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His eyes looked back at the road. “It’s getting worse fast. We could try but ... the rule number one about driving in ice is that youdon’t. I’m not risking your life right now.”
“You’re a park ranger.”
“And I know when it’s dangerous.”
“I think I’d rather die than be stuck here.”
“Not an option.”
His voice was forceful and I shook my head. “No, I?—”
“Stop arguing.” He held out the jacket. “Put this on.”
“The jacket? You ran with it?”
“Yes.”
None of this made sense. “I don’t?—”
“Stella,” he snapped. His hand cupped my cheek and it felt hot against my skin. “You’re freezing.”
“S-so?”
“Put the jacket on.”
I leaned away. “No.”
“Then get inside before you freeze.”
My stomach flipped at the sound of him telling me what to do, and the memories of seven years ago burned despite the cold. I was holding onto my last shred of dignity like a vise, and if I had done what I was told, it might as well have been thrown out the window.
And it washim.I may have lost everything, but Alden Canes wouldn’t tell me what to do.
“No. I’m going to sit here and think about ways not to be stuck with you.”
“Stella, it’s zero fucking degrees outside. How about you quit being stubborn and let me help you?”
“Never.”
“Jesus Christ,” he muttered. I thought he would give up, but I should have known better.
Alden got to his feet, pulling me with him. I tried to resist, but then he picked me up and slung me over his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes.
“What the—Alden, put me down!”
“You have five feet to shut the fuck up and let me do something for you.”
The walk was short-lived, just as he said, and he dropped me on the couch. I would have felt the blessed warmth of Amma’s house if I wasn’t already seething.
“Don’t touch me again.”
“I don’t plan to—unless your stubbornness gets in the way of your judgment. I’m not letting you freeze to death because of your pride.”
Now that I was inside, I knew he was right. The cold had settled into my fingers, and they still felt like pure ice despite the warmth around me. My teeth chattered and things would have been worse if he hadn’t stepped in.
There had only been one time I’d seen the weather turn this bad. We’d all bundled up and hunkered down until it melted, but in true Tennessee fashion, it warmed up and entirely melted only two days later. This time, the forecast was calling for the temperature to stay below freezing for the foreseeable future.
Reality hit me hard. I should have listened to the weather. I should have never come here and downplayed it. And now I was locked in Amma’s tiny house with AldenfuckingCanes.