Story Note: Chapters switch between Jack and Allison's POV.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews! Yay!
Exiting the spa's lobby for a second time, Jack made his way to the men's locker room and stowed his clothes in a locker. He stepped into a soothing hot shower and let the water embrace him for a long time before reluctantly shutting it off. Accustomed to sonic showers in the smart house, he'd forgotten how good a shower with actual water could feel.
He briskly toweled off before climbing into a thick white robe. He'd already taken a shower earlier that morning, but upon reflection Jack decided that he appreciated the spa's strict policy on showering before using the pools and other communal facilities. He'd been around enough of Global's technicians to know that not all of them considered personal hygiene a high priority. Eating, sleeping, and bathing sometimes took a backseat to the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs and project deadlines.
He was then directed to the Relaxation Room and asked to wait until a spa technician came to get him. A diffused glow spreading out from behind a smoked-glass globe overhead bathed the room in low, soft lighting. Music played gently in the background and a fountain trickled in one corner of the room. Jack nodded politely to the only other occupant in the room, a young man in glasses and a robe who was reading the latest issue of Scientific American. Sinking down into a soft leather couch, Jack self-consciously smoothed a hand over the front of his robe to ensure he wasn't accidentally exposed. Then he turned his attention to the collection of magazines spread out in front of him
He was still perusing the reading material on the low coffee table, not finding anything to his liking, when Allison walked in. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail and her face was scrubbed clean. The effect was girlish and charming. She shuffled into the room almost shyly and took a seat on the couch across from him.
"Hi," she said quietly before sliding her feet out of her slippers and tucking her feet under her. She held onto her robe to ensure that it didn't gap open as she moved.
"Uh, hi," he answered vaguely, distracted by the thought of her body under the robe. He'd seen her in far more revealing clothing than that bulky robe, but the knowledge that a simple band of terrycloth tied around her waist was all that held the robe closed made it instantly sexy.
"Mr. Hayes?" a feminine voice asked from the doorway. The man who had been sitting nearby dropped his magazine on the table and followed the spa technician out of the room.
Left alone together, they each seemed at a loss for words. "So… um, this is… nice," Jack said, silently kicking himself for such a weak conversation starter.
Allison leapt upon the comment as if it was brilliant, agreeing fervently, "Yes! It's very nice."
Having exhausted that topic, they fell silent again.
The silence stretched out until Jack shared that he'd been searching for a Sports Illustrated among the pile of science and tech magazines. The awkwardness of the moment passed and they began chatting comfortably. Jack was slightly disappointed when a spa technician arrived a few minutes later to whisk him away.
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Jack arrived at the spa's restaurant just a few minutes after noon. He'd changed back into his clothes after deciding that sitting in a restaurant wearing a robe was too weird. He'd meant to get to the restaurant early, but had wasted time in the locker room deliberating over whether he was supposed to dress for lunch.
Scanning the tables, he noticed that a few patrons wore robes but most didn't. He spotted Allison already seated at a table near the back and made his way over to her. Like him, Allison had changed back out of her robe, but her hair was still pulled back in a simple ponytail. He didn't know whether to be disappointed that she'd changed out of the robe or relieved he wouldn't have to spend the entire lunch trying not to stare.
Having just come from an hour-long massage, Jack practically melted into his chair.
Watching him, Allison chuckled. "You seem happy."
"Oh, yeah!" Jack replied in a blissful tone. After a moment's reflection, he added, "Let's never leave."
Allison laughed at that. "Don't you think someone might miss us eventually?"
"Nah," he responded, feeling too content to be bothered with logic. Looking around, he admired their surroundings. Sunlight streamed in through large bay windows and gave the restaurant the airy feel of an enclosed patio. The low murmur of conversation from the surrounding tables provided a pleasant background noise and the atmosphere was relaxed. A waiter arrived promptly to give them their menus and rattle off the day's specials before leaving them alone for a few minutes.
"So, find anything good on TV?" Allison asked in a casual tone, distracting him from opening his menu.
Jack instantly felt guilty, though he couldn't have said why. "Um…How did you…"
Lowering her menu, she fixed him with a knowing gaze. "Bottom of page 3 in the brochure? 'Relax and unwind in a state-of-the-art whirlpool while watching any of over 300 channels on a splash-proof plasma screen monitor.' I believe that came highly recommended?" she teased.
"It… It was really great!" Jack admitted with a wide grin. "Just don't tell Sarah or she might get jealous."
Allison giggled as she went back to reading her menu and Jack thrilled at the sound.
Picking up his own menu, Jack searched in vain for a steak. Apparently, red meat didn't fit into the spa's philosophy. He quickly turned to the back of the menu and learned they didn't serve beer either. It was disappointing, but he faced the hardship bravely. When the waiter returned, Jack ordered the steamed sea bass in lime broth.
Allison chose the spicy green papaya salad. "You miss Vincent right now don't you?" she asked after the waiter had departed.
"I really do!" Jack groaned. The café owner openly considered Jack to have the culinary palate of a knuckle-dragging caveman, but Vincent had a talent for knowing what his customers liked.
"Hello, Allison," a deep voice said from directly behind Jack. He didn't need to turn around to know it was Stark.
"Nathan! This is a surprise!" Allison exclaimed.
Stark stepped around closer to the table, but continued to look only at Allison. "Yes, well, they haven't gotten around to revoking my spa membership. Yet," Stark sniffed. He paused and Jack got the sense that Stark was waiting for her to offer reassurance.
If he was, she didn't disappoint. "It's not as if you were fired, Nathan. Everyone still knows how valuable you are to Global."
Stark looked over and finally acknowledged Jack's presence. "Sheriff Carter. Taking advantage of Allie's new guest policy, I see."
Jack gave the briefest of nods and mumbled, "Hey, Stark," in greeting. He let the uncomfortable silence open up, hoping the man would take the hint and leave.
Unfortunately, Allison rushed to fill the silence instead. "We just ordered lunch. Would you like to join us?"
Stark lit up in a wide smile. "I'd be delighted!" he answered. He was already signaling the nearest waiter to bring a chair as he asked, "You don't mind do you, Sheriff?"
Jack bit back a few choice words. He did mind, but couldn't figure out how to say it without sounding like a jerk. "'Course not," he ground out, failing to keep the tone of disappointment out of his voice.
Stark's smile only got bigger. "Wonderful!" he declared as he settled down into his chair.
It was going to be a long lunch.
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Sitting on a low bench just outside the restaurant, Jack took a deep breath and tried to remember that the point of today's trip to the spa was to relax. He'd spent most of the lunch struggling not to take the bait no matter how many little digs Stark made at his expense. Stark had run circles around him, mocking everything from his intelligence to his table manners.
When Jack's patience finally snapped, the two men began openly bickering. He managed to score a point or two off Stark, only to glance over and catch Allison looking bored.
The worst part of the lunch had been when the check came. Jack had been planning on buying lunch. He'd thought it would be a nice way to thank Allison for bringing him to the spa. Instead, he'd ended up wresting with Stark over the check, almost coming to blows, before Allison stepped in and instructed the waiter to charge the meal to her account.
"Sorry," Allison murmured as she sat down beside him. He'd left Allison and Stark alone inside the restaurant so they could say their goodbyes privately. He hadn't liked it, but it seemed like the best way to make up for his male posturing over the check.
Jack assured her that she didn't have anything to be sorry for. After all, she was the only one out of the three of them who hadn't embarrassed herself at lunch.
She shrugged. "I guess it was a bad idea to invite the ex-husband to lunch. Note to ex-husbands worldwide: In order to keep your ex-wife from getting any action, try joining her on all of her dates."
Jack's mouth went dry. He didn't know which surprised him more: that she'd just suggested she was looking for some action or that she considered their outing a date.
Allison's eyes widened, as if just realizing what she'd said. She opened her mouth, then paused, as if unsure how to phrase her denial.
Jack didn't want to hear it. He didn't want her to take it back. Before she could get the words out, he quickly said, "You want to go for a walk? I think I could use a little air."
Allison nodded slowly, still looking a little taken aback. "O-okay. A walk would be nice."
TBC