A Daddy for Jacoby(39)

Gina smiled, not sure what the boy meant. “You are?”

“Yep, I’m playing baseball. Actually, it’s T-ball, but after a couple of years I can move up to a Little League team.”

“That’s wonderful. What position do you play?”

“Left field. It’s kinda boring ’cause most kids can’t hit the ball that far, but it’s still fun. Will you come see me play sometime?”

“Of course.”

Jacoby gave her a big smile and then climbed in the truck.

“What are the rules?” Justin asked him.

“Put my seatbelt on and don’t touch anything on your side.”

Justin nodded and started to close the door, when Jacoby popped back into view. “Hey, did you get the picture of me and Jack while you were on your trip?”

“Yes, I did.” Gina pulled out her cell phone and brought up the image. She stepped closer, wedging in between Justin and his truck to show it to the boy. “Thanks for sending it.”

“Cool!”

She stepped back again so Justin could close the door, tucking her phone in her purse, her keys already in her hand. She had no idea what he wanted to talk to her about, but her instincts told her it had something to do with those few minutes they’d spent in his darkened kitchen last week and how his simple request for help had turned into—

“Oh, hey, Dad?”

Justin yanked the ball cap off his head. He rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand in obvious frustration and braced one arm on the open truck door. “Yes?”

“I had a friend named Bobby. He was hurt in a car accident, too. I don’t know if he’s okay now ’cause we moved, but my teacher told me he would be.” Jacoby sniffed and wiped at his nose with his sleeve. “Anyway, I’m sorry your friend got hurt.”

The surprise on Justin’s face and the sincerity of Jacoby’s words had Gina blinking back the sting of tears. The newly formed bond between these two was so clearly visible that she almost felt like an outsider.

“Thanks, buddy.” Justin reached out and put his cap on the boy’s head. “Now, scoot in and get your seat belt on.”

Jacoby pushed the bill of the cap upward from where it’d fallen over his eyes and grinned. “Roger.”

Justin closed the truck door with a soft click and stood there, his hands pressed against the glass.

“You two have come really far over the last week.”

“Not as far as you think.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke. “For all the cookie baking and cartoon watching, there’ve been a few times when he’s woken up screaming from nightmares he can’t…or won’t talk about.”

“Oh, Justin, I’m so sorry.” She couldn’t stop herself from touching him. Gripping tightly to his jacket with one hand, she laid the other on his wrist, feeling the leashed power of his constricted muscles. “I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll gladly listen if you want to talk.”

He pulled from her touch and dropped his hands. He then tried to step back deeper into the shadows, but a large tree at the edge of the parking lot blocked his path. “That’s not what I wanted—not why I asked you to come out here.”

Gina gripped her keys tight, fighting to maintain a casual air despite the tension that hung heavy between them. “Okay, then, what was it? I’m going to be late for work.”

“I owe you an apology.”

His simple words surprised her. He wanted to apologize? For what?

Oh, no, was he going to say he was sorry about kissing her?

“I’ve been really hard on you, more than I should have, in light of all you’ve done since Jacoby showed up.” He tunneled his fingers through his hair, his gaze focused on the night sky. “Right from the start you’ve been great and I’ve been behaving like a horse’s ass—”

“I already accepted one apology from you in the diner. I think that’s enough.” Gina needed to stop this right here and now. He was working his way up to something and she couldn’t stand to hear him say he was sorry about that kiss. “You needed help, so I helped.”

“You came over to the cabin that night when you could’ve—hell, should’ve hung up on me.” He kept talking, pausing to gesture toward the truck before his hand fell to his side. “You easily figured out what was keeping Jacoby from going to bed and how did I show my thanks? By doing the one thing I promised myself I’d never—”