Page 36 of On Thin Ice

“It’s just . . .I was curious.” Jacob knew how stupid it sounded.

“My guess is, you found something that was more important, more compelling, than your fear or your regret. Your desire to help this boy.”

“He’s not a boy.” The words escaped out of Jacob before he could snatch them back. He wasn’t used to being so circumspect with Moira. That was what he told himself anyway, why he’d said anything at all when he’d been determined that he wouldn’t touch on Finn as a person.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” she asked archly. She could always sense it. He should’ve known better than to try to hide anything.

You did. That’s why you emailed instead of asking her to call you.

“No. Nothing’s happened. Nothing’shappening.”

Moira clucked, and then a second later said. “Oh, Jacob, he’s cute, isn’t he? I just googled him. Really cute. And you’ve been single a long time now.”

“Moira,” Jacob said weakly. They hadn’tnotdiscussed his sex life, but he’d tried to only allude to his interminable dry spell.

“And he’s twenty-one. As well as being the child of a very famous hockey player. He’s not a kid. You’re right about that.”

Jacob made a face, hoping it wouldn’t get worse, but of course, she kept going.

“If you want to talk about it—”

“No,” Jacob said. “No. It’s not . . .no. I’m just helping him with hockey, that’s all.”

“You’re not the kind of man who’d be attracted to someonebecausethey’re young,” Moira reminded him. “If you like him, it’s because you like him.”

“I don’t,” Jacob said, pretty sure that was a lie. How could he not, when Finn had seen him at his worst and he’d reacted with grace and compassion and even some gentle teasing? It had all done what almost nothing else could: forced him out of his own head.

“Right, of course not. But if youdid. . .”

Jacob didn’t want to pick up her bait. He did not. But he did anyway. “And if I did?”

“If you did,one, I’d tell you to tread lightly, because it could get messy with the father, andtwo, to trust yourself. Your own instincts.”

Ironically, what he kept telling Finn to do.

“Well, I don’t, and I won’t. It’s not happening.”

“Alright, Jacob,” Moira agreed quietly.

“But you think that’s it, then? I want to help him more than I’m afraid?”

“It’s likely. And that’s a good thing. A very good thing.”

“It feels good.” It did, after so long spinning his wheels.

“And I’m sure there’s some part of you that wants to make it right, with Morgan, and you can’t, so Finn is a good substitute.”

“Finn’s not a substitute foranyone,” Jacob growled.

Moira just laughed, though. “There you go,” she said lightly, “already proving me right.”

He didn’t ask what she believed, but he was afraid he’d already guessed.

Finn hadn’t heard from Jacob in a few days, but from the way they’d left things, he hadn’t really been sure hewouldsee Jacob at practice.

Or maybe ever again. Had he pushed too hard?

Finn had worried that he’d done exactly what he’d told himselfnotto do.

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