Page 29 of Falling into Place

Hell, he still probably wasn’t, but he didn’t want to think about that right now.

“I might have been popular,” he said, not out of arrogance but as objective fact, “but I didn’t have a lot of friends. Good ones, I mean. I wish I’d had someone like James back then, like Sasha had you.”

“Not even the guys on the basketball team?”

“I mean, we hung out and stuff, sure. But we were also all jockeying to be the best and outshine each other, on the court or off. I’m not sure guys have the same friendships that girls do at that age.”

Or maybe it had just been him.

“That kind of sucks. It seems like that’s when we all need it the most.”

He regarded the building behind her, thinking. “Coach filled that role for me sometimes. When he caught me getting really low, he’d give me one of his tough-love pep talks and knock me out of it.” He’d been more of a friend than most of the guys at school, that was for sure.

Carly was quiet for a beat, and he looked over to find her frowning.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“I was thinking I’m not sure tough is the kind of love people need when they’re hurting.”

He considered that for a moment. From the little Brooks knew about his early life, Coach hadn’t had it easy and was a big believer in both mental and physical strength and self-reliance.

“You might be right, but it worked for me back then. He knew how hard things could be, and I think he just wanted to prepare us to be successful in this world.”

“Well,” Carly said. “You turned out pretty amazing, so I guess whatever he did worked.”

“Amazing? Really?” He definitely didn’t agree, but he wouldn’t mind hearing her say it again.

“Really,” she confirmed.

God, he wanted to kiss her.

That’s when a man came through the glass doors, and his office wear reminded Brooks of the favor he had to ask.

“So I need your help with something. It’s kind of an emergency.”

She frowned. “What is it?”

“I need a suit.”

She’d been reaching for her drink, still on the hood, and her hand froze midair. “Sorry?”

He grinned. “Carly Porter,” he started, as if he were about to ask her a life-changing question. “I need you to help me find a suit.”

“I’ve been trying to get you to let me buy you a suit for months.”

“I know. I didn’t think I needed one, but now I do.”

She was silent for a beat, then squealed and clapped a hand across her mouth, eyes wide. “I really get to do it? For real?”

“If I’d known it would make you this happy, I’d have let you do it a long time ago.”

She snorted. “I believe the last time I brought it up your exact words were, ‘Give it up, Carly, I don’t need a fucking suit.’”

He shrugged. “That was before you kissed me. I’m a new man.”

“Before you kissed me, you mean.”

“Well, yeah. That. Plus I have a fancy gala thing for work I forgot about.”

“Ah,” she said. “Got it. When is it?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“There’s no way I can get a suit for you by tomorrow. It has to be measured and tailored.”

“Can’t you find something close enough?”

“Off the rack?” she sputtered.

He blinked, glancing around the empty parking lot. “Yeah?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Well, that’s our only option, I’m afraid. What if, by some miracle, you find one that’s around my size because you’re just that good, and I promise I’ll get it tailored after? For all future use?”

“That’s a lot to ask, Brooks.”

She sounded so serious. “I know,” he said, grinning as he tried to match the severity of her tone. “I’m sorry.”

She finally let out a long exhale and said, “Okay. I accept this mission.”

“Thank you.”

“As long as I can come over early and watch you get dressed.”

“To do what now?”

“You have no idea how sexy it is to watch a man get dressed. Especially a suit. Putting on the tie and shrugging on the jacket?” Her voice was thick and breathy, which would become a problem for him if it went on much longer. “Don’t you ever put on cuff links without me.”

Heat flushed up his neck. “I won’t.”

“Good.” She picked up the cup again and took another drink. “Good thing I don’t have plans tonight. Sounds like I’ll be shopping.”

“If anyone can make this happen, it’s you.”

“That’s true,” she said confidently. “So what’s the woman you’re meeting tonight’s story? I mean, if it’s not too weird for me to ask that now, after ...” She trailed off, and now all he could think about was the way the inside of her mouth tasted.

Focus, man.

“I don’t mind if you don’t,” he said. “Her name’s Madison .

..” He paused, trying to remember her last name, but it wouldn’t come to him.

“Madison. She’s a sales rep for a drug company.

Seems nice. Doesn’t like cats but has club-level season tickets to the Thunder, so I figured I’d give her a chance. ”

Carly snorted. “I bet you did.”

“I meant we obviously have that in common,” he defended. “Not that I asked her out for tickets.”

“Mm-hmm.”

She was clearly unconvinced, but he moved on to a more important question. “How would you feel about going to a Thunder game?” He was a little shocked they hadn’t talked about this before. She might be the one exception of a woman he’d still want to hang with even if she hated basketball.

“I mean, if I’m with you and you buy me beer and snacks, I’m in.”

“I’ve never wanted to kiss you more.”

Carly pursed her lips, but her eyes flashed. “I’d better get back inside, then.”

He grinned. “Probably a good idea.”

“Also, I’m burning the hell up out here.”

That got a full laugh out of him. “See you tomorrow?”

“Yep. Thanks for the coffee.” She gave him a little wave and walked away.

He got in his car and made his way back to work, and when he came cross “Purple Rain” as he skimmed radio stations, he smacked the steering wheel.

“Princeton,” he muttered to himself, remembering tonight’s date’s last name.

Madison Princeton.