Love of Her Lives by Sharon Clare

she slapped against his chest a few minutes later. “You better try them on.”
    “Here?” He looked down on her with mock disapproval. “If you’re trying to get me naked, Beth, this isn’t the place.”
    “Not quite. Why don’t you try the fitting room like a normal person?”
    Fitting room. And where might he find one of those? He looked over her shoulders and praise God, a sign indicating just that hung on the far wall over three closed doors.
    She followed him across the store where a young woman with a wee ring hooped through one nostril opened the door for him. Since Beth didn’t ask the woman how she’d managed to get a ring stuck in her nose, he decided it was another twenty–first century phenomenon he’d never understand.
    Inside the fitting room, he stripped out of his clothes and pulled on the pants Beth had chosen. The fabric was as she’d described — luxuriously soft. He’d rather she had run her fingers up the inseam with him inside.
    “Perhaps these are a bit snug, lass.” He called through the door.
    “Well let’s see, Calum.”
    When he opened the door, she sucked back a short gasp. The ring–nosed woman turned and let go a soft whistle. “Are you ripped, or what?”
    Beth glared at him. “Where’s your shirt?”
    “I hadn’t got to that yet.”
    “Turn around, let’s see how they fit,” said Nose-ring.
    Now Beth had an amused look on her face. “Yes, Calum, spin around and show us your butt.” He did, although he’d rather Beth step into the wee room with him where he could show her in private.
    Nose-ring emitted another sound of appreciation. “That tight fit is working for me.”
    He looked over his shoulder to see Beth’s gaze fixed on his arse.
    “No kidding.” Beth glanced at Nose-ring. “Definitely not too tight.”
    “I’m glad you approve,” he said dryly. And so did others by the looks the women were shooting him. He stepped back into the room and closed the door.
    “Does your boyfriend want a larger size?” he heard Nose-ring say. Calum’s ears pricked up and he moved closer to the door.
    “He’s not my boyfriend. We’re just friends,” Beth pointed out. Damn, not a hint of jealousy. How was he going to get a passion–infused kiss if she couldn’t even let a stranger think he was hers for mere minutes. Had he made no impression on her at all?
    “Man, he’s hot,” said Nose-ring, speaking loud enough to be overheard. “On some men, a beard just looks scruffy, but his five-o’clock shadow is way sexy, don’t you think?”
    Calum pressed his ear to the door and heard Beth’s quiet response. “Sexy as hell.”
    Smiling, he slipped on the sweater, opened the door, yanked Beth inside, and shut it behind her.
    Her eyes grew wide over the hint of a smile. “What are you doing?”
    “I’ll not parade myself to a shop full of gawking folk. Now, are you pleased with the clothes you’ve chosen?” He took a step closer.
    “I can hardly tell with you standing so close.” She took a step back and came up against the mirror. Her tongue flicked out and wet her lower lip as she looked him over.
    “I think black is your colour.”
    “Well, ‘tis practical enough.” With another step, he closed the short distance between them. “This woolen feels decadent against my skin.” He pressed his knuckles to the mirror behind her head, so his cashmere–clad forearm brushed her cheek. “What do you think?”
    Her nostrils flared as she turned her cheek into his arm and traced a little circle against the fabric. “Oh, it’s nice … mmm hmmm , soft.”
    He used his other hand to lift her chin and feather his fingers across her face. “Not nearly as soft as your skin.” Leaning in closer still, he brushed his lips against her cheek and gently rasped her with his sexy–as–hell beard. A faint sound escaped her. The kind of wee moan that sent the blood to a man’s groin. Dropping his hand to the nape of her neck, he ran his fingertips up through her