CHAPTER 15

“Are you nuts?”

As Paxton’s gaze followed the steep staircase up several stories into the gloom, he heard Rhiannon struggling to get her key out of the heavy interior door that had closed behind them. When she caught up with him, he whirled on her.

“There is no elevator in this damn building.”

“This is one of the reasons I chose to live in this Victorian brownstone… Besides, there are only three flights…”

“‘Only three flights,’ she says… Do you hate elevators?” Paxton asked, remembering their last ‘trip’ straight to his penthouse.

“I’m not very much into small spaces or boxy rooms…”

“How come?”

“When I was a kid, an older cousin had locked me in a closet and left me there while he went outside to play with other kids. He also turned off the light, so… this is why I hate dark, small rooms.”

She could still remember John’s gloating smile right before he’d shut down the door. Paxton’s mouth tightened.

“I’m sorry, Rhiannon…” he said calmly. “I understand your reluctanc