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Grinding and shuddering, the elevator sputtered to a stop at the ground floor, the door opening loudly Violet hesitated "Are you sure that thing’s safe? Looks sorta sketchy"

Rafe winked at her, holding his hand out ; the elevator was sketchy The thing just felt old, unstable beneath her feet It was sh-rises around the city Cra trapped inside a coffin

She shifted nervously "You know, a little exercise never hurt anyone"

Rafe pressed the button and then leaned casually against the railing, shoving his hands in his pockets as he studied her "It’s five floors up You can walk if you want, but I’ll takeunsteadily andsounds that couldn’t possibly oes down, I’ the worn brass handrail on her side

"Are you gonna freak out every time you come over? It’s just an elevator, V," Rafe criticized

"Whathim behind in the elevator the moment the doors slid open

Once inside the hallway, Violet could only see one door on the entire floor: a large, arched door that was coated in layers of peeling black paint Without inviting her to follow, Rafe brushed past her to open it, leading the way inside

Again, Violet was taken aback by what she saondering what it was exactly that she’d expected

The place he shared with Sara practically oozed urban chared loft Violet had always iined in places like New York or San Francisco, yet soined so close to home in Seattle There were visible rafters and ductwork, tall exposed brick walls, and dark wood floors that practically gleamed It was spacious in the same way the Center was spacious, but that here the similarities between the two ended

Unlike the Center, with its h-tech, officey feel, Sara and Rafe’s loft was definitely a home The kitchen had been remodeled--or more likely had been built fron ranite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and low-hanging pendant lights enclosed in alow Even the furniture, although modern, with low backs and squared corners, arold and brown

"Wow," Violet breathed "I can’t believe you live here" This was a far cry from her Buckley farmhouse

"Wait’ll you see the view" He started to reach for her hand, and then drew back quickly "C’ her toward the giant s that overlooked the city below

Joining hies, and train tracks and traffic, stretching all the way down to the waterfront She wanted to stay there until the sun went down To watch as the sky darkened and lights all over Seattle flickered on, taking on a life of their own