Page 27 of Falling for Carla

“Exaggeration?” she said.

“Oversimplifying,” I corrected. “I hadn’t meant to say a word, to discuss something like this with you, particularly when we’re in close quarters and you’re in danger.”

“In romances they call it forced proximity. It’s a trope where the leads have to share a room or a bed or something due to circumstances.”

“The kind where there’s only one room left at the inn or they’re trapped in a cabin in a storm,” I supplied.

“So you’re familiar with it?”

“I’ve watched movies before, and TV. It’s not a new idea.”

“I’m guessing that you don’t believe in it, that forced proximity makes passions explode,” she said.

“I believe that we’re in control of our actions and how they could hurt others. I told you that you can trust me. I gave you the key. You don’t owe me that, or anything else for staying here. I don’t want you to think that—”

“That you came up with some elaborate plot with multiple attempts on my life just to force me into your bed? Drake, all you would’ve had to do was ask me,” she said. “This situation is beyond our control. My life is in danger, and you chose to help me. I know where we stand. But it helped to acknowledge the elephant in the room.”

“You’re right. I’m saying it out loud. I’m attracted to you, and I know better than to act on that in any case.”

“What if I don’t lock you out?” she asked, teasing me.

God, when she flirted and looked at me like that, my jeans were suddenly too tight.

“I’ll never know, because I won’t try the doorknob, Carla. I’m not going to cross that line.”

“And if I leave the door open?”

“Don’t,” I warned.

“You realize this key means I could get into your room as well,” she said archly.

“You realize that you may be out of your depth, teasing me,” I said, my voice nearly a growl. I was trying to tease her back, but the edge of my desire crept through. I cleared my throat. “Your room is this way, and the bathroom is right beside it.” I walked her to the door and opened it. She stepped inside. “You should get some rest,” I said. “You’ve had a rough day.”

“I have,” she said, lingering for a second before turning away and closing the door, leaving me in the hall. I heard her turn the lock inside the room. Smart girl, I thought. Don’t let the temptation be there for either of us.

By the time I had called Kyle on a burner phone to let him know what was going on and to inform the rest of the guys, I realized I was starving. I ordered pizza and when it came, I knocked softly on Carla’s door.

“If you’re hungry, I ordered dinner.”

She joined me on the couch and helped herself to a slice.

“It’s not baseball season yet,” she observed, indicating the game on my big screen. “Spring training isn’t till the end of March.”

“Yeah, but this is an All-Star game.”

“You’re watching old rerun games?” she teased.

“Some people watch the same movie over and over,” I observed wryly.

“True,” she said, thinking this over.

“Just because you know how it ends doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting,” I said.

“Good pizza. Too bad the Dodgers left Brooklyn,” she said. “And then didn’t host the All-Star game for over forty years in their new home.”

“So you’re a baseball fan,” I said, impressed.

“Just the Yankees. Because they’re the best.”

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