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“Thanks for the…” Her voice trailed off.
Why weren’t the doors opening? Didn’t the bump indicate they’d reached the first floor?
Since she didn’t usually take this elevator, she wouldn’t know. Maybe it was just slow.
Blowing her breath out impatiently, she hit theOpen Doorsbutton. Nothing.
“Maybe we need to say‘Open Sesame’?” Though his tone was light, he frowned slightly.
For some reason, a spark of anxiety lit in Callie’s belly. She shifted her weight and pushed the button again. “I knew I should have taken the stairs.”
After setting the books down, he punched the other buttons on the panel. Nothing happened. The overhead lights flickered.
“Could be the ghost of Captain Marcus.” He glanced up at the ceiling.
Callie shot him a narrow look. If he knew the library was rumored to be haunted by the ship captain who’d built the mansion, then he was either from around here or he’d read up on the history of Bliss Cove. It had to be the former. But why couldn’t she place him?
His frown deepened as he studied the panel and pressed the alarm button. A buzzing noise echoed in the small space. “So at least we know that works.”
Callie clucked her tongue with irritation and checked her watch. Half an hour until her meeting. “Bee knows I went to get those books, so even if she didn’t hear the alarm, she’ll wonder where I went.”
“What if she thinks you’re just browsing the stacks?”
“I don’t have time to browse the stacks.” She started to pace to the other side of the elevator before remembering they were in an enclosed space that was about fifteen square feet. And he took up a lot of room. His presence radiated beyond his considerable physical form, warming her from the inside out.
Her heartbeat increased. She stepped back, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. “I…um, I just mean I’m busy. I have an important meeting in half an hour. I always know exactly what books I want. No need to browse.”
Oh my god, stop babbling, Callie.
“I figured that’s what you meant.” Amusement gleamed in his blue eyes. He pressed the alarm button again and leaned toward the intercom. “Hello? Bee?”
Silence. Callie pulled her phone out of her satchel and swiped the screen.
“No signal.” Her heart sank. “Big surprise.”
She dropped her phone back into the side pocket and walked one step forward and two steps back. “I can’t miss this meeting. Do you think we can climb out the top?”
She half expected him to laugh at her. Instead he shrugged and stretched his arm toward the ceiling. The movement caused his T-shirt to ride up, revealing a stunning washboard abdomen with a light trail of hair leading straight down into his jeans.
Though Callie had always prided herself on her self-control and discipline, she was helpless against the hypnotic pull of this man’s abdomen. Until now, she’d only seen an actual six-pack in underwear ads, and his very real muscles—which wereright in front of her—had her fingers twitching with the urge to explore that expanse of smooth, taut skin.
“Close.” He brushed his hand across the panels, but they were too high for him to get a grip. He muttered a noise of frustration. “I once did a…I mean, I can lift you up and you can try to get those light panels off to see if there’s an escape hatch.”
“Well, let’s give it a shot.” Callie forced her attention from his abs back up to his face. She tried to ignore a surge of awareness at the thought of him touching her again. “I really can’t miss this meeting.”
“So you’ve said.” A grin tugged at his mouth.
Another bolt of familiarity shot through her. Shaking it off, she looked at the ceiling. “So go ahead. Lift me.”
He positioned himself behind her. Even with several inches separating them, she could feel his body heat. She’d never in her life been so close to a man who exuded such…power. She was seized with the urge to shift backward just a little to feel the breadth of his solid chest against her back. What if he closed his strong arms around her, and she—
“Ready?” His deep voice rumbled against her ear.
Not trusting herself to speak, Callie nodded. He settled his big hands around her waist and lifted her as if she were as light as a feather. She swallowed a gasp as her feet left the floor, but she didn’t experience even a twinge of nervousness. Some innate instinct told her that nothing in the world could make him let go of her. She hooked her fingers into the light panels and pulled.
“They’re screwed on pretty tight.”
“See if they’re latched at the edges.” He moved her over a couple of feet.
