A Daddy for Jacoby(45)

“Yes, ma’am.”

Gina followed her mother through the kitchen. Hushed whispers came from the back door, but he couldn’t make out their words. He’d bet a thousand bucks they were talking about him and none of it was good. He turned away and busied himself with looking at even more photos, mostly of the Steele children growing up. He noticed there weren’t that many candid shots of Gina. Just the standard annual school pictures of her in a uniform.

Moments later, the clicking of heels and her familiar scent, a spicy and sweet cinnamon fragrance, told him she’d come back into the room.

“Why are you doing this?”

He turned to her, still amazed at how beautiful she looked. “What do you mean?”

“You show up unannounced—” she paused and bit at her lower lip before she continued “—and just expect me to go with you?”

“I don’t expect anything.”

He heard confusion in her voice, almost as if she thought she wasn’t worthy of getting dressed up and going to the dance.

Or was it just that she didn’t want to go with him?

She was right to feel that way. This night had disaster written all over it, but a promise was a promise.

“Racy showed up at my place about an hour ago,” Justin said. “She told me about Ric calling out of his afternoon shift because he was sick. I guess she checked on him later and found he was still in bed. She was concerned about you missing this shindig and convinced me— Look, if you want to go to the dance alone, that’s fine by me.”

She again bit down on her bottom lip. For some crazy reason he found it incredibly sexy, but it was the wariness in her eyes that told him she was either going to do just that—go alone—or skip this event all together.

Either way, he was out of here.

“Well, I’ve got a beer and a ball game waiting for me.” He started past her. “So if you’ll excuse me—”

“Wait.” She touched his arm, stopping him. “Are those flowers for me?”





Chapter Ten





No big deal.

I can do this.

We’re just friends.

Gina’s collection of mantras was growing by the minute. Not that any of them helped as she and Justin walked up to the festively decorated entrance to the high school.

Kiss him senseless.

Now there was a mantra she could get behind.

No, she chided herself, there was no kissing between friends. Friends or not, she still couldn’t believe Justin had shown up at her house, looking like a GQ model for cowboys, to escort her to the dance.

Actually, that wasn’t what he’d done. He’d shown up because he promised his sister he would. But did he have to bring her a corsage? Or was that Racy’s idea, too?

The yellow rosebuds tickled her wrist, but it was the heat of Justin’s hand suddenly against her lower back that caused her to jump.

“You okay?” His hand dropped away.

Gina jerked her head in a quick nod, trying to ignore the quivering in her tummy.

She’d surprised him when she’d agreed to come. Heck, she’d surprised herself, but she couldn’t let the fantasy of this evening invade the reality of the situation.

She hadn’t wanted to come alone.

Justin hadn’t wanted to come at all.

In fact, on the ride here, in the restored 1946 Ford pickup Justin said her brother had insisted they use, Gina had come up with a plan. Check in with the head chaperone, apologize for being thirty minutes late and see if her services were still needed. If not, she’d find the twins, say hello and get out of there.

When they arrived at the double glass doors, their hands collided as they reached for the handle at the same time. She snatched hers back as if burned. Okay, not burned, but his touch certainly made her skin sizzle.

“I think opening the door is my job,” Justin said.

She looked at him. He’d left his Stetson in the truck, making it easier to see his face. Not that she could read anything in his stare.

He raised a brow. “What?”

“If you don’t want to go inside, I’ll understand,” she said in a low whisper. “We can say you gave me a ride and leave it at that. I’m sure I can find someone to give me a ride home.”

He took a step closer, then dipped his head. His gaze dropped to her mouth for a split second, almost as if he—

She blinked hard and he raised his chin.