Page 43 of Some Like It Hot

I swallow and pull her in closer, instinctively trying to keep anyone else from noticing. Even though I’m the late-comer and everyone else here has already seen everything she’s got on display.

I feel a stupid, but sharp, stab of jealousy.

Which makes no sense.

“I’m fine,” she says. “It was just a mess up.” She gives a light laugh. “Of course. I got distracted and left a towel on a burner. No major damage. Thank god.”

I’m watching her face as she explains. Despite her laugh, she doesn’t look amused. She looks embarrassed.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” I tell her. Then I feel like I need to add more. I squeeze her arms. “Everybody does stuff like that. No big deal.” I look at the firefighter. Aidan. I roll my eyes. “Right? Lieutenant? It’s no big deal.” I give him a look that says he better agree.

Aidan nods. “Right. Easiest call we’ve had in weeks. No risk. No problem.”

Elise blows out a breath. Then she gives me a wobbly smile. “Thanks.”

“Of course.” I rub my hands up and down her arms. I want to run my hands all over her. Without any layers of clothes between us.

“I’m so sorry I forgot you were coming over,” she says. “I got distracted. I didn’t even realize what time it was.”

I look around. “You’ve had a lot going on.” Then my eyes land on the guy in the boxers. He’s right there. Still. And…he’s in boxers. I narrow my eyes.

“Oh, hey, Blake,” Aidan says. “This is Simon.”

I look from one man to the other. “Okay.”

“Simon, this is Blake.”

“Hey, mate.”

Jesus, he’s British.

She’s got a half-dressed Brit and a cocky firefighter here. No wonder she was distracted.

“Hey.”

“You should know his name too,” Aidan says. “Probably going to see him around a bit.”

“A bit?” Simon asks.

“A lot?” Aidan asks.

Simon nods. “Definitely.”

I frown. What the hell? I look down at Elise. She looks a little sheepish.

Uh, huh. Okay. Well… fuck.

It seems I have some competition.

Which is a stupid thing to think. Elise and I do not have a relationship. We kissed for the first time on New Year’s Eve.

But I need her.

I need her to agree to this crazy, stupid plan I spontaneously hatched with my grandmother, who I do not want to lie to but who is strong-arming me. I need her to not be into another guy, or a couple of other guys, who could mess up the idea of us being a convincing madly in love couple for the next ninety days.

I need her to…

Fuck. I need her to want me. The way I want her.

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