“Weren't you sleeping?" he inquired with a smirk, leaving Claudia at a loss for words.

His gaze fell, and unexpectedly, he seized her hand. “Feeling chilly?" Claudia's hand fluttered like a startled bird, withdrawing quickly. Defiant, she shot back, “No.”

“So, the coat is no longer necessary, unless you want to be sweating later."

He confidently whisked the coat away.

Claudia, almost reflexively, reached for it, and in an awkward tone admitted, "Actually, it is a bit cold."