13. Dress the Part
“ A re you going to keep giving me the silent treatment?” Isaiah asked, putting down his gold-coated chopsticks. The only thing they seemed to agree on was sushi for lunch.
“If you’re upset about what happened last night, I’m sorry.
We promised the captain that we wouldn’t get involved.
If we’d been caught tampering with a murdered woman’s belongings, it wouldn’t have ended well for either of us.
” Isaiah stayed close behind her. She wished he’d stop wearing that damn cologne.
“I thought we agreed not to discuss it,” Poppy said as they walked through the sea life tunnel, surrounded by exotic fish like they were in an aquarium.
“As much as you may not enjoy my company right now or being confined to your suite, you wouldn’t have preferred being stuck in the brig for the remainder of the trip,” he said, taking her arm and forcing her to stop walking.
The last thing she wanted was for him to touch her; it made her skin tingle in a way that prevented her from staying angry.
“We only have another week to endure, and after that, you never have to see me again.”
Poppy felt like this would be the longest holiday of her life. Was this her karma for plotting to murder her boyfriend? She kept the thought to herself.
“That’s fine with me, Mr. Rivers.” She removed his hand from her arm and forced a smile before heading to the shopping pavilion, which was designed to look like a garden growing on the ship.
The small waterfall cascading into a fountain made of shells in the centre of the boutiques and luxury shops felt like overkill, but she appreciated the vision.
“If you don’t mind, I have some shopping to do, so you can either come with me or wait outside the shop. ”
“Can’t you call someone to come to the suite?” he asked, looking at the boutiques as if they were armed and dangerous.
“There are plenty of other people around. Nothing is going to happen. I might jump off the balcony if I have to stay in that suite for even one more moment.” Poppy had never been one to feel claustrophobic, but the thought of being trapped in there was making her skin itch.
“Please don’t. I’m contractually obligated to go after you,” Isaiah said.
“That’s all the more enticing.” Poppy smiled, heading into a shop with beautiful gowns and tuxes – perfect for the opera tonight.
A sales assistant in a sharply tailored pink pantsuit greeted them from behind a glass counter filled with ties, bowties, brooches, cufflinks and hair pieces.“Welcome to Beatrix’s Boutique. What can I do for you? My name is Melina, and I’m here for whatever you need, from rack to couture.”
“We need a tux, black tie, for the opera tonight,” Poppy said. “I think silk peak lapels, silk stripe trousers, and maybe a bowtie with a wing-collared shirt.”
“I thought you wanted to get something to wear,” Isaiah whispered as she smiled at Melina.
Poppy shrugged. “Dressing you up will be so much more fun. I can pick up anything.”
“As entertaining as being your Ken doll would be, I can dress myself. Just focus on yourself,” he said, eyeing a plain dress shirt that was too casual for an opera.
“If only that were true,” she said wryly, taking his hand and leading him to the tuxes.
“We’ve focused on me enough over the past couple of days.
It’s your turn. The captain invited us personally, so we should at least look the part.
We wouldn’t want her to think we aren’t grateful for her hospitality.
” She clapped her hands as they walked around the assortment of suits and dresses.
“Attending the opera? How thrilling! We’re cutting it a bit close, since we won’t have time for alterations, but I’m sure we can find you something perfect.” Melina smiled, mirroring Poppy’s excitement.
“We received an invitation at the last minute, so we’re running a bit behind schedule,” Poppy explained.
“With such a strong frame, finding him something will be easy. What were we thinking? Double-breasted or single-breasted jacket?” Melina asked as they surveyedIsaiah as if he was a mannequin.
“I think he can pull off the double-breasted, especially if we forego the waistcoat or cummerbund,” Poppy said, like a pro.
“Black or navy? Or I have the perfect shades of midnight or aubergine?” Melina suggested, going through a rack of various colours.
“I’m not wearing purple,” Isaiah stated. The look in his eye told Poppy not to try him.
She smiled at him and went back to plotting with Melina. “I haven’t picked my dress yet, so I think black is the safest.”
“Shoes? Loafers or dress shoes?”Melina pointed to a wall rack of options.
“Absolutely no loafers,” Isaiah interjected as she pulled out a few boxes.“Even if I’m attending as a guest, I need to be able to run in case of an emergency, and I don’t want to have to worry about losing a shoe.”
“Dress shoes it is. I love a decisive man.” Melina winked. Poppy didn’t like how her eyes lingered on Isaiah, but maybe she was sizing him up for the tux.
“Maybe a soft leather, not patent,” Poppy added.She didn’t want him to get blisters.
“Bowtie or necktie?” Melina asked.
“Bowtie.”
“Neither.”
They spoke in unison and glared at each other.
“I’ll leave you to talk; I have an idea of size, so I’ll go pull you out some options.” Melina set off to put the clothing items into one of the changing rooms.
“C’mon, Mr Detective, get your butt in the changing room; the more you resist, the harder it’s going to be.” She smirked, taking his hand. “Don’t look so tortured. Shopping is meant to be fun. I promise it isn’t going to hurt.” She opened the suede curtain and pushed him inside.
“Can I have some privacy?” he asked her in the mirror as he started to remove his t-shirt.
“I didn’t expect you to be bashful,” she teased.
Isaiah called her bluff and started to unbutton his trousers, so she closed the curtain.
“How are you getting on?” she asked a few minutes later, growing restless.
Isaiah stepped out in a black Armani tux with a simple dress shirt without the bowtie, fidgeting with his belt.
“You clean up well,” Poppy commented. The jacket showed off his strong frame, as Melina had put it. She didn’t know what else to say, but knew she was blushing and told herself to get a grip.
“It’s a little tight.” Isaiah tugged at the shirt collar and undid the two top buttons. She decided she wasn’t going to force him to wear a tie.
“It’s tailored, and you wear your shirts about two sizes too big. This is perfect,” she said, fixing the button on the suit jacket.
“My goodness.” Melina nudged Poppy as she reappeared to check on them. “Never let him dress himself in future.”
Something was missing. “He needs cufflinks and a watch to complete the look.”
“The tux is enough,” Isaiah said, removing the jacket. “I have a watch –it was my father’s, and it’s not coming off.”
“Vintage. I like it,” Poppy said, glancing at it. The strap was very worn. “But how about a new strap?”
“Fine, but only the strap.” Closing the curtain, Isaiah handed out the tux, and Melina took it to wrap it up.
“Have you had enough fun?” he asked, putting his holster back on.
“Nope. It’s not like there’s much else we can do, and this is the first time I’ve ever got to take someone shopping,” she admitted. “You wanted me to stay close, so let me have my way.”
“If this keeps you entertained and out of trouble, then have at it,” he said, following her to the women’s shoes. “I can wait while you pick out a dress.”
Poppy picked up a pair of sparkly gold heels. “I already picked a satin cream cocktail dress while you were changing,” she told him, adding the heels to the counter to be wrapped up with the rest.
He frowned. “That was quick. Don’t you want to look around a bit longer?”
“It’s not much fun for me.” She’d just picked the first dress she’d seen in the window; she didn’t find much joy in shopping for herself. Her aunt’s voice had a way of worming its way into her head and picking her choices apart.
Noticing him looking at the jewellery through the glass counter, she changed the subject. “Shopping for your woman back home?”
She’d never thought to ask before. He wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t attached.
Still, even if last night’s intimacy had just been an act, she doubted he would go so far if he had someone waiting.
At least, she hoped not. After spending twenty-four hours a day together, it was hard to remember how little they knew about one another.
“No. Something for my niece,” he explained. “It’s her birthday soon.”
“Your niece?” She didn’t want to admit she felt relieved.
“Last time I spoke to my sister, she mentioned she wants to get her ears pierced.”
“A pair of simple studs would be cute. Is there anything she likes? They have some little seashells.”
“She’s a big fan of yours, actually,” he admitted. “She loves any and all music; she wants to be a dancer or a singer.”
“Really? She has good taste,” Poppy said.
“She doesn’t know you like I do,” he said, but a small smile danced at the corner of his mouth.
“Ouch,” Poppy whined, nudging him playfully. “Could I get her tickets for my next show? Or sign something for her?” She didn’t like the wall he kept putting between them; it made her feel like a criminal being guarded instead of someone he was supposed to protect.
“I can’t accept gifts from clients. It wouldn’t be professional,” he said gruffly as she leaned against him. Soon enough, his resolve would weaken; she wasn’t the only one who had felt something between them last night, even if he wanted to deny it. His body couldn’t lie.
“Not a gift, then. You can consider it a bonus.” She turned her attention to the selection of studs. “I think the seashell earrings would be a good place to start,” she added, her voice tinged with disappointment at his refusal.