There was no latch. No lock. No area where it looked like the gate would split in two and open.

Okay. So the entire thing must swing one way or the other. She grasped two of the prongs and shoved. It didn’t move. So she pulled. Nothing.

“It’s a biometric device that can’t be moved by hand.”

Grace yelped and jumped, hitting her shoulder on the fence. She whirled around to find Adare standing in the snow, a dark figure in a dangerous storm. “You scared me.”

“Good.” In his position by the vehicle, his face was veiled by the darkness.

She set her stance, her left boot slipping in the snow. “We both know you can open this gate.”

“Do we?” His voice was low. Silky. Aggressive.

Her lungs froze. The lump in her throat suddenly kept her from swallowing. “I hadn’t realized there was a gate in place,” she said lamely.

“There are quite a few things you’ve failed to realize.” His low voice carried easily through the blistering wind. “For one thing, we have land mines as well as target missiles protecting the property, in addition to electrical currents that could fry a buffalo.” He strode closer, all casual grace and powerful threat. “Not to mention the fact that you’re intoxicated.”

“Oh, please.” It was too cold to roll her eyes, but she gave it a try. “Every time you filled my glass, I poured the wine into Faith’s when you looked away. She was loaded. Didn’t you see her try to take Ronan’s clothes off as they left the kitchen?”

“Get into the vehicle, Grace.”

She looked around. Running was just foolish, so why the hell was her heart beating so fast and her skin sensitizing? She didn’t like him all growly like this. Did she? Yeah, he was kind of sexy in a demolish-the-world kind of way, and the guy could kiss, but she was trying to save his life. He could at least be a little bit appreciative of that fact. Yeah. He definitely should be thanking her instead of ordering her around.

“Grace.” The edge to his tone sharpened.

Dang. She’d gotten caught in her head again. Must be some kind of defense mechanism. She shook herself out of it. “Open the gate, Adare.”

“I’ll give you the count of two.”

Oh, he did not. She slapped snow off her gloves instead of throwing a snowball at him. “I’m not a wayward toddler, you arrogant jackwad.”

“More like an errant mate,” he retorted. “I’m done with it. Get in the vehicle, now, or I’ll put you in it.”