Page 180 of Protecting What's Mine

“Yep. And double-checked with Russell. He confirmed. I had a feeling you’d try to seduce me.”

There was a knock at the door, and she groaned. “I guess we can’t just hole up here for the rest of the weekend. Can we?”

“Baby, you got shot in a house fire saving my dog from your whack-job sister. We’re lucky they left us alone this long.”

“I feel bad that we ruined everyone’s holiday,” she said. “I had a really good cornbread recipe, too. It involved beer and cheese.”

“I’m sure they’re all fine. They probably got pizza or takeout, and everyone is napping in front of someone’s TV. I heard my sister talking to your foster parents about oven space in the hospital waiting room.”

They found one Sheriff Ty Adler in a fresh uniform on Linc’s doorstep. His cruiser was parked up against the front of the building.

“Soph sent these for you,” he said, holding out a bag with a change of clothes. Comfortable leggings, a soft sweater, an actual bra, and a tube of red, red lipstick.

“Thanks,” Mack said, clutching the bag to her chest in gratitude. “Are you here to catch us up?”

“I can do that on the way.”

“On the way where?” Linc asked.

“We’ve got some business to take care of is all,” Ty explained vaguely.

“She can give her statement to you tomorrow,” Linc growled.

“It’s fine.” Mack sighed. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“I’ll drive y’all,” Ty volunteered.

They changed first and then let the sheriff whisk them off. Linc, playing the overprotective hero, refused to leave Mack’s side and insisted they both ride in the back seat.

“So quick recap,” Ty said, glancing their way in the rearview mirror. “Wendy is alive thanks to Doc O’Neil here. She suffered some smoke inhalation and burns. But we got her prints on the gas cans and video footage from your own security system, before it melted, that shows her rolling up into your garage. She stole the extra garage door opener out of the kitchen drawer when she broke into your house a week ago. She’s being belligerent, and I’m told she’ll be meeting with a staff psychiatrist for an evaluation before her ass is carted off to jail for a very, very, very long time.”

“Are you sure he’s not arresting us for something,” Mack whispered, leaning into his side.

“You never know with Benevolence. But I think we can take him if he tries anything funny.” He kissed her on the head and snuggled her closer.

“This isn’t the police department, Sheriff Numb Nuts,” Linc pointed out. The cruiser rolled up in front of the fire station. Ty gave the sirens a chirp, and the middle garage door rolled up.

“Oh. My. God,” Mack said, sitting up straighter.

“Looks like you’re getting a Thanksgiving after all,” Linc observed.

“I swear to God, if someone so much as pops a bottle of champagne, I am out,” she whispered to him as they slid out of the back seat.

They were all there. Dottie, Win, and Violet. Linc’s sisters and their families. The firefighters and EMS crews and their families. Harper and Luke. Gloria and Aldo. Sophie and all of the kids.So many kids.Mrs. Moretta and her football boyfriend were chatting it up with Gloria’s mother and Claire and Charlie Garrison. Russell and Denise were there with Skyler. Freida and her husband. Tuesday and her boyfriend. Joni was there, too, with half of the Ladies’ Night ladies.

Sunshine, looking spiffy in a turkey and pumpkin neckerchief, sprinted over to them. Someone had given her a bath.

“Hey, sweet girl! You were so brave,” Mack said, burying her face in the dog’s fur.

The station smelled like home cooking and happiness.

Someone had wheeled a big screen into the garage, and a football game was on.

“Imagine that. We finally used that extension cord,” Linc said.

Tables were set up and covered with tarps. Stacks of paper plates and cups and utensils sat ready to be put into service.

The Nguyens practically tackled her and didn’t back off until Mack winced when a hug got too tight. She was passed around, more carefully, until someone yelled, “Time to eat!”