05

05

Even before he spoke, the air had shifted and she had felt a chill go up her back. Turning around, she looked at Jack who stood by the door, both of his hands resting on his cane, but eyes resting on her. For eyes so icy, they looked so… warm.

« I did, » Summer replied, thinning out her lips. « And I don’t know what to say. I mean I obviously can’t accept it, but I—«

« Why not ? » He broke in and rose a brow, then took a few steps towards her. « Did it not fit ? »

« It’s not that, » Summer elaborated. She looked down, then sighed. « I appreciate it and I’m flattered that you bought me that, uh, gift, but it’s just… »

« Yes, Summer ? »

God, the way he said her name. « It’s just that if you think it’ll lead somewhere, I’m going to have to kill your hopes. »

« Summer—«

« It’s nothing personal, » She quickly continued, now walking up to her bar, laying down her rag and taking off her apron. « It’s just I’m not looking for a relationship—«

She hadn’t even heard him move, but suddenly he was just there behind the bar with her and had curled his hands around her slender waist and pulled her close to him. « I never said anything about a relationship, » He whispered, leaning down to her. She was forced to put her hands on his chest to create some distance when he invaded her personal bubble. « I just don’t want you to be lonely this Christmas. And for the record, you could never kill my hopes. »

She blinked, but then snapped into motion. She gave his chest a push but he didn’t budge. The knob of his cane pressed against the small of her back where both his hands rested, keeping her there. His determination didn’t scare her, he didn’t show any sign of obsession. Only persistence that she would have to rid him off. « Listen, I’m not lonely, Jack. I don’t know where you’ve gotten that idea from, but I’m perfectly happy. I don’t need someone to keep me company, and more importantly, I don’t need some man to comfort me. »

« I’m not just some man, I should probably tell you then, » He said, leaning closer again. He lowered his voice ; « And you are lonely, Summer, deny it or don’t. Doesn’t change the fact that I want to keep you… warm this winter. »

« Warm ? » Summer snorted lightly. « Jack Frost wants to keep me warm. There’s a new line. »

« I could nibble at your nose, » He whispered and leaned down and breathed warmly on her nose which made her shiver. « Or at your ear… » He leaned in to her ear and she felt his lips graze the shell of it, making her breath falter, « or at your lips… » Summer couldn’t breathe when his lips now traveled down and met hers, just the lightest peck she had ever felt. The whole room was spinning when he drew back, meeting her eyes. « Or… I could nibble you right here. »

She jumped when she felt his hand cup her between her legs and she let out an involuntary gasp when she felt just how warm he was. His hand was strangely cold, yet somehow burning hot. For the briefest second, she felt scorched.

But then he withdrew completely and took a step back, then another. He licked his lips as he walked up to the door again, keeping eye contact with her, never breaking it.

« I’m a man who knows what he wants, Summer. Question is, what do you want ? » When she just blinked, his lips twitched in a dangerous little smirk. « Something to think about. Merry Christmas. »

And then he left.

Summer stood left behind in shock. She had never felt this hot during winter.

Still shaken up and flustered about what happened yesterday, Summer went to work rather skittish that very next Tuesday. It had been years since a man had touched her like that, caressed her lips with his own and made her feel that… tremblish way. Jack had achieved just that and he had barely touched her if you looked away from how he had cupped her heat.

The mere thought brought a blush to her cheeks and she quickly put the air conditioner on in her car even though it was freezing. Snow was coming down in thick flakes, coating the city in a white, fluffy layer of fresh snow. The weather forecast had promised clear sky today, but since when did they have it right ?

She made her way into work and opened up the shop, starting up the coffee machines. As she stood there, she remembered it was in that exact spot that he had… made his ‘proposition’.

‘I could nibble at your nose… or at your ear… or at your lips… or…’

Did he have to use a Jack Frost pick-up line ? How many had he used it on ? Surely he had to have many of those up his sleeve. She actually wouldn’t mind seeing what was hiding under those sleeves, though… or under his shirt… or below his—

« Summer ! Hello, are you listening ? »

Summer jumped a mile and nearly spilled the burning hot coffee she had in her hand. She looked to her side and saw that Bev had met up and was looking at her with a raised brow. Had she been speaking to her ? « Sorry, what ? »

« Didn’t you hear the phone ringing ? » She asked, and Summer now noticed she was holding the shop’s phone in her hand. « It’s for you. A certain Mr Frost wants to speak to you. » She smiled smugly and pushed the phone over to her which Summer then stared at horrified.

He was calling her now ? He certainly had an aggressive approach. Obviously. He had cupped her last night. She really couldn’t do this.

Straightening her face, Summer took the phone and pressed it to her ear, then tried to sound as neutral as possible. « Hello ? »

« Do you know what you want yet ? »

« Uhm… » She couldn’t exactly confess to not wanting more of what he was offering, but at the same time, she wasn’t ready. « Listen Jack, as I tried to tell you yesterday—«

« You need more persuasion, I can hear. Meet me at the park tonight then, 8pm. Where you found me last. Wrap up warm. »

« No, Jack, I—« She heard the beep. The bastard ! Now she either had to show up or be the jerk that left him waiting out in the cold for hours. Using his own words, he could deny it or not, but the cold affected everyone, even the most stubborn of souls which you could certainly categorize him as.

Irritatedly, Summer slammed the phone back in its place, receiving another brow-lifted-smug-smile-glance from Bev. Summer just shook her head. « Don’t even ask. »

« Wasn’t going to, » Bev grinned, tying her apron. « Your blush says it all. »

At 8pm Summer was walking—sorry plowing her way through the shin-deep snow to get to the spot she found Jack last time. Only what met her this time wasn’t a singing Jack, it was—

« An igloo ? » She said astounded and stopped up when she saw him standing there, both hands resting on his cane in front of what had to be an expertly crafted igloo. « You built an actual igloo ? »