Page 26 of The Tempted
I remember as a kid going with my dad to Castle Clothes on 18thAvenue anytime he wanted a new suit or some new slacks. My old man never shopped in a department store nor did he have my mom buy his clothes when she went shopping every suit or pair of pants he owned were hand tailored by the master tailor in this little shop. He would spend hours being fitted for whatever it was, he was purchasing making sure if fit him just so. Then the salesman would have a selection of tailored dress shirts displayed for him, accompanied with matching ties and handkerchiefs. The days my father dressed casually he still wore a pair of tailored slacks a pullover shirt and his leather jacket.
It was an eerie feeling walking back into Castle Clothes without my father and an even stranger feeling standing in front of the mirror as the tailor took my measurements much the same way I used to watch him measure my dad. These last few days felt like an out-of-body experience. It felt as if someone had pressed the pause button on my own life and took me back in time to relive my father’s life. That’s why I had reached out to Nikki today. I needed her to bring me back to reality and being with her made me feel like Mikey and not so much likeVal.
“Stand up straight kid,” Jimmy Gold said, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “And don’t look so fucking miserable will you,” he shook his head disgusted. “The suit doesn’t make the man, the man makes the suit, and a suit is only as good as the man who wears it.”
I rolled my eyes did he really think I was about to take fashion advice from a man wearing pinstripe pants a guinea tee and a mink coat?
“I’m not really a suit kind of guy,” I said grumpily as I spread my arms so the ninety-year-old man could measure me. It was pretty amusing to think this little Italian man was going to handcraft my suits at his age.
“Yeah, well jeans and a T-shirt won’t do anymore,” Jimmy proceeded to ramble. “Besides, you look pretty spiffy in a suit. You had all the ladies flocking to you at your mama’s funeral.”
“They were offering their condolences,” I bit back. He really was a fucking jackass.
“I wish some of them would console me if you know what I mean,” he winked and offered me his signature gold tooth grin.
My hands fell back down to my sides and I stepped off the elevated step that I had been standing on so that the tailor could do his job and made my way over to Jimmy.
“Yeah? Your mother is still alive, isn’t she? Lives all nice and peaceful in a nursing home that you visit once or twice a year no? Maybe you should shut the fuck up and be grateful that at your age, you still have your mother,” I watched as his grin faltered and he stared at me speechless. It was a fucking miracle the bastard shut his mouth. I turned to the tailor. “I need a break.”
The old man nodded sympathetically before he scowled at Jimmy. I made my way to the front of the store pulled open the front door, thankful to escape Jimmy even if it was just for a few moments. That guy got under my skin like nobody’s business. I greedily breathed in the fresh air running my fingers through my messy hair and told myself the fitting was almost over. I would only have to endure this asshole’s company for a little longer.
“Shouldn’t you be inside?” I heard her sweet and sassy voice before I actually saw her. I turned around, and it was my savior. My Nikki sweeping in just when I needed her. She was like my guardian angel or some shit.
The sexiest guardian angel that ever existed. My eyes did a slow scan of her body taking their sweet time to take her all in. She was wearing a pair of black leggings that fit like a second skin, making me wish she would turn around because I was sure they hugged that ass of hers in a way that could be deemed dangerous to my fucking dick that was aching for her. The shirt she was wearing hung off one shoulder fitting snug over her breasts and with the brisk air leaving very little for my imagination as her nipples saluted me. Why hello to you too! It took everything in me to lift my eyes and meet her gaze. She was smiling at me that fucking smile completely undid me.
“I felt as if I was throwing you into the trenches all alone. You didn’t kill him yet did you?” she asked laughter in her voice as she peered into the glass windows to see if Jimmy was still breathing.
“You have no fucking idea how happy I am to see you I could fucking kiss you senseless,” I said and grabbed her hand pulling her against me wrapping my arms around her not giving her a chance to object. I needed to feel her even if it was just her body pressed to mine fully clothed. I’d take whatever I could get. It was selfish, but we already had established that I was a dick. The funny thing is she didn’t stiffen in my arms like I expected her to. She didn’t even pull away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around my waist and laughed against my chest.
I closed my eyes and embraced her tighter breathing in her scent. I was losing my mind or rather what was left of it.
“Did I ever tell you what my favorite thing to do is?” She said against my chest.
“What’s that?” I mumbled against her hair as my hands worked her back in lazy stokes.
“Shopping,” she said, pulling back slightly. I grunted. I think I was starting to spend too much time with Anthony. She laughed at me and damn me straight to hell if her laugh didn’t make everything all right in my otherwise fucked up world.
“Let’s go inside and get you looking dapper,” she winked at me taking my hand in hers dragging me back into Castle Clothes.
I followed her not ashamed that to an outsider, I looked as if she had me on a leash. I was starting to believe that I’d follow her anywhere. A pretty scary thought to a guy like me who had never been affected in his life by a woman.
“Jimmy, you can leave I’ve got it from here,” she said sweetly. She looked over her shoulder at me. “Eyes up here Mikey,” she said with a touch of humor in her voice. Damn, I had been caught staring at that magnificent ass of hers again. I grinned at her sheepishly shrugging my shoulders.
“The boss—I mean your pops he knows you’re here?” Jimmy asked.
“For the record, I don’t need my father’s permission to go anywhere Jimmy but yeah, he knows I’m here,” she turned to face me. “He actually thought it was a great idea that I come and help the cause.”
Good ‘ole Vic that guy was starting to grow on me. Jimmy shrugged his shoulders, running a hand along his fur coat.
“Well, okay then. I hope you have better luck than I did,” he gave me a dirty look. “Mr. Personality isn’t very cooperative.”
I cocked my head to the side, smiling politely as I flipped him the bird. How’s that for personality? He peered at me flipping down the sunglasses that were perched on the top of his head before sauntering out of the shop like he didn’t look like a complete hooligan.
“I owe you,” I said, focusing my attention back to Nikki.
She smiled at me. “Don’t worry I’ll start thinking of ways you can repay me,” she clapped her hands together and looked at the old man. “Let’s get started!”
The next hour was a blur to me, Nikki must’ve sent me in and out of the dressing room a dozen or so times to try on different cuts of suits. Once she had decided on a style she claimed, “showed all the assets” off we were all set. I was Nikki’s muse letting her throw whatever the hell she wanted for me to try on. I almost knocked the old man on the floor when it was time for him to measure my inseam. Nikki found this particular part amusing, even offered to help but as uncomfortable as it was for me to have a little old man all up in my crotch having Nikki do the job would’ve caused a whole different level of embarrassment. I wasn’t sure I could contain myself once she put her hands on me.
