Saxon's Savior (Protect and Serve #3) - Pandora Pine Page 0,54

without crying.

“We’re all here for you, no matter what. Whatever you need, all you have to do is say the word.” I knew Dallas meant every word.

There were a million and one things I needed at this moment in time. With Dallas sitting this close to me, I could only think of the most pertinent thing. “What about you? Where do you stand in all of this?”

Reaching for my hand, Dallas kissed the back of it. “Ozzy made spending time with the girls look seamless. He knew just what to say to make them feel good or laugh or to gently remind them of their manners.” He sighed. “I’m not sure his easy manner would come naturally to me.”

“I know where you’re coming from. The only reason I have a leg up is because I’ve known those girls from the day they were born. Ozzy might know how to get a reluctant two-year-old to eat her broccoli, but you were the one at the hospital who knew exactly how to comfort Lola when she was scared and alone.” I gave our joined hands a squeeze. “I get that table manners are important, but Lola knowing she has people around her who love her and who she can trust is so much more important that being a member of the clean plate club.”

“I guess that thought never crossed my mind when I was watching Ozzy.” Dallas shrugged.

“When everything is settled, let’s have a family night. We’ll make dinner together and watch a movie with the girls before putting them to bed. No pressure, just a fun night to see how it works when we’re not under so much damn pressure.”

Dallas appeared to be thinking my suggestion over. “What about me? Do I get tucked into bed with a goodnight kiss?” A devious smile graced his lips.

“I think that could be arranged.” I waggled my eyebrows at Dallas.

Leaning forward, Dallas pressed his lips to mine. We both moaned when I slid my tongue against his. “No reason we can’t get in a little practice ahead of time.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” I returned Dallas’s kiss as butterflies rioted in my stomach.

There were so many other things I should be using this time to set to rights, but at the moment, with Dallas kissing me like he had a date with the electric chair in the morning, there was no place I would rather be.

25

Dallas

Two weeks later, things had finally calmed down. Sistine had been buried and her apartment was inventoried and cleaned out. Saxon had been named Sophie and Lola’s temporary guardian while the adoption process moved through the court system.

Sistine’s funeral was absolutely heartbreaking. I’d thought Hal Rossi’s had been a real tearjerker, but Lola and Sophie screaming for their mother as the casket was rolled toward the door of the church at the end of the mass was devastating. The anguish in the girls’ screams tore me up inside. Saxon was still beating himself up over letting the girls attend the church service.

Neither Lola nor Sophie bounced back like I imagined they would. According to my parents and Saxon, the girls were shells of themselves, not playing, not laughing, and barely eating.

I was hoping what I had planned for tonight would turn their frowns upside down. Saxon was on the verge of taking them to the pediatrician, but I had a feeling what I had planned might help both of them break the cycle of grief. That went double for Saxon.

“Here I am!” I announced as I walked into Saxon’s house. He looked like shit. Dark circles ringed his eyes and I could tell he hadn’t been sleeping well.

“Hey, man. What is all this stuff?” He locked the door behind me and ushered me toward the kitchen.

Both girls were sitting next to each other on the sofa, staring blankly at a cartoon I didn’t recognize. “I thought it would be fun if we did things a little differently tonight.”

Saxon’s tired look turned to disbelief. “I appreciate what you’re doing, but things aren’t going so well here. Both of the girls will only eat peanut butter and jelly. When I make it for them, they take a bite or two and they’re done. I’ve tried offering the mac and cheese Ozzy made for them at the firehouse, but they weren’t interested in that either.” Saxon yawned, looking like he could fall asleep where he stood.

I pulled Saxon into my arms. He came with no resistance. When my arms were wrapped around him,