bed frame. He cut through the headboard and one corner of the frame, then Max took hold and yanked. They opened a gap big enough that Kayley could slip through.
“Okay, sweetheart, come on,” Jake called into the opening.
She didn’t reply.
“Kayley? Time to go, honey.”
He heard a sniff, but nothing else.
Awesome. They hadn’t cut a big enough opening for him or Max to fit through.
“Kayley,” he said firmly, “you have to come with us. Now.”
He heard a shuffling and shone the light into the space. She’d turned to face him. Her eyes sparkled with tears, but she started taking steps toward him.
Huh, looked like his sergeant-major voice worked on one female, at least.
Kayley stopped out of arm’s reach. He sighed.
“What about Cooper?” she asked.
“I told you, he wants you to be safe.”
“I want him to be safe, too.”
“I know you do. But I need you to be safe right now.” Jake stretched his arm though the gap. “Come on, Kayley. I’ll buy you ice cream.”
“I don’t want ice cream. I want Cooper.”
Jake sighed.
“Tell her you’ll find the dog,” Max hissed to him.
Of course that seemed obvious. Tell the scared, sad little girl that the big, tough, in-charge man would find her dog. She’d believe him. She’d trust him. She’d come with him.
But then he’d have to find her dog.
“What if I can’t?” Jake hissed back to Max.
“At least she’s out and safe.”
Fuck. He’d done this before. He’d made promises in the heat of the moment, when that was all he had, when he didn’t have any other options. Then he’d failed to keep his promise. The family had gotten out safely. Their grandson had not.
“Kayley,” he said, putting as much confidence in his tone as he could, “I will do everything I can to find Cooper. But I can’t do anything until you come out here with me.”
There was a long pause, then she took two steps, putting her close enough that he could grab her hand and pull her the rest of the way out.
Kayley wrapped her arms around his neck and let him pick her up and carry her out of the house.
“Thanks for finding Cooper for me, Jake,” she said against his shoulder.
Dammit. He’d said he’d try. But yeah, she’d heard what she needed to. Women learned that selective-hearing thing early.
“You bet.” He ran his hand over her hair. What was he going to say? What was he going to do? Try to find her dog, of course.
“Let’s get you home,” Max said, taking her from Jake’s arms.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, too. “You’re going to tell my mom about this, aren’t you?”
Max patted her back. “Yeah, kiddo, ’fraid so.”
They made it back to the church, where Brody and the other boy, Danny, got Kayley settled onto her cot as their mother showed up. It was easier relating the story, since the happy ending was right in front of her. Still, Max and Jake got hugged again.
“Thank you, guys,” Kristine said, her voice thick. “God, I shudder to think what could have happened.”
She was dirty and clearly tired from helping with the recovery efforts.
“That’s what we’re all here for,” Max assured her. “To help one another out, right?”
She gave him a wobbly smile. “Right.”
Kayley was nearly asleep, but she lifted her head as the guys said good-bye.
“Jake?”
He leaned over her. “What is it, honey?”
“We’re goin’ to my gramma’s tomorrow. When you find Cooper, will you keep him safe for me till I get home?”
She blinked her big green eyes at him and gave him a sleepy smile, and he sighed. He was a sucker for big green eyes.
CHAPTER SIX
He had to be trying to find a little girl’s puppy, didn’t he?
Avery got into her car, resisting the urge to check her reflection in the window or her hair in the rearview mirror.
She was ticked at herself for being all stirred up over Jake. She could at least cling to her delusion that she didn’t care how she looked tonight.
It was Wednesday, and he was supposed to be back in Kansas City, and she was supposed to be getting over his most recent visit. But no, he was still here, and she was on her way to meet him at the bar for a drink.
She’d only agreed because he’d asked her in public with witnesses. She couldn’t turn him down. They were supposed to be getting along, working together, putting the town back together.
Truthfully, he’d only said he wanted to talk to her and that they should