Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Chapter 5
Miranda
Two thought wheels turn at once. One—he called me doctor, which shows respect, even admiration. Except two—he just implied I have no choice in the matter of whether I’m leaving or not.
It’s the second thought I get hitched up on. “Excuse me?” The feminist in me rears her head, ready to defend myself against yet another man who thinks he can control me.
Caleb—the surly mountain man with twelve-pack abs arches a brow right back at me. “You heard me.” He takes a bite of bacon. By bite I mean he crunches off half of three slices at once and chews them slowly while giving me the stink eye.
I try to interpret his words. I mean, I suppose it’s obvious I can’t leave. That’s probably what he’s saying. But I don’t like the way he said it. Because he’s either being a controlling asshole or he’s the psychopathic killer who plans to keep me here and bury me in the basement.
Okay, I don’t think the cabin actually has a basement, but in the backyard, then.
“You’re saying I can’t leave?”
“Yep. That’s what I’m saying.”
I narrow my eyes. “Are you going try and stop me?”
“Sure am. You know why? Cause even if you can hike more than ten feet from this cabin in drifts that are already up to your chest—which I seriously doubt you can—the trail’s covered and you don’t know your way back. You’ll likely fall into a drift and this time end up with frostbite. Then I’ll have to go out in the cold and drag you back.” He finishes his epic speech by taking a gulp of coffee.
I fold my arms across my chest. He isn’t wrong. I just don’t want to be stuck in a remote cabin with Mr. Grumpy for days. Even if Mr. Grumpy also happens to be Mr. Tall, Dark, Tattooed and Bearded with a sexy mountain man vibe. Especially because of that.
“Fine. I’m not going anywhere. But for the record, I didn’t choose to be stuck up here with you.”
“Makes two of us.” He glowers at me behind his coffee mug. “What the hell made you come all the way up here in this weather anyway?”
“I didn’t think it was going to be this bad,” I say through a clenched jaw. “And it wasn’t snowing when I left the research cabin yesterday. The storm came up suddenly, and I got disoriented. I’m not stupid.” I get up and take our dishes to the sink.
“Didn’t think you were, Doctor M.” He emphasizes doctor. Is he mocking me?
“I am under a deadline. I need this data., it’s important.” There’s no dishwasher, so I start washing the dishes by hand and put them in the drying rack.
“Not worth your life,” he mutters. I steal a look over my shoulder. Something in his expression reminds me of Dr. Alogore and my smirking colleagues.
“You know what? Forget it. You wouldn’t understand.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” His black eyes flash with a glint of yellow. Great, I’ve antagonized him. Probably not the best idea, but riling him up gives me a shot of satisfaction. I get the feeling he hasn’t talked to, much less verbally sparred with anyone in awhile. Well, he said as much already, didn’t he? “I’m not stupid either, sweetheart.”
“Please do not call me sweetheart.” I point a finger at him.
He shrugs. “You’re in my cabin. You’ll have to put up with my ways. I mean no harm by it.”
I snort. “It’s patronizing.”
“Lady, what’s your problem?”
The lady gets to me, too. “You wanna know?” I throw my hands up. “You want to know what my problem is? My problem is every man I’ve ever met tries to tell me what to do. Treats me like a doormat and tramples all over me. I have news for you, buddy.” My voice rises now. “You think you’re God’s gift to the green earth, and women are just here to massage your egos, suck your cocks and, I don’t know, be eye candy. But we’re not. We’re not here for you.”
Caleb stares at me like I’m a hissing goose. Which I guess I am. It’s weird but it feels good to give a man a piece of my mind for a change. Something I can’t ever do back at the lab, since the entire science world is ruled by men. One wrong word and you’re forever passed over for the good positions.
“I don’t know what a man did to you, but there’s no reason to take it out on me.”
Finished with the dishes, I slump into a chair. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just frustrated to be stranded here without my computer. I have so much to do and no way to do it.” Bear comes and licks my hand.
“And I’d rather be asleep on the couch. But we’re stuck together, so we might as well make the best of it.”