now I’m almost tempted to ask if we can hit the bakery before we go back home. But I remember my mission and pull myself together. My job is to get this guy home, not stop for pie.
“Look,” I begin, “I don’t know how the maze works in reverse, whether you’ll start with the banshee or the sharks, but regardless, you’re going to need a rappelling gun. You can borrow mine, assuming you don’t have one.”
I continue talking, telling him about each room of the maze and how to defeat the enemies within. The odds of him making it all the way through are a long shot, and I’m guessing he’ll give up sooner rather than later once he sees what he’s up against. But if he’s that determined to try, I might as well let him give it a go. In the meantime, I can stay behind and try to think of another way out. “For the pterodactyls, you’re going to need a—”
Wyn takes me by the arm and stops me in my tracks. We’ve reached a busy intersection and as we wait for the lights to change, he turns and smiles at me. I’m still mad at him, but it’s the first time I’ve seen him smile—really smile—and I can’t help it. My stomach does a little flip-flop. Wyn Salvador is . . . well, he’s not hard on the eyes. Damn it.
“I still don’t know your name,” he says softly.
“Nixy,” I say. “Nixy Bauer.”
“Thank you, Nixy, for coming to my rescue.” His brown eyes seem to sparkle at me and I feel my cheeks start to warm. I quickly look away from him, even though I know the blush I feel inside won’t show on my avatar. At least I don’t think it will.
The light changes and we walk across the intersection, his hand still wrapped around my arm. “I’ll wait for you at the bar with Chucho,” I say, trying to compose myself and steer the conversation back to practical matters. “I’m guessing that’s where the maze will spit you out each time you die.”
Wyn shivers a bit at this, but when I look over at him, he grins. “Nixy Bauer. Oh ye of little faith.”
“Hey, nobody will be more pleased than me if you make it through in one try. The faster you get home, the faster I collect my paycheck.”
“How will you know I’ve made it back?” he asks.
I’ve already thought of that. “Tell your dad to activate my emergency code remotely. That should work.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
I shrug. “Then I’ll activate it myself after a few daiquiris with Chucho.”
Wyn laughs. “Sounds like a plan.”
We reach the Floridita and Wyn opens the door for me. I am beginning to enjoy his gentlemanly manners. Ernesto is still at the end of the bar, but now completely engrossed by a gorgeous blonde. Wyn sees me looking and grins.
“Who’s the dame with Hemingway?” I ask, waving to Chucho. “And why does the bartender look like your grandmother?”
“When we get back to the real world, I’ll buy you a milk shake and tell you all about it,” he says.
“We’ll see about that.” I say. I try to keep my face neutral, but a smile pops through anyway.
We take a minute to trade inventory items, then I lead him to the back of the bar.
“This is it,” I say, as we reach the door marked Damas. “Are you ready?”
Wyn glances at the sign and pretends to gasp. “The ladies’ room? You’re right, this is scary.”
“You have no idea,” I say, actually feeling sorry for what he’s about to experience. “Good lu—” I begin, but before I can finish, he gives me a roguish wink and barrels through the bathroom door.
UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE
HarperCollins Publishers
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I CAN’T HELP IT. NOT EVEN TEN SECONDS HAVE PASSED AND I PEEK through the door.
I’m expecting a room of white. Instead I see a ladies’ restroom with Wyn standing in the middle of it, legs apart, rappelling gun in one hand, laser gun in the other. He sees me in the doorway.
“How long does it take?” he asks, his eyes scanning the bathroom. “Do I have to press a button or something? Flush a toilet?”
“No,” I say. “No, no, no, no, no.” I look around in disbelief. I don’t know whether to be horrified or relieved. “It’s gone.”
“What?” Wyn quits his ‘ready’ stance and heads for the door. “Maybe you got it mixed up.”
“I don’t think so,” I say testily, following him out. He opens