All of You by Dee Tenorio

You’re not going to do that, are you?”
    God, he hoped not. “I won’t if you stop talking about it.”
    “Sounds fair.”
    His breaths were coming in short pants. “You’re being awful calm for someone who just got knocked into a metal box with a man she hates.”
    “I don’t hate you.”
    Kyle decided not to get his hopes up. She had that cool, robotic tone Lucas used when he was about to be a bastard.
    “When I’m not absolutely enraged with you, I actually think you’re funny and interesting. Since I have no idea how long we’re going to be stuck together, I see no reason to waste energy being angry.”
    Yup. Smart conservation of optimism. “Not until you know you can walk out sometime soon.”
    “Exactly.” She scrunched her nose and dropped her heavy bag to the ground. She sat next to it, her long legs extended in front of her, crossed at the ankles. She couldn’t have looked more comfortable if she were on a pillow. “By the way, that counting thing you’re doing will only distract you from your problem for so long. If you don’t find a way to get past it, eventually, you’ll run out of spots in the ceiling or cracks in the wall. Then it’ll just be you, three walls and two locked doors.”
    “If you’re looking for revenge, you’re getting it.”
    “This isn’t revenge. Revenge would be telling you we don’t have one of those state-of-the-art braking systems that keeps us from skidding slowly down the elevator shaft to our fiery doom.”
    Kyle swallowed at her cheerful tone.
    “I’d be lying, but that’s not the point.” She watched him evenly for a few seconds before chuckling to herself. “It’s no fun if you don’t faint, Kyle.”
    “I’ll have to do better the next time we get hijacked in an elevator.”
    “Careful what you wish for. If Dory finds out you’re claustrophobic, she’ll find a way to trap us in a shoebox together.”
    “I thought she liked me.”
    “Oh, she does. She’ll just be hoping my inner Florence Nightingale will come out and take care of you.”
    “Would it?” It might be worth faking an injury for that.
    “Not even if you were on fire. Apple slice?” Jessica flipped open her satchel and pulled out a plastic container.
    He shook his head as she opened it, snitched a fruit slice and crunched into it without batting an eyelash. For the first time he could remember, he wasn’t hungry.
    “How’d you end up this way, anyway? You’re usually so easy in your skin.”
    Which didn’t sound like a compliment. But it was interest. “Spend nine months in a small dark place with Lucas and no way out. Believe me, you’d be permanently scarred too.”
    She laughed, this time with none of the underlying anger. This could be positive. Oddly, his chest lightened a little at the sound. “Yes, but I doubt that’s what caused your problem.”
    “Why are you so interested in my psychological problems?”
    “I’m not, but it passes the time. So, what happened?” She waited, as if he were actually going to tell her.
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Joykill. Your brother would tell me.”
    It was his turn to laugh, albeit uncomfortably. “Lucas doesn’t admit weakness. He definitely doesn’t know about this.” The sarcastic ass would bring it up every other day if he did.
    “If I promise not to tell him, will you tell me?”
    “Isn’t that extortion?”
    “Yes.” She shook her head at him. “Don’t look so surprised. It’s not as if you really know me. We had a nice night together, but good sex doesn’t mean I’m not capable of eating a man alive.”
    Even in his strained state, Kyle had to smile as she realized what she’d just said. Her hand stuttered on its way to her mouth. She popped the remaining apple bit into her mouth and with wide eyes began chewing as if her next breath depended on it. She’d almost had him for a second there. Right up until she choked on her double entendre.
    Why was she working so hard to make him think she was