Page 55 of Montana Heat

Still… “Actually, that’s not quite true.” I poked him in the chest. “Istayed here before.”

He threw back his head and laughed. God, how I loved the sound. He didn’t do it nearly often enough. “That doesn’t count since you slept here alone.”

“Either way, we have to go into work eventually.”

He gave me the most adorable pout, and we finished breakfast in an easy silence. I was glad we could tease and be comfortable with each other this morning. I wanted it again tomorrow morning.

And maybe every morning after that.

I nearly choked on the bite of my amorphous pancake at my thought.Everymorning? That wasn’t in the cards.

“I have to go home and change, though,” I insisted after we got dressed and carried the breakfast dishes back into the kitchen. We’d taken a shower together, but I still needed to change. “You know Jude is going to want me to come look at the rest of those photos. I can’t be wearing the same clothes as yesterday. The Resting Warrior guys are too observant. They would notice.”

“Trying to hide me?”

“No. I mean…” I furrowed my brow as I tugged on my shoes. It wasn’t like I was embarrassed at being with Jensen at all. The opposite, in fact. “I just mean…”

He grabbed me and pulled me to him, smiling slowly. “I’monly kidding, City. I don’t mind taking you home so you can change.” We left his apartment, hand in hand. “But come straight to the garage after, okay?”

He’d returned my car to me yesterday after installing the parts that had arrived. He’d also installed a tracker and a dash camera so we’d know if anyone tried to tamper with the car again.

I gave him a goofy kiss goodbye when he dropped me off, and I headed inside to change so I could get to the garage as soon as possible. I wanted to hurry back to him as fast as I could.

“Hurry back?” I asked myself as I entered the foyer. I wasn’t clingy by nature, but I was already missing Jensen.

Last night had been amazing. I couldn’t keep a smile off my face even if I tried. I threw my purse down on the kitchen table and kicked off my shoes. I didn’t want to waste any time not being with Jensen—no matter how unreasonable that was in the long run—so I hurried to change.

Who would’ve thought that I would ever be in a hurry to get back to a garage where I was working on someone else’s online presence? And that I would love it so.

Yeah, this town was growing on me.

I got dressed, shaking my head at myself as I took more care than usual, choosing the jeans that particularly complimented my…assets and a dark blazer that I knew was both attractive and casual.

I went into the bathroom and closed the door to check what necklace I wanted to wear. My apartment had a nice pair of hooks on the back of the bathroom door, and I’d used them to drape my jewelry organizers.

With this top, all I needed was a simple chain to draw attention to my?—

I stilled, my fingers reaching for a thin silver necklace. What had I just heard? I wasn’t shaking and rustling my jewelry around. I strained to listen, but there was just silence. Rolling myeyes at my overzealous imagination, I turned back to select a necklace.

But a distinct jingling sound came again.

“What the…” I narrowed my eyes, realizing the sound came from behind me.

Was there a problem in a pipe somewhere? I hoped I wasn’t about to have some sort of leak. That was the last thing I needed. I left the necklaces alone and turned toward the bathtub. The sound was definitely coming from there.

As I slid back the plastic curtain on the rungs, I found the source of the noise.

A snake.

Arattlesnake.

I froze in sheer terror.

It sat coiled in the tub, its head up and bobbing like it was testing the air. A thin tongue speared out before slithering back in. The snake did it again. The rattling increased.

Oh no.

It shook its tail as I took a step back. One foot, then another. Fear suddenly gave way, and adrenaline kicked in. Fight or flight…I wasflighting. I spun to run to the door, holding my breath.

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