“I checked out her social media pages,” Jinx said quietly.
“You even got her begonias. This is…I’ve seen your work, that’s why I reached out to you, but I never…I mean, the details…” Sifting his fingers through his long salt and pepper beard, he couldn’t take his eyes off the drawing. He let out a shaky sigh.
The longer the silence went on, the more uncomfortable Skylar grew. She should leave, give them time alone, yet moving would jar the client out of this intense moment.
Finally, Blake cupped a hand over his mouth and looked away. Blinking rapidly, he drew the heel of his palm across his damp cheek. “You got…” His voice had grown thick, rougher, and he swallowed. “How’d you know about our Charlie?”
On the way down here, Jinx had told her about the defining moment in this couple’s life. It had taken them ten years to finally get pregnant, and then they’d lost the baby. Blake’s lips trembled, and a rush of tears spilled down his cheeks.
Jinx moved in, drawing the big man into his arms and giving him a hug. “I got you.” He tightened his hold. “I got you.”
The biker nearly collapsed around Jinx, but her friend held his ground and propped the man up.
Tears blurred her vision, and sadness weighed heavily on her.
Jinx is such a good man.
I’m a damn fool.
Jinx: You up?
Skylar eyed the text from Jinx as she finished the last few swipes of mascara. Shoving the wand back inside the tube, she picked up her phone and took a selfie in the mirror as a response.
Jinx: Breakfast?
Skylar: Yes, starving.
She waited for more—where to meet, what time—but in typical Jinx fashion nothing came. Before this trip, his quietness had aggravated her. Now, though, it intrigued her. She wanted to know him.
She tossed the mascara into her make-up bag and then dropped it in the suitcase she’d left open on her bed. Then, grabbing her keycard, she headed out the door.
A zing of awareness shot through her at the sight of tall, dark, and tattooed Jinx leaning against the wall. He had an intense way of looking at her that stirred something dark and decadent…something she hadn’t felt in a very long time.
An image flashed in her mind. Jinx lifting her and pressing her against the wall, taking what he wanted. He’d be the best kisser, she just knew it.
Damn, no wonder Lori was always touching him.
They headed toward the elevators. “You’re up early,” she said.
“Always.”
“Yeah? Me, too, but that’s not exactly by choice.” She smiled to let him know she had zero resentment towards her son for the schedule she kept. She loved every minute with her baby boy. “What gets you up so early?”
“Got stuff to do.”
She pressed the button. “The garage doesn’t even open until eight.”
“I do other stuff.”
“Like?”
He hunched a shoulder. “I eat, read, paint.”
“You’re an interesting man, Jinx Costello.” As they boarded, she remembered what Lori had called him. “So…why do they call you that?”
“Jinx?”
She nodded.
“Ah. I might need coffee first.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be nosy.”
They were quiet for a moment, and then he said, “I like that about you.”
“Like what?”
“You care. About the people in your world.” He paused. “It’s nice.”
The doors parted, and they stepped into an active lobby. The hotel had a hot breakfast bar, but Jinx steered her outside. “Saw a diner across the street. Might be better food.”
The morning was cold enough to hurt when she inhaled, but she didn’t mind. The icy air cleared her mind and awakened her senses. She missed Rocco, for sure, but…she was happy to be with Jinx.
And what a surprise that is.
He had this rough exterior—the scruff, the tats, the muscles—but an incredibly sensitive soul.
They dashed across the street and entered a lively restaurant. Grabbing menus, the hostess led them to a red booth. The warmth stung her cheeks.
“Can I get you started with some coffee?” the woman asked.
“Yes,” they said at the same time.
The woman grinned. “Be right back.”
Jinx scanned his menu briefly, then set it down. “So…Jinx.” He picked up the salt shaker, tilting it from side to side. “My brother was part of a motorcycle club, and they all had road names.” His gaze flicked up to her. “I told you he died on his way to my dad’s funeral.”
She nodded, seeing his pain etched into the lines around his eyes and mouth. She had to check her impulse to reach for him.
“I took it hard, his passing. Dropped out of school, spent time fixing up his bike. After I painted a memorial to him on it, his friends saw it and asked me to paint their bikes. I did it, and so I hung around with them for a while.” He cocked his head. “Maybe a year or so? From the beginning, they called me Jinx. It stuck. Guess they thought I was bad luck.”
“Jinx…no.” God. “What happened to you was horrible. I don’t know about luck, but if that’s what you want to call it, it was the worst kind. You certainly didn’t bring it on.”
The waiter flipped over their mugs and poured the coffee. “You ready to order?”
“I’d like two eggs over easy, whole wheat toast, please.” Skylar handed the menu to her.
“Omelet. Cheddar cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms.” Jinx gave her the menu. “Thanks.”
“You got it.” She took off.
After Skylar added cream and sugar to her coffee, she held the mug in both hands, letting the warmth seep in. “I’m very sorry, Jinx. I can’t believe you lost them both like that.”
“My brother was the hardest. I loved my dad, of course, but my brother…”
“You were close.”
“Sounds weird, considering we were only a couple years apart, but yeah. In some ways, I raised him.” He glanced out the window. “I didn’t want to go to college across the country, but I got a full ride to Parson’s, and it seemed stupid to blow it off.”
“You’re not blaming yourself, are you? That he got involved in a motorcycle club?”
“I don’t know about blame. I know he didn’t apply to college. I know he worked in a garage, made friends with some of the guys. They became his family.”
“You just feel like, if you’d been around, he’d have gone in a different direction?”
“I know he would have. I’m the one who was on his case to get homework done, meet his responsibilities. Yeah, it would’ve turned out differently if I’d been around.” His features twisted in pain as he stared into his coffee mug. “But it’s not like I should’ve stayed home and not gone to college. I wasn’t his parent.” He tugged on his scruff. “I don’t blame myself, but I…” He let out a rough exhalation. “I guess it all gets tangled up inside me.”
“I’m sure it does. Jinx, that’s a heavy load to carry.” She couldn’t stand it. She reached across the table and covered his hand. “But you have to know nothing good can come out of taking the blame for something you had no control over.”