Chapter Eleven
Aaron found the source of the fire, and his blood ran cold.
Someone set a dumpster on fire in the parking garage.
There was also a message for him in bright red spray paint on the side of the container.
This was just a warning—next time you burn!
It was written across his parking spot. If Travis was trying to get his attention, he had it.
There was no way that he would be bringing Sunny and the baby back to the condo.
He helped his unit put the fire out and clean up the mess.
When he got back into town, he decided that his best course of action was to get everyone involved.
He called an impromptu meeting at the bakery because keeping Sunny in the dark was going to be nearly impossible.
Torren was already with Sunny, and judging from Tor’s texts, it seemed his girl was giving him a pretty hard time.
He laughed when he read the one from Torren telling him to hurry the fuck up because Sunny whipped out her tit and was feeding the kid.
Yeah, she was pulling out all the stops to distract Torren.
She was not going to be happy that he sent a babysitter over to her bakery.
Sawyer was going to finish up at the station, then he and Tag were going to meet Aaron at the bakery.
First, he needed to clean up. He smelled like smoke, and he wanted to wrap his arms around Sunny and the baby as soon as he walked through the door.
He showered and changed and then ran into Sawyer on his way out to the truck.
He looked like he was on a mission, and Aaron hoped that he had some good news for him.
“We cleared your building, but if you want my opinion, you and Sunny need to find someplace else to stay.” Well, that wasn’t quite the news that Aaron was hoping for, but there was no way he was going to take his girl or his baby back to the condo.
He needed to get them as far away from this shit show as possible.
“Sunny isn’t going to want to leave, but I think I can convince her that keeping Sadie safe should be our priority.
” Sawyer nodded. “Hop in and I’ll drive over to the bakery,” Aaron offered.
He threw his gear in the back of the truck, and Sawyer got into the passenger side.
When they got to the bakery, Tag and Piper were already there.
As soon as Aaron walked through the door, Sunny ran across the room and threw herself into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. She kissed him as if they had just seen each other three hours ago.
Honestly, it felt like three days to him.
Since being back in town, he wasn’t without Sunny and now, Sadie, for even an hour.
He loved that Sunny didn’t care that all their friends and her customers were watching them make out in the middle of her bakery.
“I was so worried,” she breathed.
“Honey, you are going to have to get used to me going on calls—it’s part of my job.” He was still holding her in his arms since she made no move to unwrap her legs from his waist.
“I know that, but the fire was at our home.” She sobbed, and the fear in her eyes gutted him. “What if we were home?” She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Shhh, baby. It’s all good now.” He set her on the table closest to them and gently kissed her lips. Their friends were too busy being distracted by something cute that Sadie was doing, giving them a few private moments.
“We are all safe and I’m going to keep us that way,” he promised.
“Torren was a lousy babysitter, and he’s a bully.
He locked me in my office and wouldn’t let me out until Pipe and Tag got here.
And he saw my boobs.” Aaron shot Torren a murderous look, and Tor held his hands up in defense and then shrugged.
Aaron knew that Torren and Sunny had a thing a while back.
But he also knew that Sunny was loyal, and if she said that she loved him, she meant it.
“Well, Torren and I will talk about him looking at your boobs later. Right now, we need to all put our heads together and come up with a plan.” Sunny nodded, then shot one of her sassy smiles in Torren’s direction and stuck out her tongue, causing them all to laugh.
“Yeah, honey, maybe we don’t teach our daughter to do that.” Aaron pulled her into his arms, and she snuggled into his chest.
“Was it the same guy?” she whispered against his neck.
Aaron almost didn’t want to answer her, but he knew that his girl wouldn’t leave it alone until she had her answer.
She wasn’t one to sit on the sidelines and watch life happen.
If something needed to be fixed, she would want in on finding a solution.
“I believe it was,” Aaron admitted. She sighed at his confirmation, and he wanted to tell her that it was all going to be okay, but he wasn’t sure that he could make that promise.
“We are going to have to find someplace safe to go for a while. I just need time to think things through and come up with something,” Aaron said. Sunny nodded.
“Well, we’ve all been talking over here,” Sawyer cut in, “and I think we may have an idea.” Sunny jumped down from the table, and she and Aaron joined the rest of the group.
“Okay, let’s have it then. What’s the plan?” Aaron asked as he pulled Sunny into his side and took Sadie from Piper. He loved the way his daughter seemed to know him already. She snuggled into his arms and yawned. He kissed her little rosy cheek and gave his attention back to Sawyer.
“Well, your new employee is the one who came up with the plan, actually,” Sawyer whispered.
“Sorry, I’m trying to learn how to whisper around sleeping babies.
Lorna says my indoor voice is a little loud.
Of course, she was a librarian, so I’m not sure that she is a credible source,” Sawyer said.
Sunny giggled, “I think your baby will learn to adjust to your indoor voice, Sawyer. So, what is the plan?” Sunny seemed a bit on edge, and Aaron had to admit he felt the same.
Sawyer motioned for Justice to join them, and she reluctantly made her way around the counter to stand next to Sunny.
Aaron only met Justice a handful of times, and she always seemed so sure of herself.
He liked her since she kind of reminded him of a younger Sunny.
“Go on, Justice—it’s a good plan,” Piper whispered. Justice still seemed a little reluctant to speak up. She looked over to Sunny and Aaron and cleared her throat.
“I haven’t been exactly honest about who I am.
My name isn’t Justice McCoy. It’s Justice Hobbs, and my father is the mayor.
” Sunny gasped, and Justice looked down at the floor.
“Before you get angry with me, I’m so sorry I had to keep who I am a secret.
See, my dad doesn’t know where I am—no one in my family knows except my grandma.
It’s a long story, one that I will someday share.
But it’s not important now. What is important here is that I know where you all can hide out for a bit. ” Justice looked hopeful.
“Go on,” Sunny coaxed, “and don’t think you’re off the hook for lying to me about who you are. You know that I care about you, and if you have a reason for hiding out from your family, then I’ll keep your secret.” Sunny pulled Justice in for a quick hug. “So, let’s hear your plan, Justice.”
“Well, my grandmother owns one of the largest cattle ranches in Colorado, about three hours from here. You three can go there and stay until they catch the creep that is trying to hurt you.” Sunny nodded, “That just might work, Justice. Thank you. Do you think your grandmother will be okay with two strangers and a newborn infringing on her home?” Aaron looked down at Sadie, worried that a screaming baby might wear out their welcome quickly.
Justice laughed, “I’m not sure you understand.
She owns most of Goose Creek—you know, the biggest tourist attraction in Colorado?
You can stay in one of her guest cabins, a few miles down the road from the main house.
She won’t even know that you’re there. Hell, she’ll love Sadie.
This time of year, she usually has a lot of traffic—tourists coming and going.
You three could just blend in.” Justice reached over to stroke Sadie’s little bald head.
“So—what? We just run and hide until this guy either turns himself in or is caught?” Sunny asked. She didn’t look convinced that the plan would work, and Aaron’s heart sank. He needed her to be on board because staying in Harvest Ridge was too risky.
“Well, that’s where I come in,” Sawyer offered. “I’m going to be staying at your condo and waiting for this asshole out.”
Sunny growled, “Language, Sawyer!” Everyone laughed, and Sawyer turned three shades of red.
“Yeah, sorry about that. Lorna keeps threatening to wash my mouth out with soap if I don’t stop cussing before the baby comes.
” Everyone laughed again, even Sawyer this time.
“We have a lead as to who this guy is, and if it’s Reid, sooner or later, we’ll catch up to him.
I’m going over to meet with his wife after this, and hopefully, she’ll give us some clue as to where to start.
” Sawyer said. Aaron patted Sawyer’s shoulder and smiled.
“Let me know what you get from Reid’s wife.
We appreciate everything, Sawyer. Really, everyone, I don’t know what we would do without you all,” Aaron said, handing Sadie to Sunny so he could start getting everything together.