Page 83 of Some Like It Hot

She nods. “I know. That’s why I’m hooking up with three guys who seem to like trouble.”

I lean in and say huskily, “Actually, I think we love it.”

Her surprised, happy smile convinces me that I’m definitely falling for this woman. Fast and hard.

CHAPTER 21

Simon

“She’s upstairs with Blake,” Luna McNeill says as Aidan and I approach the counter at Books and Buns bakery. “She just got off.”

I raise my eyebrows. Aidan snorts. We exchange a grin.

Luna laughs. “She got off of work, you dirty boys. Her shift ended.”

“So she’s getting off then,” I say cheerfully, eyeing the row of pastries in the case. “I doubt Wilder could resist the urge to get his hands on her first.”

“I agree.” Aidan glances toward the stairs. “Should we just go up or text her first?”

“If you think I’m going to waste an opportunity to barge in on Wilder unannounced then you really don’t know me at all.”

Aidan just clears his throat, but doesn’t respond.

I glance over at him. His expression is reserved.

We’ve just got back from having lunch together in my suite, something I had hoped would be more sex than salads, but he didn’t make any moves, so I didn’t either.

He and I haven’t had sex yet, even though it’s been over a week, and I want him desperately.

I sat through three courses with a raging hard cock waiting for him to indicate in some way he wanted to move the feast to the bedroom, but he didn’t.

He’s clearly holding back, and I know why.

Aidan attaches to people.

He’s already attaching to Elise. His blue eyes go soft whenever he looks at her, and he can’t resist the urge to touch her whenever he’s around her. Not just sexually, but casually. A hand on her back. A sweeping of her hair off of her cheek. Brushing his thigh against hers in the car. He constantly peppers her with little kisses and she laughs easily when he’s around, soaking up his attention.

In sharp contrast, he’s pulled back from me. He actually showed very little enthusiasm about having lunch together in my suite, suggesting a hot dog stand instead.

A fucking hot dog stand.

Nothing kills romance like questionable pork in a stale preservative-filled bun.

But he’s distancing himself from me because I’m heading back to London.

He knows this is temporary, and he’s protecting himself. Protecting his heart.

Because when he doesn’t know I’m looking, I see the way he looks at me too—with growing affection.

And I love it.

It feels incredible to have a man who is as solid and caring as Aidan look at me like I’m someone worthy of his love.

Not because I buy him things.

Not because I can introduce him to influential people or take him on a luxurious vacation.

But because he likes me.

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