Page 56 of Some Like It Hot

He shakes his head. “You’re something else.”

“Something you like though.” It’s not a question.

“Definitely something I like. Definitely someone I like.”

I give the driver the name of the hotel and then I spread my legs out so my knee bumps Aidan’s.

“Text Elise,” I command my phone.

“What do you want to say to Elise?” my phone intones back to me.

“Make sure Blake buys you a ring.” I raise my eyebrows up and down at Aidan. “He can afford at least three carats.”

He laughs.

I tuck my phone in my pocket and place my hand on Aidan’s knee.

CHAPTER 14

Elise

So I’m engaged to Blake Wilder.

How the fuck did that happen?

I mean, I was there. I remember it. I even remember it making sense at the time. But now we’re out, dressed up, holding hands as we walk toward a restaurant, and someone has already spotted us and yelled, “Wilder! Who’s your girlfriend?” And he answered, “Her name’s Elise, and she’s a lot more than just my girlfriend.”

So…this is real. And weird.

Blake has a reservation, so once we arrive, we’re immediately led to a table across the restaurant. It’s an upscale Italian place and he tells me it’s one of his favorites. It seems most of the staff knows him and he greets several people as we pass their tables. He never lets go of my hand, and when we get to the semi-circular booth along one wall, he steps back to let me ease in first. His hand grazes over my lower back and hip as I move past him. He slides onto the bench beside me, not stopping until his thigh is pressed right up against mine.

The waiter comes over immediately, pouring us ice water, and asking if we’d like to see the wine menu.

“Are you a wine drinker?” Blake asks me.

“Sometimes. I like a lot of things.”

His gaze drops to my lips and I press them together. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I can’t seem to help flirting. What is going on? I’m going to call it the Simon effect. It really might be, because that man has made me feel pretty fucking good about…everything. Especially sex. “Do you want wine?” I ask Blake.

“Not a wine guy, really,” he admits. “But please have whatever you want.”

I really kind of want a couple of tequila shots but that is not the vibe for tonight. Probably. At the moment, anyway. But if I’m lucky, then later…

I clear my throat, tamp down my inner floozie, and tell the waiter, “I’ll have a vodka martini.”

“Bring me whatever ale you have on draft,” Blake tells him.

“Of course. I’ll give you a few minutes with the menu.”

“I hope you like Italian,” Blake says. “I realize just now I should’ve asked. They do have great steak and salmon here too.”

I open the menu. “I love Italian. This is great.”

He seems relieved, and I wonder if Blake brings women here often. “Do you date a lot?” I ask.

“Define ‘date’.” He looks amused.

Yeah, that’s what I thought. “You seem like you have plenty of attention. Of all kinds, including female. But I’m wondering if perhaps you don’t need to date them.”

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