by Elena Aitken
“Gah.” Her hand went to her newly styled hair. “Can you come with me? I’ll pay you to sit at the bar, so every time I start to panic I can look at you and get my confidence back.”
“You don’t need me, because you’re going to talk to him the same way you do your friends when you go out to lunch. He’s not a man you’re trying to impress. You’re not out to win him. You just want to meet some new people and get back into the swing of dating.”
Helen let out a breath. “You know just how to relax me.” She reached for the clothing, but Skylar stopped her.
“Leave it. I’ll have everything delivered to your house. You just go. Enjoy your night out.”
The woman grabbed her purse off a chair and stepped out into the salon. “Thank you, Sky. You’re an absolute life-saver.”
Skylar followed her to the door, holding it open. “Let me know how it goes.”
“You know I will.”
Once the woman headed down the sidewalk, Skylar shifted into Mama Bear mode. Luckily for Jinx, she’d calmed down some. Because, while he might’ve used her son to get to her, he’d still done a great job with him.
As she headed towards them, her anger deflated even more. It was such a perfect scene. Strings of white lights lit up her salon, making the ornaments on her Christmas tree glitter. Paper snowflakes dangled from the ceiling, twirling from the heat coming out of the vent.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Jinx talked quietly to her son. Rocco didn’t have a huge attention span, but whatever Jinx was saying had him engrossed.
“Okay, I’m all done,” she said. “Let’s thank Jinx for stopping by.”
Jinx handed her son a block and got up. “I thought you needed me for a few hours?”
“I’ve taken enough of your time. Now that my client’s gone, I can manage.”
“I cleared my afternoon, so I don’t mind staying.”
God, he was so big and…he had all this dark, intensity about him. She set her hand on her hip, so he couldn’t see it was shaking. It was all such a crazy mix of emotions. He was handsome and very muscular, and he had a way of looking at her that made her feel like he’d protect and cherish her.
“I’m sure you don’t.” But he was too quiet, too fierce, and she didn’t know what to make of him.
And now he’d used her son to get to her.
“What’s that mean?”
“We talked about this.” She said it quietly, so Rocco wouldn’t hear. “The first time you asked me out, I told you I wasn’t dating. Nothing’s changed. I’m a single mother, and I work a lot of hours—not just to pay today’s bills but future ones. I try to spend as much time with him while he’s awake as I can, and it’s incredibly hard to juggle it all.”
“You don’t have to do it alone.”
“I don’t do it alone. I have a great family, and they help me a lot, but I’m saying that I want to be with him as much as I can. Which puts dating on the bottom of my list of priorities. So, I’d really appreciate it if you’d respect my wishes and never use my son to get to me again.”
The respect and…interest she was used to seeing in his eyes flamed out. Abruptly, he turned and went back to the play area, dropping to a crouch. “Hey, little man, I’ve got to go. You be good to your mama, okay?” He held up a palm, and her serious little boy slapped it.
Rocco stood there staring, as Jinx strode right past her and walked out the door.
The confusion in her little boy’s eyes just about killed her. This is why I don’t date. She couldn’t bear to see him attach to men, only to have them leave. At some point, he’d just stop getting close to anyone. His heart would shut down.
The bell on the door clanged as it shut, and a blast of cold air enveloped her, as she watched Jinx head for his SUV parked at the curb. She didn’t like hurting his feelings. The quiet, mysterious ones tended to be the most sensitive. Besides, even if he had used her son, he hadn’t done it in a bad way. He’d made Rocco smile.
She’d been too hard on him.
Still, she’d needed to get it out there once and for all. She wasn’t dating him, no matter how sweet he was to her boy. With Rocco busy stacking blocks, she pulled out her phone and called her brother.
“Hey.” Griff sounded exhausted.
“Everything okay?”
“Jinx didn’t tell you?” her brother asked.
Uh, no. She hadn’t let him say anything. She’d just kicked him out. “Tell me what? What’s going on?”
“You know that shipment of bikes that got delayed with the storm? Well, it showed up with no warning literally five minutes before I was supposed to head over to your place. That’s why I asked Jinx to watch Rocco for me. He get there all right?”
A hot mix of shame and dread washed through her. “You sent Jinx?”
“Yeah. He pretty much raised his younger brother, so I knew he’d be good with Rocco. Plus, he’s been around him plenty of times, so it wasn’t like a stranger showing up. Everything’s okay, right?”
“Well, considering I just told him not to use Rocco to get to me, no, not really.”
I’m such a bitch.
“Use—what? Where’d you get that idea?”
“He’s always trying to be around me. And, when he showed up instead of you, I thought he’d convinced you to let him come over.”
“Jesus, Sky, you think I’d let some guy who only wants to get in your pants watch my nephew? I love that kid like my own.”
“I know. I feel terrible.”
“Look, I know your ex did a number on you, but not all guys are assholes. Jinx is a good guy. Don’t put him in the same trash bag as your ex.”
She had done that, and she felt terrible. “I know. I’m going to call Mom and see if she can watch Rocco. I need to go apologize.”
Chapter 2
After spraying a second coat of the color blender, Jinx set the tank aside. He’d scuff it up tomorrow, so the pearl mix stuck nicely to it.
“Jinx?” someone called.
He’d know that voice anywhere. He glanced over to find Skylar striding toward him.
Fuck me. With her platinum hair, a mouth made for pin-up posters, and the sexy swing of her hips, she knocked him off balance.
But then he remembered that he was over her.
Not to mention she’d accused him of using her son. “Yeah?”
As soon as she reached him, she lifted both hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m sorry.”
She’d talked to Griff. “Okay.” He pulled the long, skinny back fender off the hanging rack and set it on the table. Running a hand over the smooth surface, he checked to make sure he didn’t need to spot prime it. Nope. Looked ready for the gold flames.
“Jinx.”
“What?”
“Can you look at me, please?”
He straightened and faced her.
“Thank you for watching my son while I was with my client. I jumped to a really ugly conclusion, and I want you to know that it has nothing to do with you. You’ve never given me a single reason to doubt you or not trust you, so what I said back there? That comes from me. I’m…messed up.”
He got that. He didn’t know the whole story, but everyone in town knew her ex had gone off to Los Angeles to become a rock star, leaving her and his son behind. That would fuck anyone up, but especially a twenty-year-old who’d just found out she was pregnant. “We’re cool.”
“Are we? Because I feel terrible. You’re really good with Rocco. He’s been grumpy all day, and you actually made him smile.” She stood there, watching him.
He knew his silence made people uncomfortable, but he wasn’t one for small talk. “He okay?”
“Oh, you know. It’s…” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Every year, he goes to Aspen over the break between Christmas and New Year’s to spend time with his father’s family. He leaves tomorrow morning.”
“You’re not going with them?”
“Oh, God, no. And that’s why he’s so grumpy.”
>
He could tell from her expression what she thought about being separated from her boy. “So, you’re free this week?” Because, ever since he’d seen her with her client, he’d been working on an idea.
But before she could answer, heels clicked on the smooth concrete floor. They both turned at the same time.
Lori, in tight black jeans and five-inch high heels came sauntering over to him with a blazing white smile. In a million years, he’d never understand why such a fancy, cheerful woman would go out with him.
“Hey, there.”
Her scent billowed in the air around him. He felt the twitch in his nostrils before he let out a loud sneeze.
She didn’t care. Nothing got Lori Von Hausen down. She wrapped her arm around him and leaned in for a kiss. Not an air kiss, not a quick peck—no, Lori didn’t do anything halfway. Cupping his jaw, she turned him toward her and planted her wet mouth on his.
Too aware of her presence, he cut a look toward Skylar—because he’d been in love with that woman for nearly two years before finally getting her message: nope. No way in hell.
You can fuck right off.
While rubbing the lipstick off his mouth with her thumb, Lori extended a hand toward Skylar. “Hi. I’m Lori. Jinx’s girlfriend.”
Girlfriend? We’re just—
But before he could finish his thought, he noticed Skylar’s reaction.
The feisty, spunky woman with more confidence in her pinkie than most people had in their whole bodies stood there with her jaw hanging open, shocked and…
He was going to have to say hurt, because there was no other interpretation of her expression.
He got the first part. Lori could do a hell of a lot better than his moody ass. But the hurt? That, he didn’t get.
But, then, the woman he’d put down roots for reached out and shook Lori’s hand. “I’m Skylar.” She seemed off her mark, because after a couple beats of silence she said, “I’m Griffin’s sister.” She motioned, like she was trying to circulate the air. “The owner of this…shop. Jinx watched my son this afternoon, and I wanted to thank him. I’m not…he’s…”
“You did?” Lori’s smile faltered. She gave him a look that said, You didn’t tell me that.
“Griff was supposed to do it,” Skylar said. “But he got a shipment of bikes in.” She looked to Jinx for confirmation.
He shrugged. Why would he have told Lori his plans? Griffin had asked for his help, and he’d gone.
“Motorcycles in winter?” Lori looked confused.
“For the expo in Idaho Falls.” He’d already told her about that. They had a booth, and Jinx would be talking to potential customers about his designs.
“Okay, well, I should go,” Skylar said. “Anyhow, I just wanted to thank you for helping out.”
She started off, and his damn heart started pounding. Don’t go.
But that was a residual response. He’d shut that door two months ago. Well, the moment Lori had walked in. “Hold up. You said you’re free this week?”
Skylar nodded. “I am.”
He set the rag down. “I’ve got a favor to ask.”
She eyed him warily.
“What you did with your client? My mom could use that.”
“A make-over?”
“Yeah. She’s…” How did he explain? “In a rut. I’ve bought her things—a condo, a new car, but it doesn’t change anything. She’s still just going through the motions. I think what she’d really like is to feel good about herself again.”
Her features softened. “Send her in. I’d be happy to work with her.”
“That is so sweet.” Lori slipped her arm through his. “You’re such a great guy.”
He could actually see the effort it took Skylar to tear her incredulous gaze off Lori.
“Let’s set up an appointment,” Skylar said. “I look forward to meeting her.”
“She lives in Vegas,” he said.
“Oh. Okay…are you thinking of flying her out here?” Skylar seemed confused.
“I’m not sure she’d go for it. She works long hours in the ER. Can I bring you to her?”
“You want me to go to Vegas?”
“You said you’re free this week.”
“I am, but I need to be here for Rocco.”
He probably shouldn’t push. He hadn’t even pitched the idea to his mom. “Isn’t Rocco going to be in Aspen?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“If anything happened, I’d fly you out to him.”
“I don’t know.”
His mother would never ask for help, but their Sunday evening phone calls were tough on him. The exhaustion in her voice, the lack of anything in her life to talk about other than work. Not even a pet. Just work, a frozen dinner, TV, and bed. Same thing, day after day.
Now that he’d seen the effect Skylar had on her client, heard her inspiring words, he wanted that for his mom. More than he’d wanted anything in a long damn time.
He supposed, if he had a hope in hell, he’d have to tell the whole story. “My, uh, my dad was career Army.” He snatched up the rag, just for something to do with his hands. “He died during his eleventh deployment. It was hard on my mom, but to be honest, she was used to him not being around. My brother, though…they were close.” That familiar dark cloud loomed, threatening to engulf him, so he forced himself to think about how Skylar could help.
If anyone could get through to her, it would be this woman. “He and his buddies rode their bikes to my dad’s funeral. A truck driver high on heroin mowed them down.”
Lori rubbed his arm. “Oh, baby.”
He swallowed past the painful knot in his throat. He never talked about his brother. Never. “We had two funerals, back to back. My mom hasn’t been the same. She needs more than new clothes and a haircut.” Though, she could use both. “The things you said to that lady? That’s what she needs to hear. Will you do it?” An impulsive idea had turned into the most important thing in his life. “Please?”
Everything in her softened with compassion. “Yeah, Jinx. I’ll do it. Rocco’s grandparents are coming to get him at five in the morning, so I can be ready any time after that. Although, last minute tickets might cost a lot. I’ll have to check into flights.”
“First of all, I’m paying for everything. But, secondly, we’re not flying.” He grinned. “It’s a road trip.”
He has a girlfriend.
A gorgeous, nice, happy girlfriend.
Skylar’d had a good twelve hours to accept the fact that Jinx didn’t want her anymore. That he’d found someone else. Probably someone less encumbered.
Someone who didn’t constantly reject him.
Shame blazed a path down her spine. She’d been awful to him.
And, the thing was, he’d never been anything but kind to her. So what if he’d asked her out a couple times? Sure, he lit up when he saw her, took every opportunity to sit next to her, but he’d never pushed for anything.
And, still, she’d been a bitch—just because he’d shown interest in her.
So, it shouldn’t hurt that he no longer wanted her.
She didn’t want a boyfriend. Didn’t have enough hours in the day to both earn a living and spend time with her son. Most importantly, she couldn’t let Rocco form attachments to men who wouldn’t stay.
Then why am I so upset?
Because she’d had Jinx’s devotion for nearly two years, and now she didn’t. And she felt like she’d lost something really, incredibly special.
With Rocco clinging to her like cat hair on a fleece jacket, she peered out the window as headlights flashed in the darkness. “Okay, sweetheart. Grandma and Grandpa are here.”
Rocco squirmed, pressing hard against her as if he could slip inside a secret compartment and hide. She touched the back of his head, her fingers sifting through his silky hair. “I can’t wait to hear all about snow and hot cocoa and swimming in the hot tub.”
A car door slammed, and she let the curtain fall. It was tim
e to hand him over.
Heading downstairs, she breathed in the scent of pinecones and cinnamon from the basket she’d displayed by the salon’s hearth. “Everyone’s going to be staying in one great, big house, so you’ll get to see Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim and all your cousins.”
She opened the door to find the bright, hopeful expressions of Eddie’s parents. Owners of a gym, they were both fit and incredibly energetic. She didn’t want to let her son go, but if she had to hand him off, she couldn’t ask for more caring people. “Morning.”
She’d left her son’s suitcase by the door, so Mr. Ray picked it up. “Hey, kiddo.”
“Morning, hon. How’s our favorite little boy?” Mrs. Ray said.
Rocco kicked his legs and tucked his face into Skylar’s neck. “I’ll just walk him to the car.” He reacted this way every time, so his grandparents were used to it.
It was brutally cold. I should’ve put my coat on. She cuddled her son closer to her body and pulled up the hood of his parka.
Mr. Ray set the suitcase in the trunk. “This everything?”
Skylar nodded, ready to hand him off, but Rocco clung to her. “Come on, sweetie.”
“No.” His fingernail scraped her chin, as he struggled in her arms. “I don’t want to go.”
Figured, the first words he’d spoken all morning, and they’d be killers. “I’m going to miss you so much, but I know you’re going to have fun playing with your cousins.” She reached for the handle on the car.
Rocco went nuts. “I’m not going. Mommy, no.”
In moments like these, she hated Eddie. If he’d just stepped up to be a dad, her son wouldn’t be torn apart like this. Her ex had taken a perfect canvas and slashed it with neglect.
“Hey, sweetie, look what we got for you.” Mrs. Ray held out an iPad. “You can watch movies on the plane.”
At that exact moment, when she was struggling to hold onto a boy who refused to part with her, when Mrs. Ray was trying to get Rocco to look at a device that meant nothing to him, Jinx’s big, black SUV rumbled around the corner. His headlights flashed at them, as he pulled in behind the Rays’ car.
“Let me just get him in his car seat.” With a hand on Rocco’s head, she ducked inside the heated car and plopped him down. As he thrashed and screamed, she kept a hand on his tummy. “Sweetheart, listen to me.” He kicked her elbow. “Hey, you hurt me. Will you just listen to me for a second? Baby, everything’s going to be fine. Grandma and Grandpa Ray love you very much, and they’re going to take good care of you.”