A Daddy for Jacoby(50)

Gina pressed her cheek to his, her lips moving against to his ear. “Like these kids do? This music belongs to their grandparents. Just have fun!”

It was fun, all of it, from the crazy songs to the teenagers bouncing around them, to being able to hold Gina’s hands in his as they did their own version of cutting loose. It took him until the second song before he stopped caring if others watched, and as he’d advised the teens, he enjoyed himself. He hadn’t relaxed like this in a long time and being able to share it with Gina made it even more special.

When a slow ballad finally came on, Gina slipped into his arms. He wanted to press her close, to feel her curves against his chest. Then he noticed they were being watched by her brother and sister who were close by, dancing with their dates.

“We’re not officially chaperones,” Gina said. “But we should probably display the proper decorum.”

“Have you checked out the couples around us? No one else is dancing with enough room between them for a third party.”

“Would you like to sit this one out instead?”

Justin grinned and shook his head. “No, I have a much better idea.”





Chapter Eleven





Justin kept Gina’s hand in his as he led her off the dance floor. Moving her in front of him, he steered her back to the table, but only long enough to grab his jacket. Gina shot him a look but kept walking. They slowly made their way around the outer rim of the tables until they reached a shadowed cove between the stacked bleachers.

She halted. “Where are we going?”

“Trust me.”

He tugged on her hand and made his way to the double doors he’d used years ago to sneak out of school. Only one thing could get in the way— Ah, still no fire alarm attached. Perfect.

In fact, the doors had been propped open to allow a cool breeze to enter the stuffy gym. He eased outside, pausing to make sure they weren’t interrupting someone else with the same idea. Nope, they were alone.

The night air felt good against his heated skin. “Much better.”

“Where are we?” Gina shivered slightly in the light breeze. “And why?”

He let go of her long enough to drape his suit jacket over her bare shoulders. “The far side of the gym. This road leads from the front parking lot to the athletic fields around the back.”

She tucked her tiny purse into the inside pocket of his jacket, then slipped her arms into the sleeves. Justin grinned as she rolled the long cuffs back to her wrists.

“And the woods are beyond that,” she said. “Something tells me you’ve used this exit before. Reliving a bit of your youth, Mr. Dillon?”

Justin took her hand again and moved back into the shadows. “No, I never snuck out here with a pretty girl.”

The music from inside the gym was muted but could still be heard. He dragged her up against his body, putting one hand beneath his jacket to the small of her back, and pressed her close. He brought their joined hands to rest against his chest. Her free hand went to his shoulder, her touch warm through his shirt.

Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.

Hell, he was pushing his luck holding her like this, but her conviction that he was a good person had got to him. Got to a place he’d buried so deep, he couldn’t even find it anymore. He’d tried to keep a wall between them, but this lady—one part vixen, one part angel—kept finding ways to get past it. He should’ve walked away when she gave him the chance, but he wanted to stay and give her the night she deserved.

Now selfishly, he was doing something he’d wanted to do for the past hour, hold her in his arms away from the crowds and spying eyes. A moment alone, just the two of them, and if he found the courage, he was going to kiss her.

Despite every fiber of his being telling him it was the last thing in the world he should do, he wanted to kiss Gina. A full-contact, wet-tongued, bone-melting kind of kiss. Like the one they’d shared in the dark of his kitchen. The one he couldn’t get out of his head.

“I heard the good news the other day.”

Justin stilled. Good news? Was she talking about Jacoby? No, wait—she said the other day. “What good news?” he asked.

“About your friend, Bobby Winslow? Racy said it looks like he’s going to recover from that horrific car crash.”

“Yeah, he’s going to be in the hospital for a while, and there’s a lot of talk about whether he’ll be able to get behind the wheel of a race car again, but he’ll survive. That’s the most important thing.”