Page 51 of Whiteout

“I told you.” She shrugged him off. “Stuff.”

“What exactly?”

“Books and ballgowns.” With a snicker, Breanna whipped around and let him have it. “Clothes, all right? I left Portland thinking I was finally going to meet my grandmother, and instead, I met you. Wrecked my car on this godforsaken mountain, only to find out she’s dead and I’m stuck here with you for three fucking miserable weeks.”

He looked at her like she’d gone and lost her mind.

“I only packed for a weekend.”

“You seem…angry,” Sinjin said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Who sent it?”

“Kayleigh, my roommate.”

Nodding, he asked, “Have you spoken to your mom? Does anyone else know where you are?”

Her eyes flicked up. What an odd question. And what difference did it make?

“I texted her yesterday to wish her a happy Thanksgiving. She assumed I was having dinner with Kayleigh’s family…and I…I let her think it. She doesn’t have a clue that I’m here. No one does. Why?”

Sinjin sat on the sofa, pulling her with him to sit on his lap. Framing her face in his hands, he kissed her forehead. “We’re going to have to let her know you’re here, and that you’re safe.”

“We?”

“Yes, we. I’ll speak to her—as your attorney. Put her mind at ease.” Fingertips trailed up and down her spine. “What about school?”

“What about it?”

He smirked. “Well, princess, you won’t be sitting in class come Monday.”

“Yes, I will,” Breanna smugly replied. “I’ve got my Mac with me.”

“Isn’t that convenient?”

Of course, he’d say that. And what was up with all these questions?

“Why do you ask?”

Sinjin shrugged, but his grin was deliberate. “Your car might be fixed in a few weeks, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be leaving Dalton House.”

“And why not?”

“We could have ten feet of snow by then, sweetheart. Maybe more.” His hand slipped beneath her sweater, fingers strumming her skin. “Imagine it, being stuck here with me the entire fucking miserable winter.”

Fuck. Just the thought. But even if Breanna wanted to, she couldn’t.

“No.”

“No? You wouldn’t like that?” He squeezed her breast. “I’d like that.”

“I don’t get it.” She swatted at his hand. “First, Jordy has me half-convinced I dreamt you up, and then you come strolling in, acting like you’ve never seen me before. But as soon as no one’s around, you’re on me like flies on shit. Like, what the fuck?”

Raising his brow, Sinjin didn’t utter a word.

“You knew who I was and what I was coming for all along, didn’t you?” God, I’m so stupid. “Don’t answer that. Of course, you did. You summoned me here.”

“It was Derek who did that.”

“Your cousin.” Breanna scrambled off his lap. “And Francie’s your aunt. Are you all fucking related? I find it really strange no one thought to mention it.”

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