Chapter Eleven
Viking settled Jinx into the passenger seat of his truck.
He’d left his family home like his ass had been on fire without explaining the reason why.
Not that he owned them one, but when he stayed with his parents, he usually kept them up to date on his comings and goings.
Luckily for him, his mother hadn’t been anywhere in sight when he’d left, and his father barely looked up from where he’d been reading something on his tablet when he’d hollered a curt bye.
“I think the truck stop on the other side of town has pretty good food, if my memory serves me correctly. You want to eat there or want to drive around looking for something else?” he asked, looking at her from the corner of his eye. Her silence worried him.
“That actually sounds really good. I love their omelets.” She gripped her knees like she didn’t know what to do with her hands.
He reached over, putting his hand over hers.
Again, he noticed the difference in their sizes.
She’d said she was average, but to him, she was small.
His one hand could span both of hers across her knees that she’d locked together.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you nervous? I can take you home and drop you off if—”
She twisted in her seat, one leg going under her, so she was facing him. His hand fell, so he placed it on the console between them.
“I feel like a damsel in distress, and that’s not how I want you to see me.”
He shook his head and turned into the empty parking lot next to them.
Once he was able to put the truck into gear, he shifted to face her.
“I don’t look at you like that. Hell, shit happens to the best of us.
Just because you had a little issue like two flat tires doesn’t make you a damsel or whatever.
I’m damn glad you needed me tonight. I was going stir-crazy at my parents' place waiting long enough before I could head out and come to the bar without looking like a stalker or something.”
The admission didn’t feel heavy after he laid his truth out.
She didn’t say anything for a few seconds.
Her silence unnerved Viking as she stared at him, weighing his words like she didn’t know whether to believe him or not.
He let her take her time deciding. Finally, she blinked slowly and let out a breath that made her chest rise and fall, drawing his attention to the red sweater he’d admired earlier.
“Are you checking me out?” she asked.
He grinned. “Guilty as charged. Have I told you how much I enjoy all your curves, even that bubble butt you spoke about?”
She tried to cover her face, but Viking wasn’t having any of it. He reached for her hands, pulling them from her face. “Seriously, you have no clue how appealing you are. Now, if you are ready, I’d like to take you to a truck stop for some fine dining.” He wagged his brows, making her laugh.
“That is the most oxymoronic thing I’ve ever heard.” She kept her hands in his, giving a slight squeeze.
“Are you calling me a moron?” He gave a little tug, pulling her closer to the center, meeting her halfway. As their faces were inches apart, he stared her in the eyes.
“I’d never be so bold,” she whispered.
“Mmmm, I don’t know if I believe you.” Viking rubbed his nose against hers.
“Shut up and kiss me.”
He didn’t bother wasting another breath with words.
Tilting his head to the side, he brought his face the scant inches needed to touch his lips to hers, sealing their mouths in a sweet, all-consuming kiss.
They’d kissed several times before, but this time, he felt as though they connected on a deeper level.
She tunneled her fingers in his hair, holding him as she swept her tongue into his mouth.
He let her set the pace, moaning as she bit his bottom lip and then sucked it into her mouth.
He pulled back, staring into her heated gaze.
“You sure know how to knock a man off his feet.” He swiped his tongue over his lips, tasting her there.
“Good thing we were sitting down.”
Her stomach rumbled. Jinx laughed, pressing one of her hands over her abdomen.
“That settles it. I’m going to feed you, and then we’ll see how the night goes. No pressure.” His dick didn’t agree as it pushed against his zipper. The indent would surely be permanent if he didn’t give it some relief soon.
They drove to the diner connected to the truck stop. He was surprised to find it fairly busy on Christmas night, but he shouldn’t have been.
With his hand on the small of Jinx’s back, he guided her inside, waiting by the hostess's table to be seated. Jinx looked around, then at the floor, then up at him.
“Are you nervous?”
Her head shot up to his. “Fuck no. I didn’t know if you knew anyone here.”
He took in the others sitting around, then down at Jinx. “Not really. Even if I did, it wouldn’t bother me to be here. Do I look like a snob or something?”
She gave a little laugh. “No, it’s just that I’m kind of a loner. I wasn’t sure if you’d feel out of place being out with me. I’m sure many locals recognize me as the girl who works at Taps. Until yesterday, I didn’t even know you existed. How weird is that?”
The hostess returned, smiling broadly at them. “Hi, are you two ready to be seated?”
Viking nodded. “Yes. If you have a booth, that would be great.”
“Absolutely. Follow me.”
Viking gestured for Jinx to move before him, his hand automatically going to her lower back.
He’d had many women since his ex-wife passed away, but never had he wanted to be with any of them outside of the clubhouse or bedroom.
Not that he was a dick to any of them, he’d always ensured their comfort and safety.
He didn’t feel the need or desire to build a relationship with one who could or would ultimately betray him again.
His family said he needed counseling, but he’d chosen distance and new people to be his family.
The Royal MC became his brothers, and their wives his to protect.
He’d found comfort watching over them, talking and hanging out with their families without getting too close to get burned.
“Here you go,” the hostess said, stopping at a corner booth. “Your waitress will be Jessica. If you need anything, let her know.”
Viking waited until Jinx settled into the seat, and then he slid across from her. She looked happy.
“What’s that smile for?” he asked, shrugging out of his coat.
Jinx slipped her arms out of hers, placing them beside her. She folded her hands on the table, pausing with a laugh. “You don’t even see it, do you?”
He shook his head and reached across to enfold her hands in his. “See what?”
“She, the hostess, literally ate you up with her eyes. When we walked to the table, at least four other ladies watched us, or rather, you. I’m going to need a stick to beat women off if I go out in public with you often.”
She bit her lip as if she regretted speaking. Viking leaned forward, dropping his voice so only she could hear.
“The only woman I see is you, Jinx. Truthfully, I was staring at your cute little ass the entire time we walked. It was sheer luck I didn’t trip over my feet.”
Jinx’s laugh was like silver bells ringing through the room. Several diners turned to look at them, but Viking ignored them.
“You make me feel seen, Bekkett. You scare me.” Jinx took a shuddering breath. “I like how you make me feel, even the scary part.”
“I won’t hurt you. People say they want a village, but they don’t want to be a villager.
I cut off my family for a long time after.
..after a devastating time. I didn’t want a village or to be a villager.
Hell, I almost wanted to disappear completely.
It’s hard to dig yourself out of a hole you’ve put yourself in.
” He licked his lips, wondering why he was telling Jinx this.
“What if it’s a hole someone else is in that you’re stuck inside?” Her words were barely above a whisper.
Their waitress appeared next to their table. Viking didn’t let go of Jinx’s hands as they placed their orders.
“Every hole can be filled, Jinx. You don’t need to be the filler that stays inside, though.”
A mischievous light brightens her eyes. “You know, if someone were to overhear our conversation, they could totally turn it dirty.”
He thought about it, groaning as he realized what they’d said.
“Holy shit. Now I’m going to be sitting here with a hard-on, thinking about filling holes.
And before you think or say anything that might piss me off, the only holes in my mind are attached to one blonde-haired beauty with green eyes.
But since I’m being a gentleman, I won’t mention it.
” He winked. They were interrupted again when the waitress returned with their drinks and omelets.
He’d gotten the five egg while Jinx went with the smaller two egg option.
After they ate, he paid the bill and stood, holding his hand out for Jinx. “Ready?”
She let him pull her to her feet, smiling up at him. “That was delicious. Thank you for dinner.”
“My pleasure.” He helped her shrug into her coat, smoothing it over her shoulders.
As they walked out the door, he held it open for her.
Brisk cold wind hit their faces as they exited, so he pulled her into his side.
His truck sat close to the door, idling and hopefully warm since he’d started in before he’d paid their bill.
“Do you need anything from town before we head back to your place?” he asked.
“Nope, I’m good. You?”
Viking put the truck in gear. “Nope,” he echoed her.
They listened to the radio as he drove, finding they appreciated a lot of the same types of music.
When one of his favorite musicians began playing, he looked over to see her eyes closed as she mouthed the words to Yungblud’s song Zombie.
The words resonated deep within his soul.
He talks about pain and not being able to live without the one he loved.
“This is one of my favorite songs,” Viking nodded toward the dashboard.
“Mine too. When he talks about the world continuing to turn, it’s like he knows how it feels inside me. It doesn’t hurt he’s sexy as all get out.” She smiled.
Viking growled, reaching for her hand. “You think that guy is sexy? He’s half my size.”
“Well, he’s cute in an Edward versus Jacob kind of way. I was never a Twilight lover, though. I was more of a...Magic Mike kind of girl. Have you ever given a lap dance before?” Jinx wiggled her brows, then burst into laughter.
“I’ll show you Twilight and Magic Mike,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips, biting the knuckles gently.
They were at her turn off, so he released her hand to make the turn without endangering them on the slick road.
A few minutes later, he pulled into her garage since it was empty, parking where she would normally.
He didn’t like letting her get out on the slippery drive to open the door, so he’d been the one to hop out, happy she’d trusted him with her code to access the control panel.
Once the door started to open, he hopped back in and drove straight inside.
Like the rest of her house, it was neat and clean with storage shelves lining the walls.
“Sit tight, and I’ll close the door down.” He didn’t wait for her to agree. Seeing the panel on the wall, he moved swiftly to shut them inside. He went to the passenger door and looked at Jinx, who was sitting there. She held her hands out and placed them on his shoulders.
“You know, I’m going to be a useless twit when you leave.” Jinx sat there with Viking, staring at her. His heart pounded in his chest.
He thought about when he went back to Santa Clarita. The trip up North he took was only once a year. He couldn’t imagine seeing Jinx that little. He pulled her out of his truck, unwilling to think about shit that could be.