Page 11 of Slam Dunk
“Mom. We’ve talked about this.” Jathan sat up. The blankets slid down his sexy bare torso and pooled in his lap. “One of these days, you’ll see something you really don’t want to see.”
She didn’t look the least bit concerned. “Sorry, baby. In my defense, there’s never anyone here.”
Despite the situation, Quince smiled. As sad as it was, he loved knowing Jathan didn’t have a different man here every night.
“Thanks for that.” Jathan sounded a bit disgruntled, but he motioned Quince’s way. “This is Quince. Quince, my mom.”
“Jan,” she added with a bright smile. “I’m heartened to hear he knows your name.”
Quince chuckled as he stood and crossed the room to shake her hand. He was glad as hell he had waited to wake Jathan until after he dressed. “He’d better. It’s nice to meet you.”
A line appeared between her amber eyes. “Why do you look familiar to me?”
He shifted from foot to foot. “I don’t know.” Quince very much feared he actually did know, but that life needed to stay in the past.
She made a dismissive motion. “Anyhow, we’re going to breakfast. So everyone get your shit together. I’m starving after days of being unable to eat.”
“I was just headed to work.”
“Oh. What do you do?”
Jathan looked like her. He had her blond hair and very similar facial features. “I’m foreman out at Tip Ramos’ ranch. A ton of my workers have been out with the flu. I need to make sure everyone is covered for the day and pick up the slack where they can’t.”
Her smile grew. She looked like a nice person. “Oh. Artem’s husband. Yeah. We’ve met. You’re right. The flu has been fucking awful. I was about ready to beg for death.”
“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”
“Personally, I’m glad everyone is having a nice conversation while I’m trapped here in the nude.”
Jan waved her hand. “Please. I made that body, but I’ll wait in the kitchen. Hurry. Momma's hungry.” She focused on Quince for a second. “It really was nice meeting you.”
“You too.”
The moment she was out of sight, Jathan climbed from the bed while Quince enjoyed the show. He held up one finger. “Wait just one minute and I’ll walk you out.”
He wouldn’t turn down that offer. “You got it.” Quince's gaze followed Jathan to the bathroom. When he disappeared inside, he released the breath he hadn’t realized he held. It was like Jathan wiped his entire brain. He couldn’t even function normally.
Jathan reappeared after a minute, wearing a tank top and workout shorts. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Quince held out his hand and smiled like an idiot all the way down the hall after Jathan accepted it. He felt ridiculously proud to be with him. In the garage, Jathan walked with him nearly all the way to his truck before he froze, pulling Quince to a stop. Quince turned.
Jathan’s gaze was locked on something across the room. He dipped his chin. “Please tell me you did that?”
Quince turned his head and his blood froze. Red roses and a card rested against the windshield of his Hummer. “No. Maybe your mom.” It was hopeful thinking on his part.
Jathan shook his head. The way his gaze stayed locked on the items made everything worse. It was as if he was almost scared. “You just met her. Does she strike you as the type to leave a gift on my car? She more of the burst in with balloons type.”
Fuck. “Would you like me to check it out first?”
Jathan’s gaze slid his way. “Would you? I know how I sound right now, but I’m also super freaked out. This has happened to me a few times in public, but this is different. There’s no way into this garage without the proper signal from my phone or cars.”
Yeah. Fuck this. This was unfortunately familiar territory for him. He wouldn’t let this happen twice. No one scared Jathan. Quince stormed across the garage and grabbed the flowers and card. The card wasn’t in an envelope. Quince flipped it open and read it aloud.
“You looked beautiful last night on that court. Why hasn’t your mom been with you? There’s no signature of any kind. Do you want to see if you recognize the handwriting?”
“No.” Jathan looked pale. “Can you just take them with you, please?”
His reaction had Quince more than a little concerned. “Do you have any idea who these are from?”
