Page 40 of Until You

Chapter Twelve

They’d been silent during the short drive to her apartment, but when he parked in the small lot behind her building, he was dying to touch her—yet he was still determined to let her take the lead.

By the time he’d gotten out of the car, she was already halfway up the sidewalk to the door. She punched in a key code to enter the building and opened the door.

He wasn’t sure if she was in a hurry or if she was testing him, but he followed her into the small entry and watched her push the button for the elevator. When the door opened, he snagged her hand and tugged her inside. He pressed her back against the elevator wall and kissed her, his mouth devouring hers. So much for letting her take the lead.

She clung to him, kissing him back with a raw hunger that excited him more. He tried to put his leg between hers, but her tight skirt kept her legs from spreading far enough apart.

When he lifted his head, she stared up at him, dazed and breathless.

It was then that he realized that even though the elevator doors had closed, they were still on the ground floor. “What floor?”

She blinked. “Fifth.”

He leaned to the side and pressed the five button, then kissed her again until the door dinged.

He took a step back, thinking they were on her floor, but the three light was illuminated over the open doors. An elderly woman stood outside the elevator, her mouth parted. Then she grinned and stepped inside. “Don’t stop on my account.”

A playful look filled Lanie’s eyes, and she buried her face into his chest as she tried to hide her giggles.

The door closed, and they stood in an awkward silence. Tyler slipped his arm around her back and held her close. While he’d missed holding a woman, Lanie felt different. There was no denying that she was beautiful. But he realized there was more to her appeal than just her physical beauty. She was smart, and witty and driven, and confident. While a lot of men would have found her confidence intimidating, it only turned him on more. He found the whole package irresistible.

The door opened again, this time on the fifth floor. Tyler practically pushed Lanie out of the elevator and into the hall.

She grabbed his hand and tugged him to the left. “I’m in 505.” They stopped in front of her door, and she searched her purse. “Oh, shit.”

He froze. “What’s wrong?”

Pushing out a sigh, she looked up at him with a hopeful gaze. “How good are you at picking locks?”

He laughed and ran his hand over his head. “I’m not sure there’s a right way to answer that.”

She pressed her hand to her temple. “I was running late when I left for the photo shoot—obviously—and I must have left my keys on my kitchen counter.” She dropped her hand and looked up at him. “I can call a locksmith, but I’d rather not wait. If you can unlock my door… you can get your jacket.”

He considered suggesting they go to his place, which was less than five minutes away, but then she’d still have to deal with unlocking her door. But more important, she might change her mind. And he really didn’t want her to change her mind. He’d kick the door open if he had to. “I’m game.”

She stepped out of her shoes and squatted to pick them up, then glanced up and saw his amused grin.

“Is this the part where you threaten bodily harm if I don’t open your door?” He flicked a finger toward the heels dangling from her fingers. “Using intimidation tactics?”

Laughing, she gave him a saucy grin. “Will that give you more incentive to try?”

He stepped closer and pressed a kiss to her neck below her ear. His hand rested on her waist and slowly skimmed up her side, stopping just below her breast. He was aching to touch her, but he wasn’t sure molesting her in the hallway was a great idea. “I usually respond better to positive reinforcement.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for future reference,” she said in a breathless voice.

He took the shoes from her hand as he took a step back and tossed them into the corner of the hall. “I feel better if you’re disarmed.”

She laughed, and he was even more eager to get that damn door open.

She gestured toward the doorknob. “So you have experience picking locks?”

“I plead the fifth.” He’d picked a few locks in his youth, not for burglaries, but all for mischievous purposes. “Do you have any hairpins?”

“Thanks to Britt’s trial hair appointments, you’re in luck.” She dug into her purse and produced several.

Taking two from her open palm, he knelt in front of her doorknob. “Then let’s give it a try.” It only took a few seconds before he had the door unlocked and open.

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