78. Alice

ALICE

I swing the door open, then have to jump back when a rolling clothing rack fills the doorway.

“Sorry, coming through!” a woman hidden by the clothes shouts.

Michael’s big hands land on my shoulders, and he pulls me off to the side.

He keeps my body in front of his, and I have to stop myself from grinning.

The rack stops, and a pretty woman in her thirties steps out from behind it.

“Hi,” she greets. “I’m G, from wardrobe.”

A cool name to go with a cool job. And as much as I want to cheer her on for being a boss beauty, I no longer feel like grinning over Michael’s boner. If she sees his bulge, I’m going to strangle her with a pair of expensive trousers.

“Hello.” I say it quieter than I mean to. “I’m Alice.”

“Oh, I know who you are, babe.” G winks.

My cheeks heat.

I’ve never had another woman call me babe before.

“Hey, Chef Mike.”

“Hi, G,” he replies from behind me.

“You really know how to rile up the press, huh?” G snickers, and I’m back to not liking her.

Thankfully, G doesn’t say more, just turns to her rack and starts pulling items off.

She has a man’s button-down shirt in black and dark wash jeans slung over her arm when she turns around.

“For you.” She holds them out for Michael. “I’ll check the fit when you have them on, then I want you in the all-black sneakers.”

Michael steps around me to take the clothes, and I keep my gaze focused above his belt, not wanting to draw attention to his lower half in case he’s still… aroused.

Clothes tucked under his arm, Michael starts to pull his shirt free from his jeans.

“Nope,” I bite out and point across the suite. “You change in the bedroom. With the door closed.”

I watch him as he tries not to smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

I don’t look away until the bedroom door clicks shut behind him.

When I turn back to G, she has the biggest smile on her face. “Damn. I don’t know which of you I’m more in love with.”

“Um…” Having zero clue how to answer that statement, I move my gaze to the clothes. “Are those really for me to wear?”

G spins back to the rack. “Yep.” She pulls a pair of navy wide-leg slacks off a hanger, followed by a silver silky long-sleeved top. “I’m pretty good at eyeballing sizes, and I tried to get a feel for your style by rewatching your episodes.”

“Oh.” I try not to sound horrified at the idea of someone watching the show specifically to figure out my dress size.

She faces me. “Did you and Chef Mike really meet there? Or did you know each other before?”

“We met on the show.”

I’m not sure if there are things we’re supposed to say or not say, so I figure short answers are best.

“That’s so adorable.” G makes a show of sighing. “You two were so… amazing.” She lifts one of her hands and fans herself. “And the chemistry was off the charts.”

“Uh, thanks.” God, I sound as uncomfortable as I feel.

G glances at her watch. “Shit, sorry, we’re running behind. Gonna need you to try these on.” She thrusts the clothes at me. “This is the one I think will fit best, but I have it in a size up and down if you don’t like the feel.”

I take the items of clothing and peek at the tag, surprised to see it’s the size I’d usually buy. Also surprised she was able to find such pretty items on such short notice.

From my experience, most department stores don’t have good plus-size options, let alone have them in stock.

“Are you wearing a thong?” G asks.

I blink at her. “Yes.”

She dips her chin. “Good. Panty lines aren’t great for promo.”

“Wait, what is this for?” I hold up the clothing. I assumed it was just for us to wear tomorrow.

It’s G’s turn to blink. “Promo. You’ll wear it for the first episode too, but we have a photo shoot in five minutes. So strip.”

“Five?” I squeak and forget all about being shy as I drop the clothes onto the couch, and then, standing in the middle of the living room area, I shove my pants down.

She can’t see Michael undressed, but I don’t really care if she sees me.

I’m bent over, pulling my pants free, when I hear the bedroom door open behind me.

There’s a curse.

Then the door shuts again.

G snorts a laugh.

And I hope the day can only get better from here.