Flynn leaned against the back wall of the elevator, drained from the work day. She was just one ride away from her tiny apartment and a hot bubble bath. She rubbed the back of her neck to ease the tension that seemed to be a permanent fixture there.
It was an important weekend, she was to meet Jonathan's parents. Now that they were finally engaged after two years of dating it was time to start planning the wedding. She should be thrilled, after all, as soon as they became a double income couple they could afford a real place and she'd get out of this urban shoebox. But the tension headaches were only becoming more and more frequent.
The doors were just about to meet in the middle when a hand stuck between them. They reopened with a whoosh. She tried not to actively scowl in response. The man who strode in was the bane of her existence in this building.
He was late twenties and worked for REI or one of those stupid outdoorsy companies. He was always looked like he was about to go hike some mountain or ford a river. So what if he had a perpetual tan that highlighted how blue his eyes were, and she barely noticed that the sun had lightened his sandy blond hair at the tips. He wore it too long anyway, the way it waved over his face just looked like he rolled out of bed a few minutes ago.
"Hey gorgeous, what's cookin? TGIF, right?" He settled in next to her, just a hair too close and she shifted away uncomfortably.
"Drake. You realize there is an entire empty elevator here. You're in my space." She rubbed at her forehead now, the headache was starting to pound. At least the elevator was slowly rising up.
"I like being in your space. You smell like the wildflowers back home," he leaned in a little to take a sniff, trying to get a rise out of her. Ever since he had moved in six months ago to the unit above her, he'd taken every opportunity to flirt shamelessly with her. He knew she was dating some corporate stiff, but he didn't see it making her very happy. All he needed was a chance to crack that shell around her.
She gave him a shove back, trying not to feel how muscular his chest was. "You're incorrigible. Get away from me." She laughed. God only knew why, but he had lightened her mood.
He grinned at her but backed off enough to put her at ease. "So, any big plans for the weekend?"
"Yes, in fact. I'm having dinner with Jonathan and his parents tomorrow at the Ritz." Why did it feel like a pit of dread had lodged in her stomach by saying it out loud?
"Wow, what are you guys, like engaged or something?" She just stared at him in response. Understanding dawned. "Ah, well, congratulations, I guess." He looked away, his jaw tight. For some reason he was furious he was never going to get a chance with this woman.
"Thank you," she replied stiffly. They rode a few more moments in awkward silence. She shifted the strap of her purse over her suit jacket. Soon she'd be able to strip it all off and sink into that hot fragrant water.
He sighed and looked back at her, "You know you could do better than that guy, right?"
Shocked, she opened her mouth to respond, but at that moment the elevator made a terrible sound and ground to a halt.
"What?! No, no, no. Not again! REALLY?" She jabbed at the buttons in frustration. "I hate this fucking building." She pounded at the doors, hoping someone could hear them.
"Don't worry, princess, I'll call the super." He took out his phone. The one inside the elevator probably hadn't worked since the seventies. "Hey Jerry, it's Drake from 23B. The elevator's broken down again, I'm stuck in here with Flynn. Call me when you get this message." He put his bags down, content that he got to spend a little more time with her.
Flynn threw her briefcase and purse down in disgust. This was the last thing she needed after a hellish week. To her dismay, emotion welled up and tears threatened to fall. What was wrong with her? She stared down at the faded oriental carpet to gain some control.
"Hey, what's this?" He asked, lifting her face with gentle fingers. He knew from growing up with three sisters when a major crying jag was on the horizon. In that moment she looked so fragile, her hazel eyes shimmered, her pale skin went translucent. He brushed her hair back. It reminded him of the honey he'd found in a beehive as a kid. The tenderness of the gesture was like an arrow to her heart.
