room reaches the sky. “For fresh air. Join me.”
She gestures to her panties and bra. “FYI: I could wrap the blanket around me. Men are visual creatures. So, enjoy the sight of all the sexiness you lost.” Her hands grip at her curves, breast, ass, and hips as I slam the cabin door.
Outside, a coat of snow covers the ground, the top of my truck and dust across the trees. God, if she would stop being so insufferable, we’d experience a breathtaking sight.
Determined to keep my chill, I start to take a walk. When I return, I’ll win Gina Galloway over like every other woman I’ve set eyes on. Then we’re done—because I say so.
44
Gina
Without a source to the outside world, I’m not sure how long I’ve been alone in the cabin. After consuming the French toast, I wash the dishes. Then, I’m shoveling open the kitchen cabinets and drawers, searching for something. Probing for anything! I find a crinkled calendar in the top drawer. I’m using a crappy BIC pen to cross out the days on the calendar until there’s only a week’s worth of boxes left leading to Christmas.
“What are you doing, Gina?” I chuck the calendar across the wooden table and then check the downstairs bathroom. Tentatively, I reach for the lower cabinet, prepared to run at the sight of rodents.
“Forget this, I’m outta here,” I growl, lacking the prowess to follow through with opening the tiny door. There’s another door next to the downstairs bathroom, which turns out to be a hall closet. I grab an old flannel jacket and put it on. The material is thin and falls just past my hips. Then I nudge my toe at a pair of tan Timberlands. Nothing goes scurrying from them. Holding the boots, I head upstairs and slip into a new pair of Santino’s drawstring sweats and yank the strings tightly. So, he thought I only needed cheap-ass cotton panties to keep me warm?
Praying to God that He ward off foot fungus, I put on the boots. With a firm grip, I squeeze at the laces until the extra slack is gone. Now, the boots aren’t lifting over my heel with each move.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I mutter, “Shit! The privileged lifestyle I’ve led won’t allow me to freeze my ass off.”
Glaring at the makeshift curtain over the bed, I clasp the edges and tug it off the line. I cloak the curtain around me for an extra layer. Not one single item of clothing adorning my skin is designer!
“I’m too bougie for this,” I murmur, heavy boots clobbering down the steps. “I need a seaweed wrap, a hot stone massage. . .”
I yank the front door open, repeating my spa treatments. Frost mantles my face, so frigid my skin prickles. Lifting the scrape of curtain, I plant it along the crown of my head like a hood. Ferocity burning in my eyes, I take my first step out into the wilderness.
Santino’s large cock in Shanda’s sister’s face, as well as her two blonde friends, is my fuel.
Shit! I’m about a yard away when my lungs hollow in my chest. Dayum Gina, I imitate my favorite comedian. I had a personal trainer all spring, went into the summer slim and trim—honestly, slim enough for me. Now, I can hardly breathe in the thin air.
With every step I take, my exhale fumes past my lips. Headed toward a lining of trees, I’ve made it thirty yards when the bones in my body crystallize into frozen vessels.
All of a sudden, my entire body shakes, teeth chattering. Feels like a thousand bees are targeting my fingers.
“Gina! Gina!” Santino calls out to me.
Boots lifting one at a time, I continue to trek.
He’s at my side in a second, walking backward as I focus on a slither of road between the trees.
“Your lips are frozen blue, Bella.”
Another foot lifts, coming down slowly.
He starts to remove his puffer jacket. I shake my head ‘no.’
“Sweets, you’re shivering so much. Can you confirm if you want me to place the jacket over you or not?”
While my teeth dance and chatter together, I’m incapable of a reply.
Santino stops walking, no longer following my lead. Damn, I’ve hit an imaginary brick wall.
“Gina, I’ll take that as you’d like some help.”
His arm settles beneath my ass, and he scoops me up. Limbs like a popsicle, I rigidly hold formation as he takes less than ten gigantic steps back into the cabin.
“Bella, you’re colder than ice.” He