Just Jack (9 page)

“Maybe.” Or maybe it was actually too soon to go on a date with Jack, or anybody else for that matter.

With a sigh, Ruby stepped around to stand directly in front of him. She took his hands in hers and gently gave them a squeeze. “I’m not saying jump into a relationship with the next guy that comes along. I’m not even saying go have hot sweaty rebound sex. I’m saying get out the house and go have a nice time with a nice guy.”

“You think Jack’s a nice guy?” Leo remembered the man who had helped him not once but twice. When Leo had needed somebody, there Jack had been.

“I think there’s only one way to find out.”

Was Leo really ready to move on? Vodka had made him feel like sealing his heart in an icy box forever last night. Obviously, in the sober-ish light of day, he realized he may have jumped the gun a little on that one. But the way he had felt last night, the world might as well have been ending, and it had been Jack’s kindness that had helped to change his mind. What Mac had done had broken Leo’s heart, but he needed to pick himself up, dust himself down, and get on with living, not run away in search of some bitter solitude.

“Go have a drink, let your hair down, make small talk. Find out he’s dull as hell, or make a new friend. Have a hot, messy fumble around the back of a building or find something amazing and fall in love. The possibilities are endless.” Her face lit up as she laughed, and Leo felt more positive.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll call him.”

Ruby swayed her hips in some muted victory dance.

“But if he turns out to be some crazed axe murderer, know I’m divulging your full name and address to him before he chops me into little bits.”

Chapter 9

Jack slipped his cell into the pocket of his jeans, then pressed his hands to the surface of the bar. He tensed and pushed down hard with his fingertips. Across the black surface, frosty lines spread outward from his hands.

“Whoa.” Abe halted in front of him, checking over his shoulder that no one else was around. “Quit it.”

Jack breathed in deeply and snatched his hands back. “Sorry.”

“You will be if someone catches you doin’ that.”

It was early afternoon and the bar was pretty empty apart from the small pockets of regulars.

Abe sat down at the bar and wiped his sleeve over the white pattern. “Is there a problem?”

“No problem,” Jack said with a shrug.

It was clear Abe didn’t believe him. “Who was on the phone?”

Why was Abe so damn interested all the time? “Nobody.”

“Well, good talk.” Abe went to leave.

“My powers are acting up,” Jack said quickly. He met Abe’s dark brown eyes and noted the mixture of concern from his friend, but also his friend’s relief that Jack was finally talking.

Abe sat back down. “Actin’ up, how?”

“I don’t know how to explain it.” He held up his hand and as if on cue, his hand visibly trembled. Clenching his fist, he looked at Abe. “I feel different. I feel…” He searched for the word. “Unstable.”

Abe ran his tongue over his teeth and frowned. “I don’t know.”

Jack didn’t either. “It’s not like this life came with a manual. It’s been fifty years and maybe… Maybe I’m—”

He was cut off when Abe insisted, “Nah, nah, man. Don’t even say that.” He rubbed his hand over his short hair, a habit when he was nervous.

“Maybe my time is just up.”

Abe shook his head. He clearly wasn’t going to accept that as Jack’s fate. “You said you’ve heard of people like you who are what? A hundred years old? Two hundred? This is just… Maybe it’s your version of a cold.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. He didn’t get sick, and the only time he ever felt tired was if he’d gotten carried away with his tricks and fun. “And do you know where they are? Those other Frosts?”

Abe knew because Jack had shared with him what he’d discovered in his search for answers about the life of a Frost. “Doesn’t mean that’ll happen to you.”

For years, Jack had traveled around the country. He’d bumped into other Frosts, hoped for answers, but was left with only more questions about his new life. He had heard about the oldest Frosts, how they’d gone insane from their repetitive lives and headed to the poles away from humans and the harm they could cause. He vowed to never become like them, that he would find a place to fit. He thought he’d found that here in this town. His town.

“Hey.” Abe slapped the bar and looked firmly at Jack. “Not gonna happen. As long as you need me and my family, we’re here for you.”

“Thanks.” A smile teased the corner of his mouth. “Though, if anything is going to drive me insane…” He left the sentence unfinished and chuckled as Abe shook his head.

“Why do I put up with you?”

Why, indeed.

“So.” Abe shifted to get comfortable on the stool. “Are you gonna tell me who was on the phone?”

Scratching his stubble-covered jaw, Jack decided he might as well tell Abe. The man would find out eventually anyway. “You remember the man from last night?”

“The blond guy you were talkin’ to?”

“Yes.” He picked up a glass and turned around, pouring himself a shot of vodka. “He’s asked me out.”

“Out? Out, out? Like on a date, out?”

“He wants to go for a drink if that’s what you mean.” He downed the shot.

Abe laughed.

“It’s not funny.”

“It’s a little funny. I guess from the weird mood thing you’ve got goin’ on, you said yes?”

Jack poured himself another shot. God he wished he could get drunk. “I did give him my number.”

“Hey, give me one,” Abe said of the vodka. As Jack fixed Abe’s drink, Abe mused, “You must have done it for a reason, right?” He looked thoughtfully at Jack. “Do you like him?”

A difficult question to answer. He had only met Leo twice, but he couldn’t deny the fact that there was something he found fascinating about the man. When he had looked into Leo’s eyes, he’d seen so much hurt. He saw a man who could easily find himself on the same path Jack had followed in becoming a Frost. Jack would never wish his life on anyone, and seeing Leo so close to giving up on love and who he was had made Jack’s heart ache for him and for what he himself had turned his back on.

“Jack?”

Jack blinked, regaining his focus. “Sorry.” He hadn’t ‘liked’ anyone since… Well, before he could remember. Was he capable of ‘like’? Of love? “Maybe I do.” He pressed his mouth in a line. “Gotta be worth a try, though, right?”

When Jack smiled, Abe looked a little surprised. “You’re right, by the way,” Abe said.

“About what?”

“You do seem different.”

Jack lowered his head. If Abe was looking to allay Jack’s fears about what might be happening to him, then this wasn’t the way.

“It’s a good thing. Like lighter, more at ease. Hell, halfway to sociable.” Abe necked his shot, slapping his lips at the taste of the neat vodka. “Christ.” He coughed and patted his chest. He eyed Jack, seeming to take note of every inch of Jack’s face. “You don’t look sick or anythin’. Do you feel okay? I know you said different, but you don’t feel weak or ill or…” He shrugged. He had as much idea about what was going on as Jack did, probably even less.

“I don’t feel sick,” Jack decided. He guessed he felt a little drained. He’d felt that before, when he’d used his powers beyond his usual round of tricks and games. Maybe he just needed to lay off the big stuff for a while, recharge, let Mother Nature do her thing.

“Well, that’s a start.” Abe glanced over his shoulder as the entrance door swung open.

“Dadda,” Neve squealed excitedly as she swerved around the tables and chairs in the bar.

Abe turned around, letting out an
oomph
as Neve collided with his thighs. “Hey, baby girl.” He kissed his daughter on the top of her head, then lifted her up to sit on his knee. “Have a good mornin’?”

Neve nodded. “Yep, Momma painted. We painted a cow.” She caught her breath between bursts of enthusiasm about her day.

“A cow? Sounds lovely.” He smiled as his wife reached his side. “She been good?” The couple shared a brief kiss.

Abe’s wife blew out a breath. “Not too bad.” She looked at Jack. “Hey, Jack.”

“Hey, Brienna.”

“Working hard?” Despite living in the States since her teenage years, Brienna’s words carried a hint of Irish brogue. Jack listened to the deep purr of her accent. He found it fascinating.

“Always, baby.” Abe hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

The spark of something inside of him caught Jack unaware. Jack watched the family scene, the hugging, the closeness, and for the first time in the six years since Abe married and became a father, Jack felt what he could only describe as jealousy.

The snap of Abe’s fingers caught Jack’s attention. He ran a hand over his beard and averted his eyes under the scrutiny of his friend.

“Do you think there’s somethin’ different about Jack?” Abe quizzed his wife.

“In what way?” Brienna asked. She teasingly ran her painted fingernails along the open zipper of Abe’s hooded cardigan, then leaned forward to study Jack.

Abe shrugged. “Just, any way.”

“I guess you look a little flushed.” She raised an eyebrow as she realized what she’d said. “Is something going on?”

“Nothing’s going on,” Jack insisted.

“Jack’s got a date.”

Brienna smiled brightly. “That’s great. And you wonder why he’s red in the face? Stop embarrassing him.”

“Yeah, stop embarrassing me.” Jack spun on his heel and headed for the door to the back rooms. “Back in a minute,” he called over his shoulder. He could hear Neve’s laughter as Abe turned his attention to his daughter.

Jack headed for the staff bathrooms. Pushing the door shut behind him, he walked over to the full-length mirror past the stalls. He stared at his reflection. Gently, he touched his cheek. He pressed the back of his hand to his skin. Though there seemed to be the appearance of color to his flesh, he felt as cool as ever. With a sniffed laugh, he lowered his hand and turned away from the mirror, dismissing what he thought he’d seen, or rather, what he had wanted to see.

* * * * *

This was ridiculous. Why had he let Ruby talk him into this?

“And?” Ruby pressed her hands together and looked at Leo expectantly. “What did he say?”

“He’s meeting me at the bar at nine.”

Ruby damn near squeaked with excitement. How was it she seemed far more enthusiastic about his social life than he did?

“It’s just a couple of drinks.”

She looped her arm in his. “We all have to start somewhere. You remember the disaster that was my and Nathan’s first date?”

Leo grinned. “Your ass was bruised for weeks,” he recalled.

“Still can’t stand on a pair of roller skates if my life depended on it, but there you go. Can’t be worse than that, right? Though on your date, a bruised ass—”

“Stop.” Leo raised his hand. “You’re so rude.”

“It’s called living vicariously through others. You’re a free agent now. As a singleton you can do things us married folks and couples only dream of.” She cleared her throat as Mac passed the door to the kitchen. “Well, most of us anyway.”

Leo tilted his head, his attention firmly on the path Mac had taken across the entrance. “Maybe it’s too soon,” he said idly. “Maybe I should call him back.”

He turned his head and met Ruby’s gaze. If looks could kill, he’d be a smoldering pile of ash right then.

“Or not,” Leo added with a sigh.

“Look,” Ruby said. “I just want you to be happy. I just don’t want to see you making the mistake of clinging onto something so tightly only for it to break apart in your hands.” She breathed in deeply. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Her concern was appreciated, but his relationship with Mac was nothing like what Ruby had been through. He didn’t believe Mac would ever hurt him, not how Ruby’s ex-husband had hurt her. But maybe she did have a point. He could never trust Mac, not now, no matter what he might be able to fool himself into believing.

Pulling Ruby into a hug, Leo rested his chin on the top of her head. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

Ruby shook her head. “Of course I do. You’re like the annoying little brother I never had.” She grinned. “Or wanted.”

“Thanks.” He hugged her firmly, then released her. “It’ll be fun, right?” he said of the upcoming date.

She cupped his face in her hands and looked into his eyes. “It will.” She pinched his cheek. “So don’t worry about it.” With a smile, she lowered her hands. “How about we go and do some work in the meantime? Take your mind off things, yeah?”

“Okay.” He breathed in deeply and eyed the open door.

“Because, seriously, you need to think about making the right impression tonight.”

Leo screwed up his mouth. What impression did she want him to make? “I do?”

She looked him up and down. “For starters, you’re going to do something with your hair, right? And don’t go wearing anything too…”

“Too what?”

She looked him up and down, teasingly tugging at the collar of his shirt. “Nothing. You’ll be fine.”

Way to fill him with confidence. His hand went to his hair, and he tugged the curls that met his collar. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

Ruby simply grinned.

“Are you kidding?”

With a wicked laugh, she said, “I like to keep you on your toes.”

Leo gave a chuckle. It was nice to see her so playful. He still remembered the days when she was so meek, so easy to startle. “You’re such an ass.” He smiled, then kissed her on the cheek. He lowered his head and thought about what the evening might bring. Jack seemed nice enough in the brief moments they had shared, and the man was certainly handsome—dark hair, the bluest eyes, tall, with an edge of mystery. The man had been hard to read, but then, Leo hadn’t really been in a situation with time to really focus on whether or not Jack was taking more than a kindly interest in him. In fact, despite some out of character attempt to maul Jack’s mouth, romantic intentions were way down Leo’s list of things to look out for yesterday. Hell, he’d pretty much declared himself a monk after the shock of finding Mac with that kid.