was a blackout—most of the city and parts of Westchester were out. We contacted the fire department and let them know that we had an elevator alarm going off, but they said they’d only be able to respond to emergencies.”
“I guess two people trapped in an elevator, suspended in midair for hours, doesn’t qualify as an emergency, huh?” Torie huffed.
She snatched her leather jacket from the floor and slipped her arms into it, obviously ticked off.
“You definitely haven’t been a New Yorker very long!” Monte laughed at her teasingly.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” one of the security guards said. “We really wanted to get you guys some help. We kept trying to talk to you over the intercom, but they were out, too. So sorry about this, folks.”
The guards were clearly upset, feeling a personal failure at not having been able to help them.
“Hey, guys, we’re out now, and I’d say no worse for the wear,” Monte said, throwing a meaningful glance at Torie, who blushed noticeably. “Thanks for all of your efforts, guys.”
Monte shook both of the men’s hands. They both smiled, grateful for Monte’s graciousness despite the evening’s distress. Torie thanked them, as well, assuring the men that she did not hold them responsible for the situation.
“Ms. Turner, can I give you a lift home?” Monte asked.
The spell that Torie had cast over him had remained intact, even after the power came back on and they’d emerged from their metal nest. Monte looked into Torie’s eyes, hoping to convey to her what he was feeling, even as he struggled with exactly what those feelings were himself. He wanted to spend more time with her. After all they’d divulged to each other, there was still so much he wanted to know about her and so much that he wanted to share. With the taste of her lips still lingering on his own, Monte could not erase the feel of her womanly frame in his arms. He wanted to reclaim those arousing sensations and take them to even greater heights.
“No, no…I’m sure you want to get home yourself…check on your boys. I’ll just hail a taxi,” Torie said.
Even as she said no, Torie felt a loud and resounding yes pounding inside her brain. She could feel herself being pulled to Monte, and although what had transpired between them shocked her, she wanted more of it. She had never in her life been so open and unguarded with a man she’d just met, but there was something about Monte that made it difficult to be guarded in his presence. The racing of her heart and the pulsing in the center of her womanhood had yet to taper off, and her head told her that the logical thing to do would be to put some distance between herself and the seductive Monte Lewis before she did something that she would later regret.
Monte studied her face for a moment, and he thought he could see a flash of conflict reflected in her beautiful eyes. It was enough to place his desire in check.
“You’re right—I really do need to get on home. Cheryl is probably beside herself with worry. Come on, I’ll hail a cab for you.”
The pair stood out on the sidewalk in silence, each lost in complicated thoughts. The air was warm for April, yet Torie hugged both arms around her body. When Monte was at last successful in stopping a yellow taxicab for her, she slid quickly into the passenger seat, but turned to face him before the door closed.
“Thanks for everything tonight, Monte. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d been in that elevator alone,” Torie said.
“I can safely say the same thing,” Monte said, smiling warmly.
“Good night.”
Monte pushed the door closed and watched the taxi peel away from the curb. He stayed where he was, standing until the red taillights blended in with all the other cars headed in the same direction. Finally, he pulled his PDA from his briefcase to call home and headed toward the building’s underground parking lot to retrieve his car. Even as they moved in opposite directions, both Monte’s and Torie’s thoughts remained in an elevator of the Time Warner building. The kiss they’d shared played an equal role in their revelries, as did the quiet admissions made in the dark. They’d reached a level of intimacy with each other that some people were still searching for after several dates and a night full of passionate sex. Each was left with the conclusion that people ought to spend more time trapped alone in elevators.
Chapter 4
The Scent of Roses
On the Monday morning following the blackout, Monte arrived at his office at noon, having spent the morning at the boys’ pediatrician’s office for their annual checkups. He always subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief whenever his boys went to the doctors, as he was no stranger to unexpected illness. Both Joshua and Josiah were progressing as they should and neither one had so much as a bump to complain about. For Monte, that was all the news he needed to have a good day. Little did he know that there was even more ahead to be happy about.
“Morning, Mr. Lewis. Looks like your day is off to a bright start.” His secretary, Margaret, beamed as he leaned over her desk to retrieve his mail.
Perplexed by Margaret’s unusual greeting, Monte’s eyebrows came together in a question mark. Margaret simply smiled and pointed toward the open door of Monte’s office. He moved cautiously toward the office, glancing back at Margaret, who continued watching him with a look reminiscent of a cat that’d eaten a canary.
In the center of Monte’s desk rested a large bouquet of yellow roses. Their scent had already filled the spacious room and their vibrant color seemed to provide more illumination than the florescent lights overhead. Monte was even more mystified as he plucked the small card from the vase. In a delicate, beautiful penmanship, there was a simple message that read, It was a pleasure sharing an extended elevator ride with you. Monte Lewis, you are a lifesaver. Torie T.
Monte looked down at the flowers again and noticed that tied to the large satin yellow-and-white bow in front of the vase was a pack of assorted Mentos. He burst out laughing, his robust voice ringing throughout his office and out into the corridor where Margaret still sat beaming.
“Told you,” she called.
Monte pulled back the leather office chair behind his desk and sat down. He stared at the flowers for several minutes, inhaling their scent. He tore the package of Mentos open and popped one into his mouth, before closing his eyes and taking another deep breath. The memories that he’d spent the entire weekend fighting to suppress came rushing back, heating him up inside. He opened his eyes and read Torie’s card again and again. Her handwriting was as delicate and graceful as she was.
Over the past two days Monte had convinced himself that what had happened in that elevator between he and Torie was a simple case of two people being forced together during a stressful situation. He’d told himself that a woman as electrifying and breathtaking as she had to be a lot more complicated than she’d appeared, and complications were the last thing he needed in his life. He’d spent the past three years focusing on his boys and helping them cope with the loss of their mother. He’d pushed all of his own desires and longings aside, striving to fill the void left by Shawna as best as he could. When his mother’s health had taken a turn for the worse last year, he knew that he’d made the right decision and dedicated himself even more to taking care of his family. Those hours spent with Torie in that elevator had stirred up long-buried feelings and, since then, Monte had managed to push them back down where they belonged. Yet, even as he’d done that, he
