Fake-Dating The Single Dad (Gems 0f Love Book 3)

by Agnes Canestri

  Maybe the more urgent question was, would he be able to act, with all that it implied?

  He drew in a breath and pumped his fists.

  Yes, he had to. It was the only way to keep Jacob safe. And he would do anything for his son. Even strike a deal with the devil.

  Chapter 10

  Ginny tucked the cover in around Jacob.

  He rubbed his eyes with both fists. “Where’s my stuffed spinosaurus?”

  Ginny bent down and recovered the animal from below the bed. She placed it on Jacob’s pillow. “Here you go, my little muffin. Now, off to the land of dreams with you. Jeeg Robot must be waiting for you there.”

  Jacob turned to his side and closed his eyes. Ginny planted a kiss on his forehead and was about to leave when the child’s eyelids sprang open.

  He grabbed her hand. “Don’t go yet, please.”

  Ginny sighed and crouched down beside his bed. “What’s the matter, Jacob? Aren’t you tired?”

  Jacob didn’t answer, but his large Bambi eyes became moist.

  Ginny’s heart dropped. This was the first night Jacob had behaved this way. Was he unhappy with the fact that Ginny was tucking him into bed instead of Nick?

  She caressed his hair with delicate strokes and whispered, “Do you want me to call your dad?”

  Jacob shook his head and squeezed her palm stronger. “No, I just want you to stay till I fall asleep.”

  Ginny’s shoulders relaxed. Jacob’s unexpected behavior wasn’t a sign that he disliked her, but rather a fear of separation from her. She knew from her studies that kids went through these stages many times in their early years.

  Her thoughts wandered back to what Nick had told her about Jacob’s mother. Did the boy even remember her?

  As if Jacob had some kind of sixth sense, he said, “Ginny, will you become my mommy and stay with Dad and me forever?”

  Ginny clenched her jaw to prevent it from dropping. Where did Jacob get that idea?

  She inhaled before answering. She needed to choose her words very carefully. Jacob was in obvious distress, and his developing trust for her mustn’t be shattered.

  At the same time, Ginny didn’t want to lie. Promising she would stick around for eternity wouldn’t be honest. It wouldn't qualify as a white lie.

  “Jacob, I’ll stay as long as your Dad needs my help. There might come a day when he tells me that he can handle everything without me and—”

  Jacob lifted his head with a brisk movement. “Then you’ll disappear. Like Mom.”

  Ginny twitched. Jacob had never spoken about his mother to her. Even in their role plays, most of the animals had only siblings and fathers. A mother figure never appeared.

  Jacob blinked at her. “Don’t worry, Ginny. I get it.” Suddenly his childish voice gained a surprisingly mature edge. “Sometimes, women just need to leave. It’s hard for them to stay anchored. They want novelty, and routine bores them. Dad explained this to me.”

  Ginny’s stomach churned hearing the boy’s words.

  Did Nick really tell his son that?

  It wasn’t a life lesson that he was supposed to teach a child. First of all, it was too much to digest for a young soul. Also, it wasn’t even true. Not all women were like Nick’s ex.

  Her eyes flicked to the boy’s puffy cheeks. If it had been Ginny, she would have never left Jacob.

  Or Nick.

  What woman in her right mind leaves a man like him? He was so… An uncomfortable sensation spread through her chest. She shouldn’t be even thinking about what kind of a man Nick was. She wasn’t his wife. She was the nanny.

  She shook her head and focused her attention on Jacob. She moved up to the top of his bed, pulling the child into a firm embrace. “Listen, Jacob, if I ever go away, it won’t be because I got bored of you. That could never happen. Also, I would always keep in touch.”

  As she said these words, she realized that she genuinely felt them. After only a week, this tiny fellow had become an essential part of her life. Holding Jacob in her arms filled her heart with joy.

  Jacob entwined his arms around her waist and dropped his head onto her lap. She stroked his hair gently.

  “So even if you go, you’ll be around like Professor Shiba to Hiroshi in Steel Jeeg?” he mumbled, his eyelids drooping.

  Ginny chuckled inwardly. There was Jacob, the child once more. “Of course. I would need to watch how my little Hiroshi grows up to become a very special Jeeg, right?”

  Jacob didn’t answer. His breathing became even, and his clasp on Ginny’s body relaxed. Ginny stayed motionless, watching him.

  How would it be to have a son like Jacob? Having a family had never been on the top of Ginny’s agenda. She figured it would happen someday, but she wasn’t eagerly waiting for it like her sister, Giada.

  However, since she’d started spending her days with Jacob, she realized that maybe a significant motivating factor for her to work in a school was precisely a desire to be surrounded by children.

  Jacob took after Nick in many ways, not only on the outside but also in the way he acted. His delicate features brought back the image of his father to Ginny’s mind. Without Jacob’s chatter to distract her, Ginny had no way to ward off the haunting memory.

  Her throat dried out as a nagging thought that had tried to surface during the whole evening ritual with Jacob materialized.

  How would it be to have a family with Nick?

  She swallowed quickly hoping the gesture would not only wash out her throat but also sweep away this crazy idea. Because it was idiotic to envision it.

  She didn’t have feelings for Nick. She had feelings for his son. She mustn’t confuse the two.

  Sure, her body produced the weirdest possible reactions whenever Nick and she met in the house. At the sight of him, her cells seemed to fizz like those effervescent vitamin tablets her brother used to drink. It had been like that ever since the odd moment when Nick had assisted with her unpacking.

  But sensing a chemical attraction toward a man as gorgeous as Nick Peterson wasn’t a miracle. Probably ninety-nine percent of the female population would’ve reacted the same way she did.

  All the more reason to avoid making a big fuss about it and recognize the disturbing titillations for what they were—an adequate answer to a provoking stimulus.

  Jacob shuddered in her lap, but then his face smoothed again. Ginny waited a few minutes, and when she was confident that he was fast asleep, she shifted his head to his pillow and adjusted his blanket.

  She stood up, switched off the light, and stepped out of the room.

  And bumped into Marcia.

  The housekeeper wore a flowery dress, more elegant than usual. Her hair was pulled into a low bun. She beamed as she adjusted the leather purse on her left shoulder.

  At least someone is in a carelessly good mood.

  “Are you leaving early today, Marcia? Going out, I reckon.” Ginny asked.

  Marcia nodded. “Sim, sim. Me go to the theatre tonight. Sir got me and Mr. Santos tickets for a show.”

  Ginny’s eyes widened. Nick treated his personnel with a lot of respect. Even his driver, Chuck, raved about what an excellent employer Nick was when he’d taken Ginny home for her stuff.

  But theatre tickets? That was unexpected.

  She smiled. “That was very thoughtful of Nick. I hope you’ll have fun tonight.”

  Marcia winked. “I will, but surely not as much as you.”

  Before Ginny could ask, Marcia’s phone chimed.

  Marcia fetched it quickly, and as she hit reply, a man’s grumpy voice sounded so loud, even Ginny could hear it.

  “Mulher, cadê você?”

  Marcia covered the phone with her hand and shot an apologetic look at Ginny. “It’s my husband. He wants to know where I am, sorry. Talk to you tomorrow.” She turned back to the phone. “Fique calmo! I’m on my way…” She hurried downstairs.

  Ginny followed Marcia with slow steps. What did the housekeeper mean when she said
Ginny was going to have fun tonight?

  It was, of course, nice to have a few hours free after Jacob fell asleep. But it wasn’t anything exceptional. She’d probably warm up some leftovers and then go to her room to lie down.

  She’d been planning to start Nick’s book for a while. Maybe tonight she could give it a go. Just to be able to tell him she had read it.

  As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she noticed the light in Nick’s office was off.

  Had he gone to bed already? Or was he also away? Nick had stayed in all the past nights, but today was Friday. Maybe he’d gone out.

  She pushed open the kitchen door, and as she entered, her mouth popped open.

  What was happening here?

  The giant oak table by the tall windows was set for a chic dinner for two.

  Why didn’t Marcia mention Nick was having dinner with a woman? Because the invitee had to be female, for sure. The atmosphere was too romantic for any business encounter.

  White damask cloth served as a canvas for expensive china plates and glistening silverware. Three candles illuminated the room, together with the soft glow of a nearby standing lamp. The slender wine glasses rubbed shoulders with the polished water glasses, which were already filled with cold, sparkling water.

  The vapor settling around the rims made Ginny realize how parched she was.

  Could she sneak in before Nick’s guest arrived?

  Ginny looked around. The room was still empty. If she was quick, she could put together a sandwich and carry it into her room. Warming up the leftover pasta was now off limits. She didn’t want to disturb Nick’s date with a smelly kitchen.

  She bolted to the fridge and began to rummage through the shelves.

  A gentle tap on her back made her twirl around.

  Nick stood in front of her, dressed in his usual dark jeans, but instead of a casual T-shirt, he wore a white shirt unbuttoned at his neck.

  Ginny’s pulse picked up. He looked so fine. His guest would surely appreciate him.

  “I’m sorry, Nick. I’m almost gone. Just wanted to grab a bite before your visitor arrives.”

  She tried to pronounce the word visitor with the least possible emphasis, even if the idea that Nick was going to dine with a woman somehow bugged her.

  She brushed off the sensation. It wasn’t her place to set rules about how her employer spent his Friday nights, was it?

  Nick’s brows arched. “Didn’t Marcia tell you?”

  “Tell me what?”

  Nick rubbed his neck. “You know, about the dinner…”

  Oh, so he didn’t even want her to be around to make a sandwich. Maybe his guest was arriving at any minute.

  Ginny bit her lip. “No, she forgot to mention. But it’s okay, I’m not that hungry anyway, I’ll just—”

  A loud ringing of the fridge interrupted Ginny. Right, that’s why she felt like she was trembling.

  Nick leaned closer and shut the door of the fridge behind Ginny’s back. As he did, his whole body pressed against Ginny’s for a second, but as soon as his chest touched hers, he’d already recoiled.

  A rush of heat assaulted Ginny.

  Maybe she should go and see a doctor. First chills, and now these waves of warmth. She was too young for an early onset of menopause. But some hormonal imbalance had to hide behind her awkward hot flashes. It couldn’t be that Nick’s proximity dazzled her this much.

  She cleared her voice. “So, as I said, I’ll go and…” Her gaze met Nick’s, and her voice weakened.

  Why was he staring at her with that bemused smile?

  She brought her hands to her cheeks. “What’s so funny? Do I have something on my face?”

  Nick shook his head. “No, sorry. I just think you’re cute when you’re embarrassed. You tend to talk a lot, so it’s droll seeing you short of words.”

  The heat streamed to Ginny’s head, making her cheeks burn. “I’m not sure whether that was a compliment.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, it was. Anyways, I can wait for you here if you want to freshen up first. The food is still hot, so there’s no hurry.”

  Ginny gasped. “Why would you wait for me?”

  Nick pointed at the table. “To eat. I asked Marcia to cook a special welcome dinner for you. We haven’t had a chance to celebrate you joining our family.”

  Ginny’s heart jumped. Was this fantastic set-up for her? And Nick wanted to eat alone with her? Just the two of them?

  “Wow, it’s…” She fiddled with her earlobe. “I don’t know what to say. Did you organize such a cozy reception when you hired Chuck, too?”

  Nick threw back his head and laughed. “No, not really.”

  Ginny narrowed her eyes. What was the reason Nick wanted to be alone with her? Could it be that he, too, had felt those subtle vibes between them? “So why me?”

  Nick stopped laughing, and he lifted a brow. “Okay, so you’re not an easy one to please. Anyways, if you want to know, I’m very grateful for what you’re doing for us. I just wanted to show my appreciation. But if you”—he waved toward the fridge—“would rather have a sandwich, then I’ll just eat the fish stew and chocolate truffles Marcia made. All alone.”

  Ginny’s mouth watered at the mention of the treats. Why was she so reluctant to accept his gift? It was a lovely gesture. Much better than theatre tickets.

  Was she afraid that if she dined with him, it would be hard to keep the conviction that her fuzzy sensations were only physical reactions without any further consequence?

  She was being stupid. It must be the talk with Jacob that messed with her mind. It had put her into this weird mood of suddenly wanting a family. It was nonsense.

  She smiled at Nick. “No, please don’t. I’d be glad to eat with you. It would be a shame to waste such delicious dishes. Also, Marcia would be probably angry with me if I didn’t taste her food.”

  Nick’s face lit up. “Great. Do you need to go to your room and change, or can I serve the food immediately?”

  Against her will, Ginny’s eyes dipped to Nick’s chest. This white shirt really made him look dapper. She blinked at her own clothes and winced. Her T-shirt had dry play-dough stuck to it and smudges from Jacob’s dinner.

  Maybe changing wasn’t such a bad idea.

  “I’d like to quickly put on something else if that’s fine with you.”

  Nick winked. “Sure, just take your time. I’ll open the wine for us.”

  Ginny walked to the door before Nick had the idea of re-opening the fridge with her in the way. It was enough to let his body approach hers that closely once. Any other intimate contact would set the wrong tone for this dinner. At least for her.

  She rushed up the stairs into her room and stopped in front of her wardrobe. What should she wear?

  Her eyes paused on a sleeveless, blue silk dress. She knew it enhanced her figure in all the right places. Would it be overkill?

  No, surely not. The dinner was set up so nicely, and Nick looked elegant in his clothes. The least that she could do was honor his and Marcia’s efforts by dressing the part.

  She wasn’t doing it to look attractive to Nick. It was only a thank you dinner, after all. It wasn’t like he was going to propose to her or anything.

  Chapter 11

  Nick refilled Ginny’s glass. He tried to keep his attention on what he was doing, but it was hard. His eyes kept wandering back to Ginny as if she was luring his gaze to her with an overpowering magnetic force.

  Maybe he shouldn’t have suggested for her to change. Not that she had looked bad in that spotty T-shirt. But the way this indigo dress hugged her was a crime. The straps accentuated the fragile shoulders and those soft arcs running toward her cleavage… It was better not to think about it.

  He handed the glass to Ginny, and she smiled as she took it. “Thanks.”

  Even her voice was somehow sweeter than usual. Or was it just the bubbly drink filling his head with giddiness? Yes, that had to be it.

  He swallowed as he realized t
hat they were already at dessert, and he hadn’t yet managed to bring up his offer.

  How should he approach the subject?

  Ginny took a sip from her glass and sighed. “Ah, this is tasty. Is it Chardonnay?” She leaned closer to Nick to inspect the bottle’s label.

  Her delicate perfume assaulted Nick’s senses, and his insides began to pulsate with a hidden yearning to bend forward and sniff at her skin.

  “Huh, I knew it!” she exclaimed triumphantly, pointing her finger at the name in gold. “Am I good, or what?”

  The proud glint in her eyes reminded Nick of Jacob when he showed off some new skill he’d learned.

  Wasn’t it strange that certain attitudes of Ginny prompted him to think about his son? He’d never made such comparisons with Heather. Shouldn’t only a mother awaken such thoughts in a father’s head? Though, Ginny had behaved more like a mother to his son in just one short week than his ex-wife ever had.

  Ginny nudged him gently on the shoulder. “Is everything, okay?”

  Oh no, he’d been absent again. “Yes, of course. I’m glad you like the wine. It’s actually from my own winery.”

  Ginny’s eyes widened. “Get out. You have a winery?”

  Nick nodded. “Yes, it’s one of the few splurges I allowed myself when my books started to sell well. And the house in Bodega Bay. I’ve always loved the ocean.”

  Ginny pushed her hand to her chin. “Well, my biggest splurge was to pay for a helicopter ride over San Francisco when I visited the city. So I guess we are in the same category then.” She giggled.

  Did Ginny like to fly? Wow, he would have never thought so. But then again, she loved romance novels.

  Before he could consider what he was doing, he said, “Maybe I should take you up in my plane some time.”

  He hadn’t used his plane for a while. Not since Heather filed the custody case.

  Ginny’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “A private plane? How cool is that? I would love to come. Maybe we could make a Jeeg-Fly theme trip for Jacob’s birthday. In September the weather is still nice for a flight.”