War’s smooth voice pulled Jinx back to reality.
War tilted his head to the left. “You are generally a pretty charming guy. Much more so than Odin.”
“That’s because Odin can’t work charm for shit.” Everyone knew that.
“Um.” Neither agreement nor denial. “I had to give Odin a list of rules for handling clients. Things to say. Things not to say. Because, as you noted, sometimes charm can be an issue for him.”
Jinx turned and took a step toward the closed office door.
“But, obviously, I should have covered some ground rules with you, too. Like, rule one, if you’ve had a previous sexual relationship with a client, don’t shout it to the heavens.”
Jinx’s head jerked toward him. “I wasn’t shouting.” He didn’t think he had been.
War quirked an eyebrow. “No?”
“I was stating a fact.” He and Ali had fucked and come so hard they’d wrecked the bed. True story. One he’d like to experience over and over again. And in his dreams, he did.
“Yeah, so…on to rule two—”
“Never been big on rules.” Jinx marched away and threw open the door. “What the hell is going on?” He crossed toward Ali—she was sitting on the couch in the office—and stood glowering down at her. “Spill it. Every detail.”
“Rule two,” War sighed as he trailed him inside. “Don’t try to intimidate the clients. Be nice.”
Jinx pasted a big smile on his face. “Ali…” He drew her name out like the caress it was. “What the hell is going on?”
“Jeez. Just because you smile, it doesn’t make the shit you say nice.” War sounded disgusted. “Why don’t you go chug some coffee? Maybe it will help calm your ass down.”
Coffee never calmed him down. It just primed him up. Didn’t it do that for everyone? And, come to think of it, Jinx doubted there was anything that could calm him down in this particular situation. Ali was in danger. Some jerk had defaced her car. Jinx had been staring out the window and he’d had a clear view of the handiwork on the car door.
No one calls Ali a slut. No one.
“Jinx, I didn’t want you involved,” Ali said.
“Obviously. Since you have gone to every single other person in the world for help but me.” A point that grated.
“I haven’t gone to every person,” she muttered. “Just a few others. Except when I go to them, I keep running into you first.”
Hell, yes, she did. He folded his arms over his chest. “As I told you before, I’m the only PI available here so—”
“Uh, Jinx—” War began. “You know that’s not entirely—”
He fired a hard glare over his shoulder. “I am the only PI currently available here,” he repeated. “You have that big case you’re working on, and Odin’s time is full.” He held War’s stare. “So it’s lucky that I’m available.” He focused back on Ali. “But I need to know what I’m dealing with here. I can’t help, I can’t give the prick a world of pain that he will never, ever forget, not unless you give me more details.” So, again, he returned to…spill it, sweets.
She sipped on the coffee. Darted a glance toward War. “No one else is available?”
“Well—” War hesitated.
“I am highly qualified,” Jinx assured her. “You should know that. You’ve seen me in action. You know I can kick ass all day long without breaking a sweat.” Now he shook his head. “And that’s why I’m confused. Why the hell would you think you were protecting me? I am more than capable of protecting myself.” It was just insulting.
“I’m protecting you because we slept together.” The words were soft. Her lashes had lowered to conceal her warm chocolate gaze from him. Her hold tightened on the coffee cup. “Did you see what I did there?” she asked, her voice still low. “How I quietly said that because it’s personal and private? How I didn’t yell it?”
“Didn’t know War was going to walk in when I made my little announcement.” And why did everyone keep saying he’d yelled? He had a strong voice. He just naturally projected. “Besides, not like I mind other people knowing about what we—oh, hell. Right.” Now he did recall that point she’d made before…the point where she hadn’t wanted others on their team to know that they’d been together. That had been a rule, hadn’t it? Maybe rule two? Why were so many damn people big on rules? Ali and War…plus Odin. The guy freaking loved rules.
But as for Jinx, he’d always enjoyed breaking rules. Or, at the very least, bending them as much as he could.
Since he, War, and Odin weren’t active duty any longer, he hadn’t thought keeping the relationship secret still mattered. War was out of the SEALs, Odin was no longer Delta, and as for Jinx and Ali…he’d stopped doing his special services for Uncle Sam, and word on the street had been that Ali turned in her notice, too.
Her lashes lifted. “It was supposed to stay just between us.”
War strode closer. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to broadcast it to anyone.”
Broadcasting was more of War’s wife’s thing—Rose was a local reporter who’d worked with War to crack a case involving a serial killer. Unfortunately, Jinx had arrived in town after their wedding. A real crying shame in his book, especially since Odin had told him there had been a phenomenal open bar at the reception.
“Unlike some people I could name,” War shot a pointed glance at Jinx, “I do know how to keep my mouth shut.”
What the hell? Seriously? Not like Jinx had told anyone about him and Ali before this particular morning. And he hadn’t known War was going to walk inside right at that exact moment. Was he supposed to be psychic? “Let’s stay on topic, shall we?” And the topic that interested him… “Your case.” He nodded toward Ali. “Consider this your lucky day, because, as of this moment, I am officially in your employ.”
“But…how much am I supposed to pay you? I—”
“You already have been doing favors for the office,” War said. “We owe you. No payment, so don’t even try to play it that way.”
Ali exhaled. “Thank you.”
War waved away her thanks. “You’ve answered phone calls from us in the middle of the night and immediately got to work helping our clients. I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
Because Jinx was watching Ali so closely, he saw the slight sag of her shoulders. It was as if she’d been carrying a big burden, and she’d finally let some of it go. About time, baby. You should have come to me immediately.
“Who keyed your car?” Jinx wanted to know. That would be a starting point. He’d work back and get every detail after that.
“I-I don’t know. Not exactly.” She was still holding her coffee. Cradling the cup like it was the most precious thing in the world. “I was at a diner last night, after I—after you and I parted ways.”
“After you ran from me, check.”
He felt War’s stare, but didn’t look his way. Jinx wasn’t going to take his eyes off Ali. Mostly because her dark gaze was on his, and he couldn’t look away.