Page 16 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
His face softened. “Not a problem.”
“I’m sorry about last night. I know you’ve sacrificed a lot to bring me up here and keep me safe. I don’t mean to be ungrateful. It was just . . . a shock.”
There were very few people in the world whose opinion of me mattered. In just one night, Beau had added himself to that list. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was an ungrateful brat.
“You had a rough day,” he said. “I get it. Coming here couldn’t have been easy for you. I should have done a better job explaining what you’d be getting yourself into.”
He was such a nice guy. The anti-Anton. “Well, thank you for all you’re doing for me.”
“You’re welcome.” His eyes locked with mine and I fought the urge to move into his arms. To press my nose against his damp shirt and pull in an intoxicating breath. His broad chest was so tempting. I could just make out a smattering of chest hair beneath the white cotton. I was a sucker for chest hair, that one defining trait that separated the men from the boys.
I was just about to inch closer, to give into the tractor beam that was his body, when Boone started licking my fingers. I gasped, yanking my hand away from his tongue’s reach.
“Boone.” Beau snapped his fingers and the dog instantly retreated to his side.
“He’s fine. Sorry. I’m just not used to pets.”
“It’s okay.” He rubbed the back of his neck before bending to scratch behind Boone’s ears.
I shook off the haze of attraction and summoned up a smile. Beau and I had electricity, no doubt about it, but acting on our chemistry would only court more complications. I needed to keep reminding myself of that until the lust faded.
The giant backward step he took told me that he must have been thinking the same thing.
“All right, Goliath. What’s the plan for today?”
He rolled his eyes.
Why did everyone react so negatively to my nicknames? Didn’t they realize I was kidding? Well, I was kidding when it was someone that I liked. My nicknames for assholes tended to be a little on the evil side. Felicity’s ex-boyfriends had received some of my more creative monikers.
“The plan is you’re going to eat while I clean out the bathroom,” he said. “Then you can take a shower if you’d like. The water should be heated up by now.”
“I can clean the bathroom,” I offered.
“You can, but you’re not going to. In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s more to do than just the bathroom. Never fear, you’ll get your chance to clean in there, but I don’t want you on your hands and knees scrubbing the floor with cracked ribs. Let’s take it easy. You can help me with the lighter stuff today.”
I decided not to protest. My ribs were so sore that it hurt to breathe. I didn’t think I’d physically be able to clean behind a toilet and in the cramped shower.
“Okay. Food sounds good.”
“What do you feel like?” he asked. “The menu’s limited until we can get the kitchen cleaned out and dishes washed. Today, your choices are granola bars or Pop-Tarts.”
I chose a granola bar and followed him toward four huge plastic tubs, watching as he rifled through the dry goods he’d purchased last night. Next to the tubs were three large red coolers.
“How long will all of this last?” Beau’s superhuman physique must require at least four thousand calories a day.
“Probably three weeks with the two of us.”
“Then what?” My hopes soared at the prospect of going into town to refill foodstuffs. Even if it was just a day trip, I would gladly welcome a quick reprieve into civilization.
“Well, that gives us three weeks to teach you how to hunt and fish. I’ll give you the quick and dirty about which berries and roots you can eat. I’ll head back to town and you’ll be on your own. I should be able to come back before winter though and bring you some supplements.”
My mouth fell open as panic seized control of my major organs. He wanted me to become a hunter-gatherer? That was never going to happen. I’d rather take my chances with the Federovs. I started mentally calculating how long it would take for me to walk back to Prescott.
“Relax, Sabrina. I’m kidding.”
I closed my mouth and frowned as my heartbeat went back to normal. “You should have taken up a career in politics. I’ve never heard anyone deliver such a convincing straight-faced lie.”
The fact that Beau had all but convinced me I’d be scrounging through the wilderness for my own food was quite the feat. In my job, I’d learned quickly to sniff out a bluff.
