“But you’re so talented. You don’t understand how important your work is.”
“But that’s the point. I do understand how important it is. It’s important to everyone who hires me to paint their bikes. Listen, the point isn’t about art or moving. When I said we’re not on the same page, I meant with our relationship. I think you’re a few steps ahead of me.”
She sucked in a breath. “You don’t see a future with me?”
I only see Skylar James. She’s in my blood and my tissue and fibers. “No,” he said quietly. “I don’t.”
“Then what have we been doing?”
“Dating. We’ve known each other two months, and we’ve gone on seven dates.”
“But who’s keeping count, right? Jackson, I’m thirty years old. I’ve had enough boyfriends to know—when I finally meet the right guy—that he’s the one.”
“I’m not the one, Lori.” He said it as gently as he could.
“This is about her, isn’t it? I knew it. I saw it in the pictures.”
“Saw what?”
“When you were at the fountains, Skylar took a picture of you and your mom. And your mom’s all amazed at the show, but you’re just standing there staring at Skylar. I could see it on your face. You’re in love with her.”
“I’m not ending things with you because of another woman. I’m ending it because I don’t feel the same way you do.”
“No, it is her. I see the way you look at her. God, Jackson, how can you choose her over me? She has a kid. Do you really want to be a father to some kid who’s not yours?”
“You’re jumping ahead. Skylar’s not interested in me. She made that clear the moment I met her. I’m talking about us. We want different things, and I’m not in this with you.”
“Are you seriously breaking up with me?”
“I am. I’ve had a great time with you, but we just don’t want the same things.”
“I need to go.”
“I’m sorry, Lori. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Well, you did.”
After she disconnected, he tipped his forehead to the cool glass. While he was glad it was done, he hated that he’d left her so unhappy. He’d honestly had no clue she’d envisioned a life for them in New York.
He’d like to say breaking up with Lori had cleared the way for a relationship with Skylar, but that wasn’t true. He was back to being alone.
Lori had pulled him out of his isolation. Funny thing, he’d told her he liked working with people in his garage, as opposed to being alone in a studio, but he’d never gone out for drinks with the others. For the first few months he’d worked there, he’d gotten nightly invitations to join them. The offers had dwindled, and now everyone left him alone.
Just like he’d wanted.
Just like Mom.
A knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts.
He hoped like hell it was Skylar, but he knew better. The moment they’d stepped off the elevator, she’d practically raced to her room. She couldn’t wait to get away from him.
Peering through the peephole, his heart about exploded when he saw that short, platinum hair. Flinging the door open, he said, “Hi.” Too excited, he tried to calm down. “Hey.” He stepped aside to let her in.
“You okay?”
“Sure. What’s up?” The question came out so curtly, it had to have sounded like he didn’t want her here. “Come in.”
Watching him carefully, she headed into his room “You seemed disappointed with how things went today, so I wanted to check in with you.”
“I did?”
“Yeah. You didn’t seem to have fun at the shark reef or the fountain or the restaurant or the show....”
“I had a great day. I guess I was disappointed that she’s lived here for five years and still doesn’t know her way around the city. She left Arizona to get away from the memories, but the only thing she changed is her zip code.”
A devilish grin lit up her eyes. “You trust me?”
He didn’t even have to think about it. “Completely.”
“I needed a day to get to know her. Here.” She handed him a piece of paper. “Tomorrow’s itinerary. If you don’t like anything on here, let me know, and I’ll make some changes. But all day, I had these ideas for things to do, and I couldn’t wait to get back to the room to book them.”
“And here I thought you couldn’t wait to get away from me.”
“What? No.” Her cheeks burned red. “Of course not.”
He glanced down at the list but didn’t bother reading anything. He didn’t care. He was just really fucking glad to hear she hadn’t run from him. Even happier to feel the energy crackling between them. “Thanks.”
“Hope you’ve got room on your credit card, because we’re going to have fun tomorrow.”
“Don’t you know?”
“Know what?”
“When it comes to—” He caught himself before he said, You. “My mom, anything goes.”
She stood there in baggy pajama pants with little Santas all over them and a long-sleeve red T-shirt, and she was the sexiest woman he’d ever seen. He loved how her short hair let him see her whole face. It made her light brown eyes pop and accentuated the mouth he ached to kiss.
“Big spender, huh?”
“I live alone in a studio apartment over Mr. Takashi’s garage. I don’t have many expenses.”
“Makes it easier to pick up and move onto the next town, huh?” She said it playfully, but he knew she was testing him.
And, if he had a hope in hell with this woman, he would not fail. “I’m not moving on. I’m staying in Calamity.” He gestured to a set of chairs in front of the window. “You want something to drink? I bought some waters from the gift shop.”
“No, thanks. I’m about to go to sleep.”
Still, she didn’t go. He didn’t mind. He could stand here and talk to her all night long. He liked the sound of her voice and the way she was always pressing her hand against her collarbone, gently, just resting it there. It drew his attention to the lack of rings on it.
He’d like to put one on the finger next to her pinkie.
A jolt of energy blasted through him. The startling truth of it: he wanted to marry this woman. That’s how sure I am about her. He’d be a dad to Rocco, and he’d get to wake up to her beautiful face every day for the rest of his life.
Determination seized him. I want her.
And I’m not going to give up. “How’s Rocco doing?” There wouldn’t be anymore Loris. He’d wait as long as it took to win over Skylar James.
“He’s good. Eddie bailed on the trip, so that eliminates that worry. Everyone else in the family loves Rocco. So, now, I can really enjoy myself.” She headed to the door. “Be ready, painter boy. Tomorrow’s going to be a blast.”
Chapter 5
Jinx sat on the bleachers, the bill of his ball cap shielding the sun from his eyes. The roar of engines filled the brisk air, and his ass hurt from sitting so long on the metal bench, but he didn’t care.