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“No, you’re holding something back,” he said, clearing my plate. “It will be cold in here tonight. It’s best if we sleep in the caravan.”
“I’m not sleeping anywhere near you.”
“Suit yourself.” He grabbed my upper arm with a firm grip and pulled me from my chair, guiding me up the same stairs from earlier. The heat from his hand seared me even through my thick sweater.
“If you’re so rich, why don’t you have heat in this house? For that matter, why do you live in a rundown caravan?” He led me into the same room as before.
“I don’t care for this house,” he said shortly.
“Then why do you live here?”
“I like the property, just not the house.” He clicked on a small electric fireplace. “There are extra blankets in the closet.”
“You need to let me go,” I said.
“Then tell me the truth. Why are you really here?”
“I don’t know how many times I have to say it. I’m doing a story on the two missing girls. I get it. You have an alibi. If you let me go, I’ll leave you alone. I promise.”
“No. It’s dark and sleeting, and the roads will be slick.”
“I’ll take my chances,” I begged. “Please.”
“No, it’s too dangerous. You’ll sleep here tonight.”
“It actually sounds like you care,” I said sarcastically.
He turned on me, grabbing me by my shoulder and towering over me. “I don’t,” he hissed between his teeth. “Not one damn bit. I’ll see you in the morning.” He left, locking the door.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled my knees up to my chest.
Fuck.
How had I gotten myself into this situation?
The electric heater buzzed pointlessly as its pale red bars fought against the cold temperatures. It was so chilly I could see my breath in front of me. I stood up and grabbed an extra blanket from the closet, spreading it over the bed, then crawled under the covers, hoping to warm up.
The minutes slowly turned into hours, and the room only seemed to get colder. My teeth chattered so violently at one point I bit my tongue. When I couldn’t take it any longer, I got out of bed and tried pounding on the door. It opened almost immediately, and I jumped back, surprised.
“What in the hell is going on?” Rhys shouted, coming inside.
“I-I-it’s freezing in here. I’m practically hypothermic.”
“I told you it would be too cold.”
I glanced around. “How did you get to the door so fast? Were you sleeping in the hallway?”
“I don’t trust you,” he said simply.
“How are you not freezing?” I could feel heat radiating off him.
“I’m used to the cold weather. I’ve built up a tolerance to it. And you ask too many questions.” He picked up the blanket and wrapped it around me, settling me on the bed. “Here,” he said, sitting down next to me. “Lie on your side.”
I didn’t fight him. I was too cold, so I did as he asked. He lay down next to me and spooned me against him, wrapping his arm around me. It was like being covered in an electric blanket, and I felt my body begin to thaw. “How come you don’t have heat in the house?”
“The boiler is broken, and I don’t need it.”
“Not even for guests.”
