“Move it.” He pushed past me and leaned over the driver’s seat to the central control unit. “Look at this.”
I leaned in next to him to see. There wasn’t a lot of room with us both leaning through the same doorframe, so I was forced to press my side against his. He smelled good. And his body felt warm against my freezing one. I shook my head and focused on what he was showing me. He pointed out a knob that was next to the heat settings.
“Push this one for rear defrost and this one for front defrost. It’ll help melt the ice faster next time this happens.”
“Ah, of course, there would be a button for that. Duh. Thanks.” I stood up and put a few steps of space between us before crossing my arms and rubbing my hands up and down them. How did anyone live in these frigid conditions?
Giles exited the driver’s side and leaned against the doorframe, eyeing me disdainfully.
“You should wear a warmer coat than that. You’ll freeze to death.”
Thanks, Sherlock.
“I know. That’s kind of what I was trying to do right now. Buy some warmer clothes.”
He stared at me blankly.
“Okay, well…”
Still nothing.
“It was great running into you again.” I walked past him and re-entered the car. “I’m sure I’ll see you around at the lodge.”
I reached for the door to slam it closed, but Giles was faster than me. He gripped the top of the window so that when I pulled, the door didn’t move an inch.
This guy was wearing on my last nerve.
Taking an exaggerated breath in, I glared at the towering man in my way. My polite smile and sweet voice had dissolved entirely at this point.
“What’s your problem,” I barked.
He chuckled. “I can’t let you drive anywhere right now.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s people like you that have never driven in the snow and don’t know what they’re doing that cause accidents. You would be a danger to yourself and everyone on the road.”
“Have you seen this monstrosity that I’m driving? There’s no way this thing slides anywhere.”
“I appreciate your heavy machinery, but the answer is still no.”
“But I need food. And clothes. Like you said, I’ll freeze to death.”
“Should have come better prepared.”
“But—”
“What’s all that commotion down there?”
Our face-off was thankfully interrupted by Bev walking down her front entrance and toward us.
“I’m trying to watch my show, and all I hear is you two yammering on about something.”
“Hey, Aunt Bev.” His evil demeanor was replaced with a warm smile as he hugged Bev. “I just stopped by to make sure you still had power. I know that tree branch has been threatening your line ever since that big storm a few weeks ago.”
“I’m fine, as you can see.” She patted his chest and then directed her attention to me.
“How are you settling in, Mattie? Do you need anything?”
