“I think we can do that.” His voice was deep and husky. The kind of sound that when he told a girl to drop her panties, they slid down her thighs without effort. It was smooth and arousing, with a glint of humor. While he spoke to the older woman his gaze was aimed on Kenzie. Sexy andnice to little old ladies? Her lips spread in a smile.Who was this guy?
Mrs. Bower clapped her hands together. “He’s the last door on your right on the first floor. Thank you, sweet boy.” The idea of her calling him a sweet boy was ridiculous. This was no boy. He was a guy with toned tight muscles peeking through his sleeves. His t-shirt hugged his chest leaving no doubt of the roped muscles and six pack abs that lay underneath it. Andthatface. It belonged on the sexiest man issue of the magazine from the supermarket.
He stepped past the other men and the corner of his mouth curved. “Maybe you could help us out? Kenzie, right?”
She nodded. It was a reflex. His voice was rendering her stupid, she couldn’t even form words now. Her name on his lips. She took a breath. She wasn’t usually this awkward around men, but this guy--there was something about him.
“I’m Bogs.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the men behind him. “That’s T and Stone. We’d really appreciate you helping us out.”
She smiled at the prospect of what he might want help with. She was willing to help him out with anything. His shirt, maybe, his belt buckle? One of his brows hiked up. It was an insinuation.What the hell? Was he reading her mind?She should have been embarrassed but the heat from her face, masking down her neck and onto her chest wasn’t embarrassment, it was arousal.
Oh, she would help him out with anything he asked. It had been way too long since she’d met a man who piqued her instant attraction. Butterflies swarmed her belly. She cleared her throat, hoping it wouldn’t crack. “Sure, I’ll help.”With anything you need.
He reached out, grabbing a piece of paper, and turned it over. Her eyes slid down to a photo of a very familiar face.
“Have you seen her?”
Except that.
A sense of heated dread washed over her body. Her initial gut instinct, the suspicious fear she had before succumbing to hot guy’s charm slammed back into her body. She stepped away without control. A photo of her best friend stared back at her.
She concentrated on keeping her features emotionless as the truth played out in her head. These guys were from the SUV. The ones who had been watching her place last week. She had felt the relief every night when she went to the window and saw another car parked in the spot. Taylor had teased her about overreacting for nothing. She had finally been able to slightly relax and feel comfortable again.
The bag in her hand began to shake and her effort to remain calm only intensified her trembling hand.Say something. Make them go away.
“Um.” She shook her head. “No, haven’t seen her.” She looked up to see four sets of eyes trained on her. “Nope, never.” Mrs. Bower’s eyes widened. “Really, ever, never.” She swallowed the knot in her throat. “Ever.” She was the worst liar. She should have shaken her head and passed by them. Now, she was an unconvincing mumbling idiot.
“Never?” Bog’s tone was laced with humor.
She shook her head.
The man with the scar, Stone shared a look with the man next to him, T. Their facial expressions didn’t change but they seemed to be having an internal conversation. Kenzie tried to swallow but her throat was dry. She needed to get past them which would be a nearly impossible task since they were blocking the hall. She stepped forward.
“Do me a favor, sweetheart, and take another look, would ya?”
Sweetheart. Her skin prickled when he said it. His voice smoldered. If he had asked for anything else, she’d probably have given in without a second thought. This guy and his voice could make a girl do just about anything. She gazed upand locked eyes with his hazel stare. She’d always been a sucker for light colored eyes.
She inched forward and took another glance at Taylor’s picture. She had seen the photo before. It was cropped and blown up just showing her best friend. Taylor smiling. What she didn’t see was Drew sitting next to her, his arm wrapped over her shoulder. That was the original photo. Taylor had it hanging on her fridge at her apartment.
Kenzie took a deep breath and tried to relax. She needed to focus and get as much information from them without letting on she knew Taylor. This would be no easy task since she was probably the worst fibber on the planet. Her dad used to say that her face was her confession, too expressive.
She licked her dry lips and lifted her gaze to the hot guy with the beautiful eyes.
“N-no.” She snapped her lips closed, feeling the heat. Stuttering was not going to convince them. She cleared her throat. “No, I don’t know her. What did she do?’
The silence in the hall grew thick. She glanced up to see them watching her closely.
Stone lifted his chin. “Now, what makes you think she did anything?”
Oh shit. Cover your tracks, back it up.She laughed nervously.
Her tight lips spread to a strained smile. “Well, why else would you be looking for her?”
Bogs cocked his head to the side. It was as if he were reading her, getting inside her head. The weight of her bags was growing increasingly heavy and under his scrutinizing stare she squirmed in her spot. She curved her hand up to her chest, resting the bag against her. His eyes immediately shifted to the bag. Or was he looking at her chest?
It wouldn’t be the first time a man took notice of her ample breasts. Most men did. This might be the first time she enjoyed it though.Snap out of it. Focus on Taylor.
“Mexican?’
