silent.
“Hello?”
“Ah, yeah, you’re right. Jacoby really likes Gina.” Justin pushed the words past his dry throat. “I’ll go there now.”
He tried to call Gina’s cell phone, but she didn’t pick up. Moments later, he pulled up to the curb and raced to the front porch. He knocked loudly and waited.
Gina opened the door, surprise on her face. “Justin?”
He could already tell but he asked anyway. “Is Jacoby here?”
“No, why would you think—”
“He’s run away.”
His words changed the surprise on her face to shock and she reached for him. Justin backed away. He couldn’t let her touch him. If she did, he’d shatter into a million pieces.
“Please, come in.” She stepped back and opened the door wider.
“I can’t.” He started to back off the porch. “I need—I need to find him.”
“Let me help,” she said. “I’ll go with you.”
He stopped. “You don’t have to do that.”
Gina grabbed a jacket off a nearby hook and stepped across the threshold. “Of course I do.”
“Hey, sis,” Garrett appeared at the door as Gina started to close it. “Did I hear you say Jacoby’s missing?”
Gina and Justin turned in unison. “Do you know anything?” Justin asked.
Garrett shrugged. “It might be nothing, but I was just in the kitchen and I thought I saw a flash of light coming from the tree house in the backyard.”
Gina went back inside and Justin was right behind her as they crossed the living room and headed for the dark kitchen.
“How would Jacoby know about the tree house?” Gina asked.
“I told him,” Garrett said, joining them at the back door. “See? Right there.”
Justin saw the quick beam of light reflecting off the newly budded tree branches. He reached for the doorknob, but Gina stopped him, covering his hand with hers. His skin tingled with awareness at her touch, and they both sprang apart.
“L-let me go first.” Gina’s voice came out a shaky whisper. “We don’t want to scare him, if it is him.”
Justin nodded and stepped back.
Gina went outside first, crossed the large back deck and hurried down the steps to the grass. The tree house was among a cluster of trees in the corner of the yard. She reached the wooden ladder that rested against the base of the tree, then turned and waved at him.
His heart in his throat, Justin bolted from the house and was by her side seconds later. She placed her fingers to her lips and started to climb the ladder.
“Hey, there,” she said when she reached the top, her head and shoulders now inside the wooden structure. “Do you have the secret password to be in the Steele family tree house?”
Justin held his breath. Then he watched as she maneuvered one hand back down to her side and gave him the thumbs-up sign. Slumping against the rough bark of the tree, he pressed his fingertips hard against his closed eyes.
Jacoby was up there.
He wiped at the wetness on his face and dug out his cell phone. Stepping away, he called Gage and passed along the news, catching him before he pulled into the inn’s parking lot. Gage promised to let Racy and Landon know.
Justin ended the call and moved back to the ladder, listening to Gina talk to his son. He couldn’t make out her words, but her love and concern for the boy were evident.
From the first moment she’d met Jacoby, she’d always put his needs and wants first, whether it was making sure he washed his hands or finding out the real reason he was scared to sleep in his new bed.
How could he have accused her of not understanding—
He looked up when the ladder creaked. Gina started to climb down and his hands itched to circle her waist to guide her to the ground, but he doubted Gina would welcome his touch.
Not anymore.
She stepped off the last rung and turned to him. “He’ll talk to you now.”
“I don’t know what to say to him.”
“Yes, you do.” Gina laid her hand on his chest. “Just listen to him and tell him what’s in your heart.”
Justin clenched his hands into fists to keep from reaching for her. He settled instead for the warmth of her touch through his shirt before she suddenly dropped her hand and stepped away.
He climbed the ladder, his shoulders a tight squeeze as he made his way through the opening. He found his son sitting in the far corner on a sleeping bag, his pillowcase at his feet and his teddy bear clutched to his chest.
“Jacoby? Can I come