Jinx reached for her hand and pressed a kiss in the center of her palm.
Skylar felt small and insignificant in the backseat. Well, you can sit here and feel like a third wheel, or you can jump right in. “Calamity Joe’s has the world’s best muffins.”
Lori turned back to her. “Sorry, what?”
“Calamity Joe’s. They make their own muffins and scones, and they’re to die-for. Dates, peaches, they put all kinds of goodies in them. Delicious.” Oh, God.
Yep. I just used the word “goodies” with grown-ups.
Kill me now.
How ‘bout we up our game here? “So, how did you two meet?” And when? Because she’d never seen Jinx with anyone before.
“Do you know Callie Belle?” Lori asked.
“Of course. She’s a few years older than me, but she dated a Bowie all through high school, so yeah, everybody knew her.” The Bowie brothers were those elusive people—insanely handsome, athletic, and confident—who seemed lightyears beyond everyone else.
“Well, I came out here to see what she was doing with her Museum of Broken Hearts. I’m in the art world, so I like to keep up with what’s going on.”
“Oh, what do you do?”
“I work in my parent’s gallery. I’m a buyer. In fact, I came out here to check out Jackson’s work.”
“Jackson?”
Lori swiveled around, looking confused.
Jinx eyed Skylar in the rearview mirror. “My real name.”
“I had no idea.” How do I not know that? She’d never once thought to ask.
The moment he pulled in front of the coffee house, Lori unbuckled and got out of the car. As they headed inside, she said, “I only came out to Calamity for a visit.” She grinned mischievously. “But I could be persuaded to stay.”
Skylar shot a look to Jinx—were they that serious? But he was reaching for the door, holding it open for them.
“Have you seen Jinx’s art?” Lori asked.
Skylar took her place in line. “I have. It’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The place was warm and smelled of cinnamon and coffee. With Calamity situated in a valley created by the Teton and Gros Ventre Mountain ranges, tourists flocked to the area for outdoor adventures. Winter was a busy season, so the coffee place was already hopping. A rowdy group of snowboarders took up several tables and chairs with their gear.
“Exactly,” Lori said. “I’m so glad you feel the same way. The first time I spent the night at his place…” She cut Skylar a look. “Have you been there?”
“No.” She didn’t even know where Jinx lived. And, now that she knew he’d lost a father and a brother, she hated the idea that he’d been so alone and isolated these past two years.
And, suddenly, this cheerful, affectionate woman made sense. She’s just what he needs.
“Well, the first time I spent the night, I smelled something,” Lori said. “Literally, the most familiar scent in the world for the daughter of Clyde Von Hausen and Lillith Vanderburgh.” She waited expectantly, but Skylar had never heard of them. “My parents are very well-known in the art world. Anyhow, I followed my nose down the hallway, and there’s this bedroom—” She leaned against Jinx, and he put his arm around her. “He’d turned it into a studio and filled it with paintings. I mean, there’s enough canvas in there to keep a gallery in business for a year. And I asked him if he needed my help trying to decide which ones to submit, and he goes, Submit to what?” Lori laughed, turning to the counter when it was their time to order. “I’ll take the yummiest and biggest caramel macchiato you’ve got. Oh, and with a big ole swirl of whipped cream on top. To go, please.” She looped her arm through Jinx’s. “Honey?”
“Yeah, can I get a sausage and cheddar egg sandwich?”
“Sure,” the barista said. “Any coffee with that?”
“Just this.” He held up the water bottle he’d grabbed from the refrigerated case. “Sky?”
She didn’t want him paying, so she focused on the baked goods. “You guys go ahead. I’m still deciding which muffin I want.”
Jinx leaned in close, giving her a whiff of his masculine and too appealing scent. “This trip’s on me. I’m paying for everything, no discussion.”
She cracked a grin. “Okay, fine. I’d like a skim decaf latte and a ginger pumpkin muffin—wait, no, I think I’ll try the banana chocolate chunk.”
“We’ll take both, please.” Jinx pulled out his wallet.
The three of them stepped aside to wait for the drinks.
“Can you believe he doesn’t even think about showing his work?” Lori said. “Do you know how much money he could make? Believe me, I’ve grown up in museums and art galleries. I recognize talent.”
Skylar looked to Jinx to see what he thought of all this, but he just stood there quietly.
“I’m going to make him famous.” Lori rubbed his arm. “And then he’ll be the toast of the New York City art world. Right, babe?”
Fear pinched Skylar’s heart. “You’re leaving Calamity?”
His gaze jerked over to hers with an expression she was pretty sure said, You care?
And she was surprised at her own answer. Yeah. I do.
Why hadn’t she been kinder to him? She didn’t have to date him, but they could’ve been friends.
The barista called their names. Grabbing their cups and food, they headed over to the sugar station.
Skylar gave Jinx a soft smile. “I had no idea painting custom bikes was just a side gig.”
“Oh, believe me,” Lori said. “He’s destined for great things. Mark my words.” She tipped her head against his shoulder. “We make a great team.”
“I see that.” Maybe it was because she hadn’t had a boyfriend since high school, but seeing their closeness hurt. She pointed to the door. “I’m going to give Rocco’s grandparents a quick call, make sure he’s all right.” She missed her son fiercely.
She missed a lot of things.
Like companionship. And spooning. And holding hands. And passion.
She’d held off on dating for Rocco’s sake, but maybe…just maybe she was ready.
Inside the big, cleanly-swept garage, Jinx talked motorcycles with a huge, inked biker, while Skylar caught up on emails on her phone. Every now and then, the guy let out a booming laugh that totally jarred her. Blake had such a big personality, she could only smile.
The drive to Vegas was only ten hours from Calamity, but they’d left early to meet with this potential client, whose story had moved Jinx. His wife of twenty-three years had lost her battle with cancer. Apparently, the woman was so beloved in this small Utah town that five hundred people had come for her funeral.
“That’s…this is what you came up with?” It was the heavy emotion in the man’s voice that grabbed her attention.
She looked up from her phone to see him staring at the drawing Jinx had handed him. It was just the initial sketch. He’d told her it would go through several revisions before he painted it on the man’s Harley.
“How’d you know about the dragonflies?” Blake never looked up.