Page 5 of Alec’s Dream

After that near heart attack experience, Alec had bought what Jameson called “Jocelyn Jail”, but it was really just a playpen and Joss was now confined anytime Alec needed her to stay put.

Alec cleared his throat and Macy glanced over her shoulder, wide bright smile firmly in place. And that smile hit Alec in other places. Places he’d ignored since the day two D.C. cops had shown up on his doorstep to inform him he had a child.

Good Lord, the woman has a beautiful smile.

“Hey, Alec. Just getting Jocelyn’s shoes on and she’ll be all ready for you.”

“No rush,” he returned, and watched as his girl started twisting at hearing her dad’s voice.

The sight made Alec’s heart squeeze—every damn time.

“Dadadada,” Joss babbled.

Christ, that was better than his girl’s reaction to hearing his voice.

“Yeah, Daddy’s here. How exciting is that? Almost done, Missy. There. Now you’re free.”

Macy scooted away from Jocelyn and his girl immediately flipped to her belly, came up on her hands and knees, and hightailed it to her old man.

Nothing better.

Alec bent down and scooped Jocelyn up, kissing her forehead before he asked, “Were you a good girl for Macy today?”

He knew he wouldn’t get an answer but the slobbery grin was worth the pointless question.

“You know she’s always an angel,” Macy said, standing up. He couldn’t help following Macy’s hands as they went to her ass to brush off imaginary lint. Alec knew it made him a prick, but the woman had a fine ass, even if she could stand to put on ten pounds. She was too skinny, but it took nothing away from her good-looks—and that included her ass.

“Anything I need to know?”

Alec tore his eyes from her behind and thankfully she didn’t notice he was checking her out. Or if she did, she was blowing it off because her beautiful smile was aimed directly at him.

“Yeah. Few things. She was real determined to walk today.” Shit. Denial and guilt mixed together. “Don’t worry, every time I saw her try and take a step I picked her up.”

“Come again?”

“I picked her up. I’m a mom, remember? I knew you wouldn’t want to miss Jocelyn’s first steps so I did my best to stop her from making them. She was a little cranky I kept at her all day, but I figure she’ll have forgiven me by Monday so it’s all good.” Macy stopped, but before Alec could express his gratitude, she continued. “By the way, with Monday being her birthday, we weren’t sure if you were bringing anything in. If you are, I need to remind you, nothing with peanuts or peanut butter, and unfortunately, it has to be store-bought still in the packaging.”

Alec had no clue what Macy was talking about. He was well aware his daughter’s first birthday was Monday but short of that she’d lost him.

“Not trackin’,” he replied.

“Huh?”

“I got no idea what you’re talking about, Macy,” Alec admitted.

Light dawned and Macy’s features softened. The shift in Macy was immediate, the look taking her from beautiful to beautiful and sweet. A deadly combination. One Alec needed to ignore.

“On birthdays, some parents bring in cupcakes or a cake to celebrate,” she explained, then quickly rushed to add, “not all of them do. And there’s no pressure. We have some party decorations we’ll put up at lunch and we sing Happy Birthday and all that good stuff. You know, try to make the day special. So you don’t have to bring anything.”

Fucking hell, it was times like these when something like this, something important, slapped him in the face and he remembered he didn’t know shit about being a parent. Who the fuck knew he was supposed to bring in cupcakes to the daycare center? Not him.

Alec was having a birthday party for Jocelyn but only because McKenna, Kennedy, and Silver had planned it. When they found he wasn’t doing anything they lost their collective minds and got to work, informing him that a first birthday party was special.

Jocelyn’s mother would know that. Hell, women in general apparently knew that. But not him. Alec figured Joss wouldn’t remember it, therefore it wasn’t a big deal. He’d been wrong.

“Christ,” Alec mumbled and Jocelyn banged her tiny fists on his chest. “How many cupcakes should I bring?”

Macy’s gaze slipped over Alec’s shoulder and he noted her demeanor had changed. Not just changed, but she’d snapped to attention.