She did as he instructed, knowing he would just toss her over his shoulder if she didn’t.
When they entered her mudroom, he settled on the long bench with her astride his lap. The bulge straining his jeans rubbed against her center, creating a delicious friction. “Is that a baseball bat you got in there, or are you just happy to see me?”
“I’m extremely happy to see you.” Viking adjusted her on his lap.
They both froze as they noticed her boot warmers had been moved. He lifted her off his lap, placing his finger to his lips. “I’m thirsty. Got any milk?”
Jinx shook her head, then nodded. “Yeah. Um, I have lactose-free. You don’t look like the kind ofman who drinks that sort, though. We can run back to town and grab some. I need to grab a few things since I won’t be needing to go into work for a while.” She let a little of the sadness creep into her voice.
“Sounds good. We can take my truck and drop your tires off at the dealer in town while we’re there.” Viking’s eyes looked toward the entrance to her kitchen, but she moved off his lap, trying to keep from storming into her house.
They went back into her garage, shutting the door behind them. She flexed her fingers down by her side, wondering if whoever had broken in was still there and how they’d gotten in without her alarm going off. Viking led her toward the side door, looking out the window before opening it. She marveled at his ability to keep a level head, prioritize security, and stay alert.
He moved, keeping his body between her and the house. She thought of his profession as a lawyer while watching him handle her and the danger surrounding her. He didn’t act like a paper pusher or a man who wore a suit and faced a judge, or whatever lawyers did. Even a man who hung out in an MC as a lawyer, she couldn’t wrap her head around the easyway he took on the shitshow her life became. She really needed to read up on motorcycle clubs. The thought made her laugh.
“I’ll ask you what you were laughing about later, Vakker.”
“A woman has to have some secrets,” she mumbled.
Viking unlocked his truck and helped her inside. “Lock the door until I get to the other side.” He kissed her hard, then stepped back and walked around the rear.
He didn’t make it obvious as he walked, but Jinx could see him searching the entire area as he came around to the driver’s side. She hit the button to unlock the door the moment he touched the handle. Her breath whooshed out of her as soon as he hopped in.
“Don’t say anything until we’re on the highway, just in case whoever is watching might be able to read lips,” Viking spoke, facing backward, as he reversed out of her driveway.
She pressed her purse against her chest, the crossbody a comfortable weight.
The highway came into view, giving Jinx a sense of safety. She held her breath, letting it out once he turned on the road. He went right instead of left.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“My parents' house. I know your alarm was set. I remember you making sure it was on when we left. Does anyone have access to your home who would know your password to turn it off?” he asked, glancing over at her.
Jinx closed her eyes, knowing it would sound crazy. Her eyes sprang open. “The only people who would know my access codes are the alarm company and me. I don’t think the alarm company would know my code, but they could turn it off remotely, right? Like, if someone knew the security questions, they could help them get in,” she said.
“Hypothetically, yes. You’ve never given anyone the code to water your plants when you went out of town or anything like that?” Viking asked.
“Freddy would be the only one I trusted to give access to my home like that. Obviously, he wasn’t here. Other than him, nobody. I don’t have a lot of close friends that I’d consider giving that kind of power to.” She knew it made her sound like a freak,but after the childhood she’d had, Jinx didn’t trust easily. Viking was an anomaly in her world.
Viking drummed his fingers of his left hand on the steering wheel. “Do you have cameras inside your house? Or outside?”
Jinx gasped. “I have trail cameras set up in a couple of places around the outside of my property. I put them up last year after some mail kept getting lost. When I bought the cameras, it was easy to place them up in the trees, so I decided to utilize all of them. The box came with a set of six.” She shrugged, feeling kind of silly for installing so many cameras after she lost a few Amazon packages.
“Hell yeah. I bet you looked bad ass climbing trees like Tarzanette. Did you wear a bikini made of deer skin or some kind of animal print? Please say yes.” Viking raised his hands in front of him, steepling his fingers together like he was praying.
“You’re batshit crazy. Could you imagine the bark burn I’d get if I were to slide down a tree in a bikini?”
Viking winked at her. “I’m still picturing you in said bikini. Just to let you know, I’d be there to catch you and offer you first aid.”
She swatted his arm, unable to contain a laugh. “Thanks. I feel much better.”
“I aim to please.” He looked along the sides of the road as they drove. “Can you pull up the cameras and see if you see anyone entering your property?”
Her hands shook as she swiped her finger over her phone screen to the app. The swirling icon appeared to be trying to open. Each camera showed online with several alerts on a couple of them.
“Holy shit,” she whispered.
“What?” Viking asked, his gaze sweeping toward her, then back at the road. They turned off the highway onto the private drive toward his family’s home.
