Jack Frost, page 3
“If you want to have a friend, you have to be a friend,” she reminded herself. She took a deep breath as she gripped the handle, then opened the door and stepped inside.
That deep breath rushed out of her as she stared at her shop. The horizontal surfaces that had been overflowing with ribbons and flowers when she’d left were now empty—except for the table at the back, which held what appeared to be twenty-seven stunning, completed floral arrangements in neat rows. She ran over to them, inspecting the positioning of the flowers, the placement of the ribbons, and the all-important Celtic knotwork.
“They’re all perfect,” she murmured. “Every one of them.”
She looked around the store to see the green-and-white checkered tile floor swept and gleaming. It was almost as if someone had polished it. The tables were clean, too. No trimmings or odds-and-ends littered their surfaces.
Had Jack done all this, and, if so, how? One person couldn’t have finished all these, let alone made them so perfectly and cleaned up afterwards. Her office door was standing open. Cautiously, she approached the room.
Jack was inside, stretched out on the cot with his right arm behind his head as a pillow and his left resting over his eyes. He hadn’t turned the light off. One knee was bent, his foot on the cot. The other dangled off the side. Ava licked her lips as she stared at his long, lean frame again, heat detonating in her belly.
Her skin tingled with the urge to reach out and touch him, a shiver coursing through her just at the thought. Would his lips be as soft as they looked? She was sure he would absolutely know how to use them. The smirk that had been annoying before now struck her as enticingly delicious, conveying that this was someone who followed no rules. It had been a long time since she’d been with a man. She’d never wanted anyone in this way.
“Did you get Charlie to school okay?” he asked, shaking her from her reverie. She hadn’t realized he heard her approach. He was lying in the same position, nothing moving except his lips. She couldn’t stop staring at them.
“Yeah.” Her voice was always kind of low and raspy, but it was even more so at the moment. She cleared her throat to sound more normal.
“Good. I’d hate for him to be late on my account.”
“Speaking of being late…” She glanced back at the flowers in their sparkling vases. “Did you do that? Make all those arrangements?”
“Guilty.”
She scoffed, shaking her head. “How? I mean, I was only gone for twenty minutes.”
He shrugged one shoulder, still covering his eyes. “It was more fun than making a bunch of shoes.”
“What do shoes have to do with anything?”
He let out an exasperated sigh, then lowered his arm to stare at her. Her breath caught as the light gleamed in his silvery-blue eyes, almost making them seem to glow. More heat flowed through her, pooling low and sending shivers of pleasure between her legs. How could anyone be so beautiful?
She had to get control of herself. This kind of attraction—this kind of lust—wasn’t healthy. It could lead her to bad decisions, and she didn’t have the resources to handle the aftermath of that. Physically or emotionally. Back in the day, she’d been among the more adventurous of her friends when it came to romance, but now, she had to think of Charlie.
“Is it true you have nowhere to go?” she asked, annoyed at the little piece of her that was hoping he would say ‘yes.’ She shouldn’t wish that on anyone.
“Not really.” Jack did that half-shrug and stretched out on the cot.
Her eyes kept gravitating toward the bulge at the front of his jeans. She fought the urge to lick her lips again, trying to focus on something else. Her field of vision seemed to be filled with him. She couldn’t look away from his lithe form. He must be taller than she remembered. His legs dangled over the edge of the cot while he stretched, then he shifted them to the side and rose with the gracefulness of a cat. His smirk left her breathless as he approached, stopping close enough that she could feel the coolness of his body.
Wait, why was he putting off cold?
“What the hell?” she said. “You’re freezing.”
She bent down and picked up the blanket that he’d been lying on. She shook it out, then threw it over his shoulders, closing it at the front to keep him warm. He didn’t move, leaving her to stand there staring up at him, only a few inches apart. His brow furrowed a bit at first, as if he was confused, but then that deep smirk came back.
“Such language.” He made a tsking sound that was somehow the sexiest thing she’d ever heard. “You talk that way around Charlie?”
She glared up at him. “I try not to. I’m still shaking off the city, I guess.”
“I don’t judge.” He shrugged, pulling on the blanket. She stepped closer instinctively, keeping it in place.
Chills spread down her arms, her breath catching. His smirk vanished, that oddly endearing look of confused wonder smoothing his features again. She rose on her tip-toes without thinking, pulling him toward her with her grip.
“Hello!” Hayden’s cheerful voice called from the other room, accompanied by the tinkling of the bells above the shop’s door.
Ava lurched back, eyes wide as she spun toward her friend. She couldn’t believe what she’d been about to do. She looked over at Jack to see a similar expression. He blinked a few times, then sort of shook himself, the smirk reasserting itself on his much-too-handsome face.
“Duty calls,” he said. “I’ll be relaxing in here when you’re ready to have more fun.”
She glared at him before she turned and headed into the shop. Hayden was inspecting the floral arrangements, her lavender organizer tucked under one arm and a large, stylish sage-green purse draped over the other. As usual, she had her blonde hair pulled into a precise bun. Her thick-framed, rectangular glasses sat on her perfect, pert nose, accentuating her heart-shaped face, reminding Ava of her own long, narrow face and overly strong features.
Hayden was petite while Ava was tall and built like a running-back. Beneath a rose gold duffle-coat, her friend’s curves were tastefully accented by her light pink suit with a pencil skirt that ended just above her knees. Her matching heels somehow were free from snow or slush. Ava didn’t know how Hayden always looked as though she had everything in perfect order. It probably came in handy, being an event planner.
“They’re done already?” Hayden gestured toward the arrangements. “I’ve never seen your shop this tidy. Did you sleep at all last night?”
“Yes, I slept. I… had a little help.”
“Did Charlie help you with these? Because if he did, he seriously has a future in this line of work. Is Emma teaching him how to bake? I could work on his organizational skills, and then he’ll be the trifecta.”
Jack’s smooth voice broke in before Ava could respond. She did her best to steel her expression when the sound sent a frisson up her spine.
“That’s a little much to put on such a young man.” Jack walked into the room with a casual grace that had Ava’s breath catching in her chest.
Hayden’s eyebrows launched up her forehead as her jaw dropped. Her head tilted down as she eagerly ate up his frame with her eyes, just as Ava had when she first saw him. Instead of scowling as she recovered herself, Hayden snapped her mouth shut into a grin.
“Ava, who is your friend?” Hayden’s lips sort of quivered, as if she was at least trying to dim her smile somewhat.
“This is Jack.” Ava turned to him and said, “I didn’t catch your last name.”
His smirk deepened. “That’s because I didn’t throw it.”
She let out a little grunt and rolled her eyes. Hayden’s smile broadened again.
“Do I have you to thank for these gorgeous arrangements?” Hayden asked.
“No need to thank me.” Jack kind of shuddered and shook his head. He leaned against a table, his smirk returning. “I was just repaying a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” Hayden arched an eyebrow and pursed her lips at Ava. Before Ava could disabuse Hayden of any fantasies she was developing around the pair of them, Jack pushed off from the table and sauntered over.
“Ava was sweet enough to offer me her cot while we ‘figure things out.’” He winked at her, and Ava felt herself frown even as butterflies fluttered in her stomach.
Hayden’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open again. She made a few incoherent sounds that had Ava chuckling. It wasn’t often that her friend was at a loss for words. After composing herself, Hayden cast a quick glare at Ava that only made her smile more.
“You know, this is actually great,” Hayden said. “I thought you needed me for the flowers, but since that’s all in hand, I can go help Emma with the catering.”
“Hayden…” Ava lowered her voice to a whisper as she guided her friend a few feet away. “I just met this guy. I thought you came over so I wouldn’t have to be alone with him.”
“You just met him, but he had time to do all these flower arrangements?” Hayden’s eyebrows rose.
“I… can’t explain that, actually.” Ava looked back at the vases glittering in the light, the bright yellows, whites, and golds of the flowers making them look like little pools of sunshine. Her attention gravitated back to Jack, who had moved away to lean against the counter again as if he hadn’t a care in the world. She wanted to glare at his cocky smile, but couldn’t. He truly had helped her out.
“Well, you trust him enough to let him crash on the cot in your office,” Hayden whispered.
“I didn’t offer that. Charlie did.”
“So, you trust him with Charlie?”
“No.” Ava let out an exasperated sigh, struggling to keep her voice low. “Charlie brought him home this morning and said the guy needed help.”
“Then help him,” Hayden said. “Look, this client is going to be so important for all of us.” A note of pleading entered her tone. “We’re all just starting out. What we do here could make or break us. We need to knock it out of the park.”
“So, no pressure.” Ava scoffed.
“Pressure is fine.” Hayden gave a little shrug. “We can handle pressure. No worrying. That’s what’ll get you every time.”
“What if he’s some kind of creep?” Ava whispered.
“This is Crystal Hollow, not the big city,” Hayden said.
Ava angled her head and planted a hand on her hip. How could Hayden expect her to trust a guy she had just met? As if reading her concern, Hayden frowned, then pulled her phone out of her purse and stalked over to Jack.
“Say ‘cheese,’” she said.
“No.” Jack’s brow furrowed as he scowled. He still looked insanely handsome.
“I see you and Ava share a similar temperament.” Hayden chuckled as she snapped a picture. She tapped on her phone a few times, then slid it back into her purse. Ava’s own phone gave a beep. Hayden smoothed down her coat and adjusted her organizer under her arm, then cast a cheerful smile at Jack.
“Okay, I have your picture and sent it to several of my friends,” Hayden said. “If you do anything to hurt Ava or Charlie, we will find you and things will get… unpleasant for you. Extremely unpleasant.” She looked at Ava over her shoulder. “Better?”
Ava shook her head. “Fine.”
“Awesome.” Hayden beamed at her. She paused, then leaned closer to Jack and murmured something too quietly for Ava to hear. Whatever it was, he snorted, his smirk deepening as he looked up at Ava. Hayden glared at him, and he schooled his expression to one of mock-seriousness, nodding as if he’d been scolded. She marched to the door, stopping to give Ava a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
“There, it’s handled.” Still standing close, Hayden whispered, “And he strikes me as the kind of guy who excels at… handling things.”
Ava swatted at Hayden lightly, but the other woman was already jumping out of range, her laughter ringing with the bell above the door. It closed behind her, leaving Ava and Jack alone.
Chapter Five
Well, this is fun.
Jack kept a bemused expression on his face as he listened to the women’s conversation, pretending that he couldn’t hear them. Maybe if his ears were as blunted as a mortal’s, he wouldn’t be able to. He maintained a glamour pretty much constantly that hid the tips of his ears, but didn’t bother changing anything else about his appearance. Hayden was apparently a fan, and he was certain Ava was feeling the effects of his elvish charm. She wasn’t giving in to them, though.
He respected her caution now, even if she’d left him alone in her shop. She was right not to trust him. He was a fairy, and fairies were no good. He was one of the worst of them. A trickster with no true function or place in any of the Courts. That was just how he liked it. Still, it had given him a strange sense of satisfaction to see the flower arrangements coming together and actually creating something. His magic made easy work of the Celtic knots in the decorations and the cleanup afterwards.
The knots had him wondering… They weren’t a common design anymore in the mortal realm. A thousand years ago, sure, but not among today’s humans. It was possible that whoever this event was for had happened across it on the ‘all-knowing Internet’ humans had developed, but with the Spring Equinox at hand, Jack had his suspicions—especially with that zing of energy he’d felt while making them. He narrowed his eyes, assessing Ava more closely now that he could see her true form and not just his magic’s transparent recreation of her.
She had dark hair that was held up in a clip. It would flow down her back in waves if she let it down. Its current style showed off the long, gentle curve of her neck. Not bad for a human. Her amber skin had rich golden undertones that almost seemed to glow from all the bright flowers surrounding them. Her features were strong—stronger than any Fae’s would be. It was hard for Jack to look away from her, the lines of her jaw, her prominent cheekbones and dark slashes of eyebrows, the deep obsidian of her eyes. He had never seen anyone more mesmerizing.
Strange…
“What?” she said, in that gruff, low voice of hers. An odd thrill spread over his skin when she spoke.
“What ‘what?’” he parroted.
“You’re staring.”
“I’m thinking.”
“Well, do it with your eyes pointed someplace else.”
He sauntered closer, enjoying how her lips parted slightly and her breath quickened. How close would she let him get?
He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper and said, “I like having my eyes pointed this way.”
“Fine.” Her lips pulled into a lopsided frown, almost like an upside-down version of his smirk. She pointedly retained eye contact as long as possible as she stepped to the side and then walked past him, out of his line of sight.
Jack felt himself smile and let out a laugh. This human was delightful. He turned to watch as she started picking up the vases with his arrangements and carefully secured them in cardboard boxes.
“How’d you do it?” Ava paused in her work, gently lifting one of the Celtic knots. “The flowers I could easily finish by the deadline and cleanup’s not that hard, but all these intricate knots…”
He shrugged a shoulder, approaching her again till he was quite close. She didn’t seem to notice, intent on loading up the arrangements.
“How did you get all this done so fast?” she asked.
“Natural talent?”
She scoffed and shook her head. “I guess a magician never reveals their secrets, right?”
He chuckled. “Secrets are overrated. Speaking of which… This client of yours. Does he have a name?”
She leaned in and said, “I didn’t catch it.”
Jack lifted an eyebrow, pursing his lips. He held her gaze for moments that dragged on. Human patience was often limited. He attributed it to their exceedingly short lifespans—at least, compared to the eons he and his kind lived.
As he expected, she finally rolled her eyes and spoke. “Hayden isn’t telling us. She’s been all weird and secretive about it. It bugs me.”
She clamped her mouth shut as if she’d shared more than she wanted to. Jack merely smiled. After a few moments, her lips quirked up into the ghost of a smile. He wondered how good he could get at making genuine smiles appear there. Maybe even getting her to laugh.
“Emma and I call him Prince Charming.” Ava lifted one shoulder and looked away.
“Prince Charming, huh? That mean I have competition?”
Ava laughed at that, then glanced at him with narrowed eyes. “I don’t know. I haven’t met the guy yet.”
Jack’s heart lurched unpleasantly. He didn’t want to fight someone for Ava’s attention. He wanted her to offer it to him. To want to give it to him freely—what was left over from caring for Charlie, of course. He wanted to share in that, too. It was the strangest feeling, his stomach fluttering and his heart beating fast.
“Well, let’s get these arrangements loaded up and delivered.” He turned back to the flowers as he sorted out his reaction to her teasing comment.
“You’ve helped enough already. You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t have to do anything.” He scoffed. “I do what I want when I want.”
He slid a little closer to her, enjoying the view of her decolletage displayed by the soft, dark-blue flannel shirt she wore, the top few buttons undone. It actually looked like a couple of buttons were missing. He’d be sure to fix that later.
“What’s in it for you?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I meant what I said.” She turned to face him fully, one hand on her hip and the other flat on the counter as she leaned against it. “What’s in it for you? I know this place has that small town charm, but people don’t just help other people. Not like this.”
