Free Texas Lullaby (Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book 7) by Cynthia D’Alba

stepped back into the bedroom. Lane and the girls were not in their bedroom either. A mild panic seized her. Where were the children?
    She raced into an empty living room and then into the kitchen. She skid to a stop. Lane, Jason and the girls were sitting at the table. Jackie had Levi sitting in the kitchen sink, water splashing every surface.
    “Hi, honey,” Jackie called. “Lane was hungry. I hope you don’t mind. I made him and the girls some hot dogs.”
    “I helped,” Ellery said.
    “You sure did,” Lane said.
    “I fed Jasper,” Annie said.
    “All by yourself?” Lydia asked.
    “Yes.”
    Jason caught her eye and pointed to his chest and then to Annie. Ah. He and Annie had fed Jasper.
    “Well, you girls sure are helpful.”
    Their faces lit up with smiles at her praise.
    “We brought the girls a movie for after dinner. Something titled Frozen . I’ve been assured by Caroline that they will love it and you will come to hate me because they will watch it over and over.”
    Lydia chuckled. She might not have had children before now, but even she knew about the song “Let It Go”.
    “Well, I’ll just have to let it go, right?” Lydia joked.
    Jackie grinned at her. “Exactly. Now, I think Jason has some plans for tonight.”
    Panic hit her again. “I don’t know. I really appreciate you coming over and letting me get a shower, but—”
    “No buts,” Jackie said. “Lane and I aren’t exactly newbies at this, you know?”
    Lydia walked over to Jackie and lowered her voice. Little ears had long hearing ranges.
    “Look, Jackie, I really thank you, but I’m not sure the girls are ready to be left with strangers.”
    “Really?” Jackie tilted her head toward the table.
    Annie had crawled into Lane’s lap and was feeding him a chip.
    “They lost their parents,” Lydia said. “I don’t want them to think I’m leaving too.”
    “Honey, you’re not going to be gone that long. If there’s a problem, we’ll be on the phone to you jiffy quick. I promise. Don’t make a big deal out of leaving. Just walk out the door. Don’t give long hugs and goodbye speeches. That’s what confuses them. By the time they realize you’re gone, we’ll be watching Frozen and eating the cookies I have stashed in the car.”
    “You have cookies stashed?”
    Jackie grinned. “A grandmother’s prerogative.”
    “But—”
    “I’m not their grandmother? Semantics, my dear. Now go. We’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
    Lydia hesitated. This was such a bad idea.
    “Go,” Jackie repeated. “We’ll all be fine.”
    Lydia felt pushed out of her own house. She knew Jackie and Lane meant well, but still…
    Jason stood and walked over. “Ready?” He glanced at his watch. “We have to be somewhere in twenty minutes.”
    “Where?”
    “It’s a surprise.”
    She was definitely surprised when Jason wheeled into the Eden Spa. Known for its upscale clientele and impeccable service, not to mention pricey massages and facials, Lydia had never been here. Oh, she’d wanted to, but somehow it’d never worked out.
    “The Eden Spa?” she said to Jason when he shut off the engine.
    “For once in your life, can you please let someone else be in charge for a little while?”
    “Yeah, I can do that.”
    “Well, thank God. Now let’s go. We’re almost late.”
    And heaven knows, the man couldn’t abide being late. Good thing he didn’t have children.
    But on the other hand, he had no idea what he was missing.
    The aroma of fresh eucalyptus greeted them in a posh lobby. Soft new-age music drifted from hidden speakers. Cushy chairs and sofas were placed in such a way that privacy was assured, if one wanted privacy.
    Jason stepped up to the curved desk. A blonde smiled warmly at him…too warmly, in Lydia’s opinion. She couldn’t blame the girl. Jason was an extremely handsome man. Last fall, when he’d put himself in a bachelor auction to piss her off––which it did––there had almost been a riot among