Page 100 of Some Like It Hot

“I know, love. Next time they can coordinate schedules better.” Blake is out of town playing hockey and Aidan is on a twenty-four-hour shift.

She purses her lips, but then she nods.

“Okay, exit check,” I tell her. “Phone?”

She raises it up to show me. “Check.”

“Put it in your purse.” If she doesn’t, she’s liable to set it down on a table on the way out as she picks something else up.

“In the purse. Check.” She obeys.

This is a routine I’ve started with her and realized it actually helps me a lot, too. I’m just as likely to forget my phone as Elise without my assistant Sonia around.

“Phone, Simon?”

I hold my own up and show her I’m inserting in the breast pocket of my overcoat. “In the coat.”

“Keys?”

She grabs them off the kitchen counter. “Keys. Car keys?”

I lift them up and show her. “License?”

She digs in her jeans pocket and waves the little plastic card at me. “Wallet?”

I pat my pocket. “Wallet. I think we’re good to go. I grabbed some water too.” I hold her coat out for her and she slips into it.

She turns her head for a kiss and I happily oblige.

“Thank you for coming with me.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m excited to see you kick ass.”

Elise laughs. “Graciousness is part of the judging. I love meeting the other contestants.”

I grab the grocery bag and her suitcase handle and we head out.

Elise astonishes me. Not only is she hands down the most gorgeous woman in the competition, she’s a natural on stage. She walks with confidence in her heels, white stockings with snowflakes on them and a vintage white winter swing coat. She has her hands tucked into the muff, but pulls one out to blow a kiss to the audience.

It’s obviously meant for the judges, but she does lock eyes with me as she does it and my heart damn near stops.

Clearing my throat, I shift in my chair. My dick is getting hard.

I glance over at the man sitting next to me and he is eyeing Elise with naked interest.

“Damn,” he says. “That is one hot woman.”

“Mine,” I say.

“Mine what?” the guy asks, looking at me briefly in confusion before returning his attention to Elise, who is descending the steps off the stage.

“My woman.”

I don’t think I’ve ever said that in such a possessive way in my entire life, but fuck all, Elise is mine. This man can find his own pinup model.

“Ah. Lucky you.” He grins.

I nod, satisfied he’s got the message.

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