"You don't have to wear the socks if you don't want to," Deacon was quick to assure, having copped sight of the way I was staring at them. "I think they're adorable, but you don't have to."

"Have you worn them?" I asked, making a face as I pictured him in them. There was something wrong with that image.

Deacon shook his head. "No. They're brand new. I only took the tags off so I could fit them in the bottom draw." He pointed at the bottom drawer that was built into the wardrobe for effect. "I wouldn't ask you to wear or use something that one of my previous...