A Daddy for Jacoby(14)
“I like the taste of something sweet every now and then,” he said.
Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t ask.
It took pushing her tongue against the roof of her mouth to stop from wondering aloud what his favorite flavor was. It worked, just barely, and she closed the door. She offered a silent prayer the dimness of the room was enough to hide the blush heating her face.
A snap sounded and the room flooded with light from twin pendent fixtures that hung from the ceiling directly over a center butcher-block island.
She couldn’t resist looking around, noting that despite the chipped countertops, cabinets sporting faded white paint, some missing their doors entirely, the room was clean and well stocked. A toaster sat on the counter near a dish drainer and a trio of new windows, filled the wall over the sink.
“What were you expecting? A heap of fast-food containers and empty beer bottles?”
It was as if he could read her mind.
Shame filled her. Three steps and she invaded his personal space, laying her hand on his folded arms. “Justin, I’m sorry I misjudged you. I should’ve known the first room you’d have fixed up and in working order would’ve been the kitchen. You’re a chef, after all.”
He straightened and stepped away from her touch. “I’m not a chef. I’m a cook. Plain and simple.”
He was hardly that. The staff had raved over the dishes he’d invented and Racy was smart enough to add many of them to The Blue Creek’s menu. It still amazed Gina he’d learned that skill in prison.
“I hafta go the bathroom.”
Both of them swung around when the small voice came from the living room.
“Okay,” Justin said. “Go.”
Jacoby just stood there, his bear in one hand and the other resting on Jack’s neck as the dog sat next to him.
A pained expression came over Justin’s features, but when he caught her looking at him, he quickly erased it. “You don’t have to ask for permission. You can just go. It’s right through that doorway. The light is on the outside.”
Jacoby headed across the room, the dog on his heels.
“Jack, stay. He doesn’t need your help—” Gina said.
Both stopped, but only Jack looked at them, the corners of his mouth curving upward into the humanlike grin that always seemed to be on the dog’s face.
“I don’t care if he comes with me.”
Gina looked at Justin, who only shrugged.
“Then I guess it’s okay,” she said to the boy, “but be careful, he’s known to drink out of the toilet.”
Jacoby turned, his face screwed up with disgust. “Eww, gross.”
Gina grinned. “Totally gross.”
The boy and dog disappeared through the doorway and the sound of a door closing echoed through the cabin.
Justin moved back to the counter. “Remind me never to let that dog kiss me again. So, what else do you have in here?”
“Ah, sheets and a blanket, which I can now see you don’t need.” She waved at the bedding on the floor near the fireplace as Justin dug into the basket. “A few books, a night-light—”
“What is this?”
Gina gasped.
Swinging from Justin’s index finger was her new black satin bra, complete with lace and a skull-and-crossbones pattern mixed with the word vixen in bold letters over each cup.
“I’m guessing this isn’t for me?”
“Give me that!”
Gina grabbed for the bra, but Justin easily held it out of her reach as he stepped backward into the living room.
“So where are the matching panties?” he asked.
On her. She’d meant to wear the set, but she hadn’t been able to find the matching bra. Now she knew why. Not that she’d tell him that. Then she realized she didn’t have to, her silence gave him his answer. A hot and intense spark flashed in his gaze. No, that couldn’t be right. It had to be the flames from the nearby fire reflecting off those dark eyes, because seconds later it was gone.
A loud creaking preceded the opening of the bathroom door. Justin turned toward it. She grabbed for the bra, but he closed his grip. A quick tug-of-war ensued before she won and stuffed the sexy lingerie into her jean jacket pocket just as Jacoby and the dog came back in the room.
“What ya doing?” Jacoby asked.
“Nothing.”
Justin’s one-word answer matched hers.