down her neck. “There are very few women in the world who would complain about being in a confined space with Jansen Sterling.”
“True. It’s usually me kicking them out of the confined space that leads to the complaints,” I teased.
She scoffed, her eyes dancing, losing a little of the panic. “You kick your girlfriends out? Nice.”
“Hey.” I grabbed at my heart like she’d wounded me. “I’ve never kicked a girlfriend out in my life. Scout’s honor.”
Her eyes narrowed in mischief. “Because you’ve never had a girlfriend?”
I laughed again. “I guess you really did look me up.”
“Please. As if I care who the players sleep with. I know the important stuff.” She fidgeted with her bracelet, keeping her hands busy.
“And what’s the important stuff?” I challenged, hearing movement above us and keeping it to myself. Who the hell knew how long it would take them to get us out. Drawing her attention back to the fact that we were stuck in a small box wasn’t going to help her out.
“Your stats, of course,” she fired back. “You’re Jansen Sterling. Twenty-six years old. Six-foot-three inches tall. You have a ninety-three percent save average, which has only gotten better with your year in Bangor. You have endorsements from Bauer and Gatorade and prefer your charity work to be done with the Big Brother program. You were the second most popular player in Bangor when it came to meet and greet requests, and you generally agreed to them all. Am I missing anything?” She cocked her head to the side and lifted a single brow.
“I think I’m in love with you.” I grinned.
“Oh, please. Every staff member on this team can rattle off player stats.” She shook her head, but now that flush had crept to her collarbone.
Not under pressure like this, they can’t. I kept that shit to myself. “Tell me you don’t have a boyfriend.”
It slipped out.
Smooth, jackass. Very smooth.
Her mouth dropped open for a few seconds before she snapped it shut. “No. I don’t. Not that it’s any of your business.”
I was about to fucking make it my business because this woman here was the total package. She wasn’t just gorgeous, she was smart, sharp-tongued, and was holding her own under circumstances that would test people who didn’t have claustrophobia. If I knew all that about her in the few minutes we’d been stuck here together, I couldn’t wait to learn more.
“No boyfriend. Excellent. How exactly does a guy go about getting a date with you?” I asked. Holding back had never been in my nature, and I wasn’t about to start now.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied me carefully. “Guys like you don’t date girls like me.”
“On that, we can agree.”
“Seriously?” Her voice rose.
“Seriously. You’re way out of my league.” I leaned toward her slightly but didn’t invade her space.
Her lips parted and stayed that way as she stared at me in disbelief.
“I’m serious. How do I get you on a date?” My voice lowered.
“Well…asking is usually the first step,” she whispered, tilting her head up.
My chest clenched as I lowered—
A screeching, metal-on-metal sound made both our heads snap toward the door. The tip of a crowbar appeared, and the doors opened a few inches. “Are you guys okay?” a voice called in.
Silas.
“We’re okay,” I answered for us both.
“Hold tight for a second,” he instructed in that no-nonsense voice of his. “Get a good grip,” he said, but it didn’t sound like he was talking to us.
Multiple pairs of hands appeared at the edges of the elevator doors, and I helped London to her feet.
“One, two, three!” Silas counted out, and the doors opened to the sound of a collective grunt, giving us about three-and-a-half feet of daylight at my collarbone. It was just as I’d suspected—we weren’t quite at the fifth floor, but it was far better than I’d feared.
Silas crouched down, his shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows, but still wearing the vest of his three-piece suit. “Damn. Jansen, London, you guys ready to get out of there?”
“She goes first,” I stated, just in case anyone debated.
She shot me a thankful look, then gathered up her files and headed for the door only to look up at the opening that was well above her head and curse.
“Can I lift you out?” I asked, already moving behind her.
“Please.” There was a slight crack in her voice as she tossed her files up through the doorway.
Work apparently came first with this woman. Noted.
Silas reached in for her, and for the