Eye of the Tiger, one of her all-time favorites, started playing, but even hearing the song she used to dance to with a toddler on each hip didn’t ease her anxiety. She was a wreck. Just the idea of telling Josh about Megan had her stomach in knots.
It wasn’t so much that she worried about his reaction. Josh loved Megan. He’d accept her uniqueness and protect her with everything he had. It was the anticipation of one question that left Jazz sickened.
How did she know what Megan was?
Cindy faced Jazz. “Would this stuff have to do with your involvement with Tony?”
She tensed. Did Cindy know more than she should? Maybe she’d found out about Megan? “What involvement?”
“That the two of you were lovers.”
Taken back by the announcement, Jazz blinked hard. “Lovers? We weren’t lovers.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really. We were friends. Nothing more.”
“Just friends?” Cindy narrowed her eyes. “For just being friends, you’ve spent a lot of time at his place over the last couple of months.”
And why would Cindy care? Jazz huffed. “His wife died days after they adopted Megan. He needed help. I gave it to him.”
“And that involved going over to his place in the middle of the night?” Cindy flashed her a knowing smile. “Without your boys?”
“What?” Jazz curled her fingers. “Are you keeping tabs on me or something?”
Cindy laughed. “No. Don’t be silly. I happened to be coming home and saw you leaving Tony’s place. You were dressed in a nightshirt with your hair mussed. What else was I supposed to think?”
Jazz blew out a slow breath and gathered her thoughts—a necessity considering all the lies she had to keep straight. “Megan woke up crying. Tony didn’t know how to calm her down, so I went over.”
“Ahhh…” Cindy nodded. “Tony had mentioned Megan didn’t sleep well.”
“Which is what I want to talk to Josh about.” As an excuse, it was a pretty good one. “I want to give him some suggestions if she has nightmares.”
“I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.” A contemplative look settled on Cindy’s face. “And Mr. Wilkins is watching your kids, right?”
For a second, Jazz considered lying. Cindy didn’t need the details. But what was the point? Cindy probably already knew the answer. Mr. Wilkins, Jazz’s elderly neighbor, was the only person who watched her kids. Jazz relied heavily on him, more than she should. It wasn’t as if she had a lot of babysitter options. She hadn’t shared Seth and Levi’s secret with anyone else. Well, Tony. He took the knowledge to the grave, though.
Sadness rushed over her. Tony had been a good man. She hadn’t realized how much until she’d spent the last couple of months helping him adjust to being a single parent. His warm personality shouldn’t have surprised her. His younger brother, Josh, was just as nice. She would know. She’d dated him for years.
Of course, then she’d dumped him over the phone.
Next to a “Dear John” letter, a phone breakup was about the most cowardly way to end things. Yet he’d still reached out to her when she’d returned home, two babies in tow. Two kids he’d assumed were conceived when she’d cheated on him while at college.
She caressed the edge of the retro gas pump standing next to the entryway. Josh had it custom-made with Jazz’s garage name on it—Classic Wyns. He’d given it to her that first Christmas after she came back. She’d refused to accept it, so he’d put it on display at his bar. It was the first thing people saw.
“Yes. Seth and Levi are hanging out with Mr. Wilkins, watching movies.”
Cindy’s smile widened. “So you’re free to have some fun?”
Jazz gave the shiny red pump one last, loving caress, then met Cindy’s hopeful expression. “No. I came to talk to Josh, then I’m going home.”
“You never go out. Your life revolves around your garage and your kids.” Cindy leveled a hard look at her. “You know, if you’re not careful, you’re going to end up alone. You’re not getting any younger.”
Jazz glanced heavenward. “Don’t start, Cindy. I am in no mood to discuss my love life.”
“Please. You don’t have a love life.” Cindy waggled a finger at her. “Last date you went on was over three years ago, and that was only because I set you up.”
What a disaster that had turned out to be. Her date had walked her home, and she’d ended up purposely tripping him so he didn’t see the two small tigers sleeping on her porch with Mr. Wilkins’ dogs. She’d decided then and there she wasn’t getting involved with a guy. How was she supposed to explain to her boyfriend that not only did she have kids, they weren’t human? And they weren’t even hers, legally or otherwise.
“I don’t have time for a relationship.” They’d had the same conversation so many times over the past few months it’d begun to feel as if they were rehearsing for a play.
“You can make time. Your restoration business is booming. Hire an extra hand.”
“I don’t want anyone else touching the cars I’m fixing up. Each one is special to me.” And her garage was on her property. The chances of her new helper learning her kids’ secret was too great. She couldn’t risk it. Besides, when she needed help lifting something heavy, Mr. Wilkins was always a phone call away. He was tough for his age. And most of her work was cosmetic, anyhow.
“Yeah, and just think where your life would be if your pappy hadn’t taken you under his wings and taught you the ropes. That fancy Physics degree you spent years getting hasn’t done anything for you. Your garage has saved you from getting some dime job.”
“You’d be surprised how much that fancy degree has helped me in my job.”
“Well at least you had the money to go to school. A lot of the local kids don’t, and they’re being forced to move out after they graduate high school. Most
