Page 86 of Jackass

“Sammy—”

“How long, Jack?”

“Since the party,” he admitted.

“So, neither of us trusts the other. We can’t build a life without trust, Jack.”

“Sammy, wait.”

I cut the call. Pulling into the parking lot at the bar in town, I stepped out of my car and walked over to where Jingles sat. I knocked on his window, and when he rolled it down, I asked,

“How about a beer to wash down that coffee, Jingles?”

Chapter Twenty-One

Samantha

The shocked expression Jingles wore told me everything I needed to know.

“Uh, hey, Samantha,” he said, taking his sunglasses off.

“Nice suit.” I smirked.

He didn’t answer. But I could see the tips of his ears turning red.

“Come inside, Jingles. I need a drink. It’s been a shit day. And since it is your job to protect me, well.” I tilted my head toward the bar.

“I’m not really dressed for the bar, Samantha.”

“Take your jacket off and put your cut on. We’re going inside, Jingles. Unless you would like me to tell King you sat outside while I went into the bar?”

I knew how these things worked. He had to go where I did. Especially after today.

“Fuck.”

Jingles stepped out of his fancy SUV and removed his jacket. I had seen men in tailored suits before, and then there was Jingles.

Oh. My. God.

It should be illegal to look that good in a suit.

I turned and walked to the bar, as Jingles slid his cut over his shoulders. There was no way I wanted to watch him roll up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. Nope, I preferred to watch my porn in private, not out on the street in front of everyone.

We walked in and made our way to the bar. Sitting down, I waved to Grace. She knew what I drank and got to work mixing a cocktail for me.

“Samantha, can I ask you a question?” Jingles looked at hishands that rested on the bar.

“Sure.”

“How did you know I was following you?”

“I saw the SUV following me on the way to the coffee shop. When you walked in wearing the suit, I admit it confused me. But I knew it was you. I assumed the suit was to throw me off.”

“But how did you know it was me?”

I laughed. “When I slammed my hand on the table, you were the only one who didn’t react. That was when I knew for sure.”

“No one has ever caught me following them before.”