Page 50 of Montana Heat

I started back on the photo files, trying to take encouragement from his words. But with every passing moment, that became more and more difficult.

Chapter Fifteen

Jensen

With each hour that passed and Kenzie failed to point out any one person in the “lineup” on Jude’s computer, hope sank. I wanted so badly for this to be over for her, for her not to have to constantly worry. But this was looking like another dead end.

I stayed by her side as she went through the files. Not that I was of any help, but I wanted to make sure she knew she wasn’t alone.

By midnight, when she’d been at it nearly six hours, I called it. She and I had both already worked a full day, and I could tell Kenzie was starting to shut down. Her lips were pressed in a firm line, and her brow was furrowed. Every time I touched her shoulders, the muscles under my fingers had gotten tighter.

“It’s time to go home,” I said. “We’ll have to pick this back up tomorrow.”

Those big brown eyes were nearly blurry with exhaustion as she blinked up at me. “I so wanted this to provide us some information.”

I kissed the top of her head. “I did too. And it still might. But right now, you’re too tired to be effective. You might misssomething.”

Jude walked in. “Jensen is right. I’ll keep trying to narrow it down, but for right now, you need to rest.”

Kenzie nodded, no sign of her normal cheerfulness anywhere.

We said our goodbyes, and I walked her back to my truck. It was chilly but without the bitter winds of another impending snowstorm. The air was almost calm, in stark contrast to the unrest we were all feeling about the danger facing her.

Her stomach growled in the silence of the cab, something I normally would’ve teased her about. But right now, it was a symbol of how she was pushing her body too hard.

“Do you have groceries at your apartment?”

She shook her head. “No. I’ll get some tomorrow.”

“How about you come over to my place, and I’ll fix us both a bite to eat. Then you can either stay or I’ll take you home.”

I was no chef, but I could hold my own with a few dishes. Tonight, it would be steak fajitas—easy and quick to make, and I’d just bought all the stuff for them. It had been hours since our meal at the tavern.

And I wouldn’t even care that this would be another night when nothing would happen between the two of us. I might not be able to stop myself from kissing her again like I had the other night—especially since that kiss hadn’t been out of my mind since—but I wasn’t going to push for anything else.

I glanced over at her to find her biting that lip again, and I immediately turned my eyes back to the road. Damned if that didn’t affect me every single time she did it.

“I’m starving, but I’m afraid I’ll be lousy company.”

“It’s okay not to be cheerful and upbeat all the time, City. I can take it.”

“It’s been a long day.” She rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. “I’m feeling sort of hopeless.”

“Food and a good night’s sleep will help. It doesn’t change thecircumstances, but at least it’ll give you a stronger foundation to face them.”

“Okay. I’ll definitely take you up on your offer, then. What sort of food?”

“How about steak fajitas? I don’t cook many things, but I’m pretty good at that.”

She hummed in appreciation. “Perfect. It has been a while since I’ve had a good fajita.”

We drove in silence for a few minutes. “I don’t want you to be alone either.”

“I don’t want to be a burden. You’re already doing too much for me.”

“You are not anywhere near a burden. Maybe I don’t want to eat alone.”

She gave a short laugh. “I know that’s not true. But I’ll still take you up on your offer.”

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