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“Back in a minute,” she said to Bella, who she’d been chatting with.
She was planning to get changed, in any case, so she could use that as an excuse as the Dufort caterers were setting up the gorgeous long dining table for their evening meal and the moms were feeding the kids.
Leilani skipped up the stairs and stopped outside the bedroom door, listening.
Silence.
Did she knock?
Biting the edge of her bottom lip, she lifted her hand and gently knocked, calling out Jacob’s name, and then entered.
“Hey, oh,” Leilani said, finding him standing by the window, staring out.
Jacob turned.
His expression made her want to cross the room and pull him into a hug.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, taking a few steps.
But the shake of his head stopped her.
“I think we should go home,” Jacob said.
Her eyes flew open wider. “Why? What happened?”
This time, she kept walking until she was right in front of him. Jacob pulled his hands out of his pockets and placed them on her hips.
“Reality, unfortunately.” His emotion-filled eyes held hers.
“Tell me.”
He didn’t respond, the weight of whatever he was carrying a heavy one she wanted to help him with. Leilani placed a hand on his hard chest and gave him space to talk.
If he wanted to leave, she wouldn’t force him to stay. The darkness she saw in his eyes was such a contrast to the playful and happy man she’d spent the day with.
“I never knew my dad.” He started, then turned to glance outside again, one hand remaining on her hip.
Leilani leaned against his shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
“A month ago, I would’ve brushed that comment off. Blake and I were happy kids despite not knowing who our dads were. Yes, plural. We’d hound Mom at times, but she refused to tell us.”
“Oh, wow,” Leilani replied. “Sorry.”
Jacob smiled softly down at her, and she felt her heart let him in a little more. Their eyes turned to the backyard once more, and she soaked up the warmth of his body, wishing she could snuggle in closer.
“A few weeks ago I learned who my father was,” Jacob shared.
“That’s good. Isn’t it? Wait, is he a dick?” she asked, lifting her face.
Jacob let out a small laugh, then turned and pulled her against him. “Damn you, Lani. This is why I need you. You make everything just feel less...I don’t know...serious. Nothing is as bad as I think it could be when I have your light in my world.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant, but it made her body tingle with happiness.
Now wasn’t the time to inquire about that, though, so she lifted one of her shoulders in a shrug.
“You’re welcome,” she said, as he cupped her face.
