A Daddy for Jacoby(19)

He ignored the ache in his stomach and quickly cleaned up his feet so as not to track the remains of their food fight through the rest of the cabin.

“You mind if I give you a lift to the bathroom?” he asked, remembering how Jacoby had cried out earlier when he’d touched him. He didn’t even want to think about where that reaction came from. “We need to keep the mess here in the kitchen.”

“You mean like a piggyback ride?”

Justin shrugged. “Sure, if you want.”

The kid smiled and the ache eased a little. Justin refused to think about why as he hoisted Jacoby onto his back.



“And then Gina cleaned up the living room,” Jacoby said before shoving a ketchup-drowned French fry into his mouth. “It needed it, too. The place was a mess.”

“Hey!” Justin protested as his sister grinned.

Racy sat next to the kid and opposite Justin in a window booth at Sherry’s Diner. They’d run into her after stopping in for a late lunch.

It still surprised Justin how easy it’d been to rebuild a relationship with her after his years away. It meant a lot to him that she’d believed him when he vowed he was ready to turn his life around. Unlike their older brother who was back behind bars. Despite being freed along with Justin, Billy had gotten involved with the drug scene again, resulting in a fire that destroyed their childhood home and a failed attempt at extorting money from Racy.

“Was it that bad?” she asked.

“No.” Justin and Jacoby spoke in unison.

“I was kidding.” Jacoby concentrated on his fries again. “It’s a nice place.”

“Gina just moved some boxes and swept up the dust.” Justin continued when Racy raised an eyebrow in his direction. “Then she laid out the pillows and blankets.”

“And she let Jack stay,” Jacoby added.

“I let Jack stay,” Justin countered.

“But it was Gina’s idea.”

“Actually, it was her idea.” Justin pointed at his sister. “Gina said you suggested she bring that mutt along on her little charity visit.”

“You liked sleeping with Jack?” Racy looked down at Jacoby, ignoring Justin’s comment.

The boy nodded, his mouth now busy sucking on the straw in his glass of milk.

“My husband is still getting used to sharing his king-size bed.” Racy smiled. “He tends to sleep all stretched out while laying his head on the nearest pillow. Jack, that is.”

Jacoby laughed as he put his glass back on the table. Seconds later, he pointed at the window. “Look! It’s Gina!”

The boy jumped to his knees and spun around to look over the back of the booth. Seconds later, Gina walked in. Jacoby scooted from his seat and darted across the diner toward the front counter.

“Hey!” Justin called out, but the kid was already at Gina’s side.

“Wow, he’s certainly taken with Gina.” Racy turned back from watching the two of them. “She’s all he’s talked about since we sat down.”

“Tell me about it. She was at the cabin less than an hour last night, but it’s like she’s woven a spell over him.” Justin jabbed at his lunch with a fork. “Was it one of those full moons at twilight last night or something?”

Racy grinned. “I think that’s for vampires and werewolves, not witches.”

“Whatever. She’s got the boy wrapped around her finger.”

“And quite a few older boys, if the attention she’s getting at The Blue Creek means anything,” Racy offered with a wink. “For someone who started out so shy and reserved, she certainly has blossomed in the last few months. Don’t you think?”

Justin didn’t rise to the bait.

He’d expected his sister to warn him off Gina months ago, but that advice never came. And once the news broke about Racy and Gage’s secret wedding in Vegas last year, an event they’d recreated for family and friends here in Destiny on Valentine’s Day, his independent and sassy sister transformed into the picture of love and marital bliss.

Not that he faulted her for her ongoing joy. She deserved to be happy after all she’d dealt with in her life. But lately, she’d been making noises about wanting him to be as happy as she was, no matter how many times Justin told her his life was fine just as it was.

Or it had been. Until the kid showed up and now everything was turned upside down and twisted inside out. He’d been getting his act together, but that didn’t mean he had any plans for falling in love.