Dark Tide. Susan Sleeman

Чтение книги онлайн.

      FOUR

      Gina heard Mitch greet Ethan Justice on his way out. Mitch was returning to Lilly’s boat to supervise evidence collection. He’d asked her to recount her harrowing nightmare and had asked for clarification on a few points, but overall, the questioning had gone better than she’d hoped. She believed it was in part due to his standing in the Justice family. True, Mitch was a member by marriage, but she could see he was loved and respected and that he returned their respect by treating her kindly.

      Ethan, Derrick’s oldest adopted brother, shuffled into the house carrying a car seat and a large shopping bag with stuffed animals peeking over the top. “Where do you want all of this, Dani?”

      “By the stairs is fine.” Dani took the bag from his hands and faced Gina. “I arranged for items that Sophia might need tonight.”

      Gina stared openmouthed as Cole followed behind, the second Justice brother loaded down with more items.

      “You didn’t buy all of this, did you?” she asked.

      “No. Ethan bought it for his son,” Dani answered. “A big, strapping baby boy like his daddy. His name’s Bobby, and he’s three months old.”

      “That’s great,” Gina said sincerely. Back when she and Derrick had been dating, she’d always liked Ethan. “I love that he’s named after your father.”

      Sadness darkened Dani’s eyes, and Gina felt bad about bringing up the loss of their adoptive father, who was killed along with his wife in a home invasion.

      Dani set the bag on the floor and appraised Gina. “I’m surprised you remembered his name.”

      “Trust me. I haven’t forgotten a thing.” Gina’s words slipped out before she thought about how Derrick would take her answer. She glanced at him in the kitchen to see if he was listening, but if he’d heard, he didn’t let on.

      “That’s everything.” Still exuding calm and focus that Gina associated with Ethan, he stepped over to her and stuck out his hand. “I’m Ethan, in case you’d forgotten.”

      She shook his hand. “I appreciate your kindness, but don’t you need these things for Bobby?”

      “Don’t judge us—” he shoved his hands in his pocket as a flush crept up his neck “—but with this being our first child, we went a little overboard.”

      “Ha! A little?” Cole joined them. “You could care for all of the babies in a third world country with the stuff you bought.”

      Ethan frowned. “Suffice it to say we’ve got two of a lot of things.”

      “Then thank you for your generosity,” Gina said earnestly. “I’ll take good care of it until we’re free to go back to San Diego.”

      Cole offered his hand next. His handshake was quick and firm, his face displaying no emotion as he gave his name.

      A man of few words, this was so typical for him that Gina didn’t take offense. “Nice to see you again, Cole.”

      The front door opened and a tall, broad-shouldered man as good-looking as the Justice men stepped into the room. Gina didn’t recognize him, but the others clearly did.

      “Luke.” Dani rushed across the room. “You didn’t say you were coming over.”

      “Self-preservation. If I wasn’t here to speed things along, you’d never get home.” He grinned and pulled her into his arms.

      Cole rolled his eyes. “Dani’s husband, in case you didn’t catch that.”

      Luke kept one arm around Dani and smiled at Gina. “Luke Baldwin.”

      “Nice to meet you, Luke.”

      Gina wasn’t surprised that Ethan, Kat and Dani had married. All of the Justices were interesting, caring people. She glanced at Cole’s finger and spotted a wedding ring, too.

      “So everyone but Derrick is married now,” Gina said before thinking it through.

      Dani looked at her twin. “And it’ll be a million years before that happens. He’d have to quit making up reasons to break up with a woman first.”

      Brow furrowed, Derrick joined them. “Kat will be here any minute,” he said, referring to Mitch’s wife, the last Justice sibling, “so let’s finish taking care of the baby stuff and get seated.”

      Dani looked at Luke. “Would you be a sweetie and carry the crib to one of Derrick’s spare rooms? That way Gina can put Sophia down before our discussion gets loud and wakes her up.”

      “Anything for you, sweetheart,” Luke said with a smile.