Page 83 of Montana Heat

“We’re in Wyoming, coming from Montana. We were headed to Florida.”

His voice turned pouty. “I can’t go to Florida. I can’t leave the state.”

“How about if I stop by my cabin north of Denver? You won’t have to violate your parole by meeting us there. We can’t take a chance on anything that will land you back in jail. If seeing her one last time is what you need, we can do that. Closure, like you said.”

“You’re amazing, Jada. That would be perfect. I love that your cabin is in the middle of nowhere.”

Her sigh was much softer this time. “I love that you found it for me to buy.”

“I’m so glad I met you, my queen,” he praised, laying it on thick. “I live for you, Jada. Only you.”

Jada giggled, smiling shyly.

“And you’re my king, handsome man. I love you so much.”

I wanted to gag at all the gooey mush. Jada was eating it all up, and I knew nothing I could say would make her change her mind about what Alan claimed.

I remembered how it felt so long ago before things went sour between us. Early on in our relationship, Alan was extravagant with his affection for me too, but then it quickly sounded so fake, just like it did now.

Nothing at all like Jensen. The man called meCityas his termof affection, for God’s sake. Nothing about him would ever be considered extravagant. But he was so much more real than Alan had ever been. So much more of a man.

Tears stung my eyes. I prayed Jensen was all right. That he’d somehow gotten himself help. I couldn’t stand the thought of anything else.

Promising to see Alan in just a couple of hours, Jada disconnected the call.

“Don’t you worry, Kenzie. It’s all going to work out. You’re so smart and talented that even after the memory-loss drug, you’ll still land on your feet, I’m sure of it. Let’s get Alan his closure, and we’ll all move on with our lives.”

I tuned the other woman out. I wasn’t going to be able to talk any sense into her. She was determined to bring me to the man who’d attacked me so brutally, then take me somewhere and wipe my whole life away.

All in the name of love.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Kenzie

We arrived at Jada’s cabin in the predawn hours. I had no clue what time it actually was, but I knew that my mind and body were giving in to exhaustion.

I’d tried the best I could to make Jada see any sort of reason, but she was convinced that Alan just wanted to give me one last hug goodbye and send me on my way.

I’d tried to tell her about my parents and friends, even about Jensen. Tried to explain to her how much it would hurt them if I just suddenly disappeared—which was what would happen if she went through with this insane memory-drug plan.

Her response just solidified how much of fairy tale she was living in.

“No, don’t think of it that way. Think of it as the perfect solution. That we all get to have our happily ever after.”

Jada was not interested in reality.

“Here we are!” She put the car in park and clapped her hands. “I can’t believe I finally get to see Alan with no guard standing watch over us. I can touch him and hold him as much as I want. That’s not going to be hard for you, right?”

She was talking to me like we were girlfriends. Like I was some awkward third wheel. I didn’t bother to answer.

She rushed around to open the door for me and yank me out of the car when I didn’t move fast enough. She hustled us up the stairs to the small cabin in the middle of nowhere.

The cabin Alan had found for her. I’d thought about that a lot the past few hours. Maybe Jada hadn’t been honest with Alan about what she had planned for me, but I was pretty damn certain he hadn’t been honest about what he’d planned for this place.

But I was sure it included me not leaving here alive.

“He’s just inside,” she reminded me excitedly, almost like a hyper Chihuahua.

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