Chapter One:

Robin Scorpio was late and she was never late. This was a ridiculous idea and she knew it. Maybe that's why she was later. Subconsciously, she knew she didn't want to be there. Her cell phone buzzed and she grabbed it, almost walking into the wall.

"I'm here, I'm just trying to find the elevator," she said to her cousin Maxie.

"Well hurry up! There are a ton of amazingly handsome guys here and if you don't meet me soon, I'm taking them all."

Robin smiled at her cousin. Maxie was nothing if not ambitious.

"Go for it. I told you I didn't want to come," she said.

"Robin, you promised," she whined. "There is nothing more pathetic than speed dating alone."

"Isn't that the point? You aren't looking for a threesome," she paused. "Are you?"

"I don't close myself off to any new adventures," Maxie grinned and Robin laughed. "Now get up here!"

Robin saw the bank of elevators and sighed.

"I'll be there soon."

She hung up and sighed, pulling the small black dress she wore down as far over her thighs as it could go. She felt completely out of place and uncomfortable. She didn't date and she never dressed like this, but since Maxie had broken up with her last fling, Robin promised to go with her to help her out of the current funk she was in.

She also didn't have time for this. She had a big case coming up soon and she had to prepare. Smoothing her long brown hair down, she put her purse under her arm and waited for the elevator. She tapped her foot and when the doors opened, she took a deep breath as the people piled out. Why were so many people here in the evening? She looked down as she stepped in and pressed the number on the panel. There were a few people in the elevator and she stood in the corner and looked down.

"Why aren't we moving?" an older man who stood in the middle of the elevator asked.

Robin looked up and realized they hadn't moved yet.

"I'm sure it will move soon," a deep voice said and Robin turned to see the other passenger. Her breath caught in her throat as she took him in. He was tall, over 6 feet, and gorgeous. He had the start of a beard, but it just served to make him appear more rugged. His eyes were a deep brown and he had dimples when he smiled at the woman that seemed to bore holes in his cheeks.

"Isn't that right? Ma'am?" he asked her. Shit. He was talking to her. Was he speaking English?

"Right," Robin smiled, although she had no idea what was said.

"I need to use the bathroom. I need to get out of here," the older man said, clearly beginning to panic.

Robin smiled and walked to him.

"It's going to be fine. You just need to breathe and look at me," Robin took his hand and checked his pulse as she spoke. "Maybe this nice gentleman can make a call and see if we can't get this elevator moving."

Patrick was stunned when he looked at this woman. She was gorgeous and caring and smart and she wore a dress that clung to her every curve. His body reacted in ways that were not acceptable and he looked at the man for a diversion.

"Did you hear me? Don't tell me you're nervous, too," Robin smiled at him.

"What? No, sorry," he walked closer. "What did you need?"

"Melvin and I were hoping you might be able to make a call to see if we can't move this along, right?" Robin smiled at the older man as she rubbed his back.

"Right. Please," Melvin said.

Patrick snapped out of his stupor and tried his phone.

"No signal. Do you have a phone?" he asked her.

"In my purse," Robin said and grabbed it. She sighed.

"Nothing. Is there an emergency button on the panel?"

Patrick pushed it but they heard nothing. He opened the little door where the emergency phone should have been, but there was nothing there.

Robin saw and they locked eyes, silently agreeing not to tell Melvin.

"I'm sure help will be here soon," Robin said and stepped back.

"No, don't leave me alone," Melvin grabbed her by the arm and she tripped against him.

Shit. Did she feel what she thought she felt?

"Oh," Robin said and suddenly she felt another pair of hands pull her away.

"Hey, Melvin, let's keep our hands to ourselves," the tall handsome man said.

Robin rubbed her arm and smiled, trying not to puke when she saw Melvin's excitement.

"It's okay. We just need to wait for help."

"I'm Patrick," dimples said.

"Robin," she said and shook his hand.

He noticed her dainty fingers and her beautiful skin and he blushed. What the hell? Was he twelve?

"Nice to meet you," he said and crossed his arms.

"I have to go to the bathroom," Melvin whined.

"Well, we should be out soon," Robin smiled and walked back over. She noticed Melvin was sweating and she wished she had something to help him. Maybe she imagined his 'issue' and she felt badly for judging him.

There was a sudden jerk and the elevator moved a fraction, but the motion made Melvin fall forward, knocking Robin down and falling directly onto her.

"Shit," Patrick said as he fell as well and as soon as everything stopped, he moved to help Melvin off of Robin and saw he had his hands on her chest.

"Dude, seriously?" Patrick asked him as he pulled him off. "Are you some kind of pervert?

"No, it's fine," Robin said and sat up, realizing her dress was ripped open up the side. "Shit."

"What is it? Are you hurt?" Patrick asked.

"No," she smiled as she held her dress together. "I'm good."

Melvin pounded on the door and yelled for help.

"Help is on the way," a voice called down.

Patrick smiled.

"See? We'll be out soon enough."

Robin smiled and then looked at Melvin. She had been right all along.

"Oh gross," she whispered and scrambled to the corner of the car.

Patrick turned and saw the man touching himself.

"Hey, freak, stop that. What the hell is wrong with you? You are in an elevator with two strangers!"

Melvin didn't seem to care.

"I'm uncomfortable. Besides, the way she rubbed my back and let me feel her up just kind of got things moving. I was on my way to a meeting. I've been doing much better, but you know, sometimes things just come up."

Robin almost threw up in her mouth.

"You're a sick piece of crap," Patrick was furious and went to punch Melvin when the elevator moved some more and the door began to open.

The officer helped pull Melvin out and Patrick looked at them.

"He needs to be arrested. He was jerking off in front of us," Patrick said with venom.

The officers looked just as grossed out and one of them led Melvin away. Patrick turned to Robin and reached for her when the elevator fell and both of them were knocked down.

"Ow, shit," Patrick said as he looked around after the elevator stopped. He saw Robin on the floor, unconscious.

"Robin? Hey, can you wake up?" he held her face in his hands. She was really breathtaking.

She came around and blinked and opened her eyes.

"Oh, are we dead?" she asked with a smile.

"I don't think so, but we got rid of the jerky pervy," he grinned.

She laughed as he helped her to sit up. He tried not to stare when her bra showed through the tear in her dress.

"You realize the elevator might drop again and we might die," she said, a bit nervous herself.

Patrick shrugged.

"That might make this day better."

Robin was stunned.

"What? What the hell kind of day have you had that death would be better?" she stood up and tried to hold her dress together.

He tried not to stare at the skin showing under her torn dress. He certainly didn't want to turn into Melvin.

"It doesn't matter. We'll be out of here soon."

She looked at him and tried to figure out what she was missing.

There was another noise and the electricity went out, making it pitch black.

"Great," he muttered. "Robin? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said quietly.

"You don't sound fine," he smiled in the darkness.

"Just drop it," she sighed and they both felt cold air suddenly blow into the elevator car.

"Well the air is working," he joked. He realized it was really cold.

"It's freezing!" she said as her teeth chattered. "What is going on?"

"I don't know, but we'll get out of here, I promise," he said as he felt around for his phone. Maybe it would give them some light.

She huddled in the corner and shivered, hoping he was right.

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