Chapter 15 – Jensen
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 miss something.”
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 the circumstances, 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.”
For the rest of the drive and then the walk into my apartment, we didn’t talk, just enjoyed the silence of being in each other’s company. I decided not to bring up anything to do with the stalker, hoping she would take a break and just relax.If she wanted to discuss it at all, I’d listen to her and talk it through, but I truly hoped she’d take the break she desperately needed.
Kenzie stood in the kitchen with me while I worked on my signature steak fajitas. We chatted vaguely about the kinds of foods we liked, and I wasn’t surprised that she had an adventurous palate. In Denver, I was sure she had more avenues of exploration with different food varieties.
Here in Garnet Bend, if Clive didn’t fix it or you couldn’t cook it yourself, you probably weren’t going to be eating it. It had never bothered me, but I could see how that would be a deterrent for someone like Kenzie.
But my job wasn’t to sell her on a permanent life in a small town. My job was …
Hell if I knew what my job actually was in this situation. Be her friend? Help keep her safe? Provide support?
I was happy to do all of the above. But sitting in my kitchen playfully arguing about the merits and detriments of ordering sushi in a land-locked state like Colorado made me wish I didn’t have to be those things. That she could be here with me under different circumstances that centered around our attraction.
Afterward, we washed the dishes together. I knew I should offer to drive her home. It was late, and we were both tired. But I just couldn’t seem to force the words out.
“Would you like to sit out on the balcony for a few minutes?” I tipped my head toward the sliding glass doors that led outside. “It’s a mild night, and the stars are pretty spectacular here.”
“Sure.” She smiled. “I don’t think I could sleep right now anyway.”
Living on the second floor granted me a nice, private wooden balcony. It was spacious, too. Plenty of room, even with two chairs and an outdoor love seat. I wasn’t sure why I had so much furniture out here. I’d never had enough guests to fill all the seats.
“Holy crap, look at the sky!”
I had to smile as she craned her neck up to take it all in.
“We may not have sushi here in Garnet Bend, but we have other stuff that makes up for it.”
“You sure as hell do. I can’t see anything like this in Denver.”
“Yeah, it’s like that near any big city. Too much light pollution.”
I sat down on the love seat and couldn’t hold back my pleasure when she sat down next to me rather than in one of the other chairs. Once again, she curled against my side, but this time, we were watching the Montana sky rather than the television.
I’d take that any day. But hell, I’d sit and watch a brick wall if it meant I could have Kenzie pressed up against me.
We watched the sky for a long time. I pointed out as many constellations and planets as I could, and we even researched a couple on my phone.
Eventually, our talking died down, and we just sat there in silence, our heads resting against the love seat’s back. She let out a weary sigh. It had been a long, hard day for her.
I wrapped my arm around her. “Let’s get you home so you can get some sleep.”
“I don’t want to go home.”
“Okay, no problem. Just let me get my stuff ready for the couch so you can bunk in my room.”
She tilted her head back against my arm so she was looking up at me. “I don’t want that either.”
She reached out, grabbing the front of my shirt and pulling me to her, kissing me.
“I don’t want sleep, Jensen. I want you,” she whispered against my lips.
I didn’t want to take advantage of her, but I wasn’t a saint. If she wanted this too, then I definitely didn’t have the restraint to fight both of our desires.
The last time we’d kissed, I’d wanted to make sure she understood I had no intention of taking things further. This kiss was the opposite.
I tugged her close and pushed my tongue into her mouth to taste her sweetness. I cupped her face so I could keep her exactly where I wanted her, savoring her lips. I worked my way across her jaw to her neck.
I couldn’t get enough. I found myself pulling her into my lap. Her sexy mewl as I pressed up against her drove me higher. If I wasn’t careful, this was going to be over before it began.
“Can we take this inside?” she asked before pressing her lips back to mine in another drugging kiss. She slid her hand between our bodies, wrapping around me through my clothes .
I groaned, pushing my erection into her hand. She moaned into my mouth, convincing me I’d never get enough of her kisses.
“Yes.” My voice was guttural, even to my own ears. “As long as we take it straight to the bed.”
“Yes, please.” I could feel her smile against my lips.
I slid my hand down to her ass and squeezed as I urged her to walk inside ahead of me.
“After you.”
And I meant that in every wicked way there was.