She swallowed. His repeated “please” caught her attention, and his direct gaze didn’t seem threatening. Maybe he was telling the truth.
“How’d you find me?” She repeated. Maybe she hadn’t been as secure as she imagined. Goosebumps erupted on her arms, and hair rose on the back of her neck. Were others on the way? Were people looking for him? She’d thought he was alone but hadn’t investigated. Now, she was kicking herself.
Maybe he noticed the panic on her face, but whatever the reason, this time he answered. “By accident. I was searching for an abandoned cabin I’d seen before in the woods when I slipped down a ravine, injuring my ankle. Crawling back up, I ran across wooden stairs which ended at a gate in the wall around this place.”
She nodded, picturing the stairs descending to the stream below the driveway. The cabin he’d been looking for was difficult to find, especially in poor conditions. As for the gate, she’d have to check the padlock when the weather improved.
When she didn’t speak, he continued. “I found this house and, with the storm worsening, took shelter. I’ve been sleeping in an office since the first afternoon. In my first stroke of luck in days, I noticed one wall felt warmer than the rest, so I investigated.”
Taking a leap of faith, Lissa lowered her shotgun. Still watching him, she turned the tap on her water jug, filling a mug. She set it on the table before backing away. “It’s yours. I’ve got enough. Sip. Don’t chug.” If he’d been without water for long, that was a common mistake.
He hopped the few steps to the table, pulled out a chair and sat, stretching his injured ankle onto the second seat with a sigh. His hands trembled as he grasped the mug. He wrapped both large hands around it while he drank. His eyes fluttered closed at his first swallow. He must be extremely thirsty.
“Thank you,” he said, staring over the rim of the mug.
She remained where she was, the gun still clenched in her damp hands. Under his intense gaze, she became conscious of her long, fuzzy braid and flannel pajamas. Tongue-tied, she didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t spoken to anyone in years, and friendly conversation had been even longer.
“I’m Cam.” He took another drink.
“Lissa.” Her voice was scarcely more than a whisper. She took another step back when he set down the mug, turning his attention toward her once more.
He raised his hands, palms facing her. “I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m grateful you answered the door and for the water.”
She bit her lip. “You’re welcome.”
They stared at one another, the silence stretching.
“You look like shit,” she said at last. “You’ve had a few hard days.” The words had barely left her mouth, and she wanted to stuff them back inside. She’d given away too much. He would be sure to guess she was comparing to how he looked before.
Cam arched an eyebrow, his face softening, and her heart skipped. He nodded, as though confirming something. “Youwerewatching me. Thought so.”
Damn. She needed to be careful what she said. It had been so long since she’d had to worry about boundaries—never her strong suit.
Lissa shrugged. “I checked on you a few times. Just like I watched the Slains when they were nearby.” It hadn’t been the same at all. She’d been close enough to see the title of his book, the birds eating crumbs from his hand, and the expression of joy when he’d caught a nice fish. Other than the first moment they’d met, he hadn’t inspired fear, only curiosity.
“And?” said Cam, taking another slow drink, his shimmery green eyes intent.
“You like to fish,” she said. The image of his toothy grin beside the creek, the long rainbow trout glinting pink and silver, flashed through her mind.
“I do.” His mouth twitched.
“You’ve been around here before if you’ve seen that cabin. When?”
“Off and on since I was a teenager.” He smiled, and once more her stomach fluttered. Having been alone so long, she wasn’t sure if his presence made her nervous or if she found him attractive.
“Since you’re also not with the Slains, where do you live?” She expected him to hesitate or be evasive.
“Three days north in Vita xTerra.” He took another drink.
She shrugged again. “Never heard of it.”
“It’s in South Dakota. A walled city of underground bunkers. I’ve been there my whole life.”
Her eyebrows shot upward. “Before the asteroid?”
Cam nodded. “In those days, there were only about fifty families of permanent residents. Now we have over five hundred.” He cocked his head. “Do you live alone in this giant house?”
Lissa hesitated. Unsure if she could yet trust him. He was still a stranger. Of course, she was the one with a weapon, and he was injured. What the hell. While she could reinvent herself, she preferred to be honest.
