Page 32 of Isabelle and the Beast

I follow her in a more dignified manner, standing behind her at the window. Close, but not too close. Even from here, I can smell the lavender shampoo that she must be using.

Lionel’s right, the storm has stopped. Outside, a white blanket drapes over the ground and the trees, but there’s no snow falling from the sky. The sun is setting over the mountains, and the view is picturesque.

In fact, for a brief moment, I swear I can see out of my left eye. I shut my right eye, testing it out, and everything goes black.

I must have imagined it.

“It’s beautiful,” Isabelle breathes. She turns and faces me, her eyes wide when she realizes how close I’m standing.

Maybe I am too close.

She composes herself. “Can I go outside? I promise I’ll bundle up this time. And I won’t get lost.”

I can understand her pull to be outside. Before everything happened with Tristan and my accident, I felt the same desire.But now that I’m a recluse, I’d rather stay inside the castle, where the light of day can’t touch my scars.

She wants to go outside, but that’s still no guarantee she won’t get lost. I can’t risk that again.

“You can go outside,” I say. “But I’m coming with you.”

Chapter

Sixteen

ISABELLE

Twenty minutes after dinner, I’m bundled up in spare snow clothes that Brigette found in the castle. She fussed with my jacket and boots for way too long before I shooed her away. I’m ready to finally see the sun, even if it’s setting.

I skip to the front door, where Adam waits for me. His haircut and beard trim look so good, it’s almost overwhelming to be with him in person, instead of watching him on the big screen. And yet… I see him more as a challenge now than anything else.

He saved me. He knew I was lost in the snow, and he came for me. He held me all night by the fire, letting me sleep in his arms. He gave me the theater room, knowing I needed to sleep and understanding exactly what it would mean to me to be in there.

So yes, one minute he’s gruff and rude and closed-off. But the next, he’s protective and considerate. And then it’s back to his default setting—grumpiness. I’m determined to break down his walls and find out why. Kill him with kindness and all that jazz.

I beam up at him, bouncing on the tips of my toes. “Let’s go!”

He fights a smile, and I feel a little flutter in my chest at his response. He opens the door for me, and I take my first few steps, crunching into the snow with proper boots this time, and nearly laugh out loud. Finally, I get to be outside, and even though it’s cold, I’m wearing enough waterproof gear that it doesn’t bother me. Yes, I’m a Southern California girl through and through, but I can handle a little bit of cold. Especially when I’ve been trapped inside for days.

The snow glistens in the last bits of sunlight, while the sky is a masterpiece of colors. Orange and purple and pink streak overhead. I can feel myself becoming whole again, breathing in the clean air and seeing the setting sun.

I wander around, hearing Adam’s footsteps behind me the whole time. He’s giving me a little bit of space, but staying close enough so he won’t lose sight of me. I wish that didn’t make him even more attractive, but something about the protective alpha male totally works for me.

But he’s so serious all the time. I swear, he needs to spend some time with Theo. Maybe if they played superheroes for a little while, Adam would actually have fun.

Or maybe I can have some fun with him.

“Ugh, my shoelace,” I say out loud, bending down and pretending to tie it. Adam stays a few feet away from me, so he can’t see what I’m doing on the ground. I work quickly, so it’s not as tight of a snowball as I’d like, but I stand and whip around, throwing the ball at Adam.

And it lands at his feet.

Adam stares at the spot where the snowball landed, like he’s trying to understand what just happened.

“That’s…not what I was trying to do,” I say, feeling warmth rush to my icy-cold cheeks.

He looks back up at me. “And what exactly were you trying to do?”

I press my lips together. “Hit you with a snowball.”

“Ah.” He has the decency to look amused. “I take it that sports are not your strong suit.”

---