Fatal Intent - Jamie Jeffries Page 0,73

was good to be home for a while, with two of her favorite people arguing good-naturedly in the background. It was even better to know her dad would recover quickly from the news about her mom. She hadn’t expected that.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Dylan and Alex were finally communicating more than once a day again, a welcome return to what he considered the norm. He went to work on Tuesday full of anticipation. Not only would this be his first day on his new job, but he expected Alex to arrive shortly after he got home in the afternoon.

He knew she had gone in person to Dodge with news about her mother, but she hadn’t told him the whole story yet. He couldn’t get a read on it. Alex was happy about being reconciled with her dad. If she was happy about finding her mom, he couldn’t tell.

She was still puzzled about one thing, and they’d discussed it. Dylan assumed the police would get to the bottom of it, even as he understood how much Alex wanted to solve the mystery. Why had the Patriots, who’d always been a one-issue group, suddenly changed their focus from Latinos to Native Americans?

Dylan had to admit it made no sense to him, either. Rather than discuss it to death, he’d prefer to let the police do their job and worm it out of someone inside the organization.

When he thought about the risk Alex had taken, Dylan by turns was enraged and retroactively terrified for her. She would have to promise not to do anything so risky again, or it was a deal breaker. Or, so he told himself. Deep down he knew he’d forgive her again and again if he had to.

The question of the day was whether to make Alex’s homecoming special by taking her and the kids out to dinner, or might she prefer a cozy meal at home, some quality time with the kids and then a romantic evening after the boys went to bed? No reason they couldn’t have the last no matter which choice, of course. He asked the boys, dinner at home or at a restaurant.

“Mickey Ds!” Davi shouted. It was already his favorite restaurant after only two whole days in the larger town.

“I don’t think so, buddy. It needs to be a nicer one than that,” Dylan explained. “Unless you think she’d like to stay home with just us. Then I’ll cook dinner.”

“I think you should choose a restaurant,” Juan said. With an earnest expression, he explained his reasoning. “You’re not a very good cook.”

Dylan laughed. “A restaurant it is. I know. She never gets to cook fish, because her dad hates it. Shall we go to a seafood restaurant?” He realized his mistake when both boys turned dubious faces on him. “Ok, let’s let her decide. You guys go wash your hands and faces. And change your shirts if you’re dirty. We want Alex to know we got all cleaned up for her, right?”

Better change my own shirt.

Dylan was already wearing civilian clothes, because his Forest Service uniforms wouldn’t arrive for a week or so. He was anxious to get out on patrol, but he’d be desk-bound until he was properly outfitted. Still, a fresh shirt wouldn’t hurt. He was pulling a polo shirt over his head when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” yelled Davi. Dylan raced to avert the disaster and arrived just in time to see Davi fling the door open and charge Alex. She was laughing when he took the couple of steps necessary to grab her before she was knocked off the porch.

“Easy, buddy,” he said to Davi. Eyes shining, he took Alex in his arms. She felt so good there. There was nothing like hugging the woman you loved. He eased up only enough to dip his head for a lingering kiss. Davi cut that short with an editorial comment. “Ew.”

Alex laughed again and wriggled free. “Come here, Davi, I want a kiss from you, too.” The child took off with Alex in hot pursuit. When she caught him, she picked him up, barely able to hold him as he struggled, and kissed him all over his face. Then she set him down. “Wow, you’ve grown a foot! And you’re almost too heavy for me. Dylan will have to catch you and hold you for me from now on.”

Davi threw her a wild-eyed look before he ran down the hall, vigorously rubbing his face with both hands.

“He’s rubbing off your kisses,” Dylan teased.

“No he