“No, ma’am, it won’t,” Vander spoke up.
The sound of his voice sent a lick of heat through Summer’s core. How did one man get blessed with looksandthat bedroom voice?
“Well, now I know enough. Just so you realize—I protect my own.” Granny’s announcement sent a rush of love through Summer. She reached out and squeezed the woman’s arm.
“We see that you’re very capable,” Carson told her. “But even the military allows backup. We got your six.”
Granny eyed them with severe distrust for a long moment. Finally, she nodded.
“We need to set up cameras on the property.” Carson waved a hand at the shared porch.
“I have the cost covered,” Vander said.
Granny shook her head. “Oh no you won’t! It’s my property and Summer rents from me. I’ll pay for what needs done.”
Carson held up a hand. “Neither of you are paying. The security agency is handling this pro bono.”
Summer looked between them helplessly. This was all too much. She never asked for help, and she always tried to pay back favors. But she couldn’t repay such kindness.
Carson shot a look at Vander. “If you don’t work out for the team, I can always hire Granny. She knows her way around a weapon.”
“You bet your biscuits I do!”
Vander huffed a laugh, the sound worming further into Summer’s veins. “Is that even loaded?” he asked Granny.
The woman swung it up, barrel aimed away from everyone, and ejected a shell.
Vander’s hands shot upward, and a grin broke over his handsome face. “I believe you.”
Their gazes locked for one beat, then two. Summer’s stomach fluttered, and she had to force herself to break his hold first. The pulse of desire low in her stomach didn’t ease even after she looked away.
Carson pulled a small notebook from his jacket pocket. “Have either of you noticed anything unusual around here lately? Strange vehicles? People hanging around?”
Granny answered first. “No, no strangers poking their nose into places they don’t belong.”
Summer shook her head too. “Nothing I noticed.”
The older woman’s mouth tightened. “Maybe I should have noticed more.” The guilt in her voice surprised Summer enough that she stepped closer and slid her arm around her. The woman smelled like the herbs she grew and clean cotton. She felt so precious under Summer’s arm.
“Granny,” she began.
“I’m serious. I sit by that window half the day being nosy. If somebody’s been around here—”
“That’s exactly why the security team will be watching,” Summer said gently. “Nobody expects you to catch everything.”
Granny remained unconvinced.
Summer touched her arm. “Really.”
A few steps away, Vander’s attention shifted from the windows to the doors and the corners of the duplex like he was calculating entry points.
“We’re going to take a look around if you don’t mind.” Now that Granny stopped the interrogation, Carson moved toward the window, already discussing camera placement and lighting angles with Vander.
The little duplex suddenly seemed very small with all these people around. Warm too. And safe in a way she hadn’t realized it had stopped feeling lately.
Carson finally tucked the notebook away. “We’ll start tonight.”
Summer looked up. “Tonight?”
