Gina’s whispered reply blew hot on his neck. “We don’t have anything more to say to each other.”
She took another step and pushed at her hair, long and sleek this evening, moving it past one shoulder. That damn streak of pink caught and held his attention.
His insides twisted at the thought she was deliberately keeping the news of their child from him. Common sense told him this was the wrong place, the wrong time. Hell, she just took the test this afternoon, but he couldn’t leave it alone. Not until she told him the truth.
“Gina, it’s important—”
“So what’s the next step? Where do you go from here?”
Racy’s questions caused Justin to turn around. He faced everyone but stood angled next to Gina. If she tried to back away again she’d do it right into him.
“Aren’t you going to have to talk to…?” His sister continued, inclining her head toward Jacoby, who was now sitting next to Garrett on the top of the picnic table.
Justin nodded, his mind zooming in twenty different directions. She was referring to the Ellsworths. Yes, he needed to talk to them, but first things first. “Yeah, but I need to get myself a lawyer first. Tomorrow if possible.”
“We can help with that,” Gage said with a grin. “Our cousin Jennifer is a lawyer in Laramie. Her specialty is family law. If her schedule is full I’m sure she can recommend someone in her firm you can meet with right away.”
“And if you need someone to watch Jacoby, I’m available,” Giselle offered. “And I’ll even give up my usual hourly rate.”
“Nah, the squirt is going to want to hang with me,” Garrett said, reaching out to tickle Jacoby. “He needs to work on his skills at Space Blaster, huh?”
Jacoby laughed and wiggled from Garrett’s grasp. “No, the first thing we gotta do is get married! My dad and Gina are gonna have a baby!”
Silence fell over the yard.
A dull buzzing zoned in Gina’s ears. Her vision tunneled until everything around her was a hazy blur. All she saw was the little boy beaming at her with a goofy grin on his face and joy in his eyes.
Eyes so much like his father’s.
She whirled to find Justin staring at her, too, only his eyes were somber and serious.
When he’d come to her after announcing he would fight for Jacoby, Gina had fought to keep her feet planted in the cool grass. With every step he took, she wanted to back away. Wanted to kick herself for the way her body reacted to the sight of him, looking impossibly sexy in faded jeans and black collared polo shirt with the Blue Creek logo over his heart. Wanted to smooth the brown locks standing on end, knowing he must’ve been tearing his hair out until Jacoby was found. Wanted to fly into his arms the moment he spoke, but proud that she’d managed to declare she wasn’t interested in anything he had to say.
“What did he just say?” Gage’s tone was hard, the kindness gone from his face as he marched from the deck, heading straight for Gina.
No, he was gunning for Justin.
She held out her hand to stop him. “I’m not pregnant.”
“Sure you are!” Jacoby crowed.
“Gina, it’s okay. I know.” A warm hand cupped her elbow. She looked back, watching Justin pull something from his pocket. “I’ve seen the proof. And I think we should get married.”
Her mouth dropped. For a second she was glad he was holding on to her as his announcement sent her reeling.
“You what?”
“I’ll admit I’m flying by the seat of my pants here,” Justin’s gaze flickered from her to her family, then came back, reflecting hesitation but also a strong sense of purpose. “But I will not miss out on one day of being a father. Not this time. Not with this baby.”
This was crazy! She yanked from his touch. “There is no baby.”
“You’ll be a wonderful stepmother for Jacoby,” Justin continued speaking over her protest. “The cabin isn’t very big, but I’m sure Gage won’t mind if I add another room. It’s plain and practical at the moment, but I know you can make it a home…for all of us, for our family.”
All the right words for all the wrong reasons.
Gina had dreamed that one day Justin would ask her to share his life, but not this way. He didn’t love her. He was running on pure adrenaline after all he’d been through and the idea that their time together had created a