Page 61 of Montana Heat

“How about staying with me?”

“Your apartment?”

“No. Somewhere safer.”

She’d already been to my place, so that might not be safe. It was obvious, based on this incident, that someone had been keeping track of her. They had known she wasn’t here to lay this trap.

But I had a cabin I knew the stalker had no idea about. Hell, I joked about not bringing anyone to my apartment, but I neverbrought anyone to the cabin. It was a place I was refurbishing, taking my time and doing all the woodworking myself.

I wasn’t done with it by a long shot, but it was usable. It was a location no one would think of, and it was remote. No one could follow us there without being seen.

“Where?”

“Remember the cabin I told you about when I drove you to the garage? I can take you there. It’s not much, but it’s good for op sec purposes.”

“Op sec?”

“Sorry. Operational security.” I rubbed her hand where it rested against my chest. “Sound okay to you?”

“Yes.”

I shifted her back slightly so I could see her better. Her eyes were still unfocused and she was deathly pale, but at least she was responding. I just wanted to get her out of this place as quickly as possible. To give her a safer space to recover and rest and, hopefully, feel safe.

It took longer than planned getting out of her apartment. Lucas called Evelyn, and she and Lena came over to sit with Kenzie. Kenzie didn’t necessarily talk with them, but I could tell she was glad to have the support. Meanwhile, I packed up what little stuff she had while Charlie and his men finished their duties.

Lucas and Liam followed us out to the cabin in their vehicle as lookouts and added protection, and Kenzie rode silently with me. One of the Resting Warrior guys was going to drive Kenzie’s car to my garage, where it could be parked inside and kept safe.

We reached the cabin around midafternoon, and pulling up out front, I suddenly worried I’d made a mistake. This was a safe, neutral place for her to relax, but it also wasn’t complete.

The guys stayed outside with Kenzie as I walked through to make sure it was clear. I grimaced as I tried to look at it the way she would. The whole place was pretty bare. I’d spent themajority of my time so far working on the larger parts of the renovation, rather than many details.

It was livable, but barely, and it wasn’t completely furnished. It could be called minimalist at best, but it wasn’t charming or inviting in any way. Currently, the furniture consisted of a few mismatched pieces just for their functionality that I’d planned to replace later. No floor coverings lay on the bare hardwood floors. I had no electronics; the space for the TV was just a huge empty space on the wall.

The state of the cabin had never bothered me. I had lived in far worse settings. Even when it was done and appropriately furnished, it was never going to be fancy. I hadn’t experienced a lifetime of nice things, and I was used to making do with what I had.

But I’d never expected to be bringing someone like Kenzie Hurst here.

What would she say about this place if she saw it on an episode ofHouse Hunters?

Minimalist is code for haven’t put any real furniture in it yet.I could almost hear her voice in my head.

But there was nothing to be done about it now. I walked back out to them. “Okay, we’re clear.”

I grabbed Kenzie’s bag and carried it inside, the three of them behind me. The guys took a look around, neither of them seeming too fazed at its state. Neither did Kenzie, although probably more because she was still in shock. She went and sat on the couch, curling her legs under her.

Lucas’s phone rang, and from the corner of my eye, I saw her jump. She was definitely still wound way too tight.

I approached the old couch and eased down beside her, keeping my tone gentle. “You okay there, City?”

She swallowed hard, her neck straining, but leaned slightly toward me. I saw her position as a silent ask for support, so I took arisk in draping my arm around her shoulders. Then I held my breath. Waiting.

She was still stiff, but she slanted into me more.

Okay. That was good progress for now.

Lucas stepped back into the room. “That was Charlie. He spoke to Detective Watters. Let him know what happened and that the stalker had somehow found his way to Garnet Bend. We all agreed that Kenzie staying here is the best plan.”

I squeezed her shoulder, and she nodded, at least listening to the conversation, which was more than she’d been capable of at her apartment.

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