Chapter Four

Sophie

I giggled. I couldn’t help it. I felt a little mean when I saw his shoulders sink, but I also felt wildly powerful at the same time. Spending time around men was rare for me. Having one of them respond and act insecure felt awesome.

“Not often enough,” I admitted as I glanced around, trying to see the place from his perspective. “This is my backup plan. The condo is all about convenience. This is about function and comfort. Just in case.” I stood up and walked over to the fridge. “Thirsty?” As I opened the door, I couldn’t help but notice his eyes bulge slightly.

“How do you have so much food and not live here?” He shook his head.

“It’s all shelf-stable stuff. When I want something fresh, I have to go to the garden or the grocery store.” I opened the door to the pantry as further explanation. “See?” He came closer. I could feel his warmth as he passed by me and stood inside. It was a decent-size space, with shelves from floor to ceiling and everything carefully packaged and labeled.

“You could survive cut off from the rest of the world for weeks!” He smiled when he faced me again.

I bit my lip as I considered how honest I wanted to be. With a sigh, I gave into impulse and shared everything. “More like three months. At least.” I closed the door. “Of course now, it looks like I need to order food and be ready to stay longer.” I stared out the kitchen window. We were having one of those glorious fall days where the temperatures were in the low seventies, and the sky was a clear blue. Despite all the phobias that plagued me, I couldn’t help but feel happy to be alive. “Come out back with me?” I didn’t wait for his answer but instead walked to the back patio door off the study and let myself onto the back deck.

Seconds later, I heard the sound of his shoes on the wood behind me. “It’s beautiful here. I love the water,” Cameron commented quietly.

“It’s so relaxing. I should come more often, but I can’t bear to. I don’t know why I bought the land and built this place.” I sighed. It was a lie. I knew why I did it, but I’d never admit it to a stranger.

Back in seventh grade, a solid year before my life changed forever, I had been paired with P. J. for a project in health class where we were supposed to be married and work out our living expenses. C. J. had been in the class too, partnered with Katie. Though I’d wanted to switch, she’d refused. Aside from still being slightly bitter about that, what I remembered most about it was their argument about housing. While Katie had been determined to live in a fancy condo uptown, C. J. had wanted nothing more than a Craftsman cottage on the lake. The passionate way he’d described it had me dreaming of it too. I had pictured us living out our future together in such a home.

By the time I’d built this place, I’d opted for one bedroom instead of three, although the upstairs was unfinished and could be converted however I wanted. While I’d resigned myself to a life of solitude, the decision for more space was simply practical for resale, much like the sparsely furnished walkout basement.

“I noticed you have solar panels,” Cameron commented absently.

“Uh-huh. I could probably live off the grid. As it is now, my electric bill for the place is essentially nothing.” I watched him for a reaction and frowned when I discovered I couldn’t quite read him. “What?” It frustrated and annoyed me.

“You’re amazing.” He gestured around the property. “This place is incredible. It’s like you thought of everything. This is definitely my dream home.”

His compliments perked me right up. “Wanna see the rest?” I knew my eyes sparkled as I spoke. I was so excited, I practically glowing. I couldn’t help it. After years of having no one to share anything with, I really was proud of what I’d accomplished, and having Cameron to show it off to made this all the sweeter.

“Now, I’ve tried to prepare for every possible scenario, but I could’ve missed something. If you notice a potential problem, maybe you can offer some suggestions, especially if you don’t think I’m safe enough?” I watched as he nodded. Then for some reason, I grabbed his hand and gave him a tug to follow me. My act startled both of us. I jumped and mumbled an apology before releasing him and folding my arms across my middle while moving around the wraparound deck on the way to the garage.

Cameron

 

“I’m not sure what to expect,” I mumbled as we neared the building. “So far, every bit of this has been a surprise.” Already I could see the garage didn’t seem normal, not even for a three-car.

“Well, I tried to plan for every eventuality,” Sophie explained.

“How about zombie apocalypse?” I teased.

She shuddered. “I’m scared of zombies,” she admitted quietly.

I laughed. “Everyone is scared of zombies, kitten. That’s why all the new TV shows and movies have them. Vampires and werewolves have now been sexualized, so they’re not remotely scary.” I shrugged, hoping my explanation had appeased her.

“I suppose . . .” Sophie seemed to study me. “What are you afraid of?”

I inhaled sharply. “Nothing. I was a marine. Maybe I failed to mention that earlier?” I winked.

Her shoulders drooped slightly, her disappointment obvious. “OK, then.”

We had reached the garage, and she used the keys she’d had tucked into her scrubs pants to unlock the side door. Once inside, she hit the switch, and light flooded the room.

“Wow. I feel like I keep saying that, but I mean it every time.” I let out a low whistle as I wandered around the interior of the building. “You have a spare vehicle?” I scanned the room and realized she also had a golf cart, a couple of bicycles, and a trailer for a boat, which made me glance around. “I don’t remember seeing a boat . . .”

Sophie shrugged. “I have one. I’ll show you after this. As for the spare vehicle, if something happens to this one . . .”

“Well, it’s not good for this one to sit idle all the time.” I frowned as I worried over her wasting money.

She blew out a breath, and her hands fisted at her sides. “Well, I have a caretaker. He comes and mows the lawn. He starts my vehicle. His wife cleans my house. They care for my garden.” Sophie threw her hands in the air. “Hell, if I’d have given them notice I was coming, they’d have bought groceries and probably made me dinner.” I must not have looked appeased enough because she soon continued. “I also force myself to come here every month to trade out the SUVs. I want them to wear evenly.”

I frowned. “I was under the impression you don’t get out much.”

“I don’t, which means they’re still wearing evenly.” She chuckled, then grabbed at her stomach. “Let’s hurry this tour up. I’m getting hungry.”

I nodded, but I couldn’t help but feel the distance between us growing. “What’d I say, Soph? How did I upset you?” I wanted to pull her into my arms. I reached out to her, but she merely moved farther from me. With a sigh, I dropped my hands and stuffed them into my pockets, hoping to remove some of the temptation. We wandered through a back door in the garage, and my eyes widened. “You have a huge greenhouse. Holy crap.” I walked down the rows and realized how much food she had to be producing. “Where do you put it all?”

“I can stuff. You know . . . seal it in jars for later use?” She motioned for me to follow her. Soon we were walking briskly toward the back of the house. This time, we walked on the lawn. When we rounded the corner, she stopped and let me take in the house.

“A walkout basement.” I shook my head in wonder. “I love it.” I glanced around. “I’m rather surprised you don’t have any outdoor seating. I’d enjoy the opportunity to watch the sun rise and set over the lake.”

“Pollen,” Sophie mumbled.

I nodded. “Oh, you have allergies?”

She licked her lips. “I’m not sure. Oh. But there are obviously bugs and spiders. Plus, the caretaker found a huge skin, so definitely a snake.” She shivered. “All things I try to avoid.”

“Yeah. I can understand that.” My brow furrowed as I studied her.

Sophie seemed suddenly quiet. “Let’s look at my canning stock.” She forced a laugh as she unlocked, then opened the French door.

Once inside, I realized the main room had little furniture. Just a couch, a side table topped with a lamp, and an area rug. There was another television over the fireplace. Two doors stood open on the far wall. The first was to a three-quarter bath. The shower looked as though it had never been used. The next room held walls and walls of jars. I studied the labels. “Salsa, spaghetti sauce, dilly beans, pickles, green beans, wax beans, Italian green beans.” I turned and found shelves of dehydrated food as well. “This is . . . I’m shocked.”

“And I’m stocked.” She shrugged at the attempt at a joke, but I could see the tension in her eyes. “Can we go now, please?”

I took a wild guess as I crossed my arms over my chest and studied her. “Do you come down here often?”

“Not really,” she murmured evasively.

“Scared of basements?” My head tilted.

“A little.” Sophie glanced at me and interrupted right as she sensed I was about to speak. “Yes, even with the wall of windows and the door. I get it. I’m a freak. Let me know when you’re ready to leave.” She blew past me and stood outside on the cement pad, tapping her foot while she waited for me to exit through the door.

“You’re not a freak, kitten,” I began gently. “I just wonder what happened to you, why you’re so scared. No one should live with so much fear.”

Her eyes teared up. “The boat. You mentioned you hadn’t noticed the boat.” She stumbled down the sidewalk while swiping at her eyes.

“We don’t have to do this now,” I murmured. “You’re upset. I made you cry.”

She released a hollow laugh. “It’s not like you’re the first guy to make me cry, Cameron.”

“Dammit, Sophie. Just talk to me.” I held out my hands, pleading with her, but she wouldn’t even turn to look at me. Again, I found myself struggling to not touch her. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out. I’d waited entirely too long for this time with her, and I refused to blow it already. I stopped on the sidewalk, which seemed to lead to the water. Bending over some, bracing my hands on my thighs, I worked to fill my lungs with air. This always helped me balance out my emotions.

Eventually, Sophie noticed I wasn’t behind her. “Are you OK?” She rushed toward me, eyes wide with fear.

“I lied to you earlier, kitten.” I could feel the tips of my ears grow warm.

She bit her lip a moment before speaking. “You did?”

I nodded. “You’re not the only one who has fears. Some of us just manage them differently than others.”