I blush at his unexpected compliment.
He clears his throat. “Needless to say, the guys were all happy you decided to stay.” I don’t look up. “Plus, you give York shit, and that’s just plain fun to watch.”
“Am I the only vic—”I hate that word, “person like me here? Are there others?”
“Just you for now.”
I nod, thinking about what he said. The clouds start rolling in around us. It is a spectacular show. So many different shades of gray change the color of the lake. I wrap my arms around my middle, feeling my mood shift again.
“He makes me nervous,” I confess.
He peers down at me. “Who?”
“York.”
“Does he?”
I nod.
“Savannah, look at me, please.”
I peel my gaze off the floor and meet his stare.
“If he does or says anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, you tell me right away, okay?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” I shake my head. I feel stupid even saying anything.
“Regardless, you tell me. You tell me if anyone here makes you uncomfortable.”
A loud clap of thunder makes me jump, nearly spilling my coffee. I set it down on the table and pull the blanket over me. I bring my knees to my chest, something I’ve done to protect myself since I learned to fear that terrible click of the key in the lock. The rain comes down like someone turned on a faucet full blast. We both shift toward the middle of the swing, getting out of the way of the splatter. His arm rests behind me and he turns into me, almost like he is shielding me. It must be second nature for him. Although it is a small action, it makes a bubble of warmth grow inside me.Huh.
“Can you see them?” I peer into the trees and force the feeling aside.
“I can because I know where to look. That, and I’m trained to sense their movements.”
“So, the whole time you’ve been sitting here, you can feel them around us?”
He nods, looking off to my right and pointing into a thick wooded area. “One there.”
I squint but can’t see anything.
“There.” He motions to the right a bit with his head. “Two down by the beach.”
“Are you playing me?” I ask with a skeptical look.
He smiles and pulls out a small radio and switches the channel. “Beta Seven, come into the clearing.” Sure enough, a man off to my right, exactly where Logan first pointed, dressed in camouflage, comes walking out. “Back to post.” The man turns and disappears into the woods.
“I stand corrected,” I say through trembling lips. It is starting to grow very cold.
He stands, offering his hand. “Come, let’s get you inside. You’re freezing.”
After a hot shower and some dry clothes, I head down to the living room to my favorite spot in front of the fire. Before I can even sit down, Scoot appears out of nowhere, pouncing on my lap. He walks himself around my waist under my open sweater—apparently, he is cold, or maybe he is marking me with his scent. Either way, it tickles and makes me laugh.
“Now, that’s a sweet sound.” Logan grins, sitting on the couch across from me. He has changed into a pair of jeans and a black long-sleeve shirt. He looks his age. Thirty-something? His shirt shows off how fit he is. No doubt. These guys always seem to be training for something.
“Feels kind of nice,” I admit but don’t make eye contact. Scoot hears Logan’s voice and pops his head out by my side. The little bugger made my pink tank top white along the bottom. “Hey,” I pat his head, “I thought we had a truce about the fur.” He looks up at me and meows. A bright light fills the room, followed by a crack of thunder that shakes the windows. The rain beats hard against the glass, and Scoot runs and hides under a chair. I want to do the same. I stand up, feeling uneasy. It is growing dark even though it is only two in the afternoon. I look out at the woods and think about the men out there. “This place is being monitored by cameras, right?”
“Yes,” Logan comes and stands behind me, “twenty-four seven.”