To Have and to Heist(23)

“Not your best color,” a deep voice said, as smooth and deep as the top-shelf whiskey my brother Nikhil had bought to celebrate my college graduation. I’ve never been a whiskey drinker, but I did appreciate how good it made me feel.

It took me a few long moments to process the fact that Oliver Twist was standing in front of me. If I’d thought he was gorgeous in the dark and rain, he was breathtaking in the light of day, taller, broader, his jaw more defined. He’d even had a shave. His eyes, now that I could see them clearly, were a kaleidoscope of buttered chocolate and golden caramel, the color shifting to green when he smiled.

“What are you doing here?” I drew him away from Cristian and over to the cashmere socks.

“I came to return the money I borrowed.” He held out a twenty-dollar bill. “As promised.”

I tucked the money in my blazer pocket, still struggling to process the fact that he was in my dad’s store. “How did you find me?”

“The name of the shop was on the suit bag you were using to carry the tools of your trade.” His lips curved in a smile. “I’m very observant.”

“You really shouldn’t be here.” I kept my voice low. “I told the police you were there. They’re looking for you.”

Far from being angry, he just shrugged. “I wouldn’t be good at my job if I was so easily identified. They won’t be able to link me to the scene of the crime.”

“Unless I called them . . .”

“But you won’t,” he said. “Because that’s not who you are.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” I snapped. “Maybe I’m not the good girl everyone thinks I am. Maybe I like cuffs and not roses. Maybe I’m a criminal mastermind disguised as a suit salesperson. Or I could be a terrible person who is self-centered, entitled, and rude, and everywhere I go, I ask to speak to the manager.”

“We both know that’s not true,” he said. “Not after what you did for your friend. And if your idea of a bad person is someone who’s rude, you’ll have a long way to go to change my opinion of you.”

“Did you just come here to return my money or is there something else you want?” Why did he have to be so irritating? I had a bad side. I’d turned down at least six arranged marriage proposals in the last year alone.

“A suit.” He shrugged off his worn leather jacket to reveal arms so perfectly muscled, they would have put Nani to shame. “Where do we start? I’ve never had a custom suit before.”

Cristian had disappeared. My dad was on the phone in his office. Except for a man trying on hats, we weren’t busy, so I showed Oliver to the fitting area behind the glass.

“I’ll take your details and measurements, then you’ll need to sit down with one of the tailors to discuss fabric, style, and cut.”

“I am delighted to be in your very capable hands.”

I grabbed a tablet and joined him in front of a three-way mirror. “I’ll need your details for the form. Name.” I raised my eyebrows. “And don’t tell me Oliver Twist because I don’t believe you.”

“Jack.”

“Last name?”

“Let’s just leave it at Jack,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the online form insists on a last name before it will allow me to move to the next page.” I held up the tablet to show him the screen. “How about Jack Spratt? Jack Frost? Jack Sparrow? Jack Horner? Do you have a beanstalk? Do you kill giants? Have you built a house? Are you nimble?”

“How about something not fantasy-based?” With a soft chuckle, he moved closer to study the screen.

“Jack Dawson? Jack Skellington?” I tried to ignore the heat of his body, the warm breath across my cheek. “Jack-Jack Parr? Jack Torrance? Jack Pearson? Jack Reacher? Jack Ryan?”

His laughter, deep and rich, filled the room. “You know your Jacks.”

“I like movies. I’ll watch anything so long as I’m not watching it alone. Sharing snarky comments is all part of the fun.”

“I think doing anything with you would be fun.” His smile made me smile. I couldn’t stop it. Were we flirting? Was that a flirting smile? Was I flirting with a thief?

“How about Danger?” he said. “It’s got a good ring to it. Strong, brave, but also daring.”

“Jack Danger.” I put the name into the form, my lips quivering with amusement. “How about an address?”

“I’m staying at the Pendry in the Carbide & Carbon Building.”

My finger froze over the keyboard. “You don’t live in Chicago?”

“Not for a long time. I’m just here on business.”

I felt a curious little stab of disappointment. It wasn’t that I was in any way attracted to the kind of man who would hide in the bushes outside a museum to steal a $25 million necklace. He was simply different from anyone I’d ever met. “The suit will take a few weeks,” I said quickly to hide my lapse. “If you have to leave, we can send it after you by courier.”

“Let’s assume I’ll be here to pick it up. If not, I’ll call with a forwarding address.”

He gave me his cell number and paid the deposit in cash. After I’d filled in the rest of his details, I pulled out the measuring tape.