Page 81 of Short, Lethal & Claimed

“Besides that,” Logan said, waving it off.

“I’m looking for a way to fix the closet door in the children’s room,” Jill said, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she picked up a rusted chisel only to decide against it a few seconds later and placed it back in the toolbox.

“What’s wrong with the door?” Logan asked as he joined her.

“For starters, it’s leaning against the wall,” Jill said as she picked up a rusted screwdriver only to grumble when the move caused the handle to fall off.

“What else?” Logan asked only to frown when she pulled a folded piece of paper out of her back pocket and handed it tohim. He read over the list of everything that needed to be fixed in the children’s room, from their closet door to the wallpaper and-

“A fort?” Logan drawled as his gaze flickered up to find her nodding solemnly.

“It’s a necessity,” Jill assured him.

“I see,” Logan murmured as he returned his attention to the list. “And how were you planning on pulling that off?”

“With a lot of luck,” she said, making his lips twitch as he read through the list and-

“A doll house?” Logan asked, looking up to find her once again searching through the toolbox.

Without a word, Jill reached over and plucked the list from his hand, unfolded it, turned it around and handed it back to him so that she could focus on the small hammer and-

“Damn it,” she mumbled sadly when the hammer head broke off to join the screwdriver while Logan took in the dollhouse that his little shadow drew in crayon.

“And how were you planning on pulling this off?” Logan asked as he took in the two-story pink house with large windows and double doors with a crudely drawn teddy bear peeking out through one of the windows.

“Most likely with duct tape,” Jill said around a heavy sigh as she gave up any hope of finding something useful in the toolbox and shoved everything back inside while he stood there, unable to look away from the drawing in his hands and-

“Thank you for saving us, Logan,” Jill said as she leaned up and kissed his cheek before she walked away, leaving him standing there as he reluctantly folded the piece of paper and slid it into his pocket, knowing that it was finally time to go.

“You’re welcome, Angel.”

CHAPTER 40

“Ithought you said the leech was leaving,” Shane said on his way to the bathroom, making her frown as she looked up from the rusted hinges that she was hoping to salvage only to end up stumbling out of the way so that Logan, who was glaring at her through silver eyes for some reason, could take over.

“These all need to be replaced,” Logan said with a heavy sigh, shaking his head in disgust before turning that glare on her.

Blinking, Jill asked, “May I help you?”

“What else?” he demanded only to gesture for her to get on with it a minute later when she could only frown in confusion. “With the house. What else needs to be fixed?”

“Everything?” Jill guessed since she hadn’t exactly had a chance to take a look around yet.

After the children woke up yesterday, they’d ventured downstairs in search of the kitchen only to get distracted by the backyard. When she spotted Caleb and Emma pressing their small faces against the window, releasing wistful sighs as they stared at the rope swing hung from an old oak tree, Jill decided that they could find the kitchen later.

Six hours, a broken swing, and two mud puddles later, she’d finally managed to get the children back inside with Shane’s help, promises that they could play outside again tonight, and pizza. Once they managed to get them inside, they’d started the long process of getting them fed and cleaned before calling it a night.

And this morning…

She just wanted to see Logan one last time.

Sighing heavily, Logan shook his head in disgust as he grabbed two notepads off the stack of coloring books by the closet door along with a small box of crayons and handed them to Emma and Caleb. At their questioning looks, Logan said, “We’re going to need a list.”

Nodding, Caleb flipped open his notepad and grabbed a green crayon as he said, “I’m very helpful.”

“I know you are, min swete sunu,” Logan murmured with a fond smile for the little boy who’d demanded extra kisses this morning.

“I really am,” Caleb assured him with a firm nod as Logan reached over and admittedly left her confused when he took her hand in his.

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