A MAN CALLED BLUE Read Online Free PDF

firmer tailoring in the more traditional tuxedo."
    Blue was about to agree when the man turned back to Simone. It was her approval he sought, not Blue's. She nodded, and old picket lips turned back to him."Will the gentleman come this way?"
    Blue breathed deep, filled his lungs with patience, and followed the man to a spacious dressing room. Unless he did something about it—and fast—it would be one long mother of an afternoon.
    "Do you have a name?" Blue asked the minute they were alone.
    "Collins, sir."
    "Well, Collins, let's get something straight. You're selling me, not the lady. Got that? That means—if I don't like it, it isn't bought. Understand?"
    The man frowned, then nodded.
    "Good. Now let me see those notes of yours."
    Collins hesitated. Blue glared. The man handed him Simone's list.
    Blue read down the list quickly. How many clothes did the woman think a man wore in three weeks? He handed it back. "Bring half of this, and if you can do it in under an hour, the sale's yours. If not—" Blue held up his hands in a mock gesture of regret. "I'm a stock forty-two tall. It shouldn't be a problem."
    Collins didn't miss a beat. If he could make this sale, even reduced by half, in an hour, he wasn't about to complain. "Certainly, whatever you say, sir. Now if you wouldn't mind removing your, uh, jeans, we'll begin. Shall we start with the Armani?"
    "By all means. And Collins?"
    "Sir?"
    "Give me a copy of the final bill." Blue had no intention of allowing Simone to buy his clothes. He didn't plan on modeling for her like a damned gigolo either. When he stepped out of this dressing room, the shopping would be done. His way.
    "Very good, sir." With that Collins left the dressing room and Blue checked his watch.
    * * *
    Simone fumed. Simone paced. For almost an hour she'd watched the correct, imperturbable Collins go in and out of the dressing room. Each and every time he headed back to it, arms draped with the finest in men's wear, she issued the same instruction.
    "Please tell Mr. Bludell to step out of the dressing room. I'd like to see my selections."
    "Certainly, Miss Doucet," he would reply, then nothing, no sign of the arrogant man. So much for getting control.
    Finally she sent Nance in. He came out with a smile on his face, and that was odd; Nance rarely smiled, at least not around her.
    "Well?" she asked.
    Nance gave her a sheepish look. "He doesn't want to come out, Miss Doucet."
    "Why on earth not?" Her toe started tapping again. She stilled it.
    "He says he's shy."
    She snorted in a most unladylike manner. "Shy, my foot. You go in there and tell that clown to get out here at once."
    "Yes, ma'am." Nance headed back to the dressing room.
    "No. Wait! I've got a better idea. I'll tell him myself."
    She strode, stiff with purpose, to the dressing room and flung back the heavy curtain and, with equal force, pulled it closed behind her.
    Blue was zipping up the fly on a pair of beautifully cut charcoal slacks. He stopped, leaving the top button undone. The white shirt he was wearing was open and his feet were bare. Her abrupt entrance didn't appear to faze him in the least. Nor did it startle the eternally composed Collins. Both men simply stared at her; Collins with a politely questioning gaze, Blue with a studiously innocent grin she knew hid a deeper amusement. Neither man spoke.
    "Are you quite done?" she asked Blue, barely restraining herself from grinding her teeth.
    His smile widened. She tried to ignore it, along with the tanned broad chest exposed by the open shirt.
    "Quite," he said, with full British inflection, slapping Collins on the back. "This man's a gem, a real gem. Between the two of us, we've come up with the perfect wardrobe. You'll love me in it."
    "Now I wouldn't know that, would I?"
    He wiggled his brows."Don't fuss, darling. You know you'll get your chance to see me wear all of it—or none of it—whenever you like."
    Even Collins's vaunted British reserve couldn't take that one. He