by Elena Aitken
Could he be coming back to her? She reached for the armrest to keep her grounded.
“And I guess being around you really drove that home.”
Happiness hit like a punch to the chest, knocking her back. Tears burned, and she couldn’t explain it. It made no sense. “You…have feelings for me?”
“I think you know I always have. It’s cool. I know you’re not into me. But it’s there for me, and I can’t pretend it’s not. So, I ended it. It’s not fair to be thinking of one woman when you’re with someone else.”
She could barely speak past the emotions hurtling through her. “She must be devastated.” Her voice sounded scraped raw. A hot tear spilled onto her cheek.
He reared back. “Oh, Jesus. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She shook her head. “You didn’t. I’m just…” An army of fire ants marched through her body. She was stinging, burning…and… “I’m scared.”
“Of me?” He looked appalled.
“No, no.” She swiped the tear away. “Of this. Us.”
He leaned in close. “Why? Why does it scare you?”
“God, Jinx. Because it’s big, this thing. We’re—”
The curtain swished, and Amanda stepped out of the dressing room in a teal-colored short-sleeved swing dress. The belt showed off a trim waist and the flare of her hips. She turned to face the mirror. “Oh. I don’t know where I’d wear something like this.” Excitement radiated off her. There was no hiding how much she loved the dress.
“It looks great on you, Mom. We’re getting it.”
Amanda’s eyes sparkled. “I don’t have shoes or…jewelry.” Her hand went to her hair. “I can’t remember the last time I had a cut.” She turned to them. “I don’t need this dress. I have something I can wear tonight.”
Jinx squeezed Skylar’s hand and got up. “You like it?”
Amanda couldn’t take her eyes off her image in the mirror. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Then, get it,” Jinx said. “And anything else you tried on that you liked.”
Skylar hopped up. “Dinner’s not until eight, so we have plenty of time to get shoes and jewelry. And, if you’re interested, I asked about the salon in my hotel, and they take walk-ins.”
“How’re you doing?” the clerk said, as she approached. “Oh, that looks fabulous. It’s made for you.”
“It really is,” Skylar said.
Amanda looked to her son, and Jinx gave her a single, deep nod.
“Okay.” Amanda’s tone said, This is out of my control. I’m just going along with these crazy people. “I’ll get it.”
“Great. Anything else?” the clerk asked.
“I’ve got a few more things.” Amanda gestured to the dressing room. “But I’d like to look at shoes and jewelry for the dress. My son’s taking me dancing tonight.”
The clerk smiled. “I’ve got just the pair of heels to go with it. You’re going to love them. Come on, let me show you.”
Skylar started off after them, but Jinx grabbed her wrist and hauled her back.
“We are big.” His intensity thrilled her. “But you can count on me. You can trust me, Skylar.”
As Jinx pulled into his mom’s condominium complex, she said, “She’s lovely.”
He glanced at her, unused to that soft voice. “Skylar?”
Her mom nodded, curiosity in her eyes. “Is there anything there? I mean, I know you’re seeing someone else, but the chemistry between the two of you is off the charts.”
“I broke up with Lori.”
“Oh, I didn’t know.”
“Yeah. Last night.”
“Because of Skylar?”
“Because I…” Because it’s big this thing, us. He couldn’t believe she felt it, too. He wouldn’t let his hopes get too high, though. He could’ve misunderstood. She could’ve meant something else entirely. “Yes, because of Skylar. I’ve been in love with her for two years. She never gave me the time of day.”
“Until now.”
“I don’t know, Mom.” He pulled into a parking spot right alongside his SUV.
After the boutique, they’d gone back to the hotel. Oddly, Skylar hadn’t come to the hair salon with them. Said she’d had a few errands to run. He’d given her the keys to his car and hadn’t heard from her since.
But she was back at his mom’s place, and he couldn’t wait to see her.
When he met his mom in front of her car, she stopped on the sidewalk and pressed her hand to his forearm. “I do. I see the way she looks at you—and it’s a mix of…honestly? She looks at you with awe. Like she can’t believe you’re real. But, also, there’s fear there. I don’t know her story—only that she’s a single mom—but I think you need to be careful with her. If you can do that, I think you two could have something special.”
“I don’t know what she wants.”
“Ask her. If you’ve learned anything from watching your parents, it’s that you have to listen to each other. Ask her what she wants and always, always find ways to compromise.”
He could hear how important it was to her, so he said, “I will.” But she didn’t know that he’d wait as long as necessary, and he’d give Skylar whatever she needed to feel safe with him. He wasn’t going anywhere.
They headed up the stairs to his mom’s unit. Before unlocking her door, he turned to her, taking in the stylish haircut, the warm chestnut color, and the professional make-up job. “You look great, Mom.” Sophisticated, elegant. “I didn’t bring Skylar here because I think you’re not beautiful enough. I don’t care how you dress or whether you blow dry your hair. I just want to see you living again. That’s all.”
“I know that, I do. And even though I resisted, I’m actually amazed at what a good haircut and some make-up can do for my attitude. I feel…” She grinned. “Pretty badass.”
He opened the door, and they both reared back at the strong scent of cinnamon and pine.
“What’s going on?” His mom pushed past him.
Skylar had transformed the place. A Douglas Fir took up one corner of the room, tinsel and ornaments glittering in the multi-colored string of lights. She hadn’t seen them enter, as she stuffed wrapped presents inside the stockings she’d rested on top of the squat entertainment center.
Her ass shook as she sang along with Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run.” When she leaned over to pick up another present, she cut a look to the doorway and jerked up. “Oh.” She shut off the music. “You scared the bejesus out of me.”
Late afternoon light spilled into the room, and everything looked so damn cheerful.
“What have you done?” His mom touched the garlands hanging off the curtain rod.
Skylar hugged the present to her chest. “Is this all right? I wanted to surprise you.”
“But Christmas is over.”
“Oh, if you’re worried about the cost, I got this tree from a man who was clearing out his lot. He gave it to me for free. And the ornaments are all from CVS. They were seventy-five percent off. But, I mean, you can store everything for next year.” Her gaze slid to his with a grimace that said, Did I mess up?
But his mom rushed over to her, throwing her arms around her. “Thank you, Skylar. This is wonderful. I would never have done this for myself, but I love it.”
Skylar hadn’t known Amanda long, but the haircut and color, the new clothes, shoes, and jewelry had definitely lifted her spirits. And the way she grinned while her dance partner spun and whirled her on the parquet floor—well, she looked radiant.
Jinx watched his mom with a foul expression. “What’s up with that guy?” He turned back to Skylar.
“What do you mean? They’re having fun.”
“Why’s he so into her?”
“Um, because she’s beautiful and they have a lot in common.” He was being protective, and it was adorable. “They’re a good match.”
The moment Amanda had entered the club, with its black banquettes and gaudy chandeliers, the walls covered with signed pho
tos of the rat pack, she’d lit up. A fifties-style band played “Come Fly with Me,” and she danced with the owner of the car racing facility. He was the one who’d told Skylar about this place, had thought Amanda might like it.
He was right.
“If he thinks my mom’s just some hookup—”
She rested her hand on his arm. “No, he doesn’t. He’s fifty-nine-years-old. His wife of thirty years died five years ago, and it took him a long time to even think about dating. The past year he’s been going out because his kids are worried about him.”
“You got all this while I went to the bathroom?”
She smiled. “No, it took longer than that. But you were too busy watching your mom smoke all the other drivers on the track.” She tipped her chin to the dance floor. “Look at her.”
Gavin swirled Amanda around the dance floor. He dipped her, and her leg kicked out. She laughed as she settled back in his arms, her new haircut letting her hair swing right back into place.
Jinx watched in disbelief. “I’ve never seen her like this.”
“I think she’s going to be okay. Even if she never sees Gavin again, she’s had this night—this whole day—to open her eyes to a world of possibilities.”
“She thanked me.” He seemed a little choked up. He reached for his gin and tonic but didn’t drink. “She said when she first moved here, she went out to dinner a couple times and saw a few of the sights, but nothing really interested her. The clubs with loud music and flashy clothes, the restaurants, the casinos…it wasn’t her scene. But today, you opened up a whole new world for her.” He reached for her hand. “She’s going to call that company about being a test driver.” Emotion gripped his features. “I’ve wanted her out of the ER for years. On one level, she’s trying to keep people who’ve been in terrible accidents alive, since she couldn’t be there for her husband and son. But, on another, she’s reliving it every single day. I’ve wanted her to move on, to see a whole new canvas, for so damn long.”
She couldn’t help it. She brushed the hair off his forehead. “Kind of like Lori did for you?”
“No.” He grabbed her wrist. “You did that. I would never have gone out with Lori if you hadn’t knocked me on my ass so hard.” He kissed her hand, the look in his eyes saying, It’s you. It’s always been you.
“I’m so glad I could help you date other women.” Oh, shit. She’d meant it as a joke, but when his eyebrows shot up, she heard how bitter she’d sounded. And, in that moment, she knew it was time to let the past go. If she wanted anything to develop between her and Jinx, she had to let go of the hurt and fear. “I was so jealous when I saw you and Lori together. I knew I had no right to be. I just…I’d gotten used to you wanting me, I hadn’t expected it to go away and…when it did, it hurt.”
“It never went away. Never will.” He cupped her chin. “This afternoon, when my mom was in the dressing room, you said ‘it’s big this thing, us.’ You were going to say something else. What was it?”
This is my chance. Take it. “That what we have…it’s so much more than simple attraction. And that’s what scares me. I…” She reached for a sugar packet and tapped it on the white tablecloth. “Ugh. I’m going to sound like a mess.”
“You’re the least messy person I know.”
“In most ways, you’re right. But in this one—relationships? I’m a big, complicated mess. The biggest problem for me is, if we don’t work out…if we break up or you leave town…Rocco couldn’t handle that.”
The truth hit her like a wall of ocean water, knocking her back so hard she lost her breath. “Oh, my God.” She tossed the sugar packet, shook her head. “It’s not Rocco I’m protecting. It’s me. I’m the one who couldn’t handle falling for you the way I know I would—because this connection we have? It’s just so strong. And if I open my heart again…you don’t know. I love so hard, Jinx. So hard.”
“I sure as fuck do know. You think I don’t see how much you love your son? Your brother…your family? I want that, Sky. And you can bet, if you trust me with that kind of love, I will never take it for granted. Not for a second. Because I’m going to treat you like a queen. I’m going to make sure you know every single minute of every day that you’re the most beautiful person on this earth.” He grabbed her other hand. “I’m crazy about you, Skylar James. The only time—” He closed his mouth, the muscle in his jawing flexing.
She moved closer to him. “The only time what?”
The intensity in his eyes burned right through to her heart, giving her a punch of adrenaline. “The only time I’m at peace is when I’m with you. Every day, I go through the motions. My life’s separated into all these little pieces, work, home, my mom. But when I’m with you and Rocco, everything falls into place, and I feel whole.”
“Rocco?” Did he even know what he just said?
“Yes, when I’m with the two of you…why are you looking at me like that?”
“You feel whole with us…not just with me?”
“Rocco is you. I want the whole package.”
Dead. Skylar James was dead. This man…holy mother of God. Her lower lip trembled, and there was nothing she could do to keep the tears from spilling hot onto her cheeks. “You’re…God, Jinx.”
“Yeah. I feel the same way. Come on.” He slid out of the booth. “Let’s dance.”
“You want to dance right now?”
He drew her into his arms, snugged her right up against him. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. “It’s either that or make out with you at the table. You don’t know how hard it is not to touch you.”
“Oh, yes, I do.”
He rested his forehead on hers. “Yeah? You want to touch me? Because there’s nothing stopping you. You can touch me all you want.”
“I’m pretty sure we’d be kicked out if I touched you where I want.”
He exhaled a hot, drawn-out fuck right at her ear. Wrapping his arms around her waist, his hands splayed on the top swells of her ass, he pressed his hips to hers. “You’re killing me.”
The feel of his hard cock against her stomach sent a sharp spike of arousal through her. She clung to him, forcing herself not to move her hips to get the friction she desperately needed.
“I like everything about you. The way you smell.” He held her tighter, and she could feel the tremble in his arms. “Your hair. It’s feisty, just like you. I like the way your eyes light up when you see my mom happy.” He pressed her closer to him. “I want you, Skylar Bennington James.”
She tipped her head back to see him better. “You know my middle name?”
“’Skylar Bennington James, you put that down right this minute.’”
She laughed at the way he mimicked her mom’s tone whenever she was angry at her children. Dropping her forehead to his shoulder, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I want you, too, Jackson Matthew Costello.” A shiver tripped down her spine, creating a wave throughout her entire body. “I like you too much.”
He tipped her chin. “How much?”
He’d opened his heart to her, and it was time she did the same. “I’m ready.”
He looked confused. “For?”
“I’m done fighting my feelings for you. It was easy to push you away when it was nothing more than physical attraction. You’re gorgeous, and you’ve got a body to die for. Those things I could resist. But you’re the kindest, sweetest, most generous man I’ve ever known. And…” Tears burned.
“No, no more tears. I can’t take it.”
She shook her head. She needed to say this. “But you’re so good with my son.” She held his gaze, and emotion swelled so big and hard she couldn’t contain it. “I like you so much, Jinx, and I…” She got up on her toes, clasped a hand around his neck and drew his mouth down to hers. “I really want to kiss you.”
The first brush of lips sent sparks shooting through her. This big, hard muscled man was so gentle, his lips soft. He kissed her like she was a precious thing, like he wanted to savor this moment
he’d waited so long for.
But she was too needy, too desperate for him. Licking the seam of his mouth, she felt a shudder run through his body. When their tongues collided, the world burst into a shower of stars, and—Oh, my God—she’d never wanted anyone the way she wanted him. “You think your mom will mind if we leave without her?”
Grabbing her hand, he led her across the dance floor and whispered into his mom’s ear. She glanced to Skylar, looking concerned.
When he came back to her, she said, “What did you tell your mom?”
“I might’ve said I needed to get you to bed.”
“You what?” She nudged him. “You did not tell your mom we’re leaving to have sex.”
He grinned. “She thinks you’re not feeling well.”
“Thank God.”
Right there on the dance floor, he cupped her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. “Just so we’re clear, I get that you’re away from your son, you’re in Vegas, and you want to have some fun. But I don’t want an hour with you. I don’t want one night.”
“What do you want?”
“Everything.” His desire for her made her knees buckle. “I want everything with you.”
Chapter 6
Jinx kicked the door shut, bent his knees, and lifted Skylar into his arms. Pressing her against the wall, he kissed her with relief and hunger, along with a roiling panic that wouldn’t subside.
After tonight, he couldn’t go back to a life without her. If she only wanted one night, if she got spooked by her trust issues again, it would destroy him.
Her fingers gripped the hair at the back of his neck, and she ground herself against him, her desperate moans winding him up and drowning his concerns. For now, at least, she was in this with him.
After two years of rejection, to finally be with her…it made it that much hotter.
“Come here.” Gently, he set her down and led her to the bed. Throwing the covers back, he sat down to untie his boots and kick them off. He pulled his long-sleeve T-shirt over his head and reached for the top button of his jeans. When he noticed her standing there, watching, his hands stilled. Fear sliced through him. “What?” Was she changing her mind?
