charity gala tomorrow. At the same time, I didn’t know how deep his feelings ran, so I wasn’t sure how to act around him, if I should make a move.
“Invigorating,” I said as I pulled the last of my clothes on and buttoned up the pants.
“What’s that?” he asked from the closet.
“I’m talking to myself,” I informed him as I rounded the bed. “I find it’s the only way to ensure I have at least one good conversation during the day.”
“He says without a trace of humility or irony,” Arlo said with a chuckle as I entered to find that he had drawn a few pieces out and hung them on the empty rack in the center of the room.
Humming again, I inspected them, not surprised to find he had gone for traditional and classic all the way. “Now all we need is to get you dressed so we can see how much work needs to be done.”
He blinked. “You’re going to do the measurements?”
“And why not?” I asked with a smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you privacy to change.”
“Modesty was not my immediate concern,” he said, raising his brow.
“Then what was?”
“I wasn’t aware that tailoring was in your repertoire of skills.”
“A man can be full of surprises, can’t he?”
“He can.”
“Good,” I turned when I heard the buzzer. “Perfect timing. You change, I’ll get our drinks.”
“Sure,” he said, reaching for the clothes.
I went a step further and closed the closet door behind me, so he wouldn’t think I wouldn’t show him the same courtesy he had shown me, and tried to peek in on him. I paused at the door. “Arlo?”
There was a pause. “Yes?”
“Do yourself a favor, there are a few paintings on the back of the wall.”
“I see them. What’s your point?”
“One of them contains a safe. A safe that’s hard to find since all the paintings are fixed to the wall, but a safe all the same.”
There was another pause. “And there would be a camera somewhere in here to watch those paintings covertly as an extra measure of security, I imagine.”
“Indeed. So if you don’t want your bits and bobs filmed in high definition, stay away from the back end of the closet.”
“I see, thank you for telling me.”
“Of course.”
I could have let him wander back there, ass and dick hanging out to be filmed for my viewing pleasure later. More than one disrespectful idiot had gone into my private rooms without my knowing, hoping to get laid out of sight, and those closets were prime places for it. Arlo was not one of those idiots, however, and while I was certainly interested in seeing what he kept under his clothes, I wanted it to be revealed when he wanted to show me. And if it were filmed, I would prefer to be the one holding the camera.
