Page 44 of Some Like It Hot

Yes, I want her. Even without the house thing.

Dammit.

Well, ‘competition’ is one of my favorite words.

“I need to talk to you,” I tell her, ignoring the other men.

“Yeah, so you said in your text,” she says. “Can it wait?”

“No.” That’s probably an asshole answer considering what’s going on here, but they just said it was no big deal, and I have a ticking time clock here.

She frowns, studying my face. “Is everything okay?”

“I need your help with something,” I tell her honestly.

She looks confused, but nods. “Okay. We can go upstairs and talk.” She frowns. “I think?” She looks at Aidan. “Is it okay if we go inside now?”

Aidan looks from her to me, then back. “I don’t know.”

I give a little growl. “Is it safe to go inside, Lieutenant?”

He looks pleased that he’s pissed me off.

“Yes. But I should escort you, just to be sure.”

“My clothes are in there,” the Brit pipes up. “I need to go inside, too.”

Well, I guess that answers any lingering questions about why he’s here and not fully dressed.

I sigh. “Great. Let’s all go inside.”

Aidan talks to the firefighters who are still lingering around. Elise talks with Luna. And ten minutes later, we—the three guys—are following her upstairs to her apartment.

She pushes the door open and then stops in the doorway and turns to us.

We’re single file on the steps, not able to all fit any other way.

I’m first, with Simon right behind me, and Aidan bringing up the rear.

“So, before we go inside,” Elise says. “You need to know that I almost never have people over.”

I frown. She clearly had Simon over.

“The apartment looks like a disaster but…” Her gaze finds someone over my shoulder and she smiles, then nods.

I look over my shoulder. I don’t know which guy is giving her a silent pep talk, but when I see Simon’s face, I assume it’s him. He’s looking at her with clear affection.

Great.

It wasn’t just a one-night stand. They’re not just fucking.

My ask of her is going to sound really stupid if she’s got a boyfriend.

I mean, I’d love to ask him where the hell he was on New Year’s Eve if he’s so smitten with her. I’d love to ask her just what the hell our kiss in the elevator was if the Brit is so amazing. But I just grit my teeth instead.

I don’t really have another choice here but to go ahead and ask my favor. Unless I can talk some other girl I know into pretending to be my fiancée and pretending her name is Elise.

“But?” Aidan asks.

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