Page 69 of Guardian

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Only Aiden, Leila, and the twins were in the kitchen when Logan entered. The children were wearing jackets and boots, and Leila had donned a blond wig, a sign that she was leaving the compound. The demons were still after her because of a vaccine she’d created that would be beneficial to the demons’ agenda, so she only left the compound heavily disguised. In addition to the blond wig, she also wore broad-rimmed, dark sunglasses. She looked like a movie star.

“Where’re you guys going?” Logan asked.

Aiden motioned to the twins who were chasing each other around the kitchen island. “These two need to get out today or somebody is going to strangle them.”

“You said it, man, not me.”

“Yeah, but you’re thinking it, and so is the rest of the compound. You guys are good sports,” Aiden said, “but let’s face it, kids need to be able to roam outside from time to time.”

“As do I,” Leila added. “As nice as our extended quarters are, I do get cabin fever on occasion.”

Logan grinned. He couldn’t blame her. Even though Aiden and Leila had taken over almost the entire top floor of the building with their brood, there was no garden, no terrace, no place where the kids could run wild.

Logan looked at Aiden. “You’re taking every precaution, I assume?”

“No worries. I’m going as the Invisible Man so no demon can spot us. They won’t recognize Blondie here, nor the kids. We’re good,” Aiden said.

“Blondie?” Leila chuckled. “So you like my blond hair?”

He put his arms around her. “I like everything about you. I’ll show you how much later.”

“Guys!” Logan admonished. “Not in front of the kids! They’ll be scarred for life!”

Aiden and Leila laughed.

“Come on, Xander, come, Julia,” Leila called out to them. “Let’s go out!”

The kids charged toward her, almost mowing Logan over on the way.

Ten seconds later, peace and quiet descended on the kitchen. Logan went about pulling together a tray with snacks. Thanks to Leila, there were lots of delicious treats in the refrigerator. While she rarely ever went to the supermarket herself, she wrote out detailed shopping lists, and one of the guardians at the compound did the shopping for her. The choice of food at the compound had definitely improved since Leila had moved in. He couldn’t believe that almost four years had passed since that day.

When Logan entered his rooms again, tray in hand, he found Winter lounging on the sofa, dressed in his bathrobe. She’d dried her hair, and her skin looked rosy, her face refreshed.

“You didn’t have to rush your bath,” he said and set the tray on the coffee table.

“I didn’t.” She leaned forward to inspect the tray. “Hmm. This looks wonderful. Who does the cooking here?”

“Mostly Leila.”

“Remind me to thank her. I’m not much of a cook, you know.” She shrugged. “But I like to eat.”

“Help yourself. I brought a bit of everything, but if there’s something else you want, I’m sure I can find it in the fridge. Just let me know.”

“Oh no, this is perfect.”

Logan took a seat next to Winter, and they filled their plates and started eating. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was.

“So, how come you don’t cook?” he asked. “I mean, not that I expect every woman to be able to cook just because she’s a woman. But people who like to eat well normally learn how to cook.”

Winter gave him a sad smile. “My mom was the one who always cooked for me and dad. She wouldn’t let anybody in the kitchen. It was her domain.”

“Didn’t she want to teach you?”

“She never got a chance. I was only nine, when she and Dad died.”

“I’m sorry, I should have realized that when you mentioned it the other day. I shouldn’t have asked.”