Lakeside Hero (Men Of Millbrook Lake Book 1) by Lenora Worth Page B

to find the robbers with a gun on the female salesclerk. He distracted the robbers so the clerk could grab the little girl and hit the alarm. Robbers took off when they heard sirens. They caught the suspects down in Miami, probably about to board a boat for parts unknown to meet up with a fence. They took a significant amount of cash and jewels but the sales associate identified ’em. I think she moved back to the West Coast.”
    Preacher’s frown indicated he did not like this conversation. “Has Marla talked to you about this, Alec?”
    Alec set down his drink. “Yes. She wanted to explain why it’s not a good idea for us to get any closer. Gabby’s still got some issues with adult men. She thinks we’re all boogeymen.”
    Blain’s eyes widened. “Hey, we don’t need to repeat any of this. I was telling you the facts that you could find in any old news article. Didn’t mean to make matters worse.”
    “No, it’s okay,” Alec said. “Preacher, you know I wouldn’t have asked if Marla hadn’t already told me most of this. I’m just trying to understand. Trying to accept that Marla and I might not have any kind of future together.”
    “Do you want a future together?” Rory asked in his minister voice.
    “I might have if not for Gabby’s needs and, well, look at me. I look like the boogeyman.”
    Blain snorted on that one. “You’re serious? Has this kid seen you? Has she run away from you?”
    “She hasn’t seen me yet,” Alec replied, “but what if she does run away when we finally meet?”
    “What did Marla say?” Rory asked.
    “She said we could be friends, maybe meet for coffee or dinner, but nothing more for now.”
    Blain slapped him on the shoulder. “Then that’s what you have to accept for now. If she’s getting the girl the help she needs, her fears could go away and then she’ll see you for the good-looking, great man you really are.” He poked Alec with his elbow. “Hey, ugly, pass me the beans.”
    Preacher’s blue-eyed gaze moved between them. “Ah, y’all are so sweet when you get all mushy on each other like that.”
    Alec smiled in spite of creating his own personal pity party. “I guess you’re right,” he said to Blain. “What do you think, Preacher?”
    “I think...all in God’s own time, boys.”
    “Hey, those ribs smell good.”
    Blain almost knocked over his drink. “Lawson, I’ve told you not to sneak up on me. One day I’m gonna pull my weapon on you.”
    Hunter Lawson’s midnight blue eyes were as calm and clear as the quiet bay out beyond the sand. “I checked. Knew you’d put your weapon on the kitchen counter.” He snagged a piece of Texas toast. “Probably so you wouldn’t shoot yourself trying to get to those ribs.”
    When his little fuzzy companion trotted up behind him, the others just shook their heads. No one was going to tell Hunter Lawson that a poodle named Roxie did not fit his image. The first time they’d seen the little ball of fur, Hunter had sent all of them a glaring frown and stated, “She’s not my dog.”
    And yet, Roxie was always with him.
    “He’s good,” Alec said, waving Hunter to a chair. He was glad the attention had moved to Hunter and the heat was off him for now.
    But maybe Blain had a point. Why should he give up on Marla? He’d always found a way to make things work in life. He’d have to figure out a way to make things work with her.
    When the conversation turned to Caldwell Canines, he realized he had the perfect way to keep Marla in his life for now.
    * * *
    Marla’s cell buzzed through her apron pocket.
    “Not now,” she said to the offending phone. She had to get this birthday cake done before she left today since the excited mother of a one-year-old was picking it up first thing tomorrow morning. But after checking on the layers baking in the big industrial oven, Marla took a quick minute to see if one of her parents was calling her.
    But the number on her caller ID stopped her.
    Alec.
    She