Page 46 of Montana Heat

I even started running through my custom woodcarving orders. I had several jewelry boxes, a few animals, and a set of chimes to work on next week. I was excited about trying my hand at more complex pieces like a rocking chair or end tables sometime in the near future. That would be a challenge I hadn’t tackled yet.

None of that made me sleepy.

Thinking about work got me wondering about that damn El Camino, and I had to force myself to stop going down that path. If I started thinking about the stalker, I’d never be relaxed enough to rest.

And while I would take all of this off Kenzie’s plate in a second if I could, I had to admit it’d been nice as hell to have her with me at family dinner tonight.

Even though I enjoyed going to family dinners at my friends’ homes, sometimes I avoided them. It was a lot, seeing all the love and experiencing the laughter and the closeness when I was alone.

I’d always been content with my bachelorhood. But sometimes, in my more vulnerable moments, being around my friends and their women had me longing for something more.

Not to mention, being with them reinforced that I was not agreat conversationalist and tended to be antisocial. Mumbling one-word answers was sometimes the most I could do. I was well aware that I was never going to be the life of the party. I worried that it wore on my friends.

I hated that I felt that way. Lucas was like a brother to me—and the others too, by extension. They’d proven over and over that I didn’t need to change, that they accepted me the way I was. And I appreciated that more than they would ever know.

But watching Kenzie with my friends… She fit in like she’d always belonged. I envied her ease of conversation and general enjoyment of being around them. It felt good being with her there, like she was my partner—balancing out my taciturnity.

I’d never really believed in opposites-attract stuff, but I had to admit that?—

The bedroom door opened, cutting into my thoughts. “Kenzie?”

Her footsteps were light and quiet as she walked into the living room. “Are you awake?”

“No,” I replied wryly.

She giggled.

“How come you’re up?” I asked.

“I can’t sleep.” She stepped closer to the couch, hugging her arms around her waist.

And there it was. Her in my clothes. I couldn’t stop staring. Maybe it was just a T-shirt and shorts, but they looked way sexier on her than they ever had on me.

“Why are you up?” she asked, dragging my focus back to the conversation.

“Same. Couldn’t seem to get my eyes to close or brain to turn off.” I rubbed my hand over my face. “What do you do when you can’t sleep?”

“Think about work—properties or clients I’m representing. Or redecorate my house in my mind. Or stage my dream home.”

I laughed. “I was thinking about work stuff too.”

“Or sometimes…” She trailed off, biting her lip.

I cleared my throat, wishing I could lick away the bite she was giving herself while standing there in my clothes. “Sometimes, what?”

“Or I watch old reruns ofHouse Hunters Internationaluntil my eyes get tired.”

I laughed. “Still pretty work-related.”

I was beginning to see how much of a hardship not having her work was for her. Most people might enjoy a period of forced vacation, but it was a stressor for Kenzie. No wonder she’d jumped at helping out with my social media and website stuff. It wasn’t her career, but at least it kept her busy.

“Yeah, I can be a workaholic.”

“Well, watching television is definitely a part of your job I can help you with.” I patted the couch and scooted aside to make room for her. She came close and sat while I turned on the TV and found her show.

It wasn’t one that I tended to seek out. I didn’t travel a lot. I liked hiking and camping, but going to Europe and seeing big, famous cities didn’t appeal to me. I was a small-town guy, and after the way I’d lived, I liked the comfort of staying put and knowing I had a place to call my own.

We sat pressed together, sharing our warmth. Kenzie curled into me, tucking the blanket over her legs. I was aware of every place our bodies touched. And while the show wasn’t holding my interest much, I was even further from the idea of sleep.

---