Jax (Titan #9)(36)

Please let there be kids. Children were a much better pressure point. They would get him home faster. Hernán and Esmeralda could work with that, negotiating much better terms on almost anything with kids over an old lady, especially one that slapped doors.

The fruit of the loin of Se?or Johnny Miller. Jorge grinned. Esmeralda would use that and get whatever she wanted, and he would have real food sooner than he'd hoped.





CHAPTER TWENTY


The Perky Cup's atmosphere was as buzzed as her espresso. Patrons were busy and talking, sipping and snacking, and posting pictures on social media of muffins and cupcakes. Kiddos played on the train table, and a romance novel book club bantered back and forth in the corner about the boundaries in books lately.

All in all, it was a typical day in Seven's coffee shop, punctuated by the occasional spill and broken mug, crying kid, and the constant jingle-jangle of the front-door bell.

But her mind continued to drift back to Hawke's phone call. Vegas.

What was Seven going to do in Vegas? She didn't expect to vacation. Her role was likely part figurehead, part keep-Johnny-in-line, with a dash of give-Hawke-her two-cents-if-he-asked, all while keeping an eye on Titan Group.

Most of Mayhem wanted Titan included, but the idea of outsiders involved was still a concern for some members. They were doing their best to approach this part of club business as business, and in business, there were times that third party… vendors were required. At least that was how she'd heard Hawke explain Titan to anyone who balked.

Vegas wasn't her scene, not that she'd ever been. Seven would much rather stick to her precise routine that was mapped out and involved taking care of her priorities: kids, mother, and coffee shop.

Eventually, she was on the list… maybe… or maybe not. Though she could track down a few piercing rock stars and fan-girl them—if there was time.

"Seven!"

She snapped out of her Vegas concerns and ducked her head out of her office, more than glad to have a reason other than Hawke and Vegas to avoid reviewing the latest purchase orders. "What's up?" But she didn't need an answer because Jax stood next to Sidney. It wasn't often Seven was caught off guard, just like it wasn't often that Jax did what she expected. "Hey."

Sidney gaped at them as if he'd been huffing whippits. "I'm good to close if you want to take off early."

"Umm." A dopey grin that made her feel as though she was on a sugar high lodged onto her face, and it took far too much thought to tone down her reaction. "Yeah, sure. Maybe. Jax, what are you doing here?"

"I forgot to mention last time I was here that the smoothie was off the charts." He thumbed to where Sidney stood at his side. "Sidney mentioned this was your place when I said something, and I thought it'd be a good excuse to come back and see you."

Her eyes went as wide as Sidney's. A few customers cast curious glances their way. What most didn't know was Jax didn't live in Iowa! He lived somewhere on the east coast, and she didn't know, because she lived in Iowa!

Seven crept closer to the counter. "You could have called." Nervously, she played with her tongue stud. "You do call."

He crossed his arms, and every muscle figured out how to display itself, even those hidden by a casual cotton shirt. The ridges of his shoulders and the definition of his chest magnified as he tried not to laugh, clamping down his chiseled jaw line. "It's infinitely more entertaining to see you figure out how to handle this in person."

He had no idea that he wasn't the only person finding entertainment value at the moment. The normal level of chitchat in The Perky Cup had lowered to the listening level of eavesdropping.

The phone rang, and Sidney groaned as he turned to answer it.

"Let's go back—"

"Seven, hang on a second," Sidney said and went back to his call. "Only if you're sure, because now is really not a good time." He paused. "Fine, then. But just so you know, I am not happy with you, Gennita."

Oh? Seven's eyebrows arched. "What's going on?"

"Gennita said her old man fell ill. Needs to go get him from the compound." Sidney grumbled under his breath. "She swore up and down he's really sick and it's an emergency. Adelia has the kids for a few, but she has to go to work."

"Not a problem." Gennita grandmothered the hell out of Nolan and Bianca. There wasn't a chance she would push the kids back on Seven at work if her old man was drunk or hungover. "But it looks like you get to cover for me after all." She turned to Jax and had no idea how to handle this. "Come back to my office for a minute?"

He nodded then followed, and Seven shut the door, suddenly very aware that he was next to the threshold, almost pressed against her.

"Maybe I should've called."

The masculine scent of his cologne and the closeness of his body heat made her breaths feel shallow. "You're in Iowa."

"When you say it like that…" He winked. "Maybe a text first."

"That's nuts. You know that?"

"We were done with a job. I was in Dallas-Fort Worth and could go anywhere."

"Iowa."

He chuckled. "You want me to get back in a Lyft and go?"

Seven shook her head. "Not really."