Page 71 of Perfect Harmony

“Yeah.” Daniel turned to the firefighterstill holding Gideon’s left arm. “Let him go, Brad.”

“You sure?” Brad said.

“I’m sure. Let him go.”

Brad released Gideon before walking awaywith the other firefighter.

“Where is she?” Gideon couldn’t stopstaring at the smoke billowing out of Gracie’s townhouse.

“She’s over at the ambulance. She’s nothurt,” Daniel said when Gideon stared at him in panic. “But it took her awhile to get out of her townhouse and she did inhale some smoke, so we gave hersome oxygen.”

“Jesus,” Gideon said. “What about herneighbour?”

“He’s safe too,” Daniel said. “Some minor burnsand smoke inhalation. They took him to the hospital to get checked out andhave his burns looked at. He’s a lucky bastard. He fell asleep smoking inbed.”

The firefighter shook his head. “God,people are fucking stupid.”

“Why isn’t Grace at the hospital?” Gideon said.The smoke was making his eyes burn and water. Daniel took him by the arm andled him a few feet away.

“She’s refusing to go,” Daniel said. “Youknow how Gracie is.”

“Yeah.”

Darryl joined them, staring cautiously atGideon. “You okay, Sheriff?”

“Fine,” Gideon said.

“Okay, good, good. You can, uh, head onhome. I’ve got this handled. I know I’m not the smartest guy, but -”

“You’re handling it well.” Gideon gripped Darryl’sshoulder. “I didn’t come down here because I thought you couldn’t handle it.”

Relief crossed the older man’s face. “Okay,thanks.”

Darryl headed over to the cluster offirefighters standing near the truck. Gideon took a deep breath. The need tosee Gracie, the urge to make certain she was safe was overwhelming. He nodded toDaniel. “Thanks, man.”

“Yeah, don’t mention it. Also, next time –don’t run toward a burning building. I don’t care if you’re the sheriff orthat it’s your woman’s house. Let us do our damn jobs, yeah?”

“Grace isn’t my woman,” Gideon said automatically.

Daniel just clapped him on the back beforewalking away.

Gideon jogged to the ambulance. Gracie wassitting at the back of the ambulance, her bare legs dangling past the bumper, herfeet clad in pink slippers, and a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and torso.A paramedic was rooting around in some containers behind her. A firefighterwas standing next to Grace and Gideon’s jealousy roared to life when herealized Grace was clutching her phone in one hand but holding the firefighter’shand with the other.

He shoved the jealousy away ruthlessly.Now was not the fucking time.

“Grace?” He stopped in front of her. “Areyou okay?”

She stared up at him, shock written acrossher face. “What are you doing here?”

“How do you feel?” He wanted to touch her.Despite seeing her soft skin unmarred by burns, he wanted to feel for himselfthat she was unharmed.

He shoved his hands into his pockets.

“Fine,” she said and then coughed.

She didn’t look fine. She looked exhaustedand scared to death.

“She’s doing better now that she’s had someoxygen,” the firefighter said. He was staring at Gracie with clear adoration. Gideonwanted to punch that adoration right off his stupid, handsome face.

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