Page 67 of Alec’s Dream

“If you’re looking for dinner, you’ve wasted a trip.”

“Seeing you is never a wasted trip.” Macy shook her head in annoyance and tipped it back to stare at the ceiling. “Are you counting to ten, babe?” Alec chuckled.

“No. I’m praying for self-control so I don’t kick you in the testicular region, rendering you sterile,” Macy ground out. The fake smile she managed to keep even though she was grinding her teeth was damn impressive.

“Let me know when you got a lock on that urge.” Alec chuckled.

“I don’t think it’s possible. Your best bet is to run as fast and as far away from me as possible.”

“Since that’s not going to happen, I’ll remember to wear a cup next time.”

“Whatever, Alec. Just do whatever it is you’re gonna do. It doesn’t matter what I say anyway. But you’re not staying for dinner. Period.”

He didn’t like the way the fight dulled. Though as disappointed as he was that he wasn’t staying for dinner, he did like that she’d put her foot down. Now if she’d do that with her ex-cocklicker, we’d be making progress.

Macy’s cell rang before he replied. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. Her lips flattened as she pinched them together. Then she announced, “I have to take this. Be right back.”

With Jocelyn still on her hip, she walked across the room and down the hall.

He wanted to push, demand to know who was on the phone. She hadn’t hidden that it was a call she wasn’t thrilled to receive, but then she’d walked away wanting privacy. He tamped down the urge, knowing he’d already been intrusive enough for one night.

Alec made his way to the kitchen table. Luckily, it was far enough away he doubted Caleb had heard his exchange with the boy’s mother. He took a seat next to the kid.

“Whatcha got?” Alec asked.

Caleb pushed a map of South America in front of Alec. He studied the instructions for a moment then spent the ten minutes explaining what a thematic map was. By the time Alec was done, Caleb had pulled the sheet of paper back in front of him and had started filling in the key.

“Rainfall. Good choice,” Alec praised.

“We just learned about the annual rainfall last week and I can use my tablet to find the numbers.”

“Good thinking.”

“Thanks for your help.”

“Anytime.”

“Alec!” Rory bounced to the table and he wondered where in the hell the kid got all of her energy. Then dread hit, knowing that in five short years his daughter would be running around the house speaking in exclamations instead of baby babble.

“Rory!” he returned.

“Did you have a good day at work?”

Alec studied the little girl thinking that was a very grown-up question coming from a six-year-old.

The truth was he had a shit day at work, he was more than irritated that Malone was still roaming the streets. He’d made a promise he hadn’t yet been able to fulfill. The knowledge of that didn’t sit right. He needed to find Malone before the man did any more harm to this family.

“Yes, thank you. How was your day at school? Did you learn anything new?”

“I learned that hippos have pink booby milk.”

Alec’s burst of laughter was so unexpected it actually shocked him and made Rory jump before she joined in.

Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he’d be having a conversation about hippo booby milk with a six-year-old. Neither had it ever crossed his mind that hearing a child utter the words booby milk would be so hilarious.

“That’s interesting, Rory,” he choked out.

“Wanna know what else I learned today?”