A Sinful Trap - R.G. Alexander Page 0,1

She was going down. She was already halfway there anyway, pointed in the right direction and wearing her lucky superhero boxers. Maybe they would help.

“Let it go, Elsa,” she told herself firmly. The worst that could happen was a broken bone or two. As long as it wasn’t her neck, she’d be fine. Eventually.

“Well, Elsa, I have to admit this wasn’t the welcome I was expecting.”

She jerked in surprise, nearly losing her hold on the ledge. “Who’s there?”

And why was he calling her Elsa with a deep, silky voice that made her think of porn instead of Disney? “How did you get in?”

“The door was open.”

“No, it wasn’t.” She’d locked it herself.

“I’m afraid it was. I was about to leave a note about it for the manager, when I saw your legs from the bottom of the stairs and decided to investigate.”

Thank God someone did. “However you got here, your timing is perfect. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get down on my own.”

A feeling of vulnerability knotted her stomach when he didn’t immediately respond. Perfectly normal, she told herself, considering a stranger was currently eye-level with her bare legs and floating ass. “Hello?”

“Hello. How did you manage to get up there in the first place?”

“There was a ladder.” Why was he asking questions instead of offering to help her down? That would have been her first instinct if she’d seen someone hanging from a hole in the ceiling. It sounded like he was smirking. Can you hear a smirk?

Who was he?

She didn’t recognize his voice, so she knew he wasn’t a local, and she didn’t have any reservations on the books for another week or two. She twisted awkwardly and looked down over her shoulder to spy a pair of very fine boots. They weren’t covered in grime or blood, so at least she could rule out serial killer or homeless wanderer.

Bailey knew her footwear, and no one walked long distances or ran from nefarious acts of violence in boots like that. They were created for short-term, inside swaggers only. Which, she supposed, was about as comforting a thought as she could have in this situation.

“I see a pile of sticks on the ground. Was that your ladder?”

Sticks? Shit. She added the replacement costs to her mental budget. “That’s the one. Unfortunately, even if I knew a repairman who’d be willing to help me this late, or a fireman who specialized in treed cats, I appear to have left my phone in my other pants.”

She heard a muffled sound of amusement. “You do own pants then.”

Was he teasing her? Flirting? Now?

Sexy voice or not, that kind of made him an asshole. But she was a professional, and if there was the smallest possibility that he could be a paying guest, she had to keep her tone pleasant.

“Believe it or not, this has never happened before. Usually I’m at the front desk saying something like ‘Welcome to the Enchanted Inn, your home away from home in the most beautiful place on Earth. We don’t serve meals, but we can get you a coupon for the Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village as well as a discount on one psychic reading.’”

Yes, she’d said it often enough that she could welcome anyone, even in a situation like this.

“That’s a mouthful. And fortunes instead of food?” He scoffed. “Your manager should know better. People prefer all-inclusive destinations. If not twenty-four-hour room service, at least two meals a day.”

Oblivious. Ass. Hole. “I’m sure this is a fascinating topic we should be discussing face to face. If you wouldn’t mind helping me down before I fall?”

“Oh. Of course. Give me a minute to sort out the logistics.”

He was laughing at her. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and grow those wings I wished for while I wait.”

She heard his swanky boots kicking the ruined ladder out of the way.

“Thought you could fly already,” he muttered. “Or is there kryptonite in your attic?”

Excuse me? “Look, Boot Boy, if you aren’t going to help me, and you don’t even know the difference between Superman and Wonder Woman, I’ll kindly ask you to leave so I can take this tumble on my own. Just call 911 on your way out the door.”

“I won’t let you fall.” He stepped so close she could feel the heat from his body. “Boot boy?”

She hated how everything inside her perked up and said hello when he spoke. And that chuckle… She should be insulted at his rude familiarity and general assholery, but instead