Page 23 of A Texas Hero

“Black is always good,” he insisted.

“Is that because it’s all you ever wear?” She canted her head.

“It suits my mood,” he said between clenched teeth.

“I don’t know, I like color,” she said.

“It sounds like you’ve already made up your mind.”

This was taking him back to the good old days when he’d had girlfriends who would ask him for advice without really wanting it. All they ever wanted was for him to say, “Looks good.” The eternal question was why anyone would ask him and not want the truth?

“Maybe you’re right,” she said, putting the black one back. “I have made up my mind.”

“How about some jewelry with that?” Zoey appeared behind the counter. “You’re going to need some bling.” Zoey held up a sapphire blue necklace. “This piece I just got in and it’s truly one of a kind.”

“That’s gorgeous!” The woman held a hand to her chest. “But what does he think?”

Both women turned to him expectantly and he felt his jaw tighten into crush mode.

“Yes, what do you think?” Zoey batted her eyelashes comically. “We need a man’s opinion.”

He wanted to say, “You don’t need a man’s opinion…you’re just having fun torturing me!”

Instead, he nodded. “Very attractive.”

“I’ll take it!”

The woman grabbed the necklace, thankfully without asking him what he thought of it against her neck. Finally, she was off, carrying her purchases with a wave.

“Thank you! That was a good sale.” Zoey appeared at his elbow. “You are turning out to be quite a gem, pun intended.”

He was far more like a rock, but when she set her chocolate brown eyes on him, he did feel, if not shiny and bright, maybe a little bit less…broken.

He caught himself staring at her a little too long and cleared his throat. “I notice you don’t have many men coming in.”

“That’s true, but I do carry an assortment of men’s ties and accessories, as well as some beautiful leather jackets, because women like to shop for their men.” She walked toward a sumptuous brown leather jacket and slid her hand down the lapel. “Once in a while, I do get a male customer.”

“It makes my job easier not to have random men in here, and I’ll know to look out for the few brave souls that show up.”

“You had better not chase any men out of here.” She shook her finger. “I need the business.”

Then she said something that struck fear in his heart.

“This jacket would look good on you. It looks like your size.”

“No. It won’t fit, and anyway, I don’t do leather.” He shrugged. “Well, not anymore.”

“Then you’re missing out because women love a man in leather. It’s so sexy.”

“What? Why?” This was a sincere question but she laughed.

“A man in leather is confident, self-assured. Sometimes, though not always, they drive a motorcycle.”

She landed on the word motorcycle as if it was a simile for orgasm.

“I hope you don’t have any plans to hop on a motorcycle anytime soon, because I will have to torpedo those plans.”

“No, I don’t, and you are starting to sound like my father.” She took the leather jacket off its hanger. “Here, just try it on.”