Fatal Intent - Jamie Jeffries Page 0,74

isn’t, he’s rubbing them in. Where’s the little professor?” she asked.

“Getting ready. We’re taking you out to dinner to celebrate.” Dylan caught her in his arms again. “I think I’ll give you the same treatment you gave Davi.”

Glancing around, Alex whispered, “I have a better idea.” She lifted her face for Dylan’s kiss and wasted no time at all before sliding her tongue between his lips. They were still locked in a passionate embrace when they heard Davi again.

“I told you they were all mushy,” he said.

Dylan took his time ending the kiss and then looked down. Davi and Juan were standing next to him, staring upward.

“Hi, Alex,” said Juan.

“Hi back,” she said, stooping to hug him. “Are you too big for a kiss?”

“I guess not, but on the cheek please. I don’t think I’d like what you were doing with Dylan.” Juan’s thoughtful assessment made Alex laugh again as she hugged him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Okay, I’ll try to remember. Hey, Dylan says we’re going out for dinner. Where do you guys want to go?”

“Mickey Ds!” Davi shouted again.

“Seafood,” Juan said, but with such a woeful look that Alex turned a questioning gaze on Dylan.

“I think he takes after your dad,” Dylan explained.

“Oh! Then we’d better go somewhere everyone can get what they want.” Alex named a popular chain restaurant, which met with everyone’s approval, and they trooped out the door again.

It was only in the restaurant, when he had a chance to observe her while she wasn’t forcing a smile for the boys’ behalf, when Dylan realized Alex wasn’t as happy as she seemed. There was a shadow behind her eyes that he wanted to chase away with sweet lovemaking. He hoped she’d be ready for that tonight. He certainly was.

~~~

Once they’d put the little boys to bed, Alex dropped the act she’d been keeping up all night. She’d wanted to make it a joyful occasion, and it had been. Once or twice she caught Dylan’s speculative gaze, and she knew there’d be no putting off the discussion about her mom. It was best to just do it, get it over with.

The thought made her weary, though. How to convey to Dylan the numb acceptance she felt, now that she knew her mother really wasn’t coming back. She should be grieving. After all, it seemed she’d been preparing for this news all her life. Even when her dad steadfastly refused to give up hope, she’d known. How could she grieve for someone she barely remembered?

Dylan brought her a glass of wine. “Maybe this will help,” he said.

She sipped at the rich, ruby red liquid and made a face. “I think this is an acquired taste.” She took another sip. That one was better, but still something she would have to get used to if she were going to drink it regularly.

Dylan took a sip of his own. If his face was a mirror of her own, he’d done well not to laugh at her. She couldn’t suppress a snigger. Dylan smiled, and she knew it was because he’d managed to lighten her mood. She scooted closer to him on the couch.

“I’ve already told this story to one man I love. Telling it again requires snuggling, Dylan. It’s so sad.”

Dylan made appropriate comforting notices and opened his arms for her to snuggle in. “Whatever it is, babe, just tell it in your own time. If you don’t want to talk about it tonight, we won’t.”

“No, I have to. Let me get it over with. My mom is dead, Dylan.”

His arms tightened around her. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s not all of it. She died horribly, and in mental pain.” Alex began to cry softly as she told him the rest of it. She hadn’t been able to cry before, and now she recognized that not being able to cry was part of her own anguish. A person ought to be able to cry over her mother’s death. Dylan had cried for his mother. What kind of a monster was she?

The tears partially healed her hurt. At last, she was able to express her anguish that her mom had died alone, in despair. Dylan rocked her gently as she sobbed, kissing her temple, her hair, her forehead.

Alex sat up at last, her eyes sticky and red. “I look like a mess. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, babe,” Dylan said. “I understand. You needed to cry. Tell me the rest. How can you be sure the woman was your mother?”

“Right now it’s