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“It’s okay now, boy.” She patted a chair beneath the window, and Buzz jumped up. Once he was there, and she was sure he was getting fresh air, Bailey picked up the phone and punched in the only number she knew well.
Chapter 27
“Apple Sours.” Joe answered the phone. He’d spent the morning smiling, and hadn’t been able to stop. He’d woken with Bailey in his arms, and the scent and feel of her was etched in his head. They’d talked too, only briefly, but it was a start.
“Joe! Come quick. Fire at the stables. It’s out, but hurry, the stable door is locked!”
“Are you safe?” His heart pounded as he heard the fear in Bailey’s voice.
“I-I think so. Hurry!”
Joe ran down the steps, yelling at his staff that he had to go. He was dialing Jack as he jumped in his pickup.
“Get home, there’s been a fire.” He then called Luke with the same message.
The thought of Bailey anywhere near danger was making his heart pound out of control. Reaching his driveway in record time, he looked for smoke as he pulled up outside the stables, but to his relief found none.
“Bailey!”
“Joe!”
She was standing on the other side of the stable door. Someone had bolted it from the outside. Buzz was with her, yowling loudly.
“I’m opening the door now, Bailey.”
She didn’t answer. He got it open seconds later. Her face was white as she stumbled toward him. Joe opened his arms, and she flew into them.
“God, you scared me.” She was wet from the sprinklers.
“Me?” she croaked.
“I asked if you were safe, and you said I think so.” He couldn’t stop kissing wherever he could reach. Couldn’t make himself ease the punishing grip he had on her.
“S-sorry, I didn’t know what I was saying.”
She was shaking, her hands clutching his shirt as she tried to get closer. Fear, Joe thought. She’d been terrified. He’d think about that in a minute, and the fact that someone had locked her in there with fire. For now he’d focus on her.
“I have you, sweetheart. Take some big breaths for me.”
Lowering a hand, he dug his fingers into the fur of his dog’s wet head, reassuring him that he was safe too.
Bailey did as he asked while his hand ran up and down her spine. She pulled back as they heard cars.
“I’m okay now, Joe.”
“No, you’re not, but at least you’ve stopped shaking.” Some of the color had come back into her face too.
“We need to get the horses out, and stop the sprinklers and fire detectors.”
“Luke and Jack are here, they can help,” Joe said still holding her close.
“What happened?” Jack got to them first.
“Come inside,” Bailey said, reaching for Joe’s hand. “First we need you to get the horses and Kimi out, then I’ll explain what happened.”
Luke took care of the horses, and Joe released Bailey reluctantly so she could go and get on some dry clothes, and then rescue Kimi. Jack and Joe dealt with the smoke detectors and sprinklers. They then investigated the fire.
“Diesel.” Jack looked up at him.
