A Daddy for Jacoby

“Jacoby kept opening the shower curtain. I think he was afraid I was going to go through his pillowcase.” He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it off his face, except for one piece that fell back onto his forehead. “You haven’t answered my question. What happened out here?”

She clenched her hands together, determined not to fix that wayward lock. “I just—He’s exhausted. You must be, as well. I figured if things were ready when you two got back out here it would be easier for him to fall asleep.”

“I can handle laying out a few blankets.”

“I’m not saying you can’t. I was only trying—Hey, Jacoby.”

Face pink and shiny clean from the hot shower, the little boy’s features clearly showed his exhaustion as he walked into the room, dragging his pillowcase behind him.

“Why don’t you crawl between the blankets over here with Jack?” she said, ignoring Justin’s pointed look. “Would you like to read a book before you go to sleep?”

The boy stilled for a moment, before he shook his head. He stumbled past Justin, tucked the pillowcase under the top corner of the sleeping bag and crawled inside, hugging his stuffed bear. Jack scooted up to stretch out next to him and Jacoby wrapped one arm across the dog’s shaggy belly.

“I think Jack wants to spend the night.” Bending over, Gina gave the dog a quick pat. “Is that okay with you, Jacoby?”

Jacoby nodded, but Gina noticed his half-closed eyes were trained on her hair. He reached out and traced a tiny finger along a strand of curls. “Pink. I like it.”

Her heart squeezed in her chest. She opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of a throat clearing stopped her.

Jacoby’s eyes widened and he looked past Gina’s shoulder. “Can he…can Jack…stay?”

Gina straightened and turned in time to see Justin’s quick nod. He then centered his gaze on her, his eyes hooded, as well, but not from fatigue. No, she guessed he wanted her out of here and the quicker the better. “I guess it’s settled, then. I’ll call Racy to tell her about Jack.”

“I’ll do that. He comes over all the time from their place.”

“Well, I’ll see myself out. Bye, Jacoby.”

The boy was already fast asleep. She headed for the front door, grabbed her jacket and wrenched open the handle, stepping outside.

“Gina, wait, you dropped…”

She paused and turned around. Justin stood in the open doorway, a scrap of paper in his hand. She cringed as his eyes scanned the writing.

“What’s this? ‘Doctor’s appointment, new clothes, register at school.’” He glared at her, his eyes sharp and piercing, his voice a low rumble. “You wrote this?”

She lifted her chin. “I’m just trying to—”

“Help. Yeah, I know. I think I’ve made it clear that I don’t need your help.”

“So I brought over a few groceries and swept your floors. It’s not a big deal. Jacoby seems to be sleeping fine, so I guess I didn’t upset him too much by stopping by. You, on the other hand, can’t seem to wait to get rid of me. Why is that?”

His eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you late for something?”

“Yes, I am. You know, you might want to try the words thank you on for size. If you think you can pull them on over that massive chip on your shoulder.”

Gina spun away as he crumpled the paper in his fist. She stomped to the car and had the driver’s side door open when she heard his front door close with a loud thud. Seconds later, she was behind the wheel and gunned the engine.

So much for good ideas.

Chapter Four

He was an idiot.

After spending last night thinking about the asinine way he’d reacted to Gina’s list, Justin had come to that simple but honest conclusion beneath the hot spray of his morning shower.

One hundred percent, bona fide numbskull.

He stalked around the kitchen, grabbing the makings for pancakes and piling them on the center island. He wasn’t mad about her list. Heck, not long after he’d stretched out next to the kid he had his own mental tally going. It’d stung that she thought he wouldn’t be able to figure out the basic necessities for the boy, but that’s not what caused his side trip into Boneheadland.

No, it was purely the fact all he’d wanted to do in that one moment on his front porch was pull her into his arms and cover her mouth with his.

One moment? How about many moments?

Like when she’d first arrived, standing at his front door looking up at him, uncertainty in her eyes. Or in his darkened kitchen when embarrassment left a pretty pink blush on her face. Or how that blush deepened when he’d found her bra in the basket and realized she was wearing the matching panties.

Oh, yeah, he’d really wanted to kiss her then.

Hell, he’d wanted to kiss her from practically the first moment they met in his sister’s office on the day he’d convinced Racy to hire him.

Then he found out she was the sheriff’s younger sister.

That really put her out of his league, not that she and him were even in the same ballpark. He was a hundred percent all wrong for Gina Steele. Finding out her family connection should’ve quenched the ever-present fire burning in his gut, but it didn’t. So he’d worked hard to stay away from her. Not the easiest thing to do with their tripping over each other at work. And holding her in his arms yesterday hadn’t helped.

Justin slammed a mental door on his thoughts and focused on his plans for the day. He eyed the clock over the sink. After nine. He was usually up at dawn on weekends, but between trying to get used to the soft buzz of snores from the kid and thinking about a pair of wide blue eyes and soft pink lips—

Back to the plan.

Eating, laundry duty and shopping for a seven-year-old. He had no idea how long the kid was going to be with him, but seeing the ragged child-size toothbrush on the bathroom sink next to his told him there were certain things Jacoby needed right away. He also had to find a quiet moment to call the sheriff’s office to see if Gage had found out anything more about Zoe or her whereabouts.

He grabbed an old-fashioned hand sifter and added flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. While cranking, he wondered if the kid liked anything special in his pancakes, like his personal favorites, bananas and chopped walnuts.

“Can I help?”

Justin looked over his shoulder. The kid stood at the counter on the living room side. His hair stood up in sharp angles, and his eyes were sleepy.

“Sure, but you should get dressed first. You got clean clothes in your bag?”

Jacoby nodded.

“Do you need help washing up?”

This time he shook his head but continued to stand there.

“Then go ahead and get changed.”

After a slight hesitation he headed back toward the sleeping bag where Jack still lay, his tail thumping wildly against the fabric. The kid had waited for permission to go to the bathroom last night, too.

It took Justin back to his time behind bars when everything from eating to taking a leak required an okay from someone with a uniform and a gun. Not an easy habit to break in the months since his release, and he still found himself sometimes wavering before making a decision as simple as grabbing a bottle of water while slaving over a hot stove.