AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I meet Jessy’s suspicious gaze with a perplexed frown. “What’s with the look?”
She narrows her eyes slightly, her expression guarded. “I can’t help but wonder if you led us to this place on purpose.”
I can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of her accusation. “You think I orchestrated getting lost in the middle of nowhere just so I could cozy up with you in a rundown cabin?”
She shrugs, though her eyes still hold a hint of doubt. “I don’t know. Maybe you have some ulterior motive. Are you trying to kidnap me?”
“What? Kidnap you? Why would I want to do that?
She shrugs again, still giving me a serious look. “You tell me. You were the one who kept insisting that I come on this retreat and then led me away from the rest of the team.”
“And that’s because it is beneficial for your career growth. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you aren’t the only junior staff member invited to this retreat. So, stop making it seem like I’m always giving you preferential treatment, because I’m not! And no, I’m not trying to get you kidnapped or whatever it is that you have going on in your head.”
I can feel frustration bubbling up inside me as Jessy continues to entertain these ridiculous suspicions. “Seriously, Jessy? Do you honestly think I would go through all this trouble just to kidnap you? What do I stand to gain?”
She meets my gaze with a stubborn tilt of her chin. “I don’t know what to think anymore. All I know is that we’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, and you’re the one who insisted on bringing me here.’’
I let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “For the last time, Jessy, I brought you here because it’s part of your job. I thought it would be a valuable opportunity for you to network and learn from your peers. It has nothing to do with kidnapping or whatever wild scenario you’re concocting in your head.”
I shake my head, incredulous. “Believe me, Jessy, if I had a choice in the matter, we’d be back at the hotel enjoying a hot meal and a comfortable bed right about now.”
I reach out to gently place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s understandable. We’re both out of our element here.”
She offers me a tentative smile, her guard seems to begin to lower. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
With the tension between us momentarily diffused, we turn our attention back to the fading fire.
As we sit in tense silence, I can’t help but wonder how we ended up in this absurd situation and how we’re going to get out of it. But one thing’s for certain—kidnapping was never part of the plan.
I watch as the last embers of the fire slowly flicker out, leaving us in the dim light, save for the occasional flash of lightning illuminating the cabin.
The storm rages on outside, the sound of rain battering against the windows growing louder by the minute. Glancing over at Jessy, I notice her huddled form, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she shivers from the cold.
“You’re shivering,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
She looks up at me, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and discomfort. “I’ll be fine,” she replies, her teeth chattering slightly.
I hesitate for a moment before speaking again. “You can come closer if you want,” I offer, then rephrase, “I think you should be closer. We can share body heat to stay warm.”
She shakes her head, though I can see the reluctance in her eyes. “I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not,” I insist. “You could catch pneumonia and then die. I don’t want your death on my conscience.”
“There’s no proven scientific connection between being cold and catching pneumonia because of the cold.”
I chuckle softly. “Alright, Dr. Martin, if you say so. But I’m still not convinced. Come on, just for a little while. It’ll help keep us both warm.”
She hesitates for a moment, chewing on her lower lip as she considers my offer. Finally, with a resigned sigh, she scoots closer, her shoulder pressing against mine.
“There, isn’t that better?” I ask, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
She nods, though I can still sense a hint of tension in her body. “Yeah, it’s...tolerable,” she replies, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“Tolerable? I’m giving you warmth, something that money can’t buy, and you say it’s tolerable? Well, I suppose I should be flattered that my body heat is at least tolerable.”
She lets out a small laugh, the tension in her body easing slightly. “Okay, okay, I’ll admit it’s more than tolerable. It’s...cozy,” she concedes, leaning into my side slightly.
“That’s more like it,” I reply with a grin, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having managed to coax a genuine smile out of her.
