A Daddy for Jacoby(25)

Gina paused, her chest tight with the remembered joy and heartache Geoffrey had brought into her life. “When I went to England I was hoping to change that. Geoffrey seemed to be everything I was looking for.”

More than what she was looking for, it turned out, and not in a good way.

“But you left here in June and your fellowship was supposed to last a year. You surprised us by coming home last December. So that’s over now? Your relationship with Geoffrey?”

Gina nodded. What she’d had with the charming, British associate professor was more than over. How could it be anything different considering he’d been in no position to start a relationship in the first place?

“So have you met anyone since you’ve been back?” Giselle asked. “Other than Justin Dillon, I mean.”

Her sister’s words caused Gina’s throat to squeeze closed. It took a hard swallow and a gulp of air before she could speak. “Wh-what makes you say that?”

“Well, everyone knows you spent the night at his place a few months ago. It’s not like you two are even close to being in a relationship. So, what was that? A walk on the wild side?”

Gina held back a groan. How was she going to explain that night? Maybe by telling the truth?

Her cell phone chimed, interrupting her thoughts. She reached for it. Unfamiliar number. Maybe it was someone from work looking to trade a shift. “Ah, let me get this and we’ll finish… Hello?”

“Gina?”

Her breath caught, and again she lost the ability to speak. It was as if thinking about the man had caused him to dial her number. And how had he gotten her number?

“It’s Justin.”

As if she didn’t recognize the unhurried, seductive timbre of his voice. She nodded and then realized what she did. “Ah, hi…hello.”

“Look, I hate to do this, but I wonder if you’d—” He broke off and heaved a deep sigh. A sigh so sexy that Gina’s toes curled.

“Would you mind coming out to the cabin?”

Would she mind— Her gaze flicked to the clock radio on her bedside table. It was nearly eleven o’clock. “Now?”

“I know it’s late, but— Dammit!” The frustration in his voice was clear, and she pictured him tunneling his fingers through his hair as he paced. Justin struck her as a pacing kind of guy.

“Gina…” He paused for a moment. “I need your help.”

A long silence filled the air.

“Hello? You still there?”

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Justin was asking for help. From her.

“Y-yes, I’m here. What’s going on?”

“Jacoby’s— Well, he’s upset and he’s asking for you.”

Oh, the poor kid. His entire world had been turned upside down in the last forty-eight hours. And no matter the reasons his mother had for doing what she did, Jacoby must be missing her.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” she said.

After promising Giselle she’d keep the topic just between them and to finish their talk later, Gina changed her clothes, gave a quick explanation to her mother and headed out the door. Less than twenty minutes later she was parking her car next to Justin’s truck.

He held open the screen door as she got to the porch and a sense of déjà vu swept over her as she stepped inside. The cardboard boxes were gone and a variety of books, from oversize hardbound textbooks to paperbacks, filled the shelves which flanked the fireplace. The power tools, scraps of wood and the oversize toolbox she’d barely been able to lift had disappeared, too.

But those changes paled in comparison to the sight of Justin, wearing a washed-out Destiny High Blue Devils T-shirt and faded jeans, his features etched with worry.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

He pointed to a doorway on the opposite side of the room. “Jacoby’s locked himself in the bathroom. He won’t open the door. Hell, he won’t even talk to me.”

“Why’d he do that?”

“I don’t know.” Justin pushed the wayward locks of hair off his forehead with the back of one hand. The worry on his face had quickly morphed into exasperation. “I’ve been trying to get him in bed for over an hour, but he refuses. We spent all day cleaning the place and set up the bed, but he says he wants to sleep out here again.”

Gina saw the sleeping bags laid out in front of the fire. “Are you planning to sleep out here?”