Page 45 of Montana Heat

“Occupational hazard. You’re probably the same way with cars.”

She stood behind me as I opened the door and stepped inside, not just for safety purposes but for me to give it a once-over and make sure I hadn’t left any underwear in the middle of the floor.

Thankfully, nothing embarrassing. My place was clean and minimalistic in design. Just the way I liked it.

She came in and looked around. I wondered what it looked like through her eyes. The Realtor’s eyes. Thewoman’seyes.

I had a few photos of myself and my adoptive family and a couple of nature prints I’d gotten from Grace Young, one of the Resting Warrior guys’ wives. She and Harlan lived on a ranch property a little way away from Resting Warrior. At a family dinner at their place, I’d noticed some paintings sitting around and asked about them, and I was surprised to find out how good of an artist she was.

Lena was always threatening to take some of Grace’s paintings to a gallery and see if she could find her an agent. But Grace wouldn’t hear of it. She did it for pleasure; she didn’t want money. But I hadn’t wanted to just take them for free, so she and I had worked out a trade: paintings for automotive care.

Kenzie was still looking around. She hadn’t said much. I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad sign.

“You can have the bed. I’ll take the couch.”

“I don’t mind the couch.”

I shook my head. After what she’d been through today, she deserved to be able to sleep in a bed. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d slept on a couch. Hell, I’d spent half my childhood sleeping on the floor.

“No, I insist. You take the bed.”

The fact that she didn’t argue was testament to how worn down she was. She just nodded.

“I’ve got some spare bathroom things here.” I pointed at the basic essentials like a toothbrush and toothpaste in the bathroom. The guys had had extras from a camping trip, and somehow they had gotten stashed here.

I stopped at the linen closet and pulled out a couple of clean towels.

She clutched them to herself like a lifeline. “Thank you.”

I nodded, trying hard to ignore the warmth from her soft hand on my wrist.

“Anything else you need?” Being a host was an alien concept for me. I rarely asked anyone over, definitely not a woman. My one-night stands weren’t frequent, and when they did happen, I went over to their places. I didn’t want people here.

Yet, with Kenzie, I hadn’t even hesitated.

“I’m good, really. I just appreciate your letting me stay.” She gave my wrist a brief squeeze before releasing me.

“Oh.” I gave her a quick once-over, realizing she probably wouldn’t want to sleep in her jeans and blouse.

I motioned for her to follow me to the dresser, where I chose the smallest T-shirt I had. The gym shorts I picked up next would drop from her waist, but the drawstrings could help secure them if she rolled up the waistband. “These may be more comfortable.”

Her smile was so sweet, it was all I could do not to pull her into my arms. Standing in my bedroom with her felt risky enough. But tonight was not about any sort of attraction. It was about helping her know she wasn’t alone.

“Thanks, Jensen. This means a lot to me.”

“If you need anything, let me know, okay?” I grabbed a shirt and sweats for myself before leaving the room.

“I will,” she said softly as I closed the door behind me. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

I stood there at the door for a moment, staring at the panel of wood.

All through brushing my teeth in the bathroom and changing, I shoved back thoughts of her. I refused to envision her changing. I tried my best not to think about the image of her sliding under my covers and laying her head on my pillows.

Of what she looked like wearing my clothes.

I settled onto the couch with a spare blanket and pillow and prayed for sleep. I was wide awake, though, taunted by the idea of her so close, just on the other side of the wall and in my bed. I tried to walk through projects at the garage. Parts that were on order and vehicles that would be coming in for service.

---