Page 58 of Finding His Redemption

“Yep,” Nessie said a bit too brightly.

Mariah still didn’t look convinced, but again, she didn’t push. “I should probably get Tate home and into bed.”

“Oh.” Nessie bit her lip and shot a panicked look at Jax.

Was it safe for Mariah to walk home with a sleepy boy by herself? She only lived a block over, but what if someone had been lurking around the bakery?

X pushed off the counter and flashed a movie-star grin. “Wouldn’t want a beautiful woman and her son walking alone at night. I’d be happy to give you and the little man a ride. Mytruck’s right outside. Heated seats. Killer playlist. Sexy cowboy charm included at no extra charge,hermosa.”

“Well.” Mariah bristled, all of those quills she kept hidden behind her sweet Southern belle facade flaring. “I don’t know where you got all that audacity, but you need to go put it right back.”

He laughed, completely unbothered. “That’s fair. But, seriously, it’s no trouble.”

Mariah folded her arms. “I’ve been walking that route for years without incident, Mr...?”

“Vega. Xavier Vega. But everyone calls me X.” He extended a hand, smile still easy, the sleeve of his shirt riding up to reveal the sharp edge of a black tattoo. “And it would be my genuine pleasure.”

Mariah gave the hand a brief, dismissive glance. “I’m sure it would. No, thank you.” Then she turned to Nessie. “I’ll text when we get home.”

X’s smile slipped just a little, his brow furrowing in confusion. He glanced at Jax as if seeking confirmation that he’d actually been turned down, then looked back at Mariah. “Look, I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. I just figured... if someone’s watching the place?—”

“What?” Mariah’s gaze sharpened. “Someone’s watching the bakery?”

Nessie shot X a frustrated look before stepping closer to her friend. “I’m probably just being paranoid, but I’d feel better if you didn’t walk home alone tonight, okay? Accept the ride. Please? For me?”

Mariah released a short breath. “Okay.” She pulled Nessie in for a hug. “But we’re going to sit down with a glass of wine and you’re going to tell me what’s going on.”

“Deal,” Nessie said, squeezing her friend’s hand. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Mariah steeled her spine and faced X. “Your playlist better not suck, cowboy.”

She brushed past him, all deliberate indifference, but Nessie caught the way her shoulders stiffened when X murmured, “Wouldn’t dream of disappointing you,mi reina.”

Mariah didn’t answer, but her ears went pink.

A few minutes later, Nessie watched from the bakery’s front window as X helped Mariah bundle a sleepy Tate into the backseat of his truck. Even from a distance, she could see the careful space Mariah maintained between herself and X, the way she kept her body angled away from him.

X seemed oblivious to the signals, chatting easily as he secured Tate’s seatbelt. But when he moved to help Mariah into the passenger seat, she stepped back, choosing to walk around him and get in herself. X’s smile dimmed slightly, confusion rippling across his handsome features.

“He’s not getting the hint,” Nessie murmured.

“X doesn’t get a lot of hints,” Jax said, moving to stand beside her at the window. “Not used to being turned down.”

“Maybe he should get used to it.”

Jax glanced at her, something unreadable in his expression. “You don’t like him?”

“I don’t know him. But I know his type. All charm and no substance. Men like that can be dangerous.”

“X isn’t dangerous. Not like that.”

“How do you know?”

Jax was quiet for a moment, considering. “X... he’s got his problems, but he’s not a predator. He’s just...”

“Arrogant?”

“Lonely,” Jax finished quietly. “Uses the charm to keep people at arm’s length.”