“I’ve never seen him before.”
“He sure took charge.”
“Did you see how he ripped the guy out of his boat? It was like he weighed nothing.”
“He looks like he’s been through war, and that was definitely a SEAL tattoo.”
“Thank God he was here.”
The whispers swirled around Pixie, but she did her best to tune them out. When a waiter stopped by the table with a cola, she looked up in surprise.
“He asked me to bring this to you. He, um, said the caffeine and sugar would help.”
“He who?”
“The big guy.”
“Oh.” Yes, her throat was parched and she was shaky, but she hadn’t thought about it until that icy drink was placed before her. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “Robin said your meals are on the house. Whatever you want.”
Robin Merriman ran the restaurant, but Pixie hadn’t seen her yet today. “She’s here?”
The young man nodded. “She’s got her hands full with all the excitement.”
“I can imagine. Give her my thanks, but I don’t think we’ll have time to eat now.” As soon as Brogan returned, they’d be heading to the hospital.
The waiter left, but Robin returned a few minutes later with a big bag and two more drinks in carryout cups. “I know you’re in a hurry, so I chose meals for you. Take them with you.”
“You didn’t need to—”
Robin put a hand on her shoulder. “I want to.” Lower, she said, “About bowled me over when I first got a look at him.”
In her mid-forties, with stylishly short dark hair and pretty green eyes, Robin was an attractive woman. Never before had Pixie heard her mention a man in such a way.
“He’s renting the lake house.”
“And saving customers.” She turned to smile at Andy, and then Shayna. “What a guy, right? He’ll be the talk of the town for a year. A real live action hero. I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t been here.”
Pixie silently agreed. Without Brogan, would Benny even be alive now? The thought was chilling.
Just then, Brogan returned. He wore a new shirt that advertised the Docker restaurant. His jeans had been replaced with loose shorts. She assumed his wet clothes were in the bag he carried.
Before Pixie could ask, he explained, “One of the workers had the clothes with him.”
“The shirt is a little small,” Robin noted. “I think you needed an XL.”
“It’s dry, so no complaints from me.” He tried to pay her for the food, but she shook her head and took a step back. “It’s on the house. And I’m going to get you that XL, too, next time you come in.”
As he pushed his feet into his shoes and put his wallet and phone in a pocket of the shorts, he said, “You don’t need to—”
“This town owes you, Brogan. A few meals and a shirt are the very least I can do. I know Ellen. She and her girlfriends visit often.” Robin closed her eyes, drew a quick breath, and tried to find her composure. When she opened them again, she said, “I’m short on words, but thank you.”
With a nod, he relented and put away his money.
“Um.” A nearby waiter shifted his stance. “Cops will be here soon.”
“Robin has my number. They can call.” He lifted Andy from his seat, half-chewed cookie mess and all, quickly settled him in the stroller, put the bag of food in behind him, along with the bag of his clothes, and then lifted out Shayna. He was careful to make sure she could finish her bottle. To Pixie, he asked, “You ready?”
