Page 76 of Some Like It Hot

My eyes widen. "You want to run errands with me? I have to shop for some fabric."

"Of course. It's about spending time with you. Not specifically what we do."

That is so… nice. None of my boyfriends in the past ever took the slightest interest in my dress designs and none ever shopped with me. I don’t talk about it that much with anyone else really, except for the other designers and models I meet at shows. To have someone in my personal life willing to spend time on it with me is new and…wonderful. I find myself having to swallow before I say, "I'd really like that."

"That’s perfect,” Simon says. “Then you can come back over here and I'll take you both to dinner. I should be finished around six."

Aidan smiles at us as if we've given him some kind of award or trophy. "Fantastic. I go on shift tomorrow for twenty-four-hours. So this sounds like the perfect way to spend my day. And night," he adds before lifting his cup for a sip.

Simon runs his hand over my hip and gives me another kiss on the neck. "I agree."

I agree too. I think I might still be sleeping and dreaming.

CHAPTER 19

Aidan

“How did you get into pinup modeling?” I ask Elise as I watch her sort through the racks of scarves and hats in the vintage clothing shop she pulled me into.

She looks up with a smile. “It kind of started with things like hats, actually.”

“Tell me.”

I love just watching her and listening to her. I haven’t been able to pick up on a favorite color or specific style she gravitates to yet. She likes an eclectic assortment of things. Kind of a ‘when she sees it, she knows’ vibe.

And it makes me smile. It’s like her taste in men. The three she was with last night are pretty different from one another, but she clearly likes us all. And maybe that’s why. We all bring something different to the table.

Blake is intense and bossy, and when he’s attentive or sweet it probably feels extra special.

Simon is over the top in romancing her and making her feel like a queen. But he’s great at sharing. He wants everyone to be happy.

Then there’s me. I fall in between, I suppose. I’m definitely open to sharing thoughts and feelings and want her to feel worshiped in the bedroom, but I’m practical. I’m happy eating sandwiches and shopping for things she likes. I don’t need to buy out a restaurant. As for sharing, I’m good with it as long as Elise is. But if that changes for her, it changes for me.

“My mom,” she says, moving to another table and running her fingers over the beads of the necklaces displayed. “My dad was…particular. I didn’t realize it until later because I was focused on myself and how I was never good enough for him, but after they divorced I started thinking about my mom too and I realized that he was always picking at her too. In different ways, but one of the ways she escaped was to do community theater.”

I follow her around the table, watching her pick up earrings and examine them before putting them back. We shopped for a couple of hours before stopping for lunch at one of my favorite sub shops. I do know now that she doesn’t like mayo and does like pickles, and I’ve filed even that little bit of information away.

She’s already bought fabric. And two new pairs of shoes. She told me two bolts of fabric were for a special order that had come in the past week for someone else, but that two of them were for dresses for herself. She seems sheepish about buying things for herself, and I want nothing more than to take everything out of her arms, lay it down on the counter, and buy it all for her. I want her to go crazy. I want her to have everything she wants.

Okay, so maybe I’m not totally practical when it comes to her. I would be more over-the-top maybe if I had a black diamond credit card like Simon does. But I grin. Between Simon and me, we could spoil this girl exactly the way she deserves.

He’d want to buy her real diamonds while I know she prefers costume jewelry, but he’d be able to buy out the entire thrift shop for her.

My mind goes to the third man who was a part of spoiling her in bed last night.

Yeah, okay, all three of us could spoil her right. I think Blake Wilder has more feelings for Elise than he even realizes.

Fortunately, I only have to deal with one man who isn’t good at emotions. Simon is an open book. He’s extremely easy to read, but is also very forthcoming with his thoughts and feelings. He was nearly giddy this morning having both Elise and me still in his bed, then being able to have coffee with me while she slept in.

It would be very easy to fall for that guy.

I have to keep reminding myself that he’s leaving. Chicago is not his full-time home. It sounds like he comes back often, which could be fun. If Elise and I keep dating, maybe we can see Simon whenever he’s in town.

Still, it’s very important for both Elise and me to remember that there is an expiration date on this foursome.

“I loved being with her backstage for the plays she did,” Elise goes on as she plops another hat on her head, looks in the mirror, then turns and gives me a smile.

She looks adorable in it. But I’ve thought everything she’s tried on has looked great. And I’m very aware that it’s about the woman and not the accessories.

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