Chapter 147

He stepped in closer, gaze locked on her with a kind of quiet pressure. Claire had just fished the car key out of his pocket when the car beeped as it locked—and in the same breath, she felt a chill hit her waist. Before she could react, she found herself wrapped in Nelson Cooper's arms, her body sandwiched between him and the car door. The posture was awkward and way too close for comfort… and yet, for some reason, weirdly charged with something she couldn't quite name. "Nelson, you—" Claire clutched the car key like a lifeline, her voice trembling a bit as she stared at him. It took her a few seconds to get a word out. "It's… unlocked." Nelson lowered his gaze to look right into her eyes. Then he took a step back without blinking, face calm and unreadable. "Open the door." His voice was low and flat, like he was holding something in—and cold enough to freeze someone on the spot. Claire frowned. What was his deal? She hadn't even done anything. The key he told her to grab, right? Sure