“My friend was. I was trying to change the subject.”
I make a sucking sound with my mouth and cock my head to the side, contemplatively. “Gotta say, that’s kind of a point for the troll’s case on emotional unavailability.”
Her lips fall open.
My stomach muscles clench at the round shape of those parted lips.
“What the hell gives you the right to judge me? You don’t even know me. You’re just a stranger that?—”
“Pulled you from the edge of a panic attack in a stuck elevator,” I finish for her.
She stands there speechless, the air surrounding us charging in the silence. A buzzing starts in my ears as our eyes lock in on one another’s. Neither of us dare to look away.
“Hello?” Crackles through the elevator’s speaker.
Alyssia startles out of her stupor, turning toward the emergency button.
“Is anyone in there? Mr. Townsend?”
I glance up toward the elevator’s camera and wave before pressing the button.
“We’re here.”
“We’ll have you out right away.”
Regret washes over me.
CHAPTER 2
Alyssia
“Mr. Townsend, we at the Palazzo apologize for the double inconvenience of your evening …” the hotel manager, who arrived five minutes after the technicians got our elevator unstuck, apologizes to the guy standing beside me profusely.
“Double inconvenience.” What’s that about?I wonder to myself.
My eyes have a mind of their own, forcing me to glance over once again and take in this Mr. Townsend’s perfectly sculpted jawline. It’s covered by light brown, almost blond strands of hair from a neatly trimmed beard.
The hairs of his beard set against the golden-brown shade of his skin is an interesting contrast. Match that with the striking seafoam eyes, the thick, slashing eyebrows, and short but curly light brown locks and it makes for a pretty tempting package.
Too bad I don’t bother with men this attractive.
Not worth the trouble.
I take a step sideways to create more space between our bodies. While I could’ve sworn his full attention was on the manager, his gaze cuts over to me the moment I move away.
The way his eyes narrow a smidge feels like a scolding. As if I’ve done something to garner his disapproval and he’s giving me a slim chance to fix it.
Even as my temper tries to flare in rebellion, my heartbeat finds its way down to the space between my thighs.
It’s that awakened desire that wins out over my common sense, and I take a step closer, erasing the gap I just created.
He gives me another glance, his lips spread into what could be interpreted as approval.
“Just Travis is fine,” he tells the manager.
So that’s his name.
“I’m sure it’s a technical issue that’ll be taken care of as quickly as possible.”
