Page 38 of Some Like It Hot

Two minutes later, we’re roaring down the street. I text Elise.

Saw the call. Are you okay?

She doesn’t respond. I call her, worried she is still in the building. Which is irrational. If the business has a security system that goes directly to 911, surely it alerts employees, and has both an alarm and sprinklers. She doesn’t pick up, hopefully because she’s busy exiting the building or isn’t even at work, but is blissfully unaware of what is happening from the cozy comfort of her own apartment.

There is no visible smoke coming from the building when we arrive, indicating either a small blaze or one that’s already been contained.

I hang back to let the crew do their job, but I can see immediately through the large glass windows that Elise is standing in front of the door. She looks fine.

Then the door is opened by a man wearing nothing but boxer shorts.

Immediately, my colleagues usher the man and Elise out of the shop and make entrance.

I call for her when she comes out, tears in her eyes.

“Elise! Thank God you’re okay.”

She’s dressed in flip-flops and lounge pants and a tank top. I’ve heard of casual Friday at work, but this is next level. It’s also January, and fucking freezing outside, so I peel my coat off as I make my way to her.

“Aidan!” She swipes at her eyes. “I don’t know what’s happening. I started the croissants this morning and the muffins and I was tempering some chocolate for Luna, and then I went upstairs and the alarm went off. We didn’t go into the kitchen, so I don’t know what’s happening and I’m freaking out that there might be real damage.”

She pauses for breath and looks up at me. Her lip is trembling, and she’s shivering from the cold. Her nipples are tight pebbles beneath her cotton tank top.

All I can think is how damn happy I am to see her. Not one single hair on her head appears to have been harmed. Sighing in relief, I put my coat around her shoulders and pull her up against me.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” I tell her gruffly. “And I don’t see any smoke, so I’m sure whatever happened, it’s not that bad.”

Then I glance over her shoulder and see the man who unlocked the front door. He’s dressed—or mostly undressed—in only boxer shorts. He’s running a hand through his hair when we make eye contact.

I almost suck in a breath at the sudden and unexpected instant attraction I have to him. His eyes widen and the corner of his mouth turns up, slowly. His gaze sweeps over me, taking in the way I’m comforting Elise, but more than that, he’s checking me out.

The feeling is mutual. I’m intrigued by that strong jaw, the straight nose, and a lean, but muscular chest. Under the circumstances, his stance is fairly casual. He seems confident that all will be well, in spite of a fire crew having just pushed past him, and the fact that he’s standing in nothing but his underwear in January. He has a muffin in his hand. A muffin, for fuck’s sake. It’s thirty degrees outside and he looks like he’s stepped outside to start his day in his private garden.

I find that confidence sexy as hell.

“I take it you two know each other?” he asks.

He’s British.

Until right fucking now, I never knew I had a thing for British guys.

But I know now.

At least this one.

He’s older than me by about a decade, also not my usual type, but I never argue with the power of attraction.

“We met on New Year’s Eve.” I reach my hand out around Elise’s side. “I’m Aidan.”

“Simon.” He grips my hand.

It’s a firm shake. And it lingers too long.

His fingers are long and cool, and he gives just the slightest small stroke across my palm before he releases my hand.

My cock reacts, hardening. Elise’s thigh is pressed against me and the way I’ve turned to reach Simon’s hand, my coat has slipped off her right shoulder and her nipple is brushing against my chest.

He’s shifted closer, right behind Elise. We’re all in a tight cocoon.

---