Page 27 of Some Like It Hot

I turn to find Elise standing just inside the wide, arched doorway that separates the bakery from the attached bookshop. She’s wearing a curve-hugging red dress that makes my mouth go dry. Her hair is gathered to one side, and she has a black hat with netting falling partially over her right eye. She’s also wearing chunky black heels and sheer black stockings.

I feel my entire body straining toward her, but I make myself stay in place and give her my charming-I’m-definitely-flirting-now smile.

“Hello, Elise.”

“Oh my God, what are you doing here?”

“You really don’t know?” I ask her.

She presses her lips together.

“I’m here to see you. To charm your pants off.” I let my gaze track over her slowly. “Though I’m very pleased to see you’re not wearing any.” Now I walk toward her. “Fuck me, Elise, you’re stunning.”

She wets her lips but pulls herself straighter and says, “So you have graduated to stalking now?”

My smile widens. “Yes. I had to see you.”

She crosses her arms over her midsection. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I know that’s what you think. But I’m more interested in how you feel.” I stop in front of her. “You’ve been thinking about me.”

“I see your ego is intact.”

“You told Luna about me.” I grin. “But did you only tell her about the other night at the hockey game, or did you tell her about making out with me in my office before thoroughly ghosting me?”

“I—”

“Both,” Luna fills in as I lift a hand and run my thumb over Elise’s silky cheek.

Elise shoots her a look. “Okay, enough of you two talking.” Elise takes my hand and pulls me toward the steps. “You don’t believe that I’m too much of a mess? Come on. I’ll show you.”

I wrap my hand around hers, loving the feel of her delicate bones and soft, warm skin. I’ll follow her anywhere. I glance back at Luna. She’s just smiling as she watches us go.

“Thought she’s into the firefighter,” the man at the tall table says.

“She is,” Luna says brightly. “Isn’t it great?”

Firefighter? Who is the?—

But any questions fly out of my mind when I step off the top step into the little hallway on the second floor and follow Elise through the door and into what is clearly her apartment.

“You work here and live here?” I ask.

She drops my hand and stops in the middle of the main room. She faces me and crosses her arms. “Yep.”

“That’s convenient. Did you move here after you quit working for me?”

“Yes.”

“That explains why I couldn’t find you.”

She tips her head to the side, studying me. “You really tried to find me?”

“Of course.”

She sighs. “You make it sound like that should be so obvious. But we didn’t have a relationship, Simon. You never declared any feelings for me. I kissed you one time.”

“It was a hell of a kiss,” I tell her. “There was unfinished business.”

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