Perfect Alignment (Thorne and Dash 3)

“You know how close I am to canceling this meeting and coming to find you?”

“I’m interviewing potential staff, so behave yourself. You’re going to have to wait for tonight.”

“Cruel bastard,” Thorne whispered. Then he ended the call.

Riley’s gift for Thorne was a replacement of the first edition of Swallows and Amazons that he’d torn apart in anger. Thorne had said they could just repair it, but Riley had seen the sad look in Thorne’s eyes when he’d held the broken book. The owner of the shop where Riley had purchased it located another first edition for him and also a signed copy of Thorne’s second favorite book in the series, Winter Holiday. They were both due to arrive before they left for New York, maybe even that afternoon.

The staff interviews went well. Riley had worried he and Susan wouldn’t find anyone they felt comfortable working with. They were being very selective since A Dash of Perfection felt like their baby, but they lucked out. The first candidate was perfect, and while the second was clearly not for them, the third, though less experienced than they preferred, seemed eager to learn and had excellent references from her previous jobs.

Riley got a text as he was putting a few folders into his messenger bag. It was Thorne: Darius has tuxes ready for a fitting. Do you have time to do that today?

Yes, just finished the interviews. You want to come over now?

Be there soon.

***

Riley and Thorne climbed the stairs to Darius’s shop, eager to see what he’d picked out for their tuxes. Riley wasn’t sure how he could get away with altering them since they were borrowed, but one didn’t question Darius about his work.

The shop door was shut, and there were no lights on that Riley could see. “He is expecting us, right?”

“Yes. He said he’d be closed for lunch but to go ahead and come by. I would think the light would be on, though.” Thorne knocked. There was no answer. “Dammit. When he’s in the back he often doesn’t hear.”

“You come here off hours a lot?”

“Yeah, he works late a lot of nights, and before I met you, so did I. I’m a good customer, so he accommodated me.”

Riley huffed. “Doesn’t everyone?”

Thorne flipped him off. Then he tried the door. It was unlocked.

“Should we?” Riley asked.

“Yes.”

They stepped into the shop.

A light shone from the back.

“Darius? You back there?” Thorne called.

They heard something like boxes falling off a shelf. And then a low murmur. “Um… Yes. I’ll be right out.”

Thorne and Riley looked at each other.

“What the hell is he doing?” Riley asked.

Thorne smiled. “More to the point, who is he doing?”

Darius rushed out, looking harried. When Riley noticed that Darius’s T-shirt was on inside out, he had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. He’d never once seen the man less than impeccably dressed. Was it Marc back there? Was that a good or a bad thing?

“I have the tuxes over here. You can both go in a dressing room, and I’ll—”

Marc stepped out from the back. His hair was a mess, but at least his clothes were on properly.

No one said anything for several seconds, and then Thorne took the tuxes from Darius. “We’ll be right back.”

He put his hand on Riley’s back, and it was only then that Riley started moving toward the dressing room. Marc had looked shocked and guilty when he saw them. Had he not realized they were on their way?

Thorne ushered Riley into a large dressing room and shut the door. They looked at each other and covered their mouths to silence their laughter.

“His shirt,” Riley mouthed and pointed to his T-shirt collar.

“I saw,” Thorne mouthed back.

When he unzipped his garment bag, Riley gasped. The tuxedo was black with satin-edged lapels, a vest with narrow black-and-gray stripes, a dark-green necktie and pocket square, and narrow leg pants. “This is perfect. I would never have found something like this.”

Thorne nodded as he pulled his jacket off the hanger. Riley saw that his tie and pocket square were burgundy, but otherwise his tux was the same.

“So you approve?” Riley asked.

“I love it. I never doubted Darius.”

“Me either.” Riley dressed quickly and then turned to observe Thorne, who was attaching the cuff links to his shirt. Riley helped him into his jacket and then gave him a once-over in the mirror. “You look fantastic.”

Thorne turned to look at Riley. “So do you. Simply amazing.”

“How does it feel?” Riley asked.

“Good, maybe a little tight in the shoulders, but I could manage as it is.”

Riley ran his hands across Thorne’s back. “Looks nice, but we don’t want to strain it.”

“How about you?” Thorne asked.

“It feels perfect, luxurious, but I’m sure Darius will want to fix up something.”

“Nothing is ever good enough for him unless he made it.”

When they stepped out of the dressing room, Darius had his shirt on the right way, and Marc looked much more put together. Were they hoping Riley and Thorne hadn’t noticed? They couldn’t possibly think either of them was that stupid.