Page 101 of Some Like It Hot

This was just the brief introduction to all the candidates, but Miss Sugar Starling is a clear hit. She gets a loud round of applause.

The next round is a question-and-answer segment and Elise sounds charming and eloquent as she discusses her hobbies, which include fashion design, baking, and swing dancing, which I did not know. Now I instantly have a fantasy that involves taking her dancing.

Not that I can dance.

But I will learn if that’s what she’s interested in.

There’s another round of competition that I assume is some kind of talent portion, but it’s more like performance art. Elise does a routine to music that involves shedding layers, starting with her coat, revealing a peacock blue velvet swing dress as if she’s going to a cocktail party. One of her props is a martini glass, which she mimics sipping from and then poses.

Then, to my utter shock and delight, she manages to drop the dress in one casual maneuver and is in a sexy silk ice blue nightgown and tying her hair up with a ribbon. It’s not revealing, other than her glorious cleavage. It’s just a promise of good things to come, for the man lucky enough to be her partner.

I heartily agree with the man next to me.

Lucky me.

The whole routine is meant to simulate a night out for a woman in winter in the fifties and not only is her body displayed to perfection, so are her fashions. Her expressions are adorable and sweetly sexy. I’m blown away by how creative she is and so clearly in her element. Her focus is spot on and she’s clearly enjoying herself.

When she takes second place, I’m both proud of her and convinced the judges got it wrong. All the women gave it their all, but she is the clear winner.

Finally, after a round of photos of the contestants and the top prize winners, Elise is free to come down and meet me. I give her a big hug and tell her, “You were incredible. I’m astonished by your poise. I would have froze up there with all those eyes on me.”

She laughs and gives me a look, throwing her arms around me. “Oh, bullshit. You can charm a snake, Simon.”

Then she kisses me softly and tenderly wipes off the lipstick she’s transferred to my mouth. “Thank you for the standing ovation.”

“You deserved it.”

“At least you didn’t catcall me. That would have been embarrassing.”

“That’s more of a Wilder move,” I say.

She gives a shrug. “I don’t think that will ever happen. We’re meeting with his grandmother soon and then that’s that.”

I can’t tell how she feels about losing Blake in her life, but I’m British and we don’t pry. If she wanted to tell me, she would.

“Care for a cocktail?”

“Yes, I just need to say goodbye to all the other girls.”

I watch her dash off and give hugs and big smiles and hold out her phone to exchange numbers and probably her design business information. I’m content to just soak in her pure joy.

When she returns, I murmur to her, “I need to serve you a martini while you’re wearing that nightgown. Just so I can see it drop to the floor.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

We can’t get out of that venue and to the hotel fast enough.

CHAPTER 25

Elise

This is great. This is great. This is great.

I keep repeating the words over and over as I rip the stitches out of the dress in my lap. Again.

I’m overwhelmed. I’ll admit it. But I don’t know what to do about it.

My show was a huge success, and I got eight orders afterward. Which is amazing.

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