Saxon's Savior (Protect and Serve #3) - Pandora Pine Page 0,47

think Saxon can forgive what happened last night, but I think this might be your last chance.” My mother bit her lower lip.

“You just want grandbabies!” I shot back, instantly regretting my harsh words.

Mandy stared at me for a few seconds, studying me and taking my measure. “Yes, I do, but not at the expense of your happiness.”

“Jesus, Mom, what do I do?” I sunk my head into my hands. This was all my fault. I’d dug the hole, now it was up to me to get out of it.

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself.” Mandy laughed.

I sat up straight and felt a bit stronger for it. “Got it. Now what?”

“You need to figure out what you want with Saxon.” Mandy paused. “Do you want to be friends, lovers, more?”

“I want to say more, but I’m afraid. What if I can’t hack being a parent?” My heart was pounding again. It was an enormous responsibility to raise kids. What if I sucked at it, and those girls hated me?

“What if you can? You don’t have to go down on one knee tomorrow, but it doesn’t hurt to have an eye on the future.”

“I don’t even know what to say to him after what I did last night.” I’d never turned coward in my life until last night. I was the guy who showed up on people’s worst days and did everything to save them, regardless of the situation. How the hell had two tiny girls changed all that?

“Yes, you do.” Mandy gave my hand a squeeze. “You know exactly what to say.”

“Yes, I do.” I needed to start with a giant apology, and then find out how those little fairy princesses made it through the night.

“I’ll be by later to pick the girls up, or if there’s a call out in the meantime. I set up your old room for them. Got pink sheets and a new pink comforter for the queen-sized bed.”

“They’ll love it.” I watched my mother for a few seconds. “In all the time I was here, we only ever had foster brothers. You must love the idea of having girls.”

“I knew I could be a boy-mom, so your father and I decided to take in all the boys we could handle.” Mandy’s eyes filled with tears. She dabbed at them with a napkin. “My heart broke when I saw those little loves. So thin and wearing shoes that were too small. It took me right back to when you boys were little.”

“You’re going to break the bank shopping for them today, aren’t you?” I found my first smile of the day.

“You bet I am!” Mandy burst out laughing. “What about Saxon? Is there anything he needs? I bought him a super-soft throw blanket for him to cuddle up with during story time.”

That was my mother in a nutshell. Mandy took care of everyone who came into her orbit. “He’s going to need a steady pair of hands to be there for him when the enormity of this closes in on him.”

“Well then, it’s a good thing I know the perfect man for the job.” She pointed at me.

Mom was right. I could be there for Saxon, but that wasn’t what worried me. “Do you think I can be there for those girls?”

“Yes, I do. You’re the best hugger on the planet. You love to watch cartoons. When you do story time at the firehouse, the kids always fight over who gets to sit next to you. Kids love you, Dallas. You’re a protector by nature, which is what those kids need right now. Saxon too.”

“I’m gonna go home and think over what we talked about.” I was out of my seat and hugging Mandy. “Thank you for always being there for me.”

“That’s what parents do, Dallas.” She hugged me tighter.

Mandy and David did that job better than anyone I knew. The question was, could I do it too?

22

Saxon

I’d been startled awake by the sound of Lola crying. When my eyes popped open, she’d been sitting in the center of her twin bed, looking small and lost. I’d pulled her into my arms and held her as her little body shook against me. Sophie joined us a few minutes later. She wasn’t crying, but was doing everything she could to soothe her sister. I had a feeling Sophie was there for Lola all the time.

Thankfully, our morning had gotten better from there. We’d all had a big breakfast of pancakes and bacon, courtesy of Mandy and David McCoy.