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“I wanted to talk with Joyce and make sure she knows I didn’t mean to be so late,” Kenzie says, trying to slow me down, but I won’t be stopped.
“She knows.” My voice is deep and rumbly, something it hasn’t been since I stopped fighting my feelings for this woman.
Her other hand grabs my bicep. “Bentley.”
I turn back to her and see her frown, but I don’t want to stop yet. I need her alone, so I can properly wrap her up in my arms and make sure she’s okay.
My feet continue to guide us outside, and I take her to the driver’s side of my Range Rover since that’s furthest away from the entrance to the shelter.
I grip her face and press my lips to hers, just needing to feel her. The chaste contact only eases some of my worries.
She kisses me back and wraps her arms around my waist. “Are you okay?”
I chuckle darkly. “I should be asking you that. What happened before you got here?”
Her head leans against my chest, and I see her eyes flutter close. “It’s just been a shit day. I was so frustrated with one of the teams I’m working with. They messed up one of the programs to the point I almost had to start all the way over to undo the chaos. Then, I realized what time it was and grabbed my purse without realizing my phone wasn’t in it.”
That doesn’t seem bad enough to cause the look I’d seen on her face earlier.
“What else happened?” I press.
She sighs and shudders. “While I was driving here, I already knew I was going to be late, and I might have honked at someone who was paying more attention to their phone than the traffic lights. Well, he didn’t like that and followed me while honking his own horn for longer than I was comfortable with. I thought about calling the cops, but that was when I realized I’d forgotten my phone. It’s fine now. I swear.”
Fuck, no wonder she looked terrified when she walked in. Road-rage drivers could be unpredictable, and there is no way to be sure that maniac isn’t still out there waiting for Kenzie to get back on the road. I need to be absolutely sure that isn’t the case.
I hug her again, needing to feel her close to me. “I’m so sorry, Kenzie. I’ll follow you back to work just to make sure nothing else happens.”
She bites her lip and looks back up at me. “Do you really think it’s something to worry about?”
Shit. I’ve only freaked her out more, which wasn’t at all my intention.
My hand soothes her back. “Nothing for you to worry about any longer. I’m sure it was just some asshole having a bad day.”
She laughs and pulls away enough to look up at me. “You would know, wouldn’t you?”
I squeeze my arms tighter around her waist. “Watch that mouth of yours before I fill it.”
Her eyes glaze over, and she licks her lips. “Ass. Hole.”
A rumble builds in my chest. “You better get in your car before I put you in the back of mine.”
She glances around. “If we weren’t at the shelter, I’d absolutely take you up on that.”
I know she would, too. That’s part of the reason I’m so fucking attracted to her. She reminds me to live again.
Kenzie grabs my suit coat and raises up onto her tiptoes. “See you soon.”
Her lips meet mine, and I grab her ass, holding her close for just a second longer.
“See you really soon,” she amends before sashaying back to her car.
I quickly get in mine and wait for her to back up before I follow.
At least for tonight, I’m not letting her out of my sight for longer than I can help it.
