Here goes the first chapter of my first attempt... Any feedback is welcome and appreciated!

Thanks for reading!

- Amy

Disclaimer- I don't own anything you recognize.

Disappearing Frost

Chapter 1

Frank Hardy tugged at the collar of his tuxedo shirt. He never was one for fancy functions, preferring the safety and comfort of a night cracking cases in front of his computer. He tried to stay focused on the man in front of him who was busy describing his latest selection and display of precious stones and gems, oblivious to Frank's discomfort. He had a hard time believing that this incredibly dry gentleman might be the jewel thief he was trying to uncover, so he politely excused himself and turned to peruse the room, checking out the other jewelers represented at the party.

Out of the corner of his dark eye, Frank saw a flash of red, triggering the wisp of a memory. Turning towards the source, he immediately felt all of the heat trapped in his tux rush to his face. Frank really shouldn't have been surprised to see her there, but after five years of silence it was difficult to look at the woman he was once in love with.

Frank considered his options. He could turn around, walk away, and hope that the sensations he felt would dim in relation to his proximity to her, counting on the fact that she hadn't seen him yet. He could greet her, acting aloof until he got a read on how she was feeling towards him and then proceed accordingly. Or, he could walk up to her, whisk her away in the waltz that the string quartet was currently playing, and disregard completely the last time they spoke face to face.

Frank sighed. That last one sounded much more like Joe than him.

It's not as if we hate each other, Frank reasoned with himself. We just decided to take a step back and focus on our own relationships without distracting each other. They hadn't known at the time that a step back would become five years.

He decided to go with option two. He figured that ignoring her would be immature, and there was no way he would be able to pull off a Joe, especially in a situation where he was already uncomfortable with himself.

Taking a deep breath, Frank took in the beautiful young woman across the room. Her long, royal blue evening dress fit her well, and her red hair fell softly around her shoulders. She was still petite, but he knew from experience that there was a strength hidden in her small frame that few people had. He tried and failed to avoid looking at her curves, which were much more defined now than when she was a teenager.

Get a grip on yourself, Hardy, Frank prepped himself. It won't help to have your eyes plastered to her chest when you talk to her.

As Frank approached, she seemed to be deep in conversation with one of the many businessmen there like Frank, trying to buy or sell gems of all values. Unlike Frank though, these men weren't undercover, just rich.

Ten feet away. Five. She looked up right as Frank was close enough to hear snatches of her conversation, and it didn't escape his notice that she trailed off right as her light blue eyes met his.

Not knowing whether or not she was undercover like him, Frank decided to introduce himself officially, rather than behave as if she was the long lost friend she felt like.

"Hello, my name is Francois LeSeuer. I couldn't help but notice that stunning necklace you are wearing. I had to come over and inquire as to the jeweler displaying it."

Ever perceptive, Nancy placed her hand in his outstretched one for him to kiss, as her job as a jewelry model would dictate the proper behavior. His brown eyes held hers as he brought her hand up to his lips, barely brushing her skin with them. She felt her heart jump at the contact; his lips were incredibly soft. She had to stop herself from reliving memories of when those lips were on a more preferable location. Nancy collected herself and responded like the model she was playing.

"It's a Ryan's Diamonds original, and I am Amanda Bruni. Charmed."

The man she had been talking to failed to notice the sparks shooting between the two. He quickly became disinterested, leaving Nancy and Frank alone.

"So, are you enjoying the party, Amanda?"

"I am, thank you. There are so many interesting people to talk to," Nancy replied, with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

Frank had missed that look, missed Nancy. He was contemplating the consequences of throwing caution to the wind and telling her this when she broke into his thoughts.

"So, Francois, what does it take to get asked to dance around here?"

Frank blushed slightly, reminded of how alike Nancy and Joe were in some ways. Both were willing to be bold, whereas he was definitely not, if he could help it. But he obliged her, taking her hand again and leading her onto the dance floor as the quartet transitioned into another waltz.

Nancy could feel Frank's hand on her waist, warm even through her dress. She had asked him dance to avoid the awkward conversation that seemed sure to follow their introductions. What she failed to take into account were the feelings that would inundate her at being held by him again. She was almost a foot shorter than him, and her three inch heels did little to make up the difference. Her hand rested on his shoulder and she couldn't help but notice the firm muscle beneath his jacket. They danced to the one two three of the waltz, their bodies remembering how to move together seamlessly. It startled Nancy how quickly things felt normal as they floated around the dance floor. She looked up into his dark eyes and saw he was smiling at her.

"How did you get into the diamond modeling business?"

Nancy knew he was trying to discreetly ask what she was doing there. She wasn't sure she wanted to drag him into her current case. Even though talking (and dancing) with Frank was going well so far, she didn't want to fall into her previous, destructive patterns where he was concerned. But she knew he must also be on a case, and maybe his information would be able to help her.

"My company wanted me to explore the industry. I am supposed to learn what I can about the inner workings of the show so they can decide whether or not to invest in it."

"Oh? And what have you learned so far?"

"Just that models can be very territorial about their lighted mirrors."

Frank laughed at that. He could picture Nancy trying restrain herself from retorting back at a girl who was mad at her for being in her way when Nancy was only trying to snoop around. He also got her unspoken message: now is not the time to talk about the case.

"Do you have a business partner, Francois? Or are you in the diamond industry as a free agent?"

"I do have a colleague, but he is busy pursuing other ventures at the moment. Hopefully he will be joining me tomorrow to get a second look at the pieces I am interested in."

Nancy wondered what Joe was investigating on his own. It must be something pertaining to Frank's reason for being there, or he wouldn't be coming to join him so soon.

"It must be difficult to be here without him. I know how close partnerships like that can become."

Frank smiled. She always had understood what was below the surface. "Yes, it has been challenging to look for the best products without a second set of eyes, and I am looking forward to his return."

That smile devastated Nancy only a little. She was getting better at controlling her reactions to Frank, even if her heart hadn't had a chance to slow down since she first looked up at him.

The waltz was coming to a close, and Nancy knew she had already taken too much time away from her work to be with Frank. She needed to extricate herself from his strong arms and return to scoping out the models and jewelers for potential threats. I wouldn't mind taking more time to scope out Frank in his tuxedo, she thought to herself. All men looked better in a suit of some kind, but Frank took it to another level, filling out the shoulders while the lapels emphasized his trim waistline. Stop it Nancy. Do your job, instead of acting like an adolescent girl with a fresh batch of hormones. They just reconnected after five years. Definitely not enough time to be getting involved again. She didn't even know if he was seeing anyone or not. After all, she had asked him to dance, not the other way around.

Feeling insecure, Nancy stepped away and clapped as the quartet took a bow.

"Thank you for the dance. I have neglected my work for too long now, and must return to showcasing these diamonds. I trust you also have things to be doing."

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry to have kept you. I do have my own business to attend to." Frank was confused about the shift in Nancy's demeanor. Maybe she doesn't want me to get the wrong idea, he thought, a pang going through him. "Perhaps I will see you at the next show?"

"I have been contracted until the end of the tour if necessary, so it's quite possible. Maybe we'll run into each other again. These things have a way of happening like that," Nancy said, the twinkle in her eyes returning. She took one last long look at Frank, and started to turn away.

Suddenly, a scream pierced through the quiet murmurs of the room. Frank and Nancy looked for the source, each wondering privately if this was the break they needed in their cases.