“I’m always outside. You get used to it.” He shrugged. “The roads flood?”

“Yes, almost all the access roads in and out of both the estate and the village flood. I don’t know if you can pass through now; I saw the water when I closed the gate, and it’s quite close. That means areas will likely be impassable.”

Miles stared at me with his blue eyes. “I have a Jeep. I’ll be fine.”

I wrinkled my face up. “I doubt that very much. The only thing these roads are good for in weather like this is a boat, so unless you have a kayak attached to the roof of your Jeep…”

“I can’t say that’s something I carry around,” he said dryly. “I think I’ll try my luck at getting out, if you’re okay.”

I tested my foot. “It’s better. I twisted it on a rock, but I must have just twinged it. I’ll be fine in the morning.”

“Okay, good. I’ll see you, then.”

“You can’t go. You’ll get stuck.”

“I’ll give it a shot. No offense, but being stuck here isn’t my idea of fun.”

I smiled tightly. “I can’t say I like the idea either, but I’d prefer none of the staff died on my watch. I’ll never hear the end of it from my family.”

He snorted, but there was no humour there. “I’ll see you, Gabriella.”

“Wait.”

“What?”

I sighed. “If you’re going to go, at least take my number. Chances are you won’t make it ten feet in that flood water.”

“What are you going to do if I get stuck?”

“Get our Jeep and winch you out, obviously.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You can use a winch?”

“Do you know what? Get stranded in flood water. See if I care. I’ve seen hundreds of these storms and if you’re not going to listen to me and then you’re going to be rude to me, you can go it alone and see if your Jeep suddenly forms a bloody propeller or offers you paddles when it starts floating.” I shrugged off the coat and shoved it on a hook, then wiggled my finger at him. “And let me tell you, a paddle is what you’ll need, because you’ll be right up shit’s creek.”

“All right, princess, calm down.”

“I’m not a bloody princess.”

“Could have fooled me.” Miles quirked a brow. “Give me your number.”

“I don’t want to. I changed my mind.”

He sighed heavily. “If it will make you feel better, give me your number. Then if I get stuck, you can be safe in the knowledge none of the staff will die on your watch.”

“I really don’t like you,” I said, retrieving my phone and key from the coat pocket. I pulled up my information in my contacts and showed it to him, and he typed my number into his phone, then called it. My phone rang within a few seconds, so I cancelled the call and saved his number.