Saxon's Savior (Protect and Serve #3) - Pandora Pine Page 0,68

She held her sticky hands in front of her as if they were claws.

“Oh, dear. Little Lola is a firecracker.” Gwen smiled brightly at the picture.

“Yes, she is.” I’d never thought about her like that before, but it was true. Lola was the life of the party, even when there was no party. “I don’t know how I managed only seeing them from time to time.” It was true. I’d been thinking it over the last few days, but I hadn’t been brave enough to say the words out loud.

“You’re doing a wonderful job with them. Carrying on after a loss is never easy, but I can see these girls are on the rebound.”

“How did you know…?” I wasn’t strong enough to finish asking how Gwen knew the girls had lost their mother.

“It’s in their eyes. Gateway to the soul, you know.” With trembling hands, Gwen took a sip of her cocoa. “Have some cookies, boys.” She pointed to the platter in the center of the table.

I did as Gwen asked, grabbing one from the plate. The cookie was still warm, making the chocolate ooey-gooey. “Mmm. This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”

Dallas nodded, reaching for a second cookie.

“Old family recipe. I’d make them for my kids on Fridays. It was bad enough we couldn’t eat meat on Fridays.” Gwen rolled her eyes. “My Marv was a devout Catholic.” She made air quotes over the word “devout.”

I started to laugh. I couldn’t help myself. “I’m guessing you were more of a free spirit?”

“Just like your little Lola. I knew my children needed spiritual direction, but the Catholics were so stuffy with their rules. I taught them to listen to their souls in ocean waves, how to identify healing plants, how to wish upon a falling star, and how to be kind to people who didn’t worship as their father did.” Gwen’s eyes had gone glassy again.

“The Catholic Church doesn’t exactly welcome men like me.” I trailed off, not wanting to saddle her with my own tale of woe when she so clearly was dealing with her own.

“Well, I do.” Gwen grinned brightly at me. “You bring those little loves over anytime. We’ll have a grand old time together.”

“I will,” I agreed easily. I knew Lola would have Gwen eating out of her hand within minutes. “But you need to do something for us.”

Gwen rolled her misty blue eyes. “Yes, warden.”

“Hurricane Tess is coming. We’re right on the water. Let me help you take care of the house before the bitch makes landfall.” Dallas’s earlier smile had turned serious.

Gwen giggled. Her laugh was lyrical. “I’ve been in this house for half a century. All we’ve ever gotten was a little wind and rain. I’ll be fine.” She patted Dallas’s hand.

“I know the history as well as you do.” Dallas paused, shooting me an unreadable look.

I might not have been able to decipher what he was trying to tell me with his eyes, but I knew he was looking for me to agree with him. “All of your memories are here, Gwen. Let us help you protect them.”

“You’re going to make me leave!” Her sharp eyes narrowed in on mine. “This is my home. I will not be driven from my home. Especially not thanks to some bitch who thinks she can come in here and take over.”

Christ, I really was looking at Lola seventy years from now. I hoped she had a family strong enough to be by her side when this side of her personality made an appearance.

“We just want you to be safe. Do you have enough food and bottled water for a week? Extra batteries? A bug-out bag with important documents, electronics, and a change of clothes?”

Gwen looked overwhelmed. She dipped her head. I knew she was crying.

“This is my home. I’m not leaving my home.”

Dallas was out of his seat and kneeling in front of Gwen. He took both of her hands in his own. “We’re not going to make you leave. We just want you to be as safe as possible staying. Will you let me and Saxon help you?”

“Yes. I’ll allow your help, but only if you let me buy you dinner. Nothing is for nothing, as my father used to say.” She smiled as she looked back and forth between me and Dallas.

“Sounds good to me.” My stomach had been growling for an hour. I could use a meal instead of cookies.

“Me too,” Dallas agreed. He pulled out his phone and started asking