Saxon's Savior (Protect and Serve #3) - Pandora Pine Page 0,86

hands.

“Here, I’ll take that.” The screen blurred out before David’s face appeared. “We’re so glad you’re okay, son. The girls have been asking about you all day. We told them you were helping other people and you’d be home as soon as you could. They’re in the other room, drawing you some pictures.”

“Do they know?” My heart clenched in my chest thinking about Sophie and Lola, knowing how very close I’d come to never seeing them again.

“Only that you got hurt saving a nice Nana. They’re drawing Gwen pictures too.” David wore a fond smile.

I barked out a laugh. It hurt like hell, but I didn’t care. “You hug them for me, David. I can’t thank you enough for being there for my girls.”

“What about me, Dad? Are Sophie and Lola asking about me and drawing me pictures?” Dallas laughed, but I could tell he was curious about the answer.

David bit his lower lip. “I’m not sure. I’ll check with them later.”

“Sorry, Dallas.” I mouthed before yawning.

“I’ll keep you updated about what’s going on here,” David assured me.

“Make sure you say it again,” Mandy chimed in. “Bye, boys!” She laughed and ended the call.

“Say what?” Mandy was always laughing. Her bubbly personality was part of her charm, but there wasn’t a lot to laugh about today. Dallas and I had both had very close calls, and Ozzy and the others were still out in the hurricane, picking up our slack.

Dallas blushed. He set his phone on the table near my bed and moved a bit closer to my bed. “Do you remember what you said to me before you…”

“Before I died?” I remembered everything until the moment I lost consciousness. “Yes, I remember what I said.” I’d told Dallas I loved him and to make sure the girls knew how much I loved them too.

“I’m so sorry, Saxon. I didn’t say it back. I was too focused on trying to save your stubborn ass, and I didn’t tell you how I felt about you.”

“It’s okay.” I yawned. I didn’t think I had a lot of energy left before sleep took me.

“I said it when you were in the ER, but I don’t think you heard me.” Dallas shook his head. “I mean, Saxon, I love you. With every cell in my body. I’m sorry I didn’t say it earlier, like last night or last week, but I was scared you didn’t feel the same way about me. After almost losing you, I’ll never be afraid to say anything again.”

“You didn’t have to say the words, Dallas. I could see it in everything you did to save me.” I was willing to bet Dallas’s body was bruised black and blue from the way he’d been throwing himself against the refrigerator.

“It wasn’t enough. If Ozzy hadn’t come in when he did, it might have been too late.” Tears streaked down Dallas’s ruddy cheeks.

“We’re not going to think like that. A lot of things could have gone wrong today, but they didn’t.” I shuddered to think of all the things that could have gone wrong. “I’m safe, so are you and Ozzy, and the girls are with your parents.” I yawned again. It was getting harder to keep my eyes open.

“Get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up. I promise.”

I nodded. Dallas didn’t have to tell me twice. “Love you,” I mumbled.

“Love you too,” Dallas whispered before pressing a kiss to my forehead.

Dallas was right. A lot of things could have gone wrong today, but none of them did. Today was the first day of the rest of my life with Dallas and our girls. Having a real family in my life made me feel whole, something I never thought I could be after the death of my parents and then Sistine.

I was alive. I was whole. I was grateful.

EPILOGUE

Dallas

Thanksgiving…

The fire station was a madhouse. Preparation for the meal started at zero-dark-thirty. Ozzy had us all up and getting the three large turkeys ready to go in the oven. I made the stuffing, while Saxon and Ozzy rinsed the thawed birds and seasoned them.

Ozzy was in his glory. The only thing he loved more than Thanksgiving was helping out his neighbors. After Hurricane Tess, Ozzy had organized food drives and supplied hot meals to the shelters in the city who were still caring for neighbors displaced by the storm. His usual Thanksgiving fundraiser broke last year’s total. We spent the days leading up to the holiday stuffing boxes with everything a