Skylar tore her gaze away from Jinx to focus on his mom. Immediately, she could see the woman’s struggle. She wanted it—no doubt about that—but she wasn’t ready to take that step. The purchase of a simple dress seemed like standing on the precipice of a new life.
“You don’t like it?” Jinx asked.
“No, I do. But it’s too expensive. I’m only going to wear it once.”
Jinx held it out to her. “Mom. It’s my gift to you.”
“I have plenty of dresses at home. Besides, the racetrack was more than enough. Let’s go home and rest a bit before we go to dinner.”
In his quiet, thoughtful way, Jinx took a moment to consider. As much as she wanted to help him, she knew this issue was between mother and son.
While he considered, Amanda’s finger ran along the collar of the dress.
“My job pays well,” Jinx said. “And I don’t have a lot of expenses. It makes me happy to do nice things for you. It’ll make me feel good to know you have a bunch of new clothes that make you happy.” He leaned closer to his mom. “Let me do this for you.”
“Okay.” His mom’s tone remained uncertain.
The salesclerk swung by. “This, too?”
Jinx handed it over. “Yes.”
“Okay, let’s see.” Skylar glanced around the small store. With its patterned red wallpaper and crystal chandeliers, it looked like the boudoir of a dancer from another era. “We have blouses, pants, and a couple of blazers.” That’s enough for now. “You ready to start trying them on?”
Amanda looked to her son for confirmation. It wasn’t about money. Maybe clothing felt too personal. Like, if you owned nice things, you’d have to wear them.
You’d have to be a different person.
“Okay,” Amanda finally said, and both Skylar and Jinx relaxed.
They followed her to the curtained dressing room and sat beside each other on a velvet love seat. Skylar reached for Jinx’s hand and squeezed, surprised by his eager, powerful grasp. “We’ll be right out here,” Skylar called. “Come show us your favorites.” She glanced over at him, his fierce expression getting her all riled up. God, she wanted to climb on his lap, scrape her fingernails across his scalp, and find out what a kiss from Jinx Costello felt like.
“Thank you.”
That mouth. She heard his words, but she read I’m gonna fuck you so hard in his eyes. “You’re welcome. I’m…” This is crazy.
Cut it out. You’re here for his mom.
He has a girlfriend.
The reminder dumped a pot of cold water on her libido. And, yeah, it sucked that she’d missed her shot with him, but maybe this trip—what she’d done for his mom—made up for the way she’d treated him.
“I’m happy to be here.” Her voice came out as dry and scratchy as sandpaper.
When his tongue came out and licked his bottom lip, she watched it, aware of the tingly sensations running down her spine and pulsing between her legs. The way her heart thundered, and desire blossomed across her skin told her she felt something very different from happy.
She was attracted to Jinx in a way she’d never felt before.
This is why I pushed him away.
Because it scared her half to death. Eddie had been her first love, and when he’d abandoned her, he’d broken more than her heart. He’d shattered her ability to trust.
But Jinx was a man. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of man. She could love him in that profound, in-sickness-or-in-health kind of way.
Which meant…he could destroy her.
He’s worth the risk.
And right then she knew it. If things didn’t work out with Lori, if he ever wanted to give her a second chance, she would absolutely, whole-heartedly take that risk.
When gratitude left his expression, when color rose high in his cheeks, when his gaze drifted down to her mouth, she knew he’d read every emotion in her heart. She released his hand. “Sorry.”
“For what?”
“Your girlfriend won’t appreciate me touching you. I know I wouldn’t want to see another woman’s hands on you.”
He took her hand back. “We broke up.”
Her body went hot. The clash of excitement and fear made her sick to her stomach. “You…what? Why? When?”
“Last night. Right before you came to my room.”
“But why? She’s so nice and…happy.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I dated her. She came out of nowhere…pulled me out of my cave, but I never caught feelings, you know?”
This weird, weightless feeling came over her. She wasn’t on the couch anymore. She was hovering, hope beating a painful drumbeat in her heart. Thoughts floated, but she refused to pull them in, to let them settle long enough to read them. Is this happening?
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.”