Just Jack (16 page)

* * * * *

“Earth to Jack.”

Jack glanced at Abe. “What?”

“What’s up with you today?” Abe quirked an eyebrow as he looked Jack up and down. “You feelin’ okay?” Concern quickly creased his brow as he rubbed his hand over his head. “Has somethin’ happened?”

His mind was elsewhere, had been all day. Jack pushed away from the doorjamb and headed for the back room. “Nothing has happened, and I’m fine.” He looked back over his shoulder when he realized Abe was following him. “I’m fine,” he said again. “Honestly.”

“Yeah, right. You might want to try that again.”

Jack stopped, then slowly turned around. “It’s nothing.”

Shaking his head, Abe pushed the door closed behind them. “Is it your powers?”

With a smile, Jack met Abe’s eyes. When Abe shivered, Jack looked away.

“Leo, then?” Abe’s breath clouded in the air, and he rolled the sleeves of his sweater down over his arms.

“Leo is… Leo’s great.”

Chewing on his lip, Abe looked at him thoughtfully. “Are you seeing him again?”

“Yeah.”

Abe laughed. “Enthusiastic much?”

“No, I am. I am.” Just the thought of Leo made his day seem brighter. But could it really last? “I just don’t want to see him getting hurt because I’m…” He shrugged.

“Because you’re emotionally stunted? Because you’re as much use as a stick for a boyfriend when it comes to all that touchy-feely stuff?” Abe cracked a smile.

“Thanks for that.” Maybe he needed to stop and think about where the hell he and Leo were heading. Was a future even possible?

“Well, how does he feel about everything?”

Jack tensed. Feel. He remembered back to that morning. To when he’d brought Leo breakfast in bed. To when Leo had rested his hand over his. He had thought about their night together, about everything he had felt. He’d done his best to dismiss it as nothing more than a fluke, a one-off. He’d been caught up in the moment, had never wanted someone like he had wanted Leo. But then in the quiet and calm of the following day, to still feel Leo’s touch? It scared him. “Give me your hand.”

“Uh, why?” Abe looked uncomfortable as he curled his hands into fists.

“What do you think I’m going to do?” Jack pursed his lips.

Abe rolled his eyes and held out his hand. “This isn’t going to hurt, is it?”

“I’d never hurt you.” Jack stared at Abe’s hand. He had been so sure about what he’d felt that morning. Tentatively, he reached out and took Abe’s hand in his. He held Abe’s hand between both of his.
Well, damn
. Slowly, he slid his palm up over the back of Abe’s hand and circled his friend’s wrist. Abe was warm.

“Okay, you’re freakin’ me out, man.”

“Sorry.” Jack released Abe’s hand and looked at the palm of his own hand. Taking a deep breath, he curled his fingers. The echo of warmth lingered. This shouldn’t be happening.

Abe narrowed his eyes. “What is it?”

Jack didn’t understand it himself. How was he supposed to even begin to explain this to Abe? Straightening up, he looked firmly at Abe and made a decision. Abe didn’t need to know about any of this. Jack had worried him enough already.

“Nothing.”

“Would you tell me if there was somethin’ wrong?”

Though unsettled, Jack plastered on a smile. “Of course.”

Abe didn’t look convinced, but he relented in his questioning. “Okay, well, you still have the order to finish for Wednesday night.” He squeezed Jack’s shoulder, and Jack closed his eyes at the feel of warmth through his shirt. “If you need to talk, I’ll be out front.”

Jack opened his eyes and gave a short nod. “Thanks. But I’m fine.” When Abe didn’t make to move, Jack added, “I promise.” Jack let out a held breath as Abe turned on his heel. Abe was the last person he wanted to lie to, but until he figured out what was happening to him, there was no point in worrying his friend. Curiously, Jack glanced at his hand.

What the hell was going on?

Chapter 16

“Cheer up. It might never happen,” Nathan said on entering the staff kitchen.

Leo glared at Nathan from over the rim of his coffee mug. “Yeah, right.”

Nathan smiled brightly as he made himself a drink.

“What’s put you in such a good mood anyway?” Leo sipped at his coffee.

“Like you have to ask.”

Leo snorted a laugh. “Ah, yes. Tonight’s free bar.” Was it really that time of year again? Maybe he should give the company party a miss this year. Alcohol and awkward conversation with the office gossips and his ex weren’t high on his to-do list for the evening. “I’m sure you and Ruby will have fun.”

“No, you don’t.”

“What?”

“You’re not
not
going tonight.” Nathan leaned back against the kitchen counter.

“Nathan, I just… I’ve spent the last three days walking into rooms for everyone to go quiet, and had more one-on-one meetings with Mac than I can really stomach. I want to go home, get out of this suit, and curl up on my couch.” He turned to Nathan. “You understand, right?”

“Office gossip has never bothered you before,” Nathan pointed out.

“Maybe.” There had been plenty of speculation about him and Mac when they started going out. Even more when Mac’s cheating came to light.

“And if you think Ruby’s going to let you sneak off home and stay there, you’re sorely mistaken.” Nathan elbowed Leo in the arm. “Plus, who else is going to dance with her? Me? I have two left feet.”

Leo rolled his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “But what about Mac’s family?” He smoothed a hand over his jaw. “Do you think they know anything?”

It wasn’t like he’d ever had anything to do with Mac’s family in the three years they dated. He was pretty sure they knew Mac was gay and had been seeing someone from the company, but did they know it was him? As a couple they had always avoided the Donovan family barbeques and picnics and holiday celebrations, and Mac had missed the last company party due to a business trip, so they hadn’t presented themselves as a couple at the event. In the office and in terms of management structure, Leo worked under Mac. They had always been professional. The last thing either of them had wanted was Mac’s grandmother or one of his brothers walking in on them in a passionate clinch. Leo suddenly felt ill at the thought.

“Does it matter if they do?” Nathan asked. He seemed unconcerned. “I can’t remember you telling me anything about them in all this time. Have you actually met them beyond a board meeting or appraisal?”

Embarrassed, Leo shook his head. “No.” Mac had met Leo’s family a few times, but nothing heavy. “They don’t know I exist, do they?”

Nathan shrugged. “Even if they do, what difference does it make? They’ll do what they do every year. They’ll show their faces for an hour, two max, do their speech nonsense to inspire the troops for another year, then leave us peasants to drink the bar dry.”

If nothing else, Nathan was honest and direct.

“I guess.”

“There’s no guess about it. We’ll pick you up at eight. Ruby is the designated driver.” Nathan didn’t allow room for Leo to argue, instead he took his drink and left the kitchen, flashing a cheeky grin over his shoulder as he walked away.

Glancing at the clock above the door, Leo took a long drink of his coffee. He had agreed to meet with Mac again that afternoon to help him work on his part of the ‘speech nonsense’ for the party. “Here we go again,” he uttered into his coffee. Standing up, he picked up the second mug he’d made and headed for Mac’s office.

* * * * *

“Watch it. We’d like to see them at least leave the club in one piece. Yeah? Thanks.” Abe held his head in his hands and gave a frustrated growl. “Where the hell do they find these people?” he said of the deliverymen struggling to maneuver the crated ice sculptures onto the back of their truck. He turned his back on the men and stared at Jack. “Just tell me when they’re done, yeah? I can’t look.”

Jack laughed as he watched over Abe’s shoulder. He didn’t know why he was laughing. He had spent hours perfectly sculpting the blocks of ice and should be the last person amused by the incompetent collectors.

“They’re fine.” He kept his eye on them for a moment more before also turning his back. He hooked his arm around Abe’s shoulders. “Who’s covering the luge and the bar at the party tonight?”

Abe tensed his shoulders.

“What?”

“Yeah, need to talk to you about that.”

“I’m not going to like this, am I?”

Abe ducked, freeing himself from Jack’s arm. “I know you like to keep a low profile, but I need you to do the party tonight.”

Jack turned around. “Tonight?”

“You have somewhere else you need to be?”

“No, but…” He didn’t mind the odd shift here and there, helping out when the bar was busy, but that was his limit—one more nameless, faceless barman among a stream of alcohol.

Abe pressed his hands together. “Jack. The twins are ill, and I mean ill. Seriously, they overshared. Everybody I’ve called seems to have plans, so I’ve got no cover for tonight. So, I need you to go with Misha to the Silverstorm.”

Jack went to argue.

“Don’t make me pull the ‘I’m the boss’ card on you.” Abe folded his arms and looked smug. “Unless there’s a problem? Anythin’ you want to talk about?”

“I didn’t realize you’d taken up fishing.” He gazed over Abe’s shoulder as the last of the crates was carried up the ramp and onto the truck. What was he supposed to say? Admit he was scared about what might be happening to him?

“So?”

“Fine. I’ll do it. What time do you need me there?” This had to be easier than the truth, right?

“Party starts at eight. I’ve asked Misha to pick you up from here about seven, which gives you time to assemble the bar.”

With a sigh, Jack nodded. “Fine.” He curled his hands into fists at his side as tension ached in his chest. It was one night. What could happen in a night?

You’ve totally just screwed yourself thinking that
. Jack reached for the wooden bar and forced a smile. “It’ll be fine.”

* * * * *

“Where’s your date?” Ruby questioned as Leo slid into the back seat of the car. She looked at him from between the front seats and grinned.

Straightening his jacket, Leo pressed his mouth in a line. He was already having second thoughts about going without her teasing him. “No date.”

“Did you ask Jack?” Nathan chimed in from the passenger seat.

“Honestly, no.” He leaned forward and rested his arm on the back of Ruby’s seat. “Under the circumstances, I didn’t think it was a good idea. Plus, I didn’t want to send him running for the hills.” He could picture Jack’s look of panic as he searched for the exit if Leo had asked him to be his plus-one at a work event. Though the thought of having someone to go with, instead of being third wheel to Nathan and Ruby, sounded great, he didn’t think they were quite there just yet.

“I don’t see Jack as a guy so easily spooked.” Ruby turned around and settled in her seat, resting her hands on the steering wheel. “But I guess it might be a little awkward.”

“Would prove a point, though,” Nathan said idly.

“What point?” Leo buckled his seat belt.

Nathan glanced over his shoulder. “That the two of you are done.”

A twinge of doubt sparked in Leo’s chest. Done. Over. The end. He knew that was the case, but having still spent time with Mac, near-missing each other’s guarded glances when they thought the other wasn’t looking,
the end
for them didn’t feel real. He looked up, surprised to catch Ruby’s eye in the mirror.

“Please tell me you’re not.” Ruby narrowed her eyes.

Leo looked out the side window. He wasn’t going to forget about Mac or stop caring about the man with a snap of his fingers. He did still have feelings for Mac, how could he not? But whatever he felt, he was sure it wasn’t love. Not anymore. Not for Mac. A smile teased the corner of his mouth. What he had had with Jack over the last few days might not be his next great romance, it might never be love, but he had felt more joy and contentment in a few days with Jack than he had in a long time with Mac. Maybe he and Jack were just some passing thing, but then maybe they weren’t. Either way, he’d learned he could move on, that he wanted to. His heart might be bruised and battered, but it wasn’t broken, and he shouldn’t give up or throw it away so easily.

In reply to Leo’s non-answer, Ruby huffed a breath and started the engine.

“Leave him,” Nathan whispered to her. “Let’s have a good night, yeah?”

“Yeah. Sorry.” Ruby put the car in drive. “Silverstorm, here we come.”

* * * * *

The tension in the car had eased by the time they had arrived at the hotel. The Silverstorm was situated on the coast. The hotel was a two-story building attached to a converted lighthouse. The green-gray painted wood was set off with white fencing running around the walkway and balconies on the second floor that looked out on the ocean as well as a large patio and swimming pool.

“Fancy a dip?” Nathan joked.

Ruby shot him a look of disgust as she headed for a seat beside one of the large outdoor heaters.

“I guess not.” He laughed and hung back with Leo. “Are you okay?” he asked Leo.

“I’m fine.” Leo looked out at the dark ocean. Lights from boats on the water shone through the night, reflecting off the surface in a hazy glow. He used to sail with his dad when he and his sister were kids. When it had been all happy families. Seemed such a long time ago now. He loved it out on the ocean; everything was so big, endless, and anything seemed possible. He smoothed his hand over his tie and smiled when Nathan patted him encouragingly on the shoulder.

“Drink?” Nathan asked and nodded back to the building and hotel bar.

“Sure. Whatever you’re having.”

“You may regret that.” Wearing a grin, Nathan headed back inside, leaving Leo standing alone near the pool.

The outside space was lit by strings of white lights running around the edge of the patio. On the tiled area stood a number of tables. One held filled champagne flutes, others had a selection of canapés, and another silver platters of ice and fruits. The four largest tables were each centered with a masterfully carved ice sculpture—a fairground scene including a Ferris wheel and carousel, a teddy bears’ picnic, a train set, and a row of old-fashioned wooden toy soldiers. They were beautiful, each backlit by a light cycling through the primary colors.