Page 31 of Survive the Night
He gave her a small, pleased smile as he led the way down into the bunker. It was bigger than she’d expected, with what looked like years’ worth of food and water stacked on shelves that circled the room. There were several bunks along one side, and she was glad she’d chosen to sleep upstairs—the beds didn’t look that comfortable. The bunker was brighter and bigger and less prison-like than she’d expected, though.
She peered down a corridor on the opposite side as the stairs. “Where does this go?”
“If you go left, it’ll take you into the barn,” he said. “Stay straight, and it connects with the old mining tunnels. I like having a lot of possible exits.”
“I get it.” After the terrifying game of hide-and-seek she’d just played with Aaron, she understood all too well.
“There are packs here,” he said, nodding toward several camping backpacks hanging on the wall. “If you need to leave the house, even if you’re not planning on going far, always bring basic supplies. Water, food, matches, a folding knife, extra layers.” He pointed at each item as he named it.
“Water, food, knife, layers,” she repeated.
“Matches.”
“And matches. Got it.” It was sweet, how he was so intent on keeping her safe. She didn’t plan to wander into the wilderness without him, but it was still good information to have.
He frowned at her. “Are you warm enough?”
“Right now?” When he just continued to eye her, as if using X-ray vision to determine how many layers she was wearing, she answered, “I’m fine. Thank you.”
“There’s long underwear here if you need it.”
Long underwear, she’d found out recently, was not sexy. At all. For some reason, though, his offer made her blush. “Thank you.”
“There are coats, gloves, hats—if you need anything, just take it.”
“I will. Thank you.”
He held out a stocking hat, and she accepted it automatically. The knit was warm where his hand had been. “It’s important to keep your head warm.”
She smiled at him, holding the hat. His gaze dropped to her mouth and then he looked at the floor as he cleared his throat. “Want to see your bedroom?”
“Sure.” As they left the bunker, she gave a last, quick glance at the mysterious tunnels. She’d love to explore them, but that could wait. After all, she’d be living here now. An excited shiver coursed through her, and Otto frowned at her again.
“You’re cold,” he said. “You should put on your hat.”
Rather than explain her true reason for shivering, she pulled on the hat and followed Otto up to the main level. As they crossed the living room and started up the second set of stairs, she couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles moved under the material of his uniform pants.
Pervert, she scolded herself, pulling her gaze away. For as big of a guy as he was, she was amazed that he didn’t seem to have any fat on him. It was all muscle. She remembered how his corded wrists had felt under her grip while he pulled her through the basement window, and she shivered again. He was sweet and strong, and she needed to stop this crush immediately.
Even as she cut off her Otto-related thoughts abruptly, though, she wondered why she had to. Maybe it wasn’t a one-sided silly crush. He’d told her that she was pretty—well, that her mouth was pretty—and he’d put his arm around her, and he’d invited her to live with him. Plus, at Jules’s, she’d been almost positive that he was about to kiss her before they’d been interrupted. As isolated as she’d been in Texas, Sarah was still pretty certain that a guy wouldn’t do all those things if he didn’t like her—or if he wasn’t at least attracted to her a little.
“Is this okay?” Otto asked, and Sarah had to yank herself out of her obsessive thoughts yet again.
She looked around the bedroom. “Oh yes. It’s beautiful.”
“Bathroom’s across the hall.” Clearing his throat, he glanced away. “We’ll have to share. Hope that’s okay.”
At the word share, the image of sharing the shower with him popped into Sarah’s head, making her blush. Other less lustful ideas followed—of brushing their teeth together and dodging around each other as they hurried to get ready in the morning. Those thoughts, where they were happy and settled and together, were even more seductive than the first ones. She’d never had anything like that. She’d never really thought she’d get to. “That’s fine,” she hurried to say when she realized he was waiting for a response.
“Are you tired?” he asked after a short silence.
“No.” Sarah wondered if she should’ve said she was, just to be polite. They’d been together since he’d saved her from her brother. He might need a break from her.
“Want me to show you around outside?”
“Yes,” she answered, too quickly. Even if he needed some time away from her, she wasn’t ready to let him go.
He looked pleased, though, rather than annoyed or harassed, as he led the way back down the stairs and through the kitchen. The old dog pushed to his feet with a low groan as they passed and followed them to the door.
