Page 15 of An Heir Made In Hawaii (Hot Winter Escapes)

“I’m sure you can. Excuse me.”

Nicholas walked to the elevators. Thankfully, he had the carriage to himself at it climbed toward the top floor. A minor setback, but once he changed, he would call Anika and—

A jarringly loud boom sounded overhead, one so deep it made the walls of the elevator shake. A moment later the lights blinked out and the elevator ground to a halt.

CHAPTER FIVE

ANIKASTOODINthe open door of her balcony as the storm rolled over the mountain and swept across the bay. She swirled her wine in her glass, tilted it up to her lips and smiled as lightning lit up the enormous clouds rising above the island. Rain began to pelt the resort, big drops that rivaled the thunder’s roar.

It rained in Bled fairly regularly. But nothing like this, this wild unleashing of nature’s power.

Exactly what she needed to distract her from her earlier musings.

Thunder cracked overhead, an earth-shattering blast that rattled the glass door of her balcony. The resort plunged into darkness.

She sighed and leaned against her doorway. She had lived through plenty of blackouts, from summer storms in the Midwest and the occasional tornado threat to snowstorms leaving her, Marija and their guests cozied up for a day or two while the old generator had kept the bare necessities running. There had been a touch of excitement during those blackouts, a feeling like everything had slowed down and she was cocooned from the rest of the world.

Her phone rang. Irritated at having her moment interrupted, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and frowned at the unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Are you all right?”

She nearly dropped the phone. “Nicholas?”

His low chuckle washed over her.

“Were you expecting someone else to call?”

“No, just...how did you get my number?”

“I can’t tell you all my secrets now, can I?” he teased, his voice husky. “But truly, are you all right?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay after the power went out.”

Confused and touched by his thoughtfulness, she found the resolve she’d built up over the last hour starting to crack.

“I am,” she finally said. “And you?”

“Stuck in an elevator.”

“What?”

“When you’re in the hotel business,” Nicholas replied casually, “it’s a given that at some point you will get stuck in an elevator.”

Anika shuddered. The resort only had four stories, but the thought of being stuck in a metal box hanging a few dozen feet above a concrete floor sounded like a scene from a horror movie waiting to happen.

“Have you contacted anyone?”

“Just you.”

“Nicholas,” she said, exasperated. “I can’t help get you out of an elevator.”

“I know. I called to make sure you’re all right. I’ll get out when the power comes back on.”

A beeping in her ear made her look down. She swore softly.

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