Page 51 of The Lady and the Footballer
“No. It’s locked from the outside,” he said. “Which means we’re trapped.”
Chapter Eighteen
Lily was staring up at him with such big, worried blue eyes that he wished he could snap his fingers and make everything well again.
But, instead, they were trapped here, her reputation and his ability to provide for himself and his family irrevocably threatened.
“I never should have brought you here,” he said, hearing the growl in his voice but unable to prevent it.
“You did notbringme here,” she said indignantly. “I was the one who directed us here. You followed me.”
“I do not believe followed is the right term. Iaccompaniedyou here.”
“Same thing. You could not have prevented me from being here.”
“And now here we are, locked in the administration offices of a warehouse together.”
“There are worse places to be,” she said, pausing before adding, “and with worse company.”
Her trust in him warmed him through.
“I’m glad that we are together,” he murmured.
“What is our plan to remain undiscovered?” she asked. “Do you think it is even possible?”
“We will search for somewhere to hide,” he said. “We’ll have to try to slip out when someone unlocks the door.”
“That’s putting a lot at risk.”
“It is, but do we have any other choice? None of the windows provide any access to the ground floor, and from what I can see, this is the only door out unless we want to end up in the middle of the factory floor.”
“Well,” she said with a shrug, looking at him with more trust than he deserved, “Let us go explore then, shall we?”
A couple of the doors were locked, and they decided to look in the unlocked rooms before considering any attempts to pick any of the others. Two offices held only a desk and a chair, while a third room held a long table with more comfortable seating, including a sofa on the side of the room.
Colin held the door open as he led Lily inside.
“Why do you not lie down and get some sleep?” he said, setting the lantern down on the table. “I’ll sit over here and keep watch.”
“You are the one who has to spend tomorrow working while I am not tired and have no responsibilities tomorrow,” she said. “It would be better if you lay down for a while. I will sit at the table and review the ledger. I promise that if I hear anything, I will wake you.”
“I cannot allow you to be unprotected,” he protested, but she stepped toward him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and gently pushed him backward toward the sofa.
“I insist,” she said. “And you are still here to protect me. I will wake you if I need to.”
The back of his knees hit the sofa, which temptingly enveloped him in its embrace, but he couldn’t help one more attempt.
“What if you do not hear someone come in and don’t have time to wake me? You will be alone. And I?—”
“Colin,” she said with an eye roll, “that door is so loud and heavy that it is a wonder the workers wouldn’t hear us enter. Even with the distant noise, I would still hear someone coming. If you will not rest for yourself, do it for those who work for you. They need you at your best tomorrow, not exhausted after a night with no sleep whatsoever. I asked you to come tonight, and I do not want to cause jeopardy for anyone else.”
“Very well,” he finally agreed, for she did have a point. “I will lie down, but I will not fall asleep. I’ll just rest my eyes.”
She nodded in satisfaction before picking up the ledger and sitting beside the doorway. His eyes were on her until they finally closed.
And he fell fast asleep.
Lily smiled as she watched the rise and fall of Colin’s chest while he breathed slowly and steadily.
