Page 54 of Gunnar

My brain shuts down completely.

“Excuse me.”

“Huh?” Oh—I’m in the way. I jump aside and immediately knock into a broom leaning against the wall. It hits the floor with a loud clatter.

“Steady.” His lips quirk as he retrieves it and props it back against the wall.

He adds detergent and turns the dial.

Nothing.

He glances at it. “Give me a minute.”

He steps back to the generator.

A second later, the wrench again.

Then the machine kicks into life, the drum rolling into a slow, heavy churn.

“Forty minutes,” he calls.

“Right.” I check the time.

Gunnar goes back to the generator, and I take the opportunity to leave.

I’m not going to think about that again.

The only thing that would’ve been worse is if I’d made a joke about dropping my panties in front of him.

12

Gunnar

Forty minutes.

My beast is ticking them off as I finish up with the generator. The small light on the panel is steady, and the low, reassuring rumble fills the shed.

I let out a long breath.

It’s ancient, but in good working order; it just needed servicing.

Forty minutes until Alexandria comes back and I get to see those cherry-colored panties again.

I tighten the last bolt and straighten up, wiping my hands on a rag.

Now there’ll be power for the lights, the fridge, whatever else Alexandria needs. After that I’ll see about getting the power lines reconnected again. Get the place running like it should.

I put away my tools, then head toward the house to see if the lights are working.

I push through the back door into the utility room.

And stop dead.

Because the air reeks of fresh blood.

Entrails. An opened carcass.

And there’s only one possible reason for that.