Page 2 of Montana Heat

Lucas laughed. I loved hearing it. Loved how falling in love with his wife Evelyn, having a kid and another on the way, had brought out so much more laughter in him.

“What I mean—” Lucas shook his head “—is that we’d rather have you here than just have your money. This place may be the answer to that.”

Lucas had already told me the story. The place had been sitting empty for months since the bank reclaimed it after the previous owner did some shady shit and ended up in jail.

Shady shit being almost killing Jude Williams and his woman, Lena.

“It’s an amazing price. Having it back on its feet would help the town, plus the guys and I would know you’re nearby if we need backup for anything.”

I looked around some more. I definitely enjoyed working with my hands. I had a love for taking things apart to see how they worked then putting them back together. Every time I did that, Ifelt complete. A sense of accomplishment. When everything else in the world seemed unknown or prone to change, the fundamental process of fixing something—rebuilding it—calmed me.

It didn’t take a psychological genius to know all that stemmed from growing up in the foster care system.

“If I did it, we would need to completely overhaul the place. Get rid of the bad juju for Lena and Jude. Make it something new.”

“Make it something yours,” he added.

“Yeah. That too.”

“The guys have already been coming up with designs for possible remodels in case you said yes.”

I looked over at my friend, shaking my head. “Pretty confident in your ability to convince me, aren’t you?”

He walked over and slapped me on the shoulder. “Not confident.Hopeful. This is your chance to be part of the Resting Warrior Ranch family, Jensen. You don’t have to live on the property to be one of us. You already are. Everyone feels the same.”

Lucas had been family since the day I’d met him. Now, it looked like that family was about to expand a great deal.

“I’ll do it.”

Chapter One

Kenzie Hurst

Garnet Bend. Population 2518.

I gritted my teeth as I drove by the sign outside the tiny town that was about to become my home.

Temporaryhome.

Temporary. Please, God, please, please, please: temporary.

Because I was a city girl. Hadn’t ever seen the appeal of small communities—no live theater, no Michelin star restaurants, no bustle.

Hell, I was probably the only person on the planet who found Hallmark movies unbearable.

There was always a pumpkin patch or a dog or a run-down bed-and-breakfast that someone’s great-aunt—that sneaky little matchmaker—had left her in the will. And a good ol’ boy who’d lived next door all his life and could help her fix it up.

No shirt. Tight jeans. Tool belt.

Okay, maybe that part wasn’t so bad. I mean, who didn’t like a sexy shirtless guy with a tool belt?

And the bed-and-breakfast part wasn’t so bad either. After all, I was a Realtor, so I could definitely see the appeal of that sort of property.

But the rest of it? Not for me.

And a town so small that it needed to make sure to include theeighteenin the 2,518 population sign?

That felt pretty damn small.

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