A Daddy for Jacoby(49)

“Yeah, that’s me,” Justin scowled, “a ‘consequences of my actions’ kind of guy.”

“You’re so much more than that,” she protested. “And you know it.”

“Do I?” Justin pulled from her touch and popped open the can. He took a long draw before he spoke again. “Just because I share a couple of stories and try to scare these kids into keeping on the straight and narrow doesn’t make me a good person.”

“You are a good person. You came tonight even though this is the last place you wanted to be. You’ve put up with the rudeness of so many people so I wouldn’t have to face walking into this event by myself.” She paused and swallowed hard before she continued. This was the last thing she wanted to say, but it was only fair. “So, if you want to go, it’s okay.”

He turned to look at her. “What?”

“We’re free to leave.” Now she was the one to look away, her focus on a small candle flickering in the center of the white linen tablecloth. “I guess they’ve got enough chaperones to keep the kids in line, we’re not needed.”

“Or wanted.”

She shrugged and tried not to show how much what was probably a correct assumption bothered her. “It’s no big deal.”

Biting on her bottom lip couldn’t stop the words from slipping out, but at least it muffled most of her groan. Of all the words in the English language, why did she pick those four?



She was wrong. It was a big deal.

Ever since they’d left her house tonight, Gina had been working overtime to maintain an invisible barrier between them because she had to have known the kind of reactions they’d get showing up together. And those reactions were bothering her more than she was willing to admit.

Not that Justin blamed her. She didn’t deserve them. Or his chilly attitude since the moment she’d surprised him by agreeing to come here tonight with him.

What had he told those kids? To enjoy themselves? And here he was, so wrapped up in his own issues that he’d failed to make sure Gina enjoyed this night, too. He stared at her, waiting until she looked at him again. She finally bowed to the silent pressure and glanced up through her lashes.

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

Her beautiful blue eyes widened as she turned fully toward him with those damn shiny lips open in surprise.

“You’re the one who’s had to put up with the disrespect of these people tonight…because of me.” He stopped her un-voiced protest with a wave of his hand and scooted his chair closer until he bracketed her legs with his. “If you’d shown up with Ric, everyone would be smiling and happy, you’d be smiling and happy. Instead, you got stuck with someone who can’t even hold a pleasant conversation, much less— Look, staying or leaving isn’t my call, it’s yours.”

Justin cut off his tirade and pulled in a deep breath. “From this moment on, this night is about what you want. So what’s it going to be?”

She opened her mouth, but quickly closed it again. He leaned in, knowing he shouldn’t touch her, but still he ran the tip of his finger along her jaw. “Don’t think. Just go with the first thing that comes to your mind. What do you want?”

“I want to dance.”

Of all the possible answers, that was the last thing he’d expected her to say.

He straightened. “You want to what?”

“I want to dance,” she repeated softly, “with you.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet as a rock and roll classic pounded through the speakers.

“Justin, are you sure you want to do this? Dance with me?”

“More than anything.”

That was a lie. What he wanted to do more than anything was kiss her, but her smile, wide and full of life, captured him. It was the first time he’d seen that smile in almost two weeks. In fact, the last time was when she’d held his son’s simple crayon drawing in her hands.

His son.

Thanks to a delay from the laboratory he’d found out just this afternoon that Jacoby was indeed his flesh and blood. Justin hadn’t been surprised. Deep inside, he’d known the boy was his. The sudden urge to share his news with Gina filled him, but he decided to wait until they could talk without music blaring. He tightened his grip on her hand and led her to the crowded dance floor.

When she turned to face him, he said, “Are you sure about this? Two-stepping is more my speed. I don’t think I can swing, or jitterbug, or whatever kind of dancing goes with ol’ time rock and roll.”