Page 26 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

But out here in the dark, wearing a thick corduroy jacket and a beanie tamping down his wavy hair, he’s like a different man.

More of aman. A manly man. A nothing-like-Tiger-man.

Silas would tower over Tiger, with shoulders double the size.

Now, why am I comparing Silas to Tiger? Even without really knowing, I can tell Silas is the better man.

Is he going to tell me to go home?

I don’t want to go home. Or back to the castle. I want to stay here. With Silas.

But before he says anything, Silas unlocks his trunk again. “If you’re going to hang around, you need something warmer to wear.”

“This is all I’ve got,” I tell him, trying not to let my teeth chatter.

He pulls out something bulky. “You can wear this.” He holds it up and I see that it’s a thick and heavy-looking parka with a fur-lined hood. Canada Goose jacket? Moose Knuckles? Whatever brand, I’m going to swim in it.

But as he holds it up, I turn around to let Silas help me into it, slipping it on over mine. The coat itself is chilly from beingin his trunk, but it cuts the cold, and immediately, I feel less like I’m about to get frostbite. “Thank you.”

I fumble to find the zipper and Silas hunches his shoulders to do it up for me. “It’s a bit big,” he says ruefully.

“And definitely notyourusual attire,” Wyatt chimes in with a laugh.

“But it will keep you warm.” And then Silas pulls a wool beanie out of the pocket of the coat and tugs it over my head,without giving a thought to my hair.

My hair, which is trapped inside this bulky bear of a coat. Silas realizes it at the same time and slides his hands around my neck to free my long hair, unfolding it so it hangs over my shoulders.

I stand still and stare up at him because only stylists have ever put a coat on me, and no one has ever thought to free my hair. He smooths the hat with big hands. “Sorry,” he says with a start. “I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine,” I say, suddenly breathless. “I’m warm now.”

“Good. Let’s go see some stars.”

Chapter ten

Silas

This means nothing.

Fenella is bored and curious and this means nothing.

Except, as many times as I repeat myself, I can’t bring myself to ignore the flare of hope as she follows us up the path into the woods.

She looks adorable wearing my coat. And the hat…

Dead leaves cover the trail and make it impossible to move quietly. I set up solar lights every few metres, but Fenella still follows close behind, reaching out with a hand against my back when we hit a dark patch.

“Should I be nervous?” she asks with an odd tone in her voice that may be actual nerves. “I have no idea where we’re going, even if I could see in the dark.”

“Afraid I’m about to kidnap you?”

“Serial killer did cross my mind.”

“Trust me. I thought you said I was a nice guy.”

“Nice guys can still lose people in the dark.”

I huff a laugh and Wyatt twists his neck to shoot a surprised look at me.What? I mouth, but there’s no way for him to see me in the dark.

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