Chapter 11 – Kenzie
Chapter Eleven
Kenzie
I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping when Jensen drove through the gate at Resting Warrior Ranch. It was massive and intimidating. The guys here certainly took their security seriously. I could definitely appreciate that, and I felt calmer being here already, given the added protection.
Just to appease me, Jensen had called Lucas and put the phone on speaker when he asked if they’d mind if I tagged along. Not only did Lucas agree, I could hear several women yelling in the background for me to come. I couldn’t help but smile at the friendly acceptance I was receiving from relative strangers.
The ranch itself was stunning. The main lodge was huge, with a couple of barns positioned off to the side, surrounded by horse pens and walkways that branched off in several directions. A large, two-story newer structure was set back farther from the lodge in the distance.
I could hear a variety of animal noises from several directions, and I spied rooftops in the distance through the trees, which had to be homes. My Realtor eye also couldn’t help but notice the landscaping and added plants and flower beds scattered around and the big garden off to the side. They had really put a lot of time and effort into making this place something beautiful, functional, and homey all at the same time.
The people who came here to help recover from PTSD must immediately find it calming. Just looking around as we walked to the door, I knew I did.
“This place is amazing. Do all your friends live here?”
“All the guys used to when they were single. Now, since they’re either engaged or married and a couple have kids, most have moved off property. Daniel and Emma still live on-site with their little boy, Tyson.”
Suddenly, the lodge doors were thrown open, and the two women I’d met the first day at Deja Brew stood there with huge smiles to greet me. The shorter woman with the bright clothes and multicolored hair—Lena?—pulled me into a quick hug.
A laugh sounded at my side, and I turned to see Evelyn shaking her head at her friend. “Sorry, Lena’s a hugger. It’s good to see you again, Kenzie.”
Lena scrunched up her face. “Yeah, sorry about that. I should have asked first. But I’m so happy to see you here with Jensen. He’s never brought anyone with him before, so it’s extra exciting that you’re here.”
My eyes widened at her announcement, and I glanced over my shoulder and met Jensen’s gaze. He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed at Lena’s statement. The opposite, in fact.
I felt my cheeks heat, but that had nothing to do with embarrassment either. Although, I hoped no one would notice.
“Come on, you two. Get in here,” a male voice called from inside. I thought it was Daniel. I had spent a lot of time talking to him yesterday.
“Yeah, it’s almost time to eat. We don’t want everything getting cold,” Liam replied from the kitchen.
The inside of the lodge was just as impressive as the outside—warm and inviting. We were the last ones to arrive, so everyone made their way to the dining area, carrying dishes of all shapes and sizes. The amazing scents wafting through the air had my mouth watering. I wasn’t much of a cook, but I loved to eat.
But even better was the gathering itself. There was really no rhyme or reason to anything. It was a happy, loving, chaotic mess of good conversation and laughter among friends who were obviously as close as family.
There were kids around too, although I couldn’t necessarily tell who belonged to whom since whenever a child needed something, the nearest adult handled it. All the kids were obviously as comfortable with every adult present as they were their own parents, because not one of them balked.
The chatter and cheer never waned as they all passed dishes around. Even Jensen was talking, his face as relaxed as I’d ever seen it.
And they threw me right smack in the middle of all of it, never treating me like a victim or asking me questions about my case. I was just one of the family. For someone who’d grown up with no siblings, it was a little overwhelming, but in the best way.
Conversations grew quieter as the men started clearing off the table and taking dishes to the kitchen and returning with dessert. My eyes almost bugged out of my head at the thought of eating more.
But, of course, I did. Because I was not going to miss out on homemade apple pie when it was available to me.
After dinner, the talk became a little more subdued. Evelyn and Emma disappeared to put their little ones down in one of the bedrooms. The guys, once again, started removing dishes from the table and stayed in the kitchen for cleanup.
I sat at the table, still finishing my dessert, when Lena sat down next to me. “How are you holding up, Kenzie?”
“I’m doing all right. Stuffed, though. The food and company were both excellent. I can’t thank you all enough for letting me crash your evening.” I smiled, taking a bite of pie.
“You’re welcome here anytime you want to come. You don’t even have to be Jensen’s date—although we love that you are.” Lena smiled in kind. “He’s never brought a date here before.”
“Yeah, the owner of the bar where we ate yesterday seemed pretty shocked to see Jensen staying, especially with company in tow.”
“Oh, I know Clive and Patti were thrilled. Patti was gushing about it at her salon today. News is already getting out about the hot new couple.”
I felt my face heat. “Jensen and I aren’t a couple.”
She grinned. “Maybe not, but don’t doubt that we all saw him looking at you way more than was necessary tonight. He’s pretty enamored of you.”
“I don’t know about that. He’s just the type of person to help someone out if he has it in his power to do so.”
“True, true. Jensen is definitely that way. Hell, all the Resting Warrior guys are. But it’s more than just that with you for him, believe me.”
I didn’t know how accurate that was. But I did know that I couldn’t stop thinking about my handsome mechanic.
I dropped my volume. “Even if that’s true, Jensen and I are too different.”
“Oh honey, there’s nobody in the world more different from me than my Jude.”
I raised one eyebrow at her. “You mean because he doesn’t have purple and teal streaks in his hair?”
Lena let out a laugh. “That, and almost every other possible way. But trust me, the differences can be what makes a relationship so great. Opposites attract, and all that.”
I looked up to find Jensen watching me again with those sexy, dark eyes. I squirmed a little in my chair and shot him a smile. Opposites attract, indeed.
“Even so, I won’t be here long. My job and life are back in Denver.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Not every relationship has to be a forever one. Maybe you can just enjoy some… engine grease while you’re here.”
Maybe I could. The more I got to know about Jensen, the more I wanted to know. “Yeah. Engine grease is definitely growing on me.”
“And the stalker stuff? How are you holding up?”
I pushed my empty plate away from me. “It’s been a lot, especially today. But the guys have been very kind to offer to help.”
“Safety is a big thing for them all. They don’t like to see any woman in danger.”
Jude called Lena over, and she hopped up to respond to him. He kissed her and whispered something that made her laugh then waggle her eyebrows at him.
Love damn well permeated this place. Not just love between the different couples, although that was evident. Love between the friends, both male and female.
Love between them because they were a family. Not bound by blood—but bound by choice .
Suddenly, I realized how long it had been since I’d been truly able to enjoy the company of my own friends or family because of the stalker. It felt like forever.
As much as I enjoyed spending time with Jensen and his family, I was homesick for my own. I had an overwhelming need to hear my mom’s voice.
I had just spoken with her earlier in the day, but I missed her. If I could just hear her voice for a minute, I’d feel better.
I stood and walked toward the hallway. I squeezed Lena’s arm as I passed by her. “Excuse me. I’m going to make a quick call. ”
She nodded, and I made my way into the quiet hallway, hitting speed dial for my mom.
I frowned when the call went straight to voice mail. Mom always kept her phone on her in case of an emergency at the park where she worked as a ranger. It wasn’t uncommon for hikers to get lost, and she was one of the first people contacted when that happened, no matter what time of day or night it was. She even kept a charger on her uniform belt so she never ran out of battery when she was at work.
Maybe she was just busy. Her not answering didn’t have to mean anything nefarious. Trying to quell the worry churning in my gut, I called my dad.
His phone was off too.
Weird… I kept my breath steady, refusing to freak out. Maybe they were together and just couldn’t get to their phones at the moment.
I tried my mom one more time. This time, the call was picked up. Thank God.
“Mom?”
No response.
“Mom, are you there?”
But it wasn’t my mom’s voice. It was a man’s voice, sounding tinny and strange.
“If you care about anybody but yourself, you need to stay away from Colorado.”