Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
But I didn’t have that reaction at all. In my opinion, comedy was one of the hardest genres to tackle.
“Tell me about your favorite one.” I motioned to our surroundings, and amusement warmed my voice. “Give me your elevator pitch.”
She laughed lightly. “It’s about a team of scientists trying to determine if love at first sight exists.”
“And? What do they find?”
She feigned outrage. “You want me to spoil the ending?” Her expression softened. “What do you think? Do you believe love at first sight is real?”
I considered her question and lifted a shoulder. “I believe lust at first sight is a very real thing, but the jury’s still out on love at first sight.” I felt compelled to explain why. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. Have you?”
“No, me neither.” Her chest rose with a deep breath, like she was contemplating what to say next. “But my parents did.”
The weight of her statement filled the space around us.
Maybe it was just the small and cramped elevator car that made it feel intimate between us, or perhaps the fear I’d experienced earlier had heightened my emotions, but this woman was doing a number on me. The air in the tight room thickened.
“What about lust at first sight?” Her voice was feather soft. “Have you experienced that?”
Yes, right now, my brain screamed, but I did everything in my power to keep it from showing on my face. I forced casualness into my demeanor. “Sure.”
Her gaze slid down the length of me, and it was clear I’d failed. She seemed to hear every indecent thought running through my brain. Was there any chance she was having a similar reaction to me?
I couldn’t tell. She was impossible to read.
“You?” My question came out in a tight voice, but she didn’t appear to notice.
“Oh, definitely.” She blinked as she peered over at me, and my throat bobbed in a hard swallow.
Change topics before you make a fool of yourself.
“Have we met before?” I asked abruptly. “You look familiar.”
“No.” She shook her head, making subtle waves roll through her pink hair, and her lips curved upward. “Trust me, I’d remember if we had.”
A warning went off in my mind, yet I instantly disarmed it. This was probably just a line, but . . . I really wanted to believe it. Maybe she was flirting with me because it was her job, or just for fun, but my judgement was clouded, so I very much hoped her interest was real.
Her back abruptly straightened, and her focus shifted away from me so she could stare vacantly over my shoulder. Someone was talking to her through the receiver in her ear. The warmth in her expression faded to one that was professional and . . . maybe disappointed?
Chelsea’s eyes turned back to me, and she pointed to her ear. “So they just gave me the all clear to bring you upstairs.”
My heart thudded with anxiety. I really wasn’t looking forward to whatever waited for me at the next level of Void. Moreover, I’d liked my time with her and wasn’t ready for it to be over.
Did she feel the same way? She didn’t move to press a button or operate the lever. Instead, her shoulders lifted with a deep breath, and she tilted her head, pinning her gaze on me.
“It was really nice meeting you, Tyler.” There was a genuineness there that was impossible to ignore.
I matched her tone. “Yeah, you too.”
She held my gaze just long enough to get the blood pumping faster through my veins, and then she turned and pushed the brass button for the second floor. The elevator lurched to a start, and my attention flew to the needle at the top of the panel, watching it slowly race toward the next floor up.
The short ride was over much too quickly, and whatever expression was on my face, it caused her to step closer to me.
“Hey.” Her friendly tone was soft and distracting. “Don’t sweat it.”
Her hand came to rest on my arm, and she gave my bicep a gentle reassuring squeeze. It sent pleasure coasting down the length of my body. Her touch—this connection—it was shockingly powerful.
“You can do this,” she said.
It was meant to be teasing, but I had to force it out. “I can?”
“You’re a smart guy,” she whispered. “One who’s already figured out everything on the other side of that gate isn’t real.”
Her hand lingered on me, continuing to generate electricity in combination with her words. If everything outside of the elevator was fake, that implied what had happened in here had been real.
She drew back almost reluctantly, turned, and worked to open the gate.
I said it hushed, so no one else could hear if the hallway wasn’t empty. “Any chance I’ll see you again?”
She flashed me a surprised smile, and . . . was that a subtle nod as she gestured to the hall?