Surprise crossed his face. “I’m impressed.”
Emma gave an annoyed grunt. “Knowing the term won’t get us out of here.”
Silence settled thick and warm in the enclosed space. Emma felt sweat starting to break out on her forehead; whether from stress or from the rising temperature, she didn’t know.
Somewhere behind the paneling, the building creaked softly, as if it were settling to keep them a while. Adrenaline rushed through her veins, as if her body were preparing for fight or flight—but there was nothing she could do with it. Not even enough space to pace around.
“It’s fine, Emma,” Darren said. “Someone will notice.”
She laughed suddenly, sharp and breathless. He blinked at her—possibly concerned about her mental state.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, just...if someone had told me a week ago that I’d be stuck in an elevator with Darren Cole...” She trailed off, shaking her head.
His eyes lit up. “Sounds like a fanfiction prompt.”
She shot him a lethal glare. “You’re suspiciously calm for someone who might be late to...whatever movie stars do on Friday afternoons during Comic-Con.”
He shrugged, unapologetic. “Maybe I don’t mind being stuck in a romance cliché if the company’s good.”
She huffed. The words should have warmed, but this was absolutely not the time to try to figure out his nonsensical flirting on top of everything else. “Nice line. That one actually works on people?”
If he caught her sarcasm, he ignored it. “Honestly, I don’t get that many chances to use it.”
Emma searched the tiny space again, finally tilting her head back and scanning the ceiling. Her gaze caught on a square metal hatch above them—slightly off-center, a narrow rim suggesting it could open with the right kind of force.
“There,” she said, nodding toward it. “That’s our way out.”
Darren followed her gaze. “Ah. Of course. The classic elevator climb-out. Never backfires.”
She exhaled, straightening. “I’m serious.”
He looked at her. Then at the hatch. Then back at her.
“Emma. No. This is how we die.”
She braced a hand against the elevator rail, testing its strength. “Good. Either we manage to get out, or we die a quick death. Which is a lot better than facing Leah, I assure you.” She gave him a look that left no room for debate.
“Take a good stretch if you need to, Cole. We’re doing this.”
Chapter 18
Forced proximity part II—now with extra action sequences.
Darren stared suspiciously at the metal panel in the ceiling, like it was a nosy journalist.
“That doesn’t open.”
Emma was already halfway up the elevator rail, glad she’d worn flats. She braced against the corner, palms pressed to the ceiling. “Of course it opens. That’s literally what hatches are for.”
He looked up at her, unamused. “It opens from the outside, genius. There is no handle.”
“Everything else in this damn elevator is broken,” Emma said, adjusting her stance on the narrow bar. Her feet prickled, the thin soles sliding against the polished metal. “Why not this thing too?”
She misjudged a step and wobbled. Darren was there in a heartbeat, catching her with steady hands around her hips. “This is a terrible idea, Emma. I know you Americans are a hands-on kind of bunch, but my people prefer politely suffering in silence and then sternly dropping a star in the review.”
Emma grinned down at him. Finding a way to take control of the situation made her feel elated, almost giddy.
