Page 32 of Montana Heat

She sat up straighter in her chair, her eyes darting around like she was thinking hard. “Really?”

“I sort of think it would help us both out. Me getting my business off the ground, and you having something to do. Plus, you could do it at the garage, so that means less manpower needed to watch your apartment.”

“I’ve already got cabin fever just from being stuck there for a couple days.” She winced. “Do you think Charlie will approve of this?”

“He said someone should be with you at all times. And as long as you’re not on your own social media, I don’t think there’s any harm. But we’ll run it by him.”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh, I love this idea!”

I couldn’t stop my own smile as I finished the last bite of my burger. “I will pay you. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“How about a small percentage of sales? That way, it’s nothing out of your pocket, plus more incentive for me to do my best work.”

“Somehow I don’t think you ever do anything less than your best work.”

She flushed a little and looked up at me shyly. “I try to give my best at everything. I do think that’s part of the reason my seminars are so successful.”

“Because people recognize your authenticity,” I finished for her. I wasn’t surprised.

“I was going to say my enthusiasm. But hopefully I’m authentic too.”

“You’re both. And now I get your skills to help me launch my passion project.”

We talked details as we finished dinner, and I paid for our meals. I got her out to my truck and drove her the short distance to her apartment.

“You don’t need to come up,” she started. “Stay in the warm truck. I’m sure?—”

I looked over at her with one eyebrow raised. “Do you know how many times I heard you tell that story where you came home by yourself and found blood on your walls? We are not taking a chance on something like that happening.”

She let out a little sigh of relief. “Okay. If you don’t mind, itwould be great if you came up. I try not to get in my own head, but I have to admit, opening a front door is still a little traumatic for me. I’m always afraid of what I might find. That’s ridiculous, I know.”

“Not ridiculous at all. Back when I lived with my bio parents, I never knew what state they’d be in when I got home from school. It was always stressful. It takes a while to move past that.”

I jumped out of the truck and rushed around so I could open her door for her. I helped her down—glad she was wearing boots today instead of her high heels—and we made our way up to her apartment.

It didn’t take long for me to establish that everything was clear inside. The unit wasn’t big enough to have many places for someone to hide.

I turned to Kenzie. “Okay, looks like you’re all good. Nothing to worry about here except for how to use social media to promote woodworking.”

“I’m actually really looking forward to that.”

“Me too. I’ll see you in the morning, City.” I gave her a smile and nearly bolted out the door. If I didn’t, I was going to do something epically stupid like try to kiss her.

Opposites. We were opposites. I couldn’t forget that.

And I definitely couldn’t focus on the fact that opposites attracted.

Because every second I spent with her was proving that more true.

Chapter Nine

Kenzie

“Wait, you’re going to work for this mechanic and not get paid?”

I smiled and rolled my eyes at my mother’s practical nature as I rinsed my breakfast plate in the sink, getting ready for Jensen to pick me up in a few minutes. I’d called her this morning to give her an update and help keep her from falling to pieces about not knowing exactly where I was.

I hadn’t wanted to tell her about the trouble Jensen had found in my car—that would just make her worry more. But talking about creating a landing page and social media for the garage and his woodworking had felt pretty safe. Especially since I was so doggone excited about doing it.

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