Rev (Jack 'Em Up #4) (6 page)

“Even if I have the manners of a Neanderthal?” Now he did smile and I was momentarily stunned.

“I’d call you a lot of things, but a Neanderthal isn’t one.” I forced the words out so they wouldn’t sound breathy.

“No?”

“Definitely not.”

“What would you call me then?” He studied me like he really wanted to know.

“Intense. Smart. Good.” I left out ‘sexy.’ Figured it was for the best.

A deep frown marred his brow. “I’m not good.”

“What? Of course you are. You help your friends. You’re teaching this class. That’s pretty darn good in my book.”

He shook his head and glanced down. Words he refused to say filled the space between us like boulders.

“Micah . . . ?” I opened my mouth to reassure him somehow that no matter what was weighing him down, I saw the truly good man beneath, but my words were stolen along with my breath when I glanced up.

The front door swung open and a stalky man strolled in, his brown hair rustling with the breeze. Laser-focused eyes met mine for the briefest second then flicked away as he made his way to the counter, a smile now on his face for the barista.

It had only been him for a millisecond, but that was enough to send my body into overdrive. I tried to calm my frantic heart, but it was no use. I was becoming a crazy person.

Tears filled my eyes and I stared at my cup.

“Jewel? Are you all right?”

I blinked forcefully, but didn’t look up. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine.” My voice was weak, full of holes. Even I heard it.

Without a word, Micah stood, his body blocking me from the view of the stranger at the counter. “Come on.”

I fumbled for my bag and stood, nearly tripping over myself in the process. I needed air but I was also stiff with fear.

“Jewel.” Micah gripped my elbow and waited until I met his gaze. The understanding I saw there floored me. “I’ve got you.”

I nodded and let him lead me out of the Starbucks and into the breezy night. He said nothing else as he walked me to my truck, shoving his hands in his pockets as I unlocked the door and slid to sit on watery legs. I took a deep breath, hoping against hope he hadn’t noticed my near breakdown. His dark, inscrutable gaze gave nothing away.

“Thanks for the coffee,” I said, my voice stronger now.

Nothing.

“See you at class on Thursday,” I added, uncomfortable with his silence.

Still nothing.

I offered him my best smile, though it felt fake as shit, and grabbed my door to slam it shut.

“Jewel?”

His gritty voice stopped me and I glanced up.

“I know I’m not the easiest guy to be around, but I hope we can be friends.”

My heart melted in my chest and this time my smile was real. “We
are
friends, Micah.”

Micah

A
s I watched Jewel drive away, something shifted inside of me. Like the first ice being chipped away after a long, hard freeze. I blinked and tried to place the foreign feeling.

Hope?

Maybe.

I’d lost that long ago in the rugged terrain of Kandahar and I’d forgotten what it felt like. I had no idea what it was about her that stirred me so. Maybe it was because sometimes, when nobody else was looking, I saw the hollowness of her eyes. I knew a kindred spirit when I saw one, and Jewel Jackson was as tortured as I was. I’d give anything to know why.

I fisted my keys and strode to my Jeep. Climbing inside, I rehashed every moment of the night. The way the corners of her eyes crinkled when she smiled. Her breathy laughter. How soft her hand was when we accidentally brushed each other walking into Starbucks. But what really got to me was the way she paled and the glimpse of terror I found in her eyes right before she slammed down an iron curtain. She was seriously afraid of something. Or someone. Hell, I’d sat through enough counseling sessions to know PTSD when I saw it. This was just the first time I’d seen it in someone besides myself and I had a burning need to wipe it away for her. But, how?

I also knew, better than most, that no one can do your healing for you.

The next day was steady, but not terribly busy at the shop. It gave me some time to catch up on the month end books, and I was happy to report to Blake that we’d turned a tidy profit. Ever since his first big resto sale of a ’55 Cobra, times had been pretty sweet at Jack ‘Em Up.

“That’s pretty much what I figured,” he said from the other side of his desk when I handed him the final reports with a smile.

“Daaaaaadddddyyy!!!” a little voice squealed, just before Molly launched herself into the office and into Blake’s arms.

He kissed her head and adjusted her onto his lap. “Hello, my princess. Where’s Mommy?”

“Here.”

I spun to find Delilah standing in the doorway with the cute but harried look of a mother. Her T-shirt sported a fresh spit-up stain and her hair was in a messy ponytail, but her smile was content. Baby Declan cooed from his perch on her hip. She smiled at me before sauntering over and leaning over her husband for a kiss of her own. Blake grabbed his son while she did, perching one kid on either thigh.

“What’s my beautiful family up to?” he asked.

Delilah sunk into the chair next to mine with a sigh. “Shopping. About to go home for our naps, but we thought we’d stop by and see Daddy first.”

Blake grinned. “I’m glad you did.”

His joy was infectious. I was happy for my friend. Hell, all of them. I just wished I knew what to do with the spark of green that flared to life anytime I witnessed this kind of unconditional love.

It was more than simply jealousy. It was a taunt of what would never be mine.

“Oh, darn.” Delilah faced me. “I forgot Blake’s lunch in the car. Walk with me to grab it?”

Blake was ignoring us, his focus on blowing razzberries on his kids’ cheeks.

“Uh, sure.” I stood and followed her out, not sure why she needed my help with a lunch bag.

We strolled silently to the BMW X5 Blake had redone for her once they started popping out kids. Its steel blue paint job sparkled in the sun like a stormy ocean. She spun to me before she opened the door. “I wanted to make sure you were coming to Blake’s surprise party on the fourth.”

Ah. That explained the secrecy. “Of course.”

Her smile bloomed. “Good. I got confirmation from Tori and Rachel about the other guys, but I wanted to be sure you were planning on being there. We can’t have a party without you.” She opened the door and grabbed a Jack in the Box sack and large drink.

“Sorry. I guess I should’ve texted or something. I’ll be there.” I took the bag from her as she slammed the car door.

“Okay.” She lowered her voice as we neared the bay doors. “See you Friday.”

We silenced with a mutual glance as Blake appeared at the door, his son in his arms and Molly wrapped around his leg. He thanked me for his lunch as I handed it off and brushed past to get back to work.

Trace and Jesse tinkered across the garage, their voices and laughter filtering over, along with the scent of transmission fluid. The work was routine, I could do it in my sleep, but my mind kept wandering back to Jewel and our awkward coffee date. Was that even a date? I was so out of practice, I had no clue. I only knew it felt good, almost normal, when she was around. Like my fractured pieces were beginning to heal. For a man who’d been broken as long as I had, that was a scary thing. It was too easy to live in the painful cocoon I’d created for myself, isolated and keeping the world at bay. Not to protect myself, but to protect everyone else. There were days I felt like a ticking time bomb, detonation inevitable.

Except for when Jewel was around.

I leaned on the hood of the Chevy and dropped my head. I did not want a savior, and I did not want her, or anyone, in the position to sacrifice themselves for me. That was unfair.

Still, I was counting the minutes until Thursday’s class.

I came face-to-face with Mildred when I let myself into the gym classroom Thursday night. I stopped short. “Hi, Mrs. Wallace. You’re early.”

She glanced down to where she’d grabbed my arm and squeezed my bicep with an appreciative lift of her brow. “I know. Didn’t want to miss a moment of class.”

Lifting my eyes to the clock on the wall, I casually stepped away and dropped my gym bag in the corner. “Well, you have a few minutes if you need to take care of anything first.”
Please, God
, I silently prayed
, let her have to go to the bathroom. Or have another student walk in.
I wasn’t one to be easily intimidated, but Miss Mildred was a land shark and I had the feeling she could inflict some damage.

She opened her mouth to say something saucy, I’m sure, but the “It’s Raining Men” ringtone on her phone cut her off. She scrambled to answer and I realized she had a newer, fancier phone than I did. She slid me an apologetic smile and slid out the door, leaving me alone.

I stared at myself in the mirror and attempted to school my expression. Sometimes my stormy glares or blank features startled even me. How the hell had I become so lost? So different from the man I used to be?

Shaking that off, I pulled the demo dummy from the closet for demonstration purposes. A few minutes later, the ladies began filtering in, their idle chatter grating background noise. Forcing myself to try for sociable, I pivoted to face them, my eyes automatically scouring the group for Jewel. Disappointment washed over me. She wasn’t there. I checked the clock. She had a couple more minutes.

“Evening, ladies.”

They silenced and faced me, their expressions open and friendly, and totally oblivious to the horrors of this world.

I swallowed thickly. “We’ll be pairing up again, just like last week, and reviewing what we learned. We’ll also go over some important parts of an attacker’s body to focus on.”

Their chatter started again as they gravitated into pairs. I waited, going over the night’s lesson in my mind. I didn’t want to overload them, but we had a lot to cover in a few short classes.

“Looks like my partner isn’t here,” Mildred purred.

I checked the clock again. Jewel was ten minutes late. Worry slithered up my spine. Had that guy at the Starbucks really been someone to worry about? Was she being harassed? The idea tortured me, but I shoved it into a box to be dealt with later. I had to survive this class first.