A Daddy for Jacoby(37)

After she finished, everyone clapped and then stood to pull on their jackets. She spoke with a few kids and their parents, but her gaze continued to snag on Jacoby standing off to one side by himself, his tattered pillowcase clutched in one hand.

Once alone, she waved him over and dropped to a crouch in front of him so they were eye to eye. “Hey, I’m glad to see you here.”

“Wow, you’re so brown.”

Despite daily lathering of sunscreen, Gina was sporting a brown glow thanks to a touch of Native American heritage in the Steele family bloodline. “I just got back from vacation. Spent a lot of time on the beach and swimming in the ocean.”

“Cool! I’ve never seen the ocean, except on television.”

“Well, it’s even more beautiful in person. All shades of blue and green, from the lightest aqua to deepest navy. And warm enough you can bathe in it.”

Jacoby giggled. “Gee, that’s not like our lake. The water is supposed to be blue, too, but it looks black to me and it’s cold. We worked on the dock yesterday and my dad said I could put my toes in the water. Brrrrr!”

A flutter crossed Gina’s heart at hearing Jacoby call Justin by that special title. Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t— “So, where’s your dad now?” So much for willpower.

“He’s in the truck.”

Gina frowned. “You’re alone? Why would your dad send you in here by yourself?”

“He didn’t.”

Jacoby had opened his mouth, but the words, low and deep, came from overhead.

From a pair of battle-worn work boots planted right behind the little boy, Gina allowed her gaze to travel upward over faded denim, a worn leather belt and a black T-shirt partially visible beneath a threadbare jean jacket. Rising slowly, she continued her perusal over broad shoulders and a day’s worth of stubble that only seemed to harden angular cheeks and jaw. She reached dark eyes staring at her from beneath the frayed rim of a baseball cap that had seen better days.

“Justin.” Darn, her voice still held that husky tone. “Hello.”

His gaze slowly trailed the length of her before zeroing in on her mouth for a full second. Then he looked into her eyes. “Hello yourself.”

“Did you get it, Dad? Did ya?”

Justin handed whatever it was he carried to the boy. “Right where you left it on the front seat.”

Jacoby took the paper and tugged on Gina’s hand at the same time. “Look! I drew this!”

It took a hard blink to break the hold of Justin’s gaze on her. She again dropped to her knees, this time to look at a crayon drawing. Two figures with matching dark hair stood in a kitchen while a fire blazed in the nearby fireplace. “Wow, this must be of the two of you, huh?”

Jacoby beamed. “We’re baking cookies. We did it twice this week, peanut butter and snickerdoodles. Those are my favorites.”

“And what’s this?” Gina pointed to an oversize box near the fireplace.

“That’s our new television. Dad and I love to watch the vinege cartoons together.”

“Vintage.” Justin offered the correct word.

“Vintage,” Jacoby repeated, then leaned in closer and dropped his voice to a whisper. “That means old.”

She smiled. “Which old cartoons are your favorites?”

“I like Tom & Jerry. Dad likes the Justice League. He says Wonder Woman is his favorite.”

That caused Gina to look up at Justin. “Wonder Woman?”

He offered a casual shrug. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a woman in a strapless one-piece.”

How about a strapless bikini?

The silent question echoed in Gina’s head as she thought about the skimpy bathing suit—purchased on a whim—she’d been wearing just over twenty-four hours ago.

Happy that she’d managed not to ask the question aloud, Gina turned her attention back to Jacoby. “Well, that’s a terrific picture. You did a great job.”

“It’s for you.” Jacoby thrust the paper into her hands.

“Me? Are you sure you don’t want to give it to your dad?”

“Naw, he’s already got lots of my drawings hanging on the fridge and stuff. He says I’m a regular P-Pablo Picasso. He’s a famous painter, you know. Besides, I signed it to you.” Jacoby pointed at the writing in the corner. “See? Right there.”

She did see. In shaky block letters it read: TO GINA. LOVE, JACOBY.