Page 48 of The Kiss Connection

I know my place.

It’s on the opposite side of the room as Juniper. But I am grateful that there’s no paparazzi shoving cameras in our faces. We can have a moment to ourselves.

The elevator dings, not soon enough, but I gesture for Juniper to step in first. She enters and I’m right behind her. Once again, I hit the door close button repeatedly. “I’m cold,” I admit, feeling her gaze on me.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to. I can feel your eyes attacking me.”

Juniper laughs. “My eyes don’t attack anything. You’re crazy.”

“At least we can agree on something,” I say with a shrug, not the least bit insulted by her snipe. The elevator doors close ever-so-slowly but at least the space is warm.

It’s small, just the two of us, and the elevator rises slowly.

“Any hot plans for tonight?” she asks, turning to face me. She folds her arms across her chest, my jacket much too big on her, but it makes her look sexy.

Hell, anything a girl wears of mine, it always looks sexy.

It’s the jacket, not her.

At least that’s what I tell myself, attempting to convince myself I’m not into Juniper. I couldn’t possibly have feelings for her. That would be ridiculous.

“I’m going to crack open a new book I got yesterday and lounge on the couch.”

Juniper’s eyes light up. “Oh, that sounds delightful.”

It takes me a second to realize she’s not mocking me.

That’s a first.

“Favorite genre?” she asks.

“Sci-Fi, anything outer space or with aliens. Not like hardcore space stuff, but lots of action and a bonus if it has time travel or alternate universes.”

She purses her lips, and I can’t quite tell what she’s thinking. “What?”

“No judgment. I’m a romance girlie,” she confesses as she leans against the back of the elevator, and the lights shut off at the same time the elevator stops moving.

“Shit.”

She inhales sharply, and there’s a slight hitch in her breath. I grab my phone from my pocket and flip on the flashlight.

I press the emergency help button, and it takes a minute before an operator answers. We’re informed of a localized blackout in the vicinity, and someone will be with us shortly to help get us out.

I leave the flashlight of my phone on, using it to light the small, dark space. Juniper’s breathing intensifies, each breath growing quicker, more panicky when the operator informs us of the blackout.

“You’re okay,” I say and grab a seat on the floor, my back against the wall. “Sit with me.”

She doesn’t listen right away. I lift my arm, reaching for her hand, tugging on her to join me. “You like romance books. Favorite trope?” I ask, trying to distract her.

“Enemies to lovers.”

I snort. “Sounds about right.” Playfully, I glare at her as she comes to sit down beside me, her arm brushing my shoulder. I nudge her gently and try to keep her talking, so she doesn’t panic. “Favorite color?”

“Pink. That was in my dating profile.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your profile.” I keep the flashlight on but try not to point it at her face, making sure not to blind either one of us.