Page 68 of GAF Factor

“Yes! It’s winter!” I said, trying my best not to slip on the sidewalk.

He hoisted the bag into the trunk, then slammed it, walking around to my side. “It’ll be fine.”

He opened the door and gestured for me to get in. Huffing, I did as he motioned. “I am not wearing a dress.”

“You will,” he said, shutting the door.

I glared at his retreating figure, then started in as soon as he opened the door again. “You’re crazy if you think I’m wearing anything but pants when it’s this cold outside.”

“It won’t be for long.”

“IKE—”

“Knox,” he corrected. “We’ve talked about this.”

“Knox, I already told you I won’t ever be cold again.”

He slid his hand over the console, onto my knee. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you warm.” A smooth smile slid over his lips,turning into a devilish grin that had me groaning in frustration. I knew there was no point in arguing with him. I wouldn’t win.

“This is not the way to the airport,” I pointed out as we headed away from the airport.

IKE turned to me with a smirk. “Don’t worry, gorgeous. I’ll get us where we’re going.”

After battling with Riley over what clothes I would bring, I showered and quickly dressed in jeans, warm boots, and a cream sweater. Even with my coat, clothes, and a hat, I couldn’t fight the chill of winter. Nothing seemed to ever satisfy the need to be warm, no matter how hard I tried.

“Hey,” he said, slipping his fingers between mine. “I promise, I’ll keep you warm.”

The earnestness of his voice had me calming down. I knew he wouldn’t ask me to do this unless it was important. After all, he understood more than anyone. He was in that shipping container with me.

“Doesn’t it bother you?”

“The cold?”

I nodded.

“Mostly, it reminds me of what I almost lost.”

“Your life.”

His eyes slashed to mine. “My life wouldn’t mean a damn thing. I have no one. If I were gone, no one would mourn.”

“Except me,” I snapped. “Do you think that if I had heard about you dying in a container, it wouldn’t have affected me?”

“Not until recently. Isla, I’m not saying this to make you feel bad, but you were stuck on Kavanaugh. All I could see was you, but all you could see was him. Sure, if I had died alone in there, you might have thought that it was a shame, but you would have moved on with life. I’ve known for longer that you were meant to be mine. I’ve stalked you for longer, watched you sleep at night and look out that window, wondering who was waiting for you.”

I was about to argue that it wasn’t a game when my mind caught on one particular thing he said. “You watched me sleep?”

He shrugged. “Maybe I should have kept that for myself.”

“When? At my house?”

“At mine.”

“But…you were gone.”

“When I brought you clothes,” he smiled, turning to face me. “You were so damn cute, too. Did you know you snore when you sleep?”

I gasped in shock. “I do not! Take that back.”

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