"You're going to freeze out here," he says.
"That's my problem."
"Everything you do is my problem." He flicks a glance at me and his expression darkens more. He knows he won't beat me, and he's given up, choosing to join me instead. How cute.
I almost smirk at him because I know I'm getting to him, and I love it. And the noticeable bulge has shrunken in the front of his sweats, which means he's cooled off as much as I have, so that’s not a horrible thing. Being turned on by him is a huge red flag.
"What are they doing right now?" I ask.
He frowns. "Who?"
"My family. My sister. My parents. What are they doing?"
His expression doesn't change but his eyes turn toward the neighbor's back yard over his privacy fence where the sound of a snowblower turning on perks our attention. "I don't know."
"Yes, you do. You're watching them, aren't you? That's what you said. You have people on my sister."
He doesn't answer and I'm left to wonder what that means.
"Thanksgiving's in two days," I continue, my voice quieter now. "My mother is probably losing her mind because I'm not there. My sister's probably panicking because the bridesmaid dress is still in my car. And my father—" I stop, swallowing hard. "My father probably thinks I'm lying in a ditch somewhere."
"They think you're having car trouble," Rafe says. "You told them that."
"Because you made me."
"It keeps them safe…" His voice trails off, but it makes me angry that he can dismiss my emotions so easily.
I turn to face him fully now, anger flaring in my chest. "Safe from what? From you?"
His eyes snap to mine, and for the first time since I stepped outside, I see something flicker beneath the surface, like mistrust or hesitation. This man has his doubts about keeping me here and that's something I can use.
"From the people who want what you're working on," he says. "People who will burn through everything to get what they want."
If he never pulled me into this situation, I wouldn't need his protection, and I don't believe for a second that these people even exist.
"I hate you," I say quietly.
His lips purse and he says, "Good."
He turns to go back inside, and even though I want to keep defying him, I'm too cold to stand here. My feet are probably frostbitten and they're definitely sore. So I follow him inside and dump the cold coffee in the sink, setting the mug down to refill it.
"I want to go home," I tell him bluntly as I pour more hot brew into my mug, and he leans against the counter next to where I stand.
"I want my ledgers fixed… So we're at an impasse."
I see a hint of a shiver in his jaw and smirk. "Yes, an impasse," I say numbly as I let every muscle in my body relax. It's an old trick my father taught me as a child. Shivering happens when your muscles are tight, so if you keep them relaxed, it looks like you're not cold.
"Except I hold the leverage."
The statement pisses me off because I know he's right, but I also know something about him that might just make him crack, and I can't stop myself. My bra lies over the foot of the bed, and all I'm wearing under this sweatshirt of his is a skimpy camisole that's skintight. So I set my mug down and peel the sweatshirt off, handing it to him as I toss my hair. Then I pick up the coffee mug again and smile as I watch his eyes track down to my tits.
My nipples are rock hard from being cold, and he notices immediately. It's enjoyable knowing the power I have over him, because that is just as much leverage, in my opinion, as what he holds over me.
"I'm going to work now. Maybe you should make breakfast to prove you're good for more than bossing me around." With my chest puffed out and my coffee in hand, I move toward the doorway, and his eyes stay locked on me the entire time. When I get to the door, I turn to look at him and notice the very distinct sweatpants bulge has returned with vengeance and Mr. “I Have Leverage" is almost drooling. "I like my bacon extra-crispy."
Then I spin on my heel and walk up the hall, finally letting myself shiver once I’m out of sight. Because holy fuck, was that cold. But it was totally worth it.
Rafe Ferretti is a man I can manipulate.
