Page 25 of Montana Heat

“What about it?” I licked my lips, proud that my anxiety didn’t reflect in my voice.

“There’s a cabin beyond it. I’ve been fixing it up in my spare time. Aside from the garage, I also do woodcarvings and have been getting into light carpentry, thanks to my friends at Resting Warrior. Hopefully someday in the near future, I’ll have it fixed up.”

I exhaled a long breath. “That sounds nice.”

“I took the long way around town so I could show it to you. I don’t want you to think I’m about to kidnap you or something.”

I laughed, trying my best to make it light, but I had no clue if I succeeded. He could have no idea how close to the truth his statement was. I hated that I was paranoid all the time, that I automatically distrusted.

“I’d love to see some of your woodcarvings sometime,” I finally said.

He nodded. “I’d like to show them to you.”

I glanced at him with a small smile. “So, Resting Warrior. Both Susanna and Chief Garcia mentioned it to me. The owners are friends of yours?”

“Lucas and I go way back—he’s like a brother to me. After high school, he went into the Navy and worked his ass off to become a SEAL, and I went into private security.”

Private security. Interesting. “How’d you end up as a mechanic?”

“The right opportunity came around about a year ago. I’d always been good with engines. Good with anything with my hands.”

I glanced at his big hands on the steering wheel. Manly hands—strong and callused from hard work.

They were sexy. I had no doubt he was good with them inallways.

If I said that out loud, I was going to shoot myself.

“And you like being a mechanic?”

“Yeah. Although the woodworking keeps me busier these days. But mostly, I like being here near Resting Warrior. Supporting something important.”

I wanted to ask more questions, but we pulled up at the garage. Jensen led me straight to my car.

“You said it’s complicated,” I reminded him, feeling the need to brace myself. But for what, I wasn’t yet sure.

He nodded. The troubled look on his face bothered me, like maybe I wasn’t ever getting my car back again.

“So, what are we talking about? A longer wait for parts or a longer time to fix everything?” Nervousness made my words come out too rapidly. “I’ll be here for a little while, so I can be patient.”

He shook his head. “I wish that was it. I am, in fact, waiting on a couple things, but that’s not the real problem.”

“Okay, hit me with it.”

He let out a sigh. “Look, I want you to know that I talked to Charlie yesterday. Actually, he came out and talked to the whole Resting Warrior team. He told us about your stalker.”

Damn it. I really hadn’t wanted Charlie to do that. “Why? Because of the social media message a few nights ago? It wasn’t necessary for him to go running to you guys.”

“He didn’t come running to us. I called him.”

I didn’t understand. “Why?”

“Because when I was fixing your car, I found significant evidence that someone had tampered with your vehicle.”

My anger disappeared, and ice started to form in my belly. I rubbed at it with my fist to try to ease the ache there. “Tampered?”

“Watered down your fuel, messed with the fuel gauge so it wouldn’t register when your tank was low, loosened lug nuts onyour tires—you would’ve eventually lost one, probably mid-drive. If that happened on a highway, it could be incredibly dangerous. Messed with your brakes.”

“The stalker.”

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