Page 51 of Montana Heat

For the rest of the drive and then the walk into my apartment, we didn’t talk, just enjoyed the silence of being in each other’s company. I decided not to bring up anything to do with the stalker, hoping she would take a break and just relax.If she wanted to discuss it at all, I’d listen to her and talk it through, but I truly hoped she’d take the break she desperately needed.

Kenzie stood in the kitchen with me while I worked on my signature steak fajitas. We chatted vaguely about the kinds of foods we liked, and I wasn’t surprised that she had an adventurous palate. In Denver, I was sure she had more avenues of exploration with different food varieties.

Here in Garnet Bend, if Clive didn’t fix it or you couldn’t cook it yourself, you probably weren’t going to be eating it. It had never bothered me, but I could see how that would be a deterrent for someone like Kenzie.

But my job wasn’t to sell her on a permanent life in a small town. My job was…

Hell if I knew what my job actually was in this situation. Be her friend? Help keep her safe? Provide support?

I was happy to do all of the above. But sitting in my kitchen playfully arguing about the merits and detriments of ordering sushi in a land-locked state like Colorado made me wish I didn’t have to be those things. That she could be here with me under different circumstances that centered around our attraction.

Afterward, we washed the dishes together. I knew I should offer to drive her home. It was late, and we were both tired. But I just couldn’t seem to force the words out.

“Would you like to sit out on the balcony for a few minutes?” I tipped my head toward the sliding glass doors that led outside. “It’s a mild night, and the stars are pretty spectacular here.”

“Sure.” She smiled. “I don’t think I could sleep right now anyway.”

Living on the second floor granted me a nice, private wooden balcony. It was spacious, too. Plenty of room, even with two chairs and an outdoor love seat. I wasn’t sure why I had so much furniture out here. I’d never had enough guests to fill all the seats.

“Holy crap, look at the sky!”

I had to smile as she craned her neck up to take it all in.

“We may not have sushi here in Garnet Bend, but we have other stuff that makes up for it.”

“You sure as hell do. I can’t see anything like this in Denver.”

“Yeah, it’s like that near any big city. Too much light pollution.”

I sat down on the love seat and couldn’t hold back my pleasure when she sat down next to me rather than in one of the other chairs. Once again, she curled against my side, but this time, we were watching the Montana sky rather than the television.

I’d take that any day. But hell, I’d sit and watch a brick wall if it meant I could have Kenzie pressed up against me.

We watched the sky for a long time. I pointed out as manyconstellations and planets as I could, and we even researched a couple on my phone.

Eventually, our talking died down, and we just sat there in silence, our heads resting against the love seat’s back. She let out a weary sigh. It had been a long, hard day for her.

I wrapped my arm around her. “Let’s get you home so you can get some sleep.”

“I don’t want to go home.”

“Okay, no problem. Just let me get my stuff ready for the couch so you can bunk in my room.”

She tilted her head back against my arm so she was looking up at me. “I don’t want that either.”

She reached out, grabbing the front of my shirt and pulling me to her, kissing me.

“I don’t want sleep, Jensen. I want you,” she whispered against my lips.

I didn’t want to take advantage of her, but I wasn’t a saint. If she wanted this too, then I definitely didn’t have the restraint to fight both of our desires.

The last time we’d kissed, I’d wanted to make sure she understood I had no intention of taking things further. This kiss was the opposite.

I tugged her close and pushed my tongue into her mouth to taste her sweetness. I cupped her face so I could keep her exactly where I wanted her, savoring her lips. I worked my way across her jaw to her neck.

I couldn’t get enough. I found myself pulling her into my lap. Her sexy mewl as I pressed up against her drove me higher. If I wasn’t careful, this was going to be over before it began.

“Can we take this inside?” she asked before pressing her lips back to mine in another drugging kiss. She slid her hand between our bodies, wrapping around me through my clothes.

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