IT HAD been a relatively easy week, and as Jack walked home with Leo by his side, he realized he was as happy as he’d ever been.
His job at the diner was hardly challenging; working with Matt and Leo was turning out to be a lot of fun, and Ronnie was sweet and kind, though a little too interested in Jack’s private life. Clare had proven to be more relaxed in the field than Jack could have hoped for. Even Sean seemed to have thawed slightly.
Sean was already home when Jack and Leo walked into the house. He inclined his head when Jack handed him the envelope Matt had given him at the end of his shift.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“I think it’s my wages from the diner, plus all the tips,” Jack replied.
Sean pressed the envelope back into Jack’s hand. “Keep it.”
Jack’s eyes widened in surprise. “What am I going to do with all this money?”
Sean patted him on the back. “You’ll likely have expenses over the next few weeks. And even if you don’t, you might find something you want to buy for yourself. If you get permission, you can probably take a few things back to the Center when this assignment is over.”
Jack found himself speechless with shock. In the past he had always been searched before he returned to the Center, and his room was always tossed within a few days in case he had tried to smuggle anything back with him.
“Thanks, Sean,” he mumbled. He stuffed the envelope into his pocket, wondering how he would ever find anything to spend the money on.
Leo had followed him into the house and was now bent over, rooting through the refrigerator.
Sean raised a sardonic eyebrow. “Doesn’t Martin feed you anymore?”
Leo straightened up. “He’s working late tonight. And the company here is so much better.”
“I’m guessing you’re not referring to Clare or myself?”
“Well, even you two beat looking at the apartment walls all by myself,” Leo said. “But if you want me to go….”
“Sit your ass down!” Sean growled.
Leo grinned and slid onto a stool, and by the time Clare got home, dinner was on the table.
“It’s great to see you here so often,” Clare said to Leo. “It’s good for Jack to have somebody his own age to hang out with.”
“That’s what Sean was just saying,” Leo said, smiling sweetly.
Sean snorted. “Now that you’re here, we should talk about your next steps. Jack, you know Alex Sutherland was a bit of a player. It would be good to support your cover story with a little friendly dating.”
Jack slid a glance at Leo, who seemed totally unconcerned by the suggestion.
“There might be somebody at the diner who is interested,” Jack mumbled.
Leo laughed. “There’s more than one ‘somebody’ who’s interested. I think Ronnie is keeping a running tally.”
Jack ducked his head to avoid Clare and Sean as they swiveled to face him.
“How do you want us to handle this?” Leo put in, taking pity on him.
“Nothing heavy,” Sean said firmly. “Something simple and relatively public, and it’s absolutely essential that no attachments are formed. Can you two work something up? I want you to run it past me first.”
Leo gave Jack an encouraging nod. “We’ll figure something out.”
“Just remember, Jack has a curfew,” Sean added.
Clare put her hand on Sean’s arm. “But Alex Sutherland doesn’t. Don’t you think we should loosen the reins a little? Leo will make sure things don’t go too far, won’t you, Leo?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Leo said.
Jack held his breath, and in the end, Sean gave a curt nod. “Okay. We have to work within the cover story. You can break curfew.” He shook a warning finger. “But I want you both to remember that this is part of the assignment, nothing more. And if you’re staying out late, I want you to text me. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Jack said promptly.
“Leo?”
“Absolutely,” Leo said. He plastered on his most guileless expression, but Jack doubted anybody at the table was fooled.
“ARE YOU okay with this?”
Leo had just left the house after a lazy evening watching a baseball game with Sean and Jack. It had been so comfortable and laid-back, Jack almost forgot they were all on assignment and that he, Clare, and Sean were always potentially in the line of fire.
Clare drifted in and out all evening, bringing popcorn and sodas whenever she came, and watching the game for a few minutes before disappearing again into her room.
When Leo left she sat in the chair he had sprawled in and asked the question Jack had somehow known was coming.
“It’s going to be a little strange,” he said honestly. “Pretending I’m on a date while Leo is sitting across the table from me.” He shook his head. “It’s a bit… twisted.”
“Do you think it will have any impact on your relationship?”
“Leo says it won’t—”
“What do you think, Jack?”
Jack shrugged. “Hard to say. I’ve never done anything quite like this before.”
“If it starts to bother you, talk it over with Leo. He’s had more experience out there in the world.”
Although Jack knew Clare meant well, it wasn’t exactly what he wanted to hear right now.
“ARE YOU okay with this?”
Jack was beginning to wish Leo and his handlers would compare notes, especially if they were going to keep asking him the same questions.
“I said so, didn’t I?”
Leo quirked an eyebrow. “There’s no problem if you want to change your mind.”
“Try telling Sean that,” Jack muttered darkly.
“He’ll understand.”
“Leo, it’s totally fine.” Jack sighed. “We eat a pizza with our dates, we take them to the Amsterdam and listen to the band, we drop them off at home. Simple.”
The understanding smile that creased the corner of Leo’s mouth showed he knew all about the butterflies fluttering in Jack’s stomach. He chose to ignore the look and the sympathy that went along with it.
“At least we’re double-dating. That’s something.”
It was something, all right; Jack just didn’t know if the “something” was good or bad. He waved good-bye to Ronnie and followed Leo out of the diner. They were going to drop by Leo’s apartment first to grab a quick shower and pick up the Camaro before meeting their dates at the Pizza Parlor. Martin was home when they walked in, and he waved to Jack while continuing to talk on his cell phone. Leo led the way into his bedroom and closed the door.
“You want first shower?”
“Nah, go ahead,” Jack replied.
Leo walked over to his closet and pulled open the door. “You want to borrow a shirt?”
Jack looked down at his T-shirt. “I guess I should have worn something a little more upmarket than this.”
“Wouldn’t have mattered,” Leo said. “After slinging food all day at a greasy spoon, you’d still have wanted to change. Help yourself.”
He turned and disappeared into his bathroom, and Jack took a moment to look around the room. So many of the things were familiar from previous assignments: the posters on the wall, the books that lined the shelves, even the clothes that packed the closet. It reminded Jack all over again that whereas his identities changed with every mission, Leo’s mostly remained the same.
He walked over to the closet and pulled out a light blue shirt, then turned his head as Leo emerged from the bathroom with a towel tucked around his waist and droplets of water running down his chest. Jack felt his mouth dry at the sight.
“That’ll look great on you,” Leo said. He started to walk past, but Jack stopped him with a hand splayed across his stomach. He leaned forward and licked at one of the drops of water, smiling to himself when Leo shivered.
“Keep that up and we won’t make it out of this room,” Leo whispered.
“Suits me,” Jack said. He sucked harder as another droplet slid down, and Leo groaned out loud and reached to cup a hand around the back of Jack’s neck.
“Your choice,” he murmured. “You just have to decide what you want to tell Sean.”
Jack tensed, and then straightened up reluctantly. “He’ll go apeshit if he thinks this is interfering with the assignment. I’d better go stand under a cold shower for a few minutes.”
“Probably a good idea,” Leo replied, although the look in his eye indicated the exact opposite.
Twenty minutes later Jack had cooled down under the thundering spray of the shower, and he was just buttoning up his borrowed shirt when Martin knocked and stuck his head around the door.
“Sean wants to know if you’ve got enough money?” he said.
“I’m good,” Jack said, patting his wallet.
Martin nodded. “You boys look fine.”
Jack glanced at Leo and silently agreed. Leo was wearing a crisp white shirt and neatly tailored pants and had slipped his glasses back on. He looked cool and sexy, and Jack didn’t know how he was supposed to keep his hands to himself.
“You too, Jack,” Martin said kindly. “So, who are the lucky ladies?”
“One of the girls I dated last week,” Leo said. “And she’s bringing a friend.”
“Okay,” Martin said. “I have to give you the lecture, I’m afraid.”
Leo groaned, but Jack just shrugged. He’d been expecting this.
“Don’t deviate from the plan, under no circumstances are you to drink, straight home when the evening is finished. And, most importantly of all, watch each other’s backs.”
“Yes, sir,” Jack said.
“I’ll see you later, Martin. Don’t wait up,” Leo said, grinning broadly.
“I will most definitely wait up,” Martin replied. “Drop Jack home first, okay?”
“You bet. Ready?”
Jack nodded, though he wasn’t sure he was, and ten minutes later they were in Leo’s Camaro on the way to the Pizza Parlor.
“So, you dated Heather before?” Jack said.
Leo slid a glance at him. “Just a friendly cup of coffee after work. Strictly business.”
“Have you met her friend?”
“Melissa? She came into the diner a couple of times last week.”
“What’s she like?”
Jack supposed he should have asked these questions when Leo suggested the double date, but he’d been distracted by the whole idea. He had decided he didn’t want to ask any of the girls who regularly turned up at the diner to flirt with him, not wanting to encourage their blatant interest.
“She’s cool.” Leo pulled up outside the Pizza Parlor and killed the engine. “Just be yourself, Jack. You’ll be fine.”
The girls were already seated when Jack and Leo walked into the restaurant. Heather stood and gave Leo a peck on the cheek, and then she turned and introduced Melissa, who glanced up at Jack, her face immediately brightening. Jack had to admit she was pretty. Her long dark hair, which was swept up into a loose ponytail, framed a smooth-skinned face with a sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks, and her gap-toothed smile was sweet and charming.
It was clear Heather felt she had some claim on Leo when she snuggled up beside him in the booth, her hand sliding around his waist. It suddenly dawned on Jack why Martin had advised against wearing their knife holsters, even though the suggestion countermanded Evan’s strict instructions. Jack pulled in a deep breath, sat beside Melissa, and persuaded himself this was an assignment, nothing more.
The next hour flew by. Jack was grateful Leo was so at ease—it helped him to relax and enjoy dinner. He answered Melissa’s questions by keeping Alex Sutherland in mind and telling her snippets from his past, glad he’d taken the time to find out so much about a life he had never experienced for himself. He seemed to get it right because nothing tripped him up, and the girls appeared interested in what he had to say.
“So what brings you to North Bay?” Melissa asked.
“My dad’s work,” Jack said. “The bank transferred him here.”
“I guess you’ll be going to Lincoln High in September?”
“That’s the plan,” Jack said. “How about you?”
“I’ll be going into my senior year,” Melissa said. “You should come to the end-of-summer party. We hold it the last Saturday in August over in State Street Park. Pretty much the whole school turns out. It’s a lot of fun.”
“Sounds great,” Jack said. It occurred to him that he had no idea how long they were going to be here. If nothing happened soon, they could be embedded here for weeks, maybe even months. He didn’t know if Leo and Martin would get to stick around if that were the case.
He tried not to let anything show when Heather cuddled in closer to Leo and whispered into his ear, and he purposefully turned his head when she planted a kiss on Leo’s lips. Leo slipped an arm around her shoulders, and there was absolutely nothing in his expression other than appreciation for her. Jack had to swallow down the lump that suddenly seemed wedged in his throat. He heard the echo of Leo’s words in his mind telling him this was “just business,” but his heart hadn’t quite accepted that.
Later, as he dug into his wallet to pay for dinner, Melissa asked, “Have you seen this band before?”
Jack shook his head. He’d never actually been to a concert before, though he didn’t share that with her.
“They’re really good,” Melissa said, slipping her arm through his. “We’re going to have a great time.”
THE AMSTERDAM was a small club on the outskirts of North Bay that seemed to have attracted half the teenagers in town. There was a bouncer on the door, but he didn’t card any of them, just waved them through with barely a second look.
Inside it was hot and crowded, and the noise level was already so loud Jack could hardly hear himself think. They joined a throng of kids all standing in front of the stage, and Leo mouthed something that Jack didn’t hear before disappearing toward the bar. He returned a few minutes later with four bottles of beer, which he handed around their small group.
“Don’t drink it.”
Leo’s mouth was pressed up against Jack’s ear when he gave the order, and all Jack could do was nod his agreement.
As soon as the band took the stage, dozens more kids fought their way to the front until Jack was surrounded on all sides by people pushing in on him. Melissa and Heather were standing together in front of him, and Leo was just over his left shoulder, so close that Jack could feel the press of his body and the heat that seemed to burn through his shirt.
From the first jangling chords of the guitar, Jack felt the pull of the music deep in his gut. It was impossible to stand still, and he soon found himself swaying and stomping to the beat. The heat rose until Jack felt sweat trickling down his back. Leo seemed just as lost in the music, his body moving rhythmically and brushing up against Jack, who was painfully aware of an overwhelming desire to turn around and drag Leo closer. When the crowd swept forward, Leo pressed up against Jack’s back, and his voice sounded close in his ear.
“Follow me.”
Jack turned in time to see Leo push through the throng and make his way to the back of the room. He followed, dodging flying elbows and stamping feet, until Leo grabbed him by the arm and yanked him free of the mob. He pulled Jack along and dragged him around a corner, and then he slammed him up against a brick wall. His eyes were bright and his face flushed when he cupped a hand around the back of Jack’s neck.
Jack had a few seconds to register that they were totally alone before Leo lowered his head and crushed their lips together. Jack grabbed Leo’s hips and pulled him forward, feeling the swell of hard flesh as the sound of the bass guitar throbbed through his system to the same beat as the blood pounding in his ears.
Leo’s lips were flavored with the beer he had ordered Jack not to drink, and his hot skin tasted of salt and lemon soap. Underneath the familiar tang of his aftershave was the clean smell of his sweat, making Jack light-headed with longing. Leo ground his hips against Jack’s groin, and Jack threw his head back, gasping as Leo sucked hard on his neck.
When Leo raised his head, Jack groaned out loud.
“It’s you I want,” Leo said fiercely. “Only you.” He threaded his fingers through Jack’s short hair and held his head still. “Remember that, Jack. There isn’t anybody else for me.”
AT THE end of the concert, they drove the girls back into town and dropped them at Heather’s house. This time when Heather leaned over and kissed Leo, Jack was able to handle it without the twinge of jealousy that had sparked earlier.
He carefully kissed Melissa’s cheek, and she smiled shyly. “That was fun, Jack. You think we might do it again sometime?”
“That would be nice,” Jack murmured.
“You want my number?”
Jack pulled his phone out of his pocket, and she took it and entered her number. “Text me,” she said before climbing out of the car.
He was aware of Leo shooting quick glances at him as they drove home. “What?” he finally asked.
“You’re quiet,” Leo said. “What’s bothering you?”
Jack shrugged. “It’s never been my favorite part of the job. Fooling people, stringing them along.”
“There’s always a reason,” Leo said quietly.
“Doesn’t make it any easier.”
Leo pulled up in front of Jack’s house and killed the engine. He cocked his head and studied Jack closely. “If I ask you something, do you promise not to take it the wrong way?”
“Sounds ominous,” Jack said. “Shoot.”
Leo licked his lips. “Melissa is a real sweetheart. I just wondered whether you felt anything for her. Other than friendship.”
“Why would you ask me that?” Jack said, stung by the question. “Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?”
Leo turned his head and looked out into the dark street. “It isn’t that. It’s just… you’ve never had a girlfriend before. I don’t want to hold you back if you think you want to explore that option—”
“Fuck, Leo! You think I don’t know what I want? What do I have to do to convince you I know my own fucking mind?”
“Okay. Forget it,” Leo said. “What are you going to tell her if she calls?”
“I’ll tell her the truth. That I’ve met somebody I really like, and I can’t see her again.”
“God, I wish I could kiss you right now,” Leo said, turning his head. “But we don’t know if you’re being watched.”
“Didn’t stop you at the club,” Jack said, flushing at the memory of Leo’s body pressed against him.
“You know I checked first.”
Jack sighed. “You think we’ll ever get to be ourselves without having to look over our shoulders all the time?”
“Maybe one day,” Leo said. He paused and then added, “Look, if this stuff really bothers you, I’ll stop dating. It isn’t necessary to the assignment—”
“It’s fine,” Jack said quickly. “At least this way we get to hang out together.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. Night, Jack.”
Jack opened the door and climbed out, automatically checking the area as he moved. He leaned down and peered into the open window when Leo called his name.
“Just focus on the outcome,” he said. “If it gets too hard, just remember what we’re doing this for.”
“That’s part of the problem,” Jack sighed. “Most times, I haven’t got a fucking clue.”