Just Jack (3 page)

“Your coat,” Leo stated. The man’s coat was soaked through. “You must be freezing.”

“I’m fine,” the man said and stood up. He folded his arms across his chest for effect, but he didn’t really look all that cold apart from the glistening white snowflakes that had settled in his dark hair. “So, do you want me to call somebody?”

Leo held the tissue to his head. His first thought was Mac, but he quickly realized that would be a stupid mistake. Mac would think Leo needed him. Maybe his mom. He had a flash of incense sticks and mint and cucumber smoothies. She’d have him chiming bells and performing yoga to vent the negative energy when she heard about Mac.

“I’ll be okay,” he decided. He just needed to get back to the office and he’d be fine. “Thank you…” He looked up at the man.

“Jack.”

“Thank you, Jack,” Leo said and smiled. “I’m Leo.”

Jack held out his hand. “Can you stand, Leo?”

Despite looking like he’d pissed himself, Leo believed he had control over the lower half of his body. “I think so.” He took Jack’s hand. He was surprised at how chilled the man’s palm was. For some reason, he’d expected it to be warm. He got to his feet with a little help. Jack held on to him, and Leo was grateful. For a moment, he felt lightheaded, but the sensation passed.

“Okay?” Jack checked and released Leo’s arm.

“Yeah.” People walked by without particular care, and Leo looked at the sidewalk. There must have been a patch of ice, or maybe he’d tripped on a raised slab. “Thank you,” he said again. “I’m having one of those days. So, thank you for stopping and helping.”

Jack appeared almost regretful. “I’m glad you’re not hurt. Well, not badly.”

Leo went to remove the tissue, but Jack stopped him.

“Keep pressure on it.”

Leo savored the delicious shiver he got from Jack’s cool touch. “Oh, okay.” He cleared his throat and briefly met Jack’s eyes. It was as if they were alight.

“Leo!”

Leo flinched at the sound of his name, and Jack pulled his hand away.

Oh shit, no
.

“Baby, are you okay? I saw you out the window.” So Mac had watched him leave. He eyed Mac. At least he had all his clothes on.

Leo briefly looked at Jack and noted the expression on his face. He seemed disappointed.

“I’m fine,” Leo said and lowered his head.

“Come inside. I’ll check you over.”

“I said I’m fine.” He shrugged away when Mac placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Maybe you should let him,” Jack suggested. He lifted his eyebrows encouragingly. “Get cleaned up properly.”

Leo checked around him: anyone who had taken an interest in him due to the fall had moved along. He didn’t like the idea of causing a further scene, but he wasn’t going back inside with Mac. There was no way he was about to be drawn into the trap of letting Mac be his friend.

“Leo—”

“I said no,” Leo snapped.

Though Leo had kept his voice low, Mac was clearly surprised by the outburst. “Don’t be like that.”

Leo closed his eyes. He couldn’t deal with this. If anything, he wanted to crawl into his bed and sleep until tomorrow. He liked the idea of starting over again in the morning.

“Hey.” Mac grabbed his arm.

Opening his eyes, Leo looked at Mac. “Let go.” Mac’s grip was uncomfortable, as he had dug his fingers into the top of Leo’s arm.

Jack stepped in. “Look, I don’t know who you are, but he clearly doesn’t want to go with you.” He placed his hand on Mac’s and Mac pulled away as if he had been burned. “I’ll see he gets where he needs to go.”

The look that crossed Mac’s face was fueled by anger and suspicion. “And who are you, exactly?”

“Jack,” Jack said as if it answered Mac’s question.

“Jack who?”

“Just Jack.”

Mac narrowed his eyes. “Well, Just Jack, I’m Mac, Mac Donovan, his boyfriend—”

“Ex,” Leo interrupted quickly. He looked at Jack, who remained unfazed by the mention of a boyfriend, ex or not. “Ex.” He glared at Mac.

Looking between Leo and Mac, Jack’s brow creased into a frown. Chances were he was already regretting playing the Good Samaritan in this tale. He looked firmly at Leo. “Do you want to go with him?” Mac moved to interrupt, but without even looking, Jack raised his hand to stop him and asked Leo again, “Do you?”

The weighty ice-cold feeling was in his chest again. Leo shook his head. Okay, was it right that he felt like some princess whose prince had just swooped in to save her from the big, bad dragon? Leo would never claim to be shy or timid, particularly with his family and friends, but there had always been something oppressive in the way Mac treated him, and damn if he wasn’t feeling it right now.

“Then that’s settled.” Jack focused on Mac. “He’s coming with me.”

Curiously, Leo watched as Mac stepped back and visibly shivered. Was Leo imagining things or was the swirl of blue light back, this time flickering on either side of Jack’s shoulders? Leo had clearly banged his head harder than he realized.

Mac backed away and up the steps of his building. He was clearly perturbed by Jack, but relented anyway. “I’ll phone you later. We still need to talk about what happened.” Mac stiffened as he eyed the two men. He looked like he had more to say, but instead, he turned and headed inside.

When Mac had reentered the building, Leo felt a twinge of sadness, though he knew he shouldn’t. Leo glanced at Jack, then shyly lowered his head.

What the hell am I doing? I’m insane.

“So, your ex?” Jack broke the silence that had settled between them.

Nodding, Leo said, “Yeah, as of ten minutes ago.” Could this day get any worse? He held his head and pressed his other hand to his chest. It felt tight at the thought of Mac.

“Are you all right?” Jack asked and looked into Leo’s eyes. He seemed to lean back and wore a puzzled expression, as if he had seen something he didn’t like.

“Feeling a little tense.” Leo took a deep breath. He didn’t do panic attacks, and Jack didn’t need any more reasons to think Leo was a fruit loop. “Stressful day.”

“I’m sorry.” Jack winced as he spoke. “And I’m sorry about your head.”

“It’s not your fault.” Leo sighed and checked his watch. He had so much to do.

“Maybe. But…” His eyes held an apology. “Anyway.” Jack dismissed whatever he might have said. “Where were you headed?” He picked his coat up off the sidewalk and looked at the wet item of clothing.

“You don’t have to walk me.” Leo was sure Jack had plenty of other things he’d much rather be doing right now than babysitting him.

Jack folded his coat over his arm, then ran his hand back through his damp hair, brushing away the snow that had settled there.

Straightening up, Leo smiled to himself as light hit the snow still clinging to Jack’s beard—bright white in contrast to his dark coloring. The man had such a calm and gentle aura about him, warming almost, and yet Leo couldn’t help but note the ice-coldness that surrounded Jack as if he was able to absorb the heat right out of the air. Hell, with the bang to the head, Leo swore he could see the chilling silky, silver-blue waves playfully dancing between them. Blinking, he became aware he was maybe letting his gaze linger a little too long on the other man.

Whether Jack noticed, Leo wasn’t sure. Jack certainly wasn’t giving anything away as he inspected his coat.

“Where do you work?” Jack eventually asked.

“Harding’s,” Leo said.

Jack shrugged.

“Harding’s Toys. We’re on Free Street. We design, well, toys, among other things.” The company had been established in 1920 by Mr. Peter Harding and his son, David, and had retained the name when David Harding passed away, though he was survived by only a daughter, Rebecca, who married one Oscar Donovan. Donovan, as in Mac Donovan, who just happened to be the youngest of Rebecca’s grandchildren. Mac wanted to do big things within the company and, with Leo’s help, aimed to make a name for himself within the family business.

Crap. How were he and Mac going to be able to work together after this? Mac was either going to be a dick or super nice in the hope of getting back together. And the gossip. His life was going to be hell.

“Toys?” Jack said. He seemed surprised. “So you’re an elf.” Jack made the statement without so much as flinching.

Leo raised an eyebrow. Was he serious? “Erm…” He had no idea what to say but noted the curve of Jack’s lips as he clearly tried to suppress a smile. “Don’t do that. I thought you were serious.” If anyone was going to run into an escaped mental patient believing in elves, it would be him and it would be today.

Jack chuckled and looked down the street. “So, no car?”

“No.” Mac’s place wasn’t far from where they worked—a twenty-minute walk via the coffee shop. Leo pulled at the front of his pants. He wondered how long it would take for them to dry out.

“So, which way?” Jack asked. His face lit up as he looked at Leo.

Jack really wanted to walk him? Leo had figured he was just being polite.

“A few blocks that way.” Leo pointed down the street. “I’ll be okay. I’m sure you have better things to do.”

Jack simply grinned as he turned and waited for Leo to join him.

The tightness in Leo’s chest eased when Jack glanced over his shoulder. Damn the man was gorgeous, and his blue eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight. Pushing off the side of the building, Leo pulled his jacket closed with one hand and carefully made his way to stand beside Jack. He squinted as he moved out from the protection of the building and snow was whipped up by the wind and blew in his face.

Jack rested a hand on his shoulder. Curiously, the gust died away, and the snow fell instead in gentle straight lines. Leo glanced at Jack and Jack looked away, but before he did, Leo swore he saw Jack’s eyes aglow and a mischievous twinkle in them. Maybe it was just the snow and the bang to the head, but Leo felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time, not since he was a child—magic.

Chapter 4

What the hell is wrong with me?

Jack returned Leo’s wave and watched the man head into the office building. Something felt different, and Jack was surprised by the empty feeling in his chest. It was strange. It wasn’t the same bitterness that had eaten away at him for over fifty years. No, it was something completely new. He would even dare to call it warm.

Gently, he rubbed at his chest and gazed at the building. Leo was gone, but the tingling sensation and the spread of heat continued in his chest. His heart beat as it always had, slow and steady and unmoved. It had beat the exact same way for half a century, from the moment it had been broken by the betrayal of another. Almost nothing had changed in all that time—not his heart, not his looks, not his feelings. He often wondered if he would stay like this forever. A forever filled with only ice and snow.

He looked around at the people busying themselves with their daily routines and ordinary lives. The snow had stopped and was now turning to watery slush in the wake of their human footsteps, and they hurried easily along the street. Jack stared up at the clouds, surprised as they faded away to reveal blue sky.

That isn’t right
, he thought as the sun shone brightly above him. His emotions were getting the better of him, and it was all Leo’s fault. He didn’t usually feel bad about the victims of his mischief, and of all the banged heads and broken arms. He wasn’t sure what had made him stop this time. Was it possible he actually cared? What a ridiculous idea. He didn’t care. His heart had been cold for a long time, and despite trying, he had never cared about anything or anyone since it had iced over in his chest. It was better that way, safe from the pain of having his heart broken all over again.

Closing his eyes, he took steadying breaths and tried to imagine what it might feel like to enjoy the warmth of the sun on his skin. The last time had been so long ago, and he wasn’t sure he remembered how it felt anymore. He’d forgotten a lot of things. Things that any normal person would strive for—love, companionship, human touch. With a sigh, Jack opened his eyes and looked up at the building. Though only for a moment, he caught sight of Leo in one of the windows.

Jack held his hand to his chest. It wasn’t possible. He slid his hand inside his open-collared shirt and pressed his fingers to his skin over his heart, but before he could discover if what he’d felt was real, his heartbeat sounded steadily once more. Was it just wishful thinking? Was he imagining what he thought he should be feeling right then? A skip, a surge to the dulcet rhythm? He raised his head and checked the window. Leo was no longer there, and the loss caused a fleeting depression to settle over Jack. When their eyes had first met, Jack had wanted nothing more than to drown himself in the smoky gray-green sea of Leo’s gaze.

What was happening? Why did he feel like this?

Why am I feeling anything at all
?

Whatever it was, Jack resigned himself to the fact it would never happen again. It shouldn’t, and it couldn’t. Pain, fear, and anger had made him who he was today. The pain of loving someone too much and not having those feelings reciprocated, and the fear of it happening all over again. It was the reason he became a Jack Frost in the first place—a broken heart. He had thought he’d found love, true love. But it wasn’t to be. Instead, alone and angry, his emotions had eaten away at him, turning him cold. Jack had never really believed in magic, not until that night when he’d renounced love and warmth beneath the night sky. Wind and ice had chilled him to the bone, and in that instant, his life had changed—he’d changed—consumed with the grim coldness only a Jack Frost could understand. His heart had become like chilled stone, and the tears he had shed had frozen across his skin. All the bitter emotions within him had tempered, smooth and solid like iron, and suddenly, he hadn’t been himself anymore.

I don’t remember my name.
The person he had been had vanished, replaced instead with who he was now, the owner of a dark, loveless heart.

Jack glanced up at the window. There had been something familiar lurking at the back of Leo’s eyes, a glimmer of blue and ice. Jack knew that look well, it was the same thing he saw when he looked in the mirror. The look of a man who had given up on love.