Page 52 of Gunnar

I back out of the kitchen.

By the time I reach the rear porch again, I can hear the steady scrape of the knife.

I decide not to think about that too closely.

Instead, I follow the narrow path that curves around the edge of the clearing. At last, I come to a smaller outbuilding tucked against the trees.

And right there⁠—

Gunnar.

He’s crouched beside a hulking metal casing, working on something that looks like a car engine.

Shirtless.

For a moment, I forget why I’m here.

Sweat glistens down the valley of his spine, and his massive shoulders flex as he works a wrench.

His muscles bunch with each turn, like something wild barely contained beneath the surface. The tendons in his forearms stand rigid, veins visible beneath tanned skin.

The wrench slips with a sharp clink.

He mutters under his breath and shifts his grip, planting one hand against the metal casing. The motion pulls his jeans lower on his hips, revealing the dimples at the base of his spine.

My mouth goes dry.

He gives the wrench another steady pull, muscles rippling, and my stomach flips before my brain catches up with what I’m doing.

Which is standing here.

Gawking at him.

Then Gunnar says, calmly,

“You need something, Alexandria?”

I jump. “Oh⁠—!”

He twists the wrench once more before setting it down. Only then does he straighten.

When he turns, the full effect of all that muscle shifts from back to chest.

Holy crap.

Gigantic pecs carved from granite. A ladder of rippling abs. Two sharp V-cuts of muscle disappearing beneath the waistband of his jeans—heat floods my core, and I drag my eyes back up again.

“I was looking for the washing machine,” I say.

Gunnar straightens from the generator, wiping his hands on a rag. A streak of grease runs down one arm.

“In the shed,” he says, nodding toward the small outbuilding behind him.

“It works?”

“It will when I’m done here.”

“Great, I’ll go grab my stuff.” I jerk a thumb over my shoulder, and I’m already darting away. I go around and use the front door to avoid whatever massacre is happening on the kitchen table.