Chapter 12 #3
It was only when two staff members rushed over to check they were okay that she spotted a few guests watching with raised eyebrows. She supposed they were in rather a compromising position, lying on the floor entwined, Danny’s fingers caressing her lips.
What has started out as daft and playful was in danger of tipping into something a lot steamier—especially if he didn’t remove his left hand, which was cupping her breast.
Having assured the staff they were okay, she wriggled free from underneath Danny’s body and rolled over to face him. ‘You need to lie down,’ she said, noticing the slightly glazed look in his eyes.
‘I’m already lying down,’ he replied, smiling at her and closing his eyes. ‘Goodnight.’
‘Oh, no, you’re not sleeping here. Up you get.’ She got to her feet and tried to drag him up. ‘Time for bed.’
Danny leaned on her, spitting pink fluff from his own lips as he tried to remove the feather boa threatening to strangle him. ‘Where will you sleep?’
‘I’ll take a taxi home.’ She hooked his arm over her shoulder and led him towards the lifts. ‘Come on, I’ll take you to bed.’
‘Is that a promise?’ There was a hint of mischief in his eyes.
She patted his arm. ‘Dream on, pal.’
His good humour disappeared when he saw the lift doors opening and she felt him stiffen beside her. ‘Shit. I can’t go in there.’
‘Yes, you can. It’s only two floors and the lift is huge—look at it, you could get a bed in there. You’ll be fine. I’m with you. Nothing’s going to happen.’
He resisted when she tried to ease him inside. ‘Really, I can’t.’
‘Look at me,’ she said, placing her hands either side of his face. ‘You’re going to be fine. You just need to trust me. Can you do that?’
There was a painful hesitation before he nodded.
‘Good.’ She leaned in and kissed him. It was a spur of the moment decision, based on feeling rather than logic. And there was nothing lasting or provocative about the kiss, it was just a fleeting gesture designed to distract him.
It did the trick, he looked a little stunned.
She was a little stunned herself. His lips were warmer than expected, and much softer, and it was tempting to dive in for more.
But then she’d be heading into dangerous territory, risking the evening turning from mild flirtation into steamy seduction. And she didn’t want that. … Did she?
‘Easy does it,’ she said, easing him towards the lift. ‘Just a couple more steps and we’re inside. Brilliant. You did it.’
He didn’t look convinced.
When she reached for the button, he grabbed hold of her like she was about to throw him off a cliff.
‘It’s okay,’ she said, using her best soothing voice. ‘I’m here. You’re safe.’ She took his hands, trying to stem the shake. ‘Look at me, nowhere else, keep looking at me.’
His pupils were huge behind his glasses, making his brown eyes darker than usual.
His hands gripped hers so tightly it was painful.
She was almost glad, the discomfort detracted from the sensation of his body pressed against hers, the smell of whiskey and aftershave, and the way his eyes kept dipping to her mouth.
When he leaned forwards she half wondered if he was going to kiss her.
It would be her own fault. After all, she’d lit the fuse.
This was what happened when you played with fire, she’d ignited trouble.
And although her brain instructed her to turn away, her body was having none of it.
Bring it on, her insides screamed, aching for the feel of his approaching lips pressing against hers.
So she was almost disappointed when he didn’t kiss her, and instead rested his forehead against her brow and closed his eyes.
‘I got trapped inside an elevator.’ His voice was barely a whisper and laced with enough trauma to kill any thoughts of kissing.
‘I guessed that might be what happened.’
‘I couldn’t get out.’ His breath sounded shaky. ‘I couldn’t get to Connor, and he needed me. He’d … he’d sent me a message.’ His voice cracked. ‘A goodbye message.’
His words landed heavily, and Elena experienced a sudden sense of foreboding. She drew back enough to see the haunted expression on his face. Acute pain and suffering stared back, raw and unbridled.
‘When the elevator jammed, I panicked. I had to get to him. The thought of losing him was …’ He squeezed his eyes shut, his breath hot on her face. ‘I prised open the door and jumped. That’s when I injured my hip.’
‘That’s awful, Danny. I’m sorry you had to go through that.’ The lift eased to a stop and the doors opened, not a moment too soon. ‘We’re here. You made it. Can you move?’
He nodded slowly and let her lead him out of the lift, sagging against her as they headed down the corridor towards the room. When she glanced at him, alcohol and grief had overridden all the fun of earlier.
‘Connor seems okay now,’ she said carefully, unsure how to handle such a sensitive confession. ‘I’m guessing you got to him that night?’
Danny stopped walking. ‘He was just sitting there on the edge of the car park wall, staring at a bottle of pills.’ A glazed expression clouded his face, as if he was transported somewhere else and no longer present.
‘I’ve never been so scared in my life. I had no idea what to do.
I know you’re supposed to remain calm in situations like that and talk the person down, but I just grabbed him and pulled him away, it was all I could think of. ’
Poor man, what an awful thing to experience. ‘I’d have done the exact same thing if it had been one of my sisters.’ She pointed to the bedroom door. ‘This is the room.’ She touched the door key to the sensor and helped him inside.
The room seemed different bathed in the glow of a single side lamp, less gauche and more sensual, the champagne colour warming and seductive.
Danny turned to face her. ‘Do you have to go?’
She met his pleading gaze. Did she have to go?
Good question. It was late, she was tipsy, and he was standing before her looking sad and drunk and vulnerable.
A highly dangerous combination. The kind of combination that could lead to a bad decision, an awkward working environment, and the end of their physio sessions.
She should leave. It would be the sensible thing to do.
But then she remembered he’d have to negotiate the lift again in the morning and she couldn’t leave him to do that alone.
If there was another reason why she didn’t want to leave, she refused to acknowledge it.
She pushed the door shut. ‘No, I don’t have to go.’