Alex wasn’t sure if the spotlight was making him hallucinate or what, but he could swear he kept getting glimpses of Domineau in the crowd. If it actually was her, she was having a Smoke moment because one minute there she was, and the next, she vanished.

He’d loved every second of tonight. Playing with Desert Thunder made him feel alive. He was secretly glad that Parker had forced his hand and made him come back to the band. That was a while ago, and they’d been through some changes since then, including bringing Finn on board.

And Berger.

With the last notes of the closing song hanging in the air, the stage lights dimmed. He blinked, and that quickly, their bass player was gone.

A snicker laugh rolled from his chest. Berger was a good sport. He showed up when they told him to – played the bass like a fucking boss – and got totally immersed in the character he played on stage.

Parker leaned his guitar against a stand and offered a fist for Alex to bump.

“Well done, Thunder Cock.” His friend snickered.

He grinned. “I needed this, thanks.”

Angie came walking out of the darkness, wished him a happy motherfucking birthday, and then made some lame excuse about needing to talk to Parker before hauling the guy backstage.

Alex wasn’t stupid. He knew what the two were doing.

His eyes searched for Meghan and found her near the side of the stage with Heather and someone else. She caught his eye and made a face of surprise. Then, the person he couldn’t identify turned around, and he chuckled.

Domineau Rivera. Of course. Why not?

Smoke was in rare form when she made a face, cocked her hip, and twinkled her fingers at him like a vapid teenage girl. She also gave him the finger and a Justice call sign that let him know they would not be chatting this evening.

Thank fucking god because he had other things on his mind.

With two fingers in his mouth, he let out a loud, shrill whistle, which immediately got Meghan’s attention – and that of everyone standing near her. She smirked and rolled her eyes.

“Wife!” he bellowed and laughed at the same time. “Front and center, Mrs. Marquez.”

The Justice women proceeded to put on a mocking show of preparing his prey to be devoured. Heather fluffed Meghan’s hair. Remy provided lipstick. A very pregnant Tori said things that got his wife laughing. Lacey brushed off her skirt and pinched her already pink cheeks.

Domineau vanished like a whiff of smoke carried away on a breeze.

Their snarky performance might have lasted longer if Finn hadn’t taken Remy by the hand and dragged her away. Alex and Parker weren’t the only ones jacked up on a performance high.

For effect and because he enjoyed this familiar scene, Alex stood and crossed his arms. It was a dominant move that never failed to get a reaction from his wife.

Must have worked too because she quickly shooed the women away and made her way to the side of the stage – climbing three steps and stepping through the jumble of band equipment.

The corner of his mouth quivered with a smile when she presented to him with classic submissive behavior. Eyes down, body language open, naughty smile.

“You were magnificent, Alex.”

She spoke with a throaty growl that turned him inside out.

“So were you, my love. I love watching you dance and enjoy yourself. I find your joy exhilarating. And sexy.”

She quivered with what he hoped was delight. Meghan was a well-educated and well-rounded woman. She was easily affected by language and moved to tears by a melody. It was an unbelievable bonus that his soul mate would be someone who responded to the manners and mannerisms of the way he was raised.

He got her to do the filthiest things by being a gentleman about it. It turned out that his Irish Fuck Goddess liked to be possessed by a vulgar-mouthed beast with a demanding sex drive.

Her hand reached out, and she ran her fingers from his collarbone across his shoulder and down his arm to his elbow. Despite her downcast gaze and lowered head, he caught her lip biting. His wife had an earthy streak. She rather liked sweat, dirt, and cigar smoke on his skin.

The two guys Parker paid to wrangle the musical equipment took the stage. Alex knew they couldn’t stay there, and he also knew he wouldn’t make it back to the Villa unless he released some of the fearsome hunger wracking his whole body.

God-fucking-damn. He wasn’t sure what to do. With Parker and Angie along with Finn and Remy beating him and Meghan backstage, there was no way they could go knocking on doors in search of a private corner.

Annoyed aggression started building inside him.

Meghan said his name. “Alex.”

Unguarded, he glanced her way with frustration on his face.

“Come with me,” she murmured. Crooking her finger, she stepped down from the riser, waited for him, and then took his hand and led them away.

At the end of the bar, Sophie and Jace were engaged in a conversation. A very close conversation. He snarled and glowered at the surprise couple.

Sophie saw them coming. Meghan blew right past her, muttering about leaving her pump bag in the old office and how she needed it right fucking now.

His sister’s know-it-all wink wasn’t funny at all.

Meghan pointed at the door of Pete’s old office. “You first.”

He paused and took in her body language. All outward appearances suggested nothing out of the ordinary, but he saw the fire in her eyes and heard the sexy vibe in every word she said.

And then he remembered that her panties were in his pocket.

In the office, she locked the door, and without missing a beat, she moved in and started licking his neck.

“You taste so good when you play.”

He shuddered as her tongue slowly stroked his skin and wondered how far she was willing to take this. Tonight must have shaken her from the self-imposed chastity she’d clung to since the twins’ birth.

If that were truly the case, nothing would make him happier. But that didn’t mean she was ready to resume the spectacularly filthy way they’d previously managed their sex life. His plan to lead her there gently, step by sexy step, was still in play, so he let her set the tone and pace. For now.

She made a primal sound when her hands got busy on his chest. Her strong fingers stroked, scratched, and massaged his sweat-dampened torso. He enjoyed the thrill of seduction. His fuck goddess was an expert at beguiling him with the strength of her desire.

There was very little doubt how badly she wanted him.

He ran his fingers along her jaw and felt her trembling response. With a finger beneath her chin, he raised her face and gazed deeply into her emerald eyes.

His thumb touched her lips. Her tongue came out to lick it, and next thing he knew, she’d sucked it into her mouth. Watching her mimic sucking his dick pushed him to heavy breathing territory in record time.

Grabbing a fistful of hair, he yanked her head back. She softly yelped and released his thumb. If he had any calm left, it was vanquished by the hunger of her kisses as he savagely took her mouth. She whimpered when his tongue went exploring and melted into his embrace.

He was in the process of determining his next move when she broke off and attacked his neck. One bite and two licks later, she was on his chest doing crazy things with her fingers and tongue.

When she went lower, he started breathing extra heavy. Her deliberate bite at his waist made his cock surge.

Knowing what she wanted, Alex pushed her away and started undoing his jeans. He fumbled in his hurry and nearly separated the metal zipper from frustration.

She watched him with feverish eyes – licking her lips and making occasional growls of carnal encouragement.

Shoving the jeans down his legs, he reached into his briefs and took his cock in one hand as he pushed his underwear out of the way.

Meghan gasped at the sight of his swollen sex.

He didn’t have to say a word. She sank to her knees, gently pushed his hand away, and replaced his grip with both of her hands. She worshipped his dick with deliberate care – stroking and squeezing with exquisite slowness. He wasn’t going to last long at all once she tickled his balls.

Puckering her lips, she held his cock up for a sweet kiss on the tip. He nearly came from the pleasure.

His mind went blank when her tongue traced along the underside of his dick. When she arrived at his balls, she angled his cock out of the way and went to town.

Filthy, vulgar words came out of his mouth. He told her how much she pleased him and demanded she get ready for him to empty in her throat.

Her moans and shudders turned him on even more. Meghan turned sucking his cock into a gourmet feast that was breathtaking to watch and spine-tingling satisfying.

She never rushed; she simply took her time until things got to the point where nothing else mattered except his pulsing cock.

His hands ended up on either side of her face as he directed the angle and thrusts into her throat. She was magnificent. He could do nothing but grunt and marvel when she opened up and accepted his pleasure.

Alex read the glazed, blissed out message in her eyes. It shook him up and spurred him on until his cock nudged the back of her throat and he came like a geyser.

He clenched and bucked wildly, spurting endless streams into her mouth. It wasn’t until he began to relax that she took back control. It wasn’t over until she was satisfied that his pleasure had been fully served.

She was a holy mess when his cock left her mouth. He made a triumphant growl at the sight. He found all the spit and goo an enormous turn-on.

Wiping her face, she sat back on her feet and smiled into his eyes as he grinned like a doofus.

Very aware of the one-sided nature of this encounter and why it had to stay that way for now, he played with her and set the stage for round two.

He helped her stand and then kissed her deeply. Alex enjoyed when she tasted like him. Then he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her tight.

“Are you wet, Meghan? Did sucking my cock turn you on?”

She blushed so prettily, lowered her eyes, and nodded.

They were in uncharted territory, and he needed to be careful. He warned her before going further.

“Look at me,” he drawled.

Her eyes swung to his.

“I’m going to touch you, my love.”

She made a sharp hissing sound. Fear and excitement rolled into one. He was okay with that and kissed her to calm her nerves.

Slowly, he pulled her skirt up until he was able to reach beneath it. His hand went unerringly between her legs and found her positively dripping with need. He inhaled sharply and basked with delight.

Clinging to him, she moaned quietly when he rubbed her clitoris. He took his time and read her signals. When she softened slightly and shifted to give him better access, he wasted no time and slid a finger into her flooded pussy.

With a finger buried deep, he kissed her and reminded her with his tongue what he wanted to do to her. She responded with growing fervor. When she was close to losing control and shaking all over, he withdrew, patted her mound, and put her skirt back in place.

She wobbled unsteadily on her feet. He smiled, knowing she was enveloped in a carnal cloud.

He quickly pulled his briefs and pants on, kissed her again for good measure, and then grandly announced it was time to find Ben and the others for the ride back to the Villa.

By the time he’d squired her out to the parking lot, she’d found her composure and did him proud. It took half an hour, but her waspish schoolteacher tone as she tried to gather them all in one place for the return trip was incredibly funny.

Was she eager to find out what he had planned for her?

* * *

Remy’s heart was banging in her chest when Finn took her to his office and then shut and locked the door. He tossed some treats to FiFi, told her to behave, and then turned his attention on her.

There was no denying that the man was hot as shit, and she didn’t mean body temperature.

Finn O’Brien without a shirt was something to see. He worked out and led a physical existence, so he had muscle on top of muscle.

And because that wasn’t enough, a happy trail of flesh, muscle, and a sprinkling of body hair disappeared into the waistband of his jeans.

This guy challenged her in every way. And she liked it, so that, by itself, scared her shitless. The fact he never pushed and went out of his way to demonstrate she could put her trust in him only complicated things more.

He wasn’t like other guys and didn’t behave the way his cocky arrogance suggested he would.

For those and a couple of other reasons bordering on the erotic, she was drawn to the sexy Irishman, and right now, he had an eat-her-alive vibe going on that got her breathing heavy.

“Did you like your song?”

His voice when he asked the question had a distinctly masculine feel to it. Remy grunted and rolled her eyes – but not at him. At herself because a heated blush crept up her neck. Without thinking, she pressed her fingers to her singed cheeks.

He chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

A smile demanded permission to land on her lips, and she let it happen because it felt so right.

“Finn.” She chuckled. “You’re impossible.”

“You wreck me, darlin’.”

They stared at each other while she waged a fierce internal battle over ogling his naked torso.

Finally, he gave a husky laugh and crooked his finger in front of her face.

“Remington Bissett. Get your cute ass over here and kiss me.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Get. Over. Here. And. Kiss. Me.”

She straightened and put her hands on her hips but remained playfully flirty.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” she told him.

Finn grinned and gave her a tsk or two. “Listen up, babe. Now that you’re my official girlfriend, there’s something you should know.”

Intrigued and amused, she arched a brow and asked, “About?”

He crooked his finger again and bit a lip. She took one step forward and smiled.

Remy was sure a puddle formed beneath her feet when he casually crossed an arm and rested the elbow of the other on it and stroked a non-existent beard.

“Totally a guy thing but when I strap on a guitar?” He dropped his hands and imitated a dog shaking off the water. “The big guy comes out to play, and afterward, he likes a reward. Check that, he needs a reward.”

“Which is it? Likes or needs?”

He curled his lip into a sexy as fuck sneer. “Does it matter when you look so beautiful?”

She found this all enlightening, a little funny, and very, very intriguing. After a high-energy performance, he must feel how she did when she flew missions. The endorphin release when shit went well and the adrenaline high from the danger packed a potent punch.

Being in the center of that swirl when it happened to someone else lit a fire beneath her feet, and without more hesitation, she walked straight into his arms for a kiss that left her weak and shaking.

Finn practically oozed sexual magnetism. He was confident and determined – two things she found quite compelling – so when he kissed her, he goddamn kissed her until she was wrecked.

Ohh, she thought. Now I get it. They wrecked each other.

During the entire time of their fake-but-real relationship, the one and only closeness she allowed was kissing.

Hmm. Wait. That wasn’t right. Kissing Finn wasn’t something she allowed. Kissing Finn was something that would not be denied. Or ignored. And an even bolder truth was closer to it being something that lured her step by step to a deeper connection bordering on intimacy.

His tongue did a slow swirl with hers. The sound of her own moan made Remy quiver. She couldn’t hide from her intensifying feelings for the last man on the earth that you’d think she’d be attracted to.

Reason had nothing to do with love.

He moved his mouth over hers. The lush, velvet warmth of his kiss started a blazing fire inside.

A lightning bolt sensation hit her broadside, and she stiffened. What the fuck had she just thought? Reason had nothing to do with what? Oh, no. No, no.

She suddenly pushed at his chest as old terrors slammed the door of her emotions shut.

No. This couldn’t be happening. Her eyes shut tight and she winced. Was she in love with Finn?

“Easy, sweetheart,” he murmured.

The softness and concern in his voice made her want to cry. All these months as they put on a public show of togetherness, this was what she did. Go full tilt boogie and then call full stop. She knew he was aroused – could feel the proof when she pressed against his body. But he never complained. Never rebuked. Never accused her of being a cock tease. Never pressed. Never forced.

What he did was give her space. And time. All within the comfort of his wholehearted support. It was the reason she lost herself when he kissed her. She knew that when the panic came, he’d have her back.

“Oh, Finn.” Frustrated, she pounded her fist on his chest. “Why do you bother with me?”

“You know why, Remington.”

She raised her eyes to his.

He ran a finger across her forehead and touched her hair.

“Do you want me to say it? Because I will.”

It wasn’t panic that made her cover his mouth with her fingers. It was something else. Something she was afraid she couldn’t control if he said the words.

His lips curled into a smile beneath her fingertips.

“Whenever you’re ready, sweetheart. I’ll listen.”

“And catch me when I fall?” she asked in a hushed whisper.

His hand went beneath her hair and cupped her head. She reacted to the command and surprising gentleness by opening her mouth as he crushed her to him and kissed her with mind-blowing passion.

When he raised his mouth from hers, she was helpless as he gazed into her eyes.

“Can you trust me, Remy? Do you?”

She gulped and flinched, but this was a truth she couldn’t deny and still face herself in the mirror.

Her voice was shakier than she would have liked when she answered.

“I trust you more than I’ve ever trusted another man.”

His comeback shook her up.

“Then why does Jace know?”

“He’s my cousin, Finn. That’s why.”

“But he’s a man. And you told him what you won’t tell me.”

An angry growl burst from her throat. “No, Finn. Don’t you see? It’s not about won’t. It’s about can’t. I can’t go there with you.”

She felt the prickling presence of anxiety take hold of her senses. Her heart started to pound.

Suddenly, she was engulfed in sadness. Heart wrenching, soul-destroying sadness.

The damage was too deep. Too real. Too ugly.

All the wind went out of her, and she slumped awkwardly. Finn guided her to the sofa and sat her down.

What was the point in all this?

If she opened up and let him see her darkest secrets, she’d be destroyed. But she couldn’t keep stringing him along. He was too wonderful to end up a pawn in her fucked-up-ness.

That left only one thing.

She jumped up and nearly passed out when a dizzy spell made her legs feel like jelly. But that didn’t stop her from taking the hit full on. After all, she’d created this mess and had to be the one to clean it up.

“I can’t do this, and pretending that’s going to change is futile. You deserve a real woman, not whatever the fuck this is,” she angrily cried, waving her hand. “I gotta go.”

She bolted for the door, but he got there first and blocked her with his body.

“No, Remy,” he barked. “Actually, make that fuck no.”

“Finn, come on. It’ll be better this way. You don’t need my drama and …”

“Will you stop telling me what I feel and what I need?”

He was yelling at her, and she was so shocked by his authoritative tone that she knee-jerk froze.

“I’m afraid,” she cried.

“You think I don’t know that?”

He folded her into his arms and held tight. She didn’t know what to do. Fear was the enemy of hope, and no matter how desperately she wanted Finn to be the one to make it all right – to make her whole again – the second even so much as a sliver of memory got past her defenses, she lost it.

How the fuck was she supposed to tell him what she still couldn’t face?

The teeny, tiny crack that this man caused in her armor started to widen. For the first and only time since the day she got her discharge papers, she fell to pieces.

She couldn’t stop the tsunami of pain and anger that washed over her. Tears – enough to fill an ocean – landed on his bare chest. He held her close and never wavered.

When she’d cried her full quota of tears, he gently wiped her face.

“You are stronger than what you fear.”

Was she?

The genuine warmth in his smile touched her heart.

“Tell me something that nobody in Bendover knows.”

Jerking in his arms at the unexpected and totally random question, she reared back to study his face. His eyes gleamed with something she couldn’t pin down.

“What do you mean?”

He chuckled at her confusion. “Jace can’t be the only one knowing your secrets. It’s not fair.”

Her mouth dropped open. Was he serious?

“As your de facto boyfriend, I feel my manliness is impugned and demand equal standing.”

There was something about Finn that just would not be denied. He was inside her head and was breaking down the wall around her heart, brick by brick.

She realized he was quite cleverly redirecting her mood. And she let it happen because when all the shit was stripped away, she liked this guy more than a little. The idea of trusting him enough to give access to the horror swirling behind the curtain was scary as shit but seemed to be organically happening no matter the roadblocks she threw together.

“Okay. Something nobody else knows? Well, there’s a lot, but you want something generic. Something packing a surprise wallop.”

He laughed at her description and shrugged.

“Well, while most kids took lessons, I studied piano. Got pretty good at it too. When I was fourteen, I showcased with an orchestra.”

His eyes widened, and he gave her a nod of belief. “Wow.”

Amusement burbled to the surface and came out of her as a laugh. Pointing a finger at him, she drily quipped, “And if you tell that to those crazy karaoke ladies, I will do something terrible to your truck.”

“Not interested in the performing arts, I’m guessing.”

She handed him a truth kernel. “I’m uncomfortable in the spotlight.”

FiFi yapped and went to sit by the door.

Finn kissed her nose and made a wry face. “You are saved by the bell, Ms. Bissett.”

Word play with Finn was tons of fun.

“So what you’re saying is that a dog needing to pee takes precedence over your girlfriend?”

“Do you wanna clean up a dog mess off the floor?”

“Good point. Alas, Mr. O’Brien, I fear our time is up. Lady FiFi demands outdoor time. You go ahead, and I’ll check the parking lot for straggling drunks.”

Finn snickered, went to his desk where he yanked open the bottom drawer, and withdrew a Pete’s t-shirt. She enjoyed the show as he pulled it over his head and half-assed tucked parts of it into the waistband of his jeans.

Before they left the privacy of his office, Finn smiled at her and in a reassuring tone got the last word.

“Lost a bar bet to Grey – that fucker – and have to get a tattoo. You wanna come along? Hold my hand for support in case I start to cry?”

She burst out into a full body laugh. “Who the hell loses a bet over a tattoo?”

He snarled playfully. “I do when the damn topic was the fucking Brady Bunch. Sometimes, I hate trivia.”

Out of sheer habit, her thumb sought a spot on her other hand. She’d been thinking about putting some ink there – where she’d see it.

“If it helps any”—she snickered—“I’d lose in that category too.”

“Is that a yes?” he asked hopefully.

“Sure. Why not? I’ll bring tissues for the crybaby and a lollipop for when it’s over.”

They parted ways outside the modular office annex when FiFi took off in a rapid scamper to the grassy area where she did her business.

He hollered just before she went through the back door.

“Make sure Barry goes with you, babe. Don’t want you dragging any drunk cowboys out of the way.”

* * *

Alex was having an out-of-body experience. He was in the Sprinter van with the others on the way back to the Villa, but his mind was elsewhere. Meghan was next to him. He felt the warmth radiating from her body. His hand rested possessively on her leg.

To all outward appearances, his wife was the epitome of ladylike calm. She’d wrangled the whole Justice crew into the appropriate cars – double checking that everyone behind a wheel was driver approved sober – and efficiently got them all safely headed out.

He bent his head and kissed her shoulder. From the rows behind them, he overheard Drae and Cam discussing Domineau’s cameo. Cam asked Alex if he knew she was in town, but he ignored the question, preferring to keep his focus where it needed to be. On his wife.

Meghan’s soft sigh brought things back into focus. He breathed her in until his senses overflowed.

His hand resting on her thigh looked so big against the white skirt. She turned her head and looked at him when she laid her hand upon his. Her green eyes sparkled, and he felt the pull of a savage arousal that threatened his composure.

She wet her lips, and he followed the movement of her tongue remembering the way she licked his cock.

While they piled out of the van in the Villa’s driveway, a car pulled in behind them. It was Sophie and Jace. He watched them carefully but found nothing he could fault Jace with. The man acted the perfect gentleman, and by Sophie’s reaction, he had to assume he was always like that.

Meghan followed the direction of his gaze and touched his hand. She didn’t need to say anything. He wasn’t about to start shit just for the sake of it. Sophie was a grown-up and free to make her own choices.

They entered the house and found the real adults of Bendover lounging in the great room watching TV. There was evidence of a popcorn explosion and a platter of nachos was picked clean.

Sensing an inbound train of conversation, he sidestepped a direct hit by excusing himself for a bathroom run. Nobody questioned something like that. As he walked away, he motioned to Meghan not to dawdle. She nodded once and winked.

Tori claimed the downstairs bathroom by invoking the pregnancy clause that clearly stated the pecking order of a bathroom line, so he took the back steps two at a time and made for the master suite. Stopping outside the nursery, he listened for sounds, heard none, and quietly crept into the room.

His babies were fast asleep in their cribs – same as the crew of visitors. Dylan and Daniel were on the floor in matching naptime sleep bags. He smiled at D Squared. They were the first of the second-generation kids to be born in Arizona.

Princess Lily Rose was scooching around in a Pack ’n Play. He bent over the sides to peek and saw that she was waking up.

Teo was wide-awake on his back in his Pack ’n Play. He was an adorable kid and Sophie was a fantastic mother. So fantastic that five minutes after she was cleared to resume normal activities, she took over all of Meghan’s responsibilities at the community center without blinking or breaking a sweat. Teo went with and spent his days happily spoiled to death by everyone at the center.

“I thought you had to drain the snake,” he heard Tori whisper with no small amount of amusement. “Looks to me like you were suffering a baby jones.”

Slinging an arm over her shoulder, he pulled her in for a side hug.

“What is wrong with this picture?” he whispered. “Meghan and I can barely handle the two we have, so someone has to explain to me how the grown-ups downstairs were lounging and relaxed as if having six kids to tend to was no biggie?”

She hugged him back. “Would have been eight kids if Wolf and Bella were here.”

Sophie appeared next. She joined the sibling hug as the three of them marveled at the sight the children made.

Before he knew it, the whole crew of adults was in the nursery enjoying the baby ambiance. The room was big, but the crowd made for standing room only.

With surprising efficiency and very little chitchat, everyone got down to business and gathered the children for the transfer journey home.

After shaking Jace’s hand following a particularly meaningful glare from his father, Alex asked the guy to stop by tomorrow so they could talk. He was going to offer him the Justice operations director job.

Finally, it was just he, Meghan, and his mom talking quietly in the hallway. He was only half paying attention because he was plotting his moves once he got his wife alone. It wasn’t until he sensed distress coming from her that he clued in.

“They took the bottle just fine. Even your mother commented on how easy it’s been. I went through the same thing,” his mother was telling Meghan. “So you mustn’t fret. The babies will know if you’re upset.”

“I know that I’m being silly. It’s just that I wasn’t prepared. The time went so quickly.”

“Look at it this way, dear. You did a magnificent thing by bringing those two sweet children into the world. They’re healthy, happy, and surrounded by love. Not everyone is so lucky. Count the blessings, Meghan, not the disappointments.”

His mother looked at him as she held Meghan’s hand. “Just relax. Both of you. You’ve got this.”

She came to him and did that tippy-toe thing because he was tall and she so tiny. With a motherly kiss on his cheek, she said, “Happy Birthday, Alexander. Now off to bed. Go on.” She laughed. “Consider this a birthday present.” To Meghan, she said, “Your mom wants the monitor so you two can have a night off.”

Meghan grumbled and started to complain, but when he touched her hand, she immediately stopped to look at him. She squinted for a moment, and he thought she might blow up, but then she just surrendered.

“And I’m off. Jace took Sophie and Teo home, so I get your dad all to myself for a change. Yippee! I think I’ll have him stop and grab a couple of slushies from the gas station store. It’s awfully warm tonight.”