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 coupleof 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 youcan 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.”
