Page 28 of Pick Yourself Up (Heroes to the Core #3)

Head's Up

A s a group, they decided to return to apple picking the next day. Amber figured it was for multiple reasons, but one of them was probably so they were all together. Safety in numbers. After hearing that Allard was out of jail, she was happy to have everyone in sight and safe.

They now had a decent idea of how many trees the six of them could pick in a day. The first day had included a steep learning curve, but now they moved at a good clip, hoping to clear the entire section Thea had selected. The trees that were in prime condition and boasted the best apples.

Amber had eaten apples from different areas of the farm, and she hadn’t found a bad one yet. Crisp deliciousness. She might be tired of picking, but she’d never tire of the taste.

And she’d pick forever if it helped Knox fulfill his vision. Plus, she was using this for research for her B&B.

Her nameless B&B. So far, nothing she’d tried sounded right. The area was quirky, and she wouldn’t mind an apple pun in the name. Or an allusion to her family. To Jay and Fox. To nearby Phail. Vermont in general.

She’d have to set aside some time to research the names of other B&Bs in the area and on apple farms. She didn’t want to deliberately or inadvertently copy a name someone else had used.

Something unique that would make her smile. Not something that would make her shudder every time she said it.

Welcome to the Apple Inn. Appley Ever After Inn. Apple Blossom Inn. Apple Blessings. Inn Good Time. All Inn. In-cider Inn, which would only work if they produced cider. That would be fun. Would Lawson or Burke like to make cider?

“Hang on, everyone. Shifting location.” Knox’s voice interrupted her thoughts, and they all hung onto the sides as Knox moved them down to fresh trees.

Boomer trotted alongside the truck, and Gray studied the new area, even though it was only yards from the previous spot—her personal protection detail in action.

She couldn’t stop herself from doing the same. All day, they’d been hyper-alert, watching the dogs for their reactions and checking the trees for intruders. Ensuring no one waited for them to drop their guard.

Once again, she considered her options. Their options. Whatever they decided, she and Gray would do it together. Not only was she not brave enough to go on her own, but she was also too smart.

They couldn’t know Allard’s plans. Couldn’t know if he was pissed enough at either her or Gray to cross several states to find them. She refused to think of what the man would do if he did find them, if he got through their defenses.

If she let her imagination run away with her, she’d never be able to contribute or do anything other than cower in her room.

Gray reached over and took her hand. “Making decisions?”

His serious eyes studied her, and she smiled. “Not without you.”

Relief showed in his expression, and he kissed her. “Good. Together, Amber. Always together.”

Despite the fear and worry that surrounded them, happiness soared through her. “Always.”

He grinned and ran his hand through her hair and kissed her again before they turned their attention back to the apples.

After they’d separated the day’s crop in the harvesting barn, the group headed to the farmhouse, tired and starving.

Tonight was Thea’s turn to cook, and the house smelled delicious.

Thea pulled a lasagna out of the oven to sit, slid a loaf of garlic bread into the oven, and grabbed a salad from the fridge. She grinned. “After a long day of picking apples, I’m very glad Fiona Phail has so many fully prepped meals for us to buy.”

Amber agreed. The woman was a skilled cook, and most of them used her meals on days when it was too busy to make something on their own. Not Gray, though. Even with limited time, his meals were always incredible.

“So, tomorrow’s forecast is rain. I think we can skip picking and do something else.” Cheers and laughter met Knox’s pronouncement.

Jolie grinned. “I’m glad apples only need picking once a year. I couldn’t do it as a full-time job.”

Amber raised an eyebrow at her generous sister. “If it would help everyone out, you would, but I’m glad we don’t have to. My muscles may never forgive me.”

Although the way Gray had massaged creams into her skin every night made it worth it. She glanced to find him smiling at her, and she wondered if he was thinking the same thing.

After supper, he took her hand. “Anything you want to work on at the B&B tonight?”

She nodded, and they headed out, Boomer at their side.

Inside, Boomer moved off to sniff the house, and Gray backed her against the door, kissing her brainless.

When he lifted his head, he tugged her into a dance stance and moved them around the room. “What are we doing?”

He grinned at her. “On the day we met, I promised you a dance. As we walked up here, I realized I hadn’t followed through on that promise.”

Her heart softened. She’d been bleeding on the hotel floor, injured and terrified. He’d talked her down from her fear and told her she was brave and that she was probably a good dancer. She thought she’d dared him into promising her that dance. The memory had her smiling as they moved.

They swayed around the room while Boomer trotted up the stairs to check out the rest of the house. He always ensured the entire building was safe.

Gray leaned down to kiss her again. This time, when he pulled back, he grinned. “Better. Okay, what did you want to do?”

She laughed. “Well, I know what I want to do, but I don’t feel safe enough here yet.”

He nodded, face softening in understanding. “And we can get to that once we’re back in the other farmhouse. For now, put me to work.”

With some effort, Amber yanked her mind away from making love with Gray. “I’d like to start painting here on the main floor. The library is finally clear of supplies. I’d like to paint the walls and shelves in there.”

He nodded. “We should be able to get a full coat on tonight. I’ll head upstairs and get the ladders. You grab the paint and brushes.”

He jogged up the stairs, and she headed to the mudroom. They made a good team.

Yanking her gaze away from him, she spun in a circle before she moved to get the paint. Tonight. She’d tell him she loved him tonight. When they were in bed and she was snuggled in his strong arms.

She danced her way into the mudroom for the brushes when Boomer barked from somewhere behind her. His alert bark had her turning to see what was wrong.

A crash sounded behind her as the mudroom door banged open and the alarms shrieked.

She tried to run, but strong arms grabbed her—one arm wrapped around her waist, the other covering her face with a cloth as she screamed.

Amber kicked and pulled at the arm around her waist. She tried to fight back, but in moments, everything faded to black.

G ray’s heart nearly rocketed out of his body at the sound of Boomer’s bark. He hadn’t heard that tone before, but it wasn’t friendly. Angry. Calling for help.

Gray was already running to the stairs when he heard a crash, then Amber screamed as the alarms wailed.

He flew down the stairs, only pausing to grab his gun from his ankle holster.

Boomer barked fiercely, and Gray followed the sound, trying to lock down the terror.

He found Boomer in the kitchen, barking at the closed door that led to the mudroom.

Trusting the dog and his instincts, Gray flattened against the wall. He wanted to rush in, but his training was better.

He pulled out his phone and texted one word to Knox. Help . Then he silenced the phone and shoved it back in his pocket. The alarms probably had them moving, but he needed to be sure.

Boomer continued to bark, desperate to get through the door. Weapon out and ready, Gray flung open the door and aimed.

Boomer raced in first and, before Gray realized his intent, the dog ran through the mess of glass and wood and out the broken door.

Gray followed him to the porch, keeping low and opening his senses as wide as they’d go.

The work he’d done in the gardens meant he mostly had a clear sightline to the other farmhouse. The jerk wouldn’t take Amber that way. He’d head for a vehicle.

Where was Boomer?

Gray raced to the driveway and toward the road. Boomer barked in the distance and Gray poured on the speed, hoping like hell he wasn’t too late.

He pushed his limits and ran to the highway. There were overgrown bushes all along the fence in both directions. If the asshole had to drag Amber through that, it would slow him down, give Gray time.

Amber would be fighting like hell, but the only sound Gray heard was Boomer barking.

On the road, he turned toward the dog at the exact moment he heard a gunshot.

His heart nearly stopped, but he kept moving.

He didn’t spot a car on the road, but he saw exhaust fumes and Boomer racing down the road in pursuit.

Gray yanked out his phone and dialed Knox. “Grab a car. We need to head south. He’s got her.”

When he was close enough, he called Boomer to heel. The dog turned to look at him as if he were crazy. The whine came from deep within his soul, but he obeyed.

Ford’s truck slowed, and the passenger door flung open. He and Boomer jumped in.

Ford drove with Jolie in the back seat.

He turned to see Knox and Thea driving behind them.

Jolie held up her phone. “I’m on speakerphone with Thea. What happened? Where’s Amber?”

Fear coated Jolie’s voice, and her hand shook as she held the phone closer to him.

“It’s my fault. I went upstairs to get a ladder and left her alone. She headed to the mudroom to get paint. Boomer was exploring. I left her alone.”

Like Amber often did, Gray rubbed the dog’s fur to ground himself and focus. Panic wasn’t helping.

Boomer trained his eyes on the road ahead.

Gray lowered the window. He didn’t know how powerful the animal’s sense of smell was, but he’d give him any advantage.

“Now, I’m thinking Boomer might have caught a scent.

He barked just before I heard a crash and Amber’s scream.

The asshole broke through the mudroom door. ”

He took a deep breath to control his emotions. “When I reached the kitchen, Boomer was barking at the closed door leading to the owner’s suite. When I opened it, he ran through the mudroom, jumped over the broken door and glass, then raced away. I followed him and here we are.”

From the phone, Thea spoke. “I’ve got Marcus listening in on Knox’s phone.”

Marcus’s voice filled the cab. “My deputies and I are on the way. I’ll have one of them call the Midnight Security group and have them on the road soon. You’re sure he was heading south from the farm?”

Gray confirmed. “Boomer ran that way and I saw exhaust fumes, but no vehicle.”

The chief’s voice was sure. “Boomer wouldn’t be fooled.

There aren’t a lot of crossroads between us.

I’ll send people down each of them, but his most likely route will be toward town here.

We’ll be able to block the road. With the ditches on the sides, he won’t be able to get around us. We’ll get him.”

They had to.

Gray kept running his hand over Boomer, trying to find some calm.

He’d fucked up. Thought they would be safe inside the locked B&B, but the ladder had been at the far end of the house, as far from the stairs as possible. “I shouldn’t have left her alone. Not even for a moment.”

Jolie reached forward and squeezed his shoulder. “It’s not your fault. She’ll tell you that the moment we get her back.”

He reached up and squeezed Jolie’s hand, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the road. Even if there weren’t many roads, there were driveways that disappeared into the trees. Some of them probably led to abandoned properties. They wouldn’t be able to spot the vehicle if he’d driven down one of them.

What if he waited for them to drive by and then headed north?

When he voiced it out loud, he heard Knox swear. “Thea, can you call some of the neighbors? Have them watch the road for an unfamiliar vehicle.”

Good call. Gray spoke loud enough for Knox to hear. “Have them try for a make and license plate, but tell them to stay safe.”

His heart rattled in his chest and he tried to strategize their options. That had been his job in the army, and he’d been damn good at it.

But his heart hadn’t been involved.

With the woman he loved being kidnapped, he had to find the way to outsmart Allard.

Then he’d make the bastard pay.