Chapter Eight
Jinx knew her words would make Viking smile.
Hearing him laugh soothed the jagged edges around her soul.
His brother was an obvious jerk. She’d seen the way he’d looked her up and down.
She was used to men and even women appraising her and finding her wanting.
Oh, there were patrons at the bar who would offer to take her home, or out for a quick fuck, but she wasn’t an idiot.
Anyone who came from a good family didn’t take a bartender home to meet their mama.
Of course, if they knew where she came from.
..no, she wouldn’t think like that. Her lineage wasn’t something she would use.
“Hey, where did you go?”
Viking’s gruff voice brought her out of her head, making her blink twice. Shit, she needed to stop thinking about the past if she didn’t want him to ask questions she didn’t want to answer.
“Sorry. I guess I’m still trying to get my legs under me. My thighs are still vibrating,” she said truthfully.
He stared at her for a long moment and then gave a stiff nod. “That’s normal for someone not used to riding. If I had you on the back of my bike, I’d have to make sure we didn’t go too long without breaks, or you’d be sore.”
“That sounds fun. I’ve never ridden on a bike.”
His eyes flared as if he were picturing them together, or maybe that was her wishful thinking.
“Mmm, we’ll have to rectify that.”
She dropped her eyes, not wanting to look like she was a schoolgirl drooling over her first crush. For crying out loud, he was a twenty-four-year-old woman, not a teenager getting asked out by the quarterback.
“I should probably get home and change for my shift at the bar tonight.” She bit her lip to keep from spewing more bullshit. Jinx had a feeling Viking could see through whatever mumbo jumbo she tossed out, so she didn’t waste her breath. Besides, the less she lied, the better she felt.
“What time do you have to be there?” he asked, looking at the watch on his wrist.
She glanced at her own, which wasn’t as fancy as his. “In four hours, but I want to get there a little earlier and make sure we’re stocked up properly before the evening rush. Sometimes I don’t have time to do that. With the holidays and all, you never know who will pop in for a drink.”
“Yeah, people love to celebrate even on Christmas.” He let out a deep breath. The same look of sadness she’d glimpsed at the restaurant washed over his face.
“What are you doing the rest of the evening? Big plans?” she asked.
“Well, I’m not hanging out with my brother, that’s for sure.” Viking glared in the direction his brother had gone.
She nodded. “On account of his little dick and all?”
A huge smile split his lips. “Fuck, you are good for me.”
She grinned back. “You’re the first person to say that.”
He stepped closer—his heat enveloping her in a comforting embrace. “I like being the first for you. In fact, I find myself liking lots of things about you.”
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, but for once, Jinx couldn’t think of a snappy comeback. Finally, she inhaled and let it out. “I like you too.”
He pinched her chin between two of his fingers, keeping her face where he wanted, and gave her a quick, hard kiss. “Come on, Cinderella. Let’s get you home so you can get ready. I don’t want you blaming me for making you late.”
“You just don’t want to be on the hook for taking care of me if I get fired, thanks to you.
” She gave her head a little shake, laughing.
Viking couldn’t know that Frank wouldn’t fire her unless she did something horrid, like embezzle a million dollars from him or murder a customer in cold blood in front of witnesses.
Even then, he’d probably ask if she had a good reason before firing her on the spot.
“You think so?” he asked.
She frowned up at him, wondering what he meant, but then her phone rang. She held up a finger. “Hey, Fred, what's up?”
Jinx shook her head, looking up at Viking, feeling her face go hot. “I did not leave with some stranger. I left with Bekkett Larsen. Who told you I climbed into some guy’s truck after making out with him like some hussy?”
Viking made a growling sound as if he was angry, but she couldn’t look at him as she paced away.
“Annie from the bank noticed your vehicle at the café in town. She said she went in to see if you, but Carly said you left with some big, burly man.”
Jinx pinched her nose. “That bitch knows exactly who I left with. Hell, I think everyone in town knows Bekkett better than they know me. She’s such a little whoremonger.”
Viking chuckled, then held his hands up as she glared at him
“Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you, but words. So, who are we gutting?” he asked.
“I’ll see you at the bar tonight. Don’t be late and don’t give me any shit, or I will kick you in your dick eye,” she promised.
Viking took a step back, placing one hand over his groin. “Woman, you’re scary when you’re angry. Sexy, but scary.”
She tucked her cell phone into her back pocket, planning exactly how she’d handle her retaliation on Carly.
The other woman hadn’t liked her since the guy she’d been dating began hitting on Jinx a couple of years ago.
Although Jinx turned him down flat each time, for whatever reason, Carly blamed Jinx for his continued pursuit.
Like it was her fault that the man was a jackhole who couldn’t stay faithful.
Truth be told, if she’d wanted to fuck around with him, she could’ve.
She never wanted to. Don and Carly were a dysfunctional couple who thrived on chaos.
Don liked to chase women, plural. Jinx wasn’t into their games.
After a few months, he’d given up, but he still came into the bar, and that was enough for Carly to assume they had a thing—stupid girl.
“I’m only scary when you fuck with me and mine,” she warned.
He stepped closer, crowding her against the wall.
“You have no clue how sexy you look and sound when you say things like that. Come on, before I fuck up and make you late for work for real. I’d hate to have Fred calling you out.
” He helped her out of the snow gear, making the removal a lot quicker than the putting on.
“If you want, we can stop by your place now, and you can change into your work clothes. I’ll wait in the truck and then drive you back into town so you can pick up your ride, and then you can go to work instead of doubling back.” Viking spoke as he backed up, then began turning in the big yard.
“Oh, that’s not necessary.”
He looked over at her. “Jinx, it’s a sound offer. Besides, I can catch up on some work things while you get ready. It makes a lot more sense than you driving back out here after I take you into town, and then you having to drive right back to the bar.”
She bit her lip and then nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure?”
It took them less than five minutes to drive the short distance to her road. He flipped the blinker on and made the turn without sliding like most. When her home came into view, he whistled.
“This is a nice piece of land. I can tell that’s one of my dad’s,” he said, jerking his chin toward the house.
“I love the place. Want to come in? You can work inside as well as you would out here. It’ll take me about half an hour at the most,” she said, wondering if she was an idiot for inviting him inside.
“If you’re sure.” He pulled up to her double garage, waiting for her to nod.
“Absolutely.”
Bekkett shut off his engine, and as if it were normal for him, he placed his hand on her arm. “Wait right there. I’ll come around and help you. It looks like there’s some ice on the driveway.”
She usually takes the time to sprinkle rock salt down on both sides.
Today, she’d been in a hurry and only did one side, figuring nobody else needed to get in and out.
It’s like the law of visitors. The one time you don’t make your bed, you’ll have a dozen people come over.
Shit, she sure hoped her house didn’t look as if a tornado had been through it.
Viking opened her door before she could panic about whether she’d left her house a complete disaster, reaching up to lift her out like she was weightless.
“You make a girl feel treasured,” she blurted.
He held her at eye level to his six-foot-four height, staring directly into her eyes. “You should always be made to feel that way, Jinx.”
“You’re an enigma, Viking. You’re here today, but you’ll be gone tomorrow. Don’t make me fall for you,” she whispered.
He pressed his forehead against hers. “That would be a bad bet for sure.” He kissed where they’d touched, then settled her onto the ground, keeping a firm hold on her arm so she wouldn’t slip and fall.
Jinx led the way, entering the code to unlock the door and let them inside. His hum of approval warmed her for reasons she wouldn’t put a name to. She shrugged her coat off and hung it on a peg in the mudroom where they entered.
“Feel free to hang your coat up. If you don’t want to take your boots off, you don’t have to.
” She eyed his big feet as she slid hers off, placing them upside down on the warmer.
There were two more sets for guests that would fit up to a size fourteen, which, by the looks of it, Viking’s would just fit.
He sat down on the bench after shrugging out of his coat and unlacing his boots one at a time. “Thank you. It’ll be nice to get out of them for a little bit.”
How men could look sexy and cute at the same time, she didn’t know, but the man sitting in her mudroom did it with ease. She turned away so she didn’t make a fool of herself.
“That’s how I feel after a long night of working at the bar. When I get home, I can’t wait to take off my shoes, then my bra. It’s like freedom.” She sang the last word like a loon, tossing her arms out wide.
Jinx looked over her shoulder to see if he had finished, coming to a startled stop as he stood right behind her. “Wow, you move fast and quietly for such a big guy.”