Page 46 of On Edge

“Must have caught a chill when you fell and ripped your dress the other day.”

I blink at his joke and the slight curve of his lips.

When I think he’s going to stalk away, he pulls the blanket toward him like a lasso, closer, leaning in. His cologne wraps me, adding another layer that locks me in tight.

With his breath warm, his tone low and dangerous, he adds, “Stay away from my damn wardrobe, Lovett.”

The way his eyes pin mine with unrelenting focus, the muted light tracing his cheekbones, and his hair, damp and unruly against the stained glass windows.

He looks like a fallen angel.

Beautiful and damned.

He was only a boy when he killed them.

I almost stop breathing, my heart hammering loudly in my chest.

Then he straightens up and stalks back to his chair. The huge dog lurks behind him, shadowing his swagger, until it settles at his feet like a tame lion.

When Kathy next comes in, Severin tells her to build a fire.

“A what?”

“A fire. Get one going, will you?”

“You want me to build a fire?” She looks like he’s sprouted a second head.

Severin glowers. “Isn’t that what I just said?”

“Right.”

Throughout breakfast, Kathy comes in and out, getting the fire going indeed, and then bringing even more food and a bowl of water for the dog. I sneak glances at Severin reading his paper and working his way through his stack of pancakes.

He doesn’t seem to notice his phone is missing.

At least not yet.

My pulse is still thundering in my veins, though. What was that with the blanket?

Theblanketis still slung around my shoulders like a shawl, even though I’m sweating with stress and how warm it is in here with the fire now roaring. This is the most tense breakfast I’ve ever sat through. I haven’t even touched my plate.

I end up devouring the pancakes when it’s evident Severin isn’t watching my every move. And I manage to keep my napkin-covered hand below the table line, hiding it from sight.

But when I get to my feet to sidle out inconspicuously with Severin’s phone, Ben the dog stands up too and cocks his head, tail thumping against the wood floor as if to say,Where are we going?

Severin notices, his eyes narrowing. “Going somewhere?”

“Sorry, I was just—” My muscles lock, ready to bolt, and I gesture vaguely toward the door.

He continues to look at me, idly stroking behind his Ben’s ears. The animal sighs and lounges against him, tongue lolling.

“Sit.”

It isn’t a request.

I drop quickly back into my seat. Heat floods my face…and other places I’m trying so hard to ignore.

“I meant the dog.”