Chapter 10 – Kenzie
Chapter Ten
Kenzie
What could I even say to that?
I didn’t have to say anything, because Jensen continued, looking down at the knife. “That’s how I got my start in woodcarving. I spent a lot of time alone in my room, and I never knew if they were going to try to come in and take something of mine to see if they could sell or trade it for drugs.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged and set down the knife. “I started with little pieces then got better from there. By the time I was an adult, I was carving much more elaborate stuff. But my carving knife was, first and foremost, a weapon for a little kid who didn’t have much security.”
I swallowed hard. “Then I can understand why you don’t want any of that on social media. We can manipulate the narrative a little, if you want. Just say you started carving as a child and that this was the knife you used.”
The rest of his story would probably sell a lot more pieces—people loved trauma—but I didn’t have to ask Jensen to know that wasn’t going to fly.
“Maybe. We’ll see.” He stepped away from the table. “Do you have enough to get you going? I’ve got to get to work.”
I hated that we’d lost all the enthusiasm that had lit his face when we’d first walked in here. “Yeah, I definitely have enough to get started.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you later.”
Without another word, he left the workshop bay. I made my way back to the office, chatting to Susanna for a couple minutes. She was surprised but delighted to hear what I’d be doing. I was glad she didn’t feel like I’d be stepping on her toes.
I spent the next few hours familiarizing myself with what little online presence Jensen did have for his work and thinking about color schemes and manly fonts. I kept hoping to talk to Jensen again, although I had no idea what I would say, but he kept himself busy out in the bays.
He didn’t even come in for lunch. Susanna went and grabbed us all sandwiches from the deli. She and I ate together, but she swore Jensen’s absence was nothing personal. He generally only came into the office to get coffee.
By midafternoon, I decided to take a cup of the brew out to him. I didn’t necessarily think he was overtly avoiding me, but I didn’t want to take a chance on it growing into that.
Plus, I wanted to show him what I’d done and make sure he felt it was on track.
I didn’t think I’d ever used a coffeemaker so…antiquated. Now I understood why Susanna took breaks to go to Deja Brew in town for the good stuff.At least the machine still seemed to work. The process was the same. Grounds, water, and a cup to collect the liquid. The brew smelled so strong, it could’ve been used to fuel a damn car. I blinked, needing to step back from the steam wafting from it.
When my pot was done, I walked back to the front office to see Susanna .
“Want coffee?” I jerked my thumb in the direction of the break room.
Susanna made a face and mocked a gag. “Ugh. Hell no. I never touch that thing if I can help it.” At my alarmed look, she laughed. “It’s clean. I use it for an emergency dose of caffeine on long days, but that behemoth of a coffeemaker just makes it too damn strong!”
I grinned at that. “How does Jensen like his brew? I thought I’d take him a cup.”
She raised one eyebrow. “Black. Simple, like the man himself.”
Jensen Chambers might be quiet, but he wasn’t simple, that was for sure. The more I learned about him, the more I knew that was true.
I poured him a cup, grabbed the laptop, and headed out to the garage. When he turned to acknowledge me, wiping his hands on a rag he had tucked into the waistband of his pants, I had to bite back a groan of appreciation. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a tool belt with no shirt, but the man was still damn sexy.
I cleared my throat. “I made you coffee. Susanna mentioned you also drink some in the afternoon.”
He took the mug. “I drink it at all hours of the day and night. Thank you.”
I took a sip of my own. “I just want to make sure we’re okay. I don’t expect you to hang out with me in the office, but…”
He nodded slowly at me. “Talking about my parents is tough for me. It’s not a place I let myself go very often.”
“I appreciate you sharing what you did with me. And I want to assure you that none of it will end up public. If you ever decide you’d like to make your history part of your company’s story, we can certainly add that in. But otherwise, it’s nobody’s business but your own.”
He nodded again. “Thanks for understanding. How has it been going for you today? ”
“Got time for me to show you a few things? See how you like them?”
He walked over and made a space on a worktable for me to set down the computer. A couple moments later, we were in deep discussion of fonts and colors and manliness.
If nothing else, the bright-pink curlicue font I’d set up as a practical joke broke the tension between us.
“I think we should go with the pink,” he said with a smile once I showed him the other possibilities.
I had to laugh. “We actually might be surprised at how effective that would be—it would certainly be unique. But I think sticking with more traditional creatives is probably better. I’ll get back to it.”
An email came in on his garage account from a potential customer as I was finishing showing him what I’d worked on.
He opened it. “This is from old Mr. Rickles in the next town over. He wants me to fix up his 1981 El Camino, but he wants to be in on it. He’s had it for decades, so it means the world to him.”
It didn’t surprise me at all that Jensen had a reputation as someone who’d let an old man sit in on repairs. It was definitely a story that could be used on social media, but I’d bring that up later. We’d skirted enough edges for today when it came to what was okay to post.
“El Camino? I don’t think I’ve even heard of that vehicle.”
“It’s pretty unique. Half car, half truck.”
He pulled up a picture, and I froze, my shoulders tightening and my hands going clammy.
I’d seen a vehicle like that before. Several weeks ago. But I’d forgotten about it until right now.
“Kenzie?” Jensen put his coffee down and gripped my elbow. “What’s wrong?”
I didn’t take the time to wonder just how good he was getting at reading me. I was too caught up in a memory. “I, uh, just realized where I’ve seen one of those before. The night I was attacked in the parking lot.”
Jensen guided me to sit down on a bench. Then he dragged a chair in front of me and sat down too. “Talk to me.”
He placed his hand on my knee, and I briefly closed my eyes, savoring his touch. It was intimate but not inappropriate. And even if it was inappropriate, it was helping me stay centered and not fly apart, so I didn’t care.
“I was coming out of my office. The sun had already set. We have so many lights in the parking lot, I thought I would be okay.” I swallowed hard. I didn’t let myself think about the specifics of this too often. “I was almost to my car when someone hit me hard from behind, knocking me to the ground.”
I could still remember the burning pain in my palms and knees. I looked down at my palms now, almost expecting to see blood.
“Before I could get up, the stalker poured a bunch of gasoline all over me, then took off. It hurt like hell on my cuts, and I was so busy trying to get it out of my face that I couldn’t even think of going after him.”
Jensen’s jaw was granite as he looked at me now. “It’s good that you didn’t go after him. You could’ve been killed. Jesus, Kenzie, one match and…”
“Yeah, believe me, I thought of that.” It had been the only thing I could think of as I’d made my way back inside the office and tried to wash off the gasoline as best I could. “Putting gas in my car still triggers me a little.”
“But you think you saw an El Camino there that night?”
I nodded, closing my eyes to concentrate. “Yes. I don’t know that the stalker was driving it, but that vehicle is unique enough that I would’ve noticed it if it was around the parking lot regularly. ”
“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.”