Page 38 of Montana Heat

“What color was it?”

“I—I don’t know. I don’t remember a color. It was dark, and I wasn’t focusing on it. I just remember the weird shape now. I’m so stupid not to have focused more on what was around me.”

“Hey.” He reached up and cupped my cheek gently. “None of that talk, City. A sudden attack like that can cause our brains to freeze up. You survived. That’s the most important thing.”

I leaned into his hand. “Thank you.”

“I’m going to call Charlie and Jude and fill them in on this. It’s a long shot, but El Caminos are relatively rare compared to other makes and models. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

I hoped so. But between this and the horn that had freaked me out so badly this morning, I wasn’t feeling very lucky at all.

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly, but I kept busy plugging away at the website and socials to keep myself distracted from any more thoughts of stalkers and attacks.

When I was done, Jensen was going to have a stellar online presence. It would be easy for him or Susanna to do the upkeep once it was all established.

And heck, it might be a reason for Jensen and me to keep in touch after I left Garnet Bend. But I wasn’t going to think about that now. I was already still pretty shaken by all of today’s triggers.

By the end of the day, when Jensen told me he’d take me home, I was having difficulty keeping my anxiety at bay. Being at the garage all day with him and Susanna had given me a sense of security, but I didn’t look forward to going back to the apartment and being alone.

Where else could I go, though? I didn’t have any friends to hang out with, and I wasn’t going to venture around town by myself. Not that I had a car anyway.

I didn’t mention any of that to Jensen, though. He was not my babysitter, despite having comforted me earlier.

“I’ve got an idea,” he said out of the blue, breaking the silence on the ride to my apartment.

“I’m all ears.” Literally. If it meant not being alone, I was up for it.

“Would you like to come to family dinner?”

I blinked, surprised by his offer. “Your family?” Everything he’d told me about himself had suggested he didn’t have any family.

“Sort of. Out at Resting Warrior. Whoever’s around gets together weekly to hang out and catch up. Just spend time together as a family.”

A slow smile spread across my face, and I was warmed by his thoughtfulness and consideration for my situation. I was so glad to have somewhere to go where I wouldn’t be alone.

And spending more time with Jensen would be a bonus I didn’t want to pass up.

“Are you sure no one would mind? I don’t want to intrude as a stranger.”

“They won’t mind at all, but I can call and ask, if it would make you feel better about coming.”

I glanced at him then took a risk by reaching for his free hand and giving it a quick squeeze. “If you’re sure it won’t be a problem, I’d love to come. Truthfully, I wasn’t really looking forward to going home to an empty apartment. So, thank you for saving me from that.”

Jensen squeezed my hand back in return. “You’d actually be saving me. I’m the lone bachelor hanging out with a roomful of happy couples. For once, I won’t be flying solo.”

Chapter Eleven

Kenzie

I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping when Jensen drove through the gate at Resting Warrior Ranch. It was massive and intimidating. The guys here certainly took their security seriously. I could definitely appreciate that, and I felt calmer being here already, given the added protection.

Just to appease me, Jensen had called Lucas and put the phone on speaker when he asked if they’d mind if I tagged along. Not only did Lucas agree, I could hear several women yelling in the background for me to come. I couldn’t help but smile at the friendly acceptance I was receiving from relative strangers.

The ranch itself was stunning. The main lodge was huge, with a couple of barns positioned off to the side, surrounded by horse pens and walkways that branched off in several directions. A large, two-story newer structure was set back farther from the lodge in the distance.

I could hear a variety of animal noises from several directions, and I spied rooftops in the distance through the trees, which had to be homes. My Realtor eye also couldn’t help but notice the landscaping and added plants and flower beds scattered around and the big garden off to the side. They had really put a lot of timeand effort into making this place something beautiful, functional, and homey all at the same time.

The people who came here to help recover from PTSD must immediately find it calming. Just looking around as we walked to the door, I knew I did.

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