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was staying in the shed getting ready to have a litter of puppies.”
    “We haven’t checked the shed. The amazing thing is that you didn’t set it off when you went toward it, Bryce.”
    “Well, the neighbor’s dog was putting up a fit, and my neighbor called out. I didn’t make a straight line for the shed. It was more random.”
    “Well your neighbor and his dog saved your butt, not to mention that of your neighbors.”
    “I’ll let him know,” Bryce said, retaining his hold on Paige’s hand.
    “So where is Sheba, Bryce? Do you think she’s still in the shed?”
    “Jenkins, is there any way to see if the other dog is in the shed?” Bryce asked.
    “Yes, but it could be booby trapped as well. You’ll just have to wait until we figure out what all the triggers are and disarm them. For now, take Paige and the other dog and move a safe distance away.”
    Bryce called Samson over and ushered a now very upset Paige to a safe distance. The police barricade had the neighborhood contained, and there were several news vans set up just on the other side of the police line.
    Paige walked back to Bryce’s truck and grabbed her phone.
    “What are you doing, Paige?”
    “Sheba has a special chip inserted in her neck and a locator on her collar. I’m going to use my phone’s special GPS app to find my dog.”
    “So, let me get this straight. At any given time you knew exactly where your dog was?” he accused.
    “What? You think I’d trust you with one of my babies. I knew you wouldn’t hurt her, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t keep her. I’d have come for her sooner, but the training at Fort Bragg took a lot longer than first expected. Otherwise, I would have been here two weeks ago.”
    Officer Jenkins was talking with his men. She heard them determining the threat level and whether to detonate. But to detonate meant risking the entire neighborhood, if it was rigged to the gas line as they suspected.
    Paige knew Bryce had to stay there, but she needed to go. He’d had time to say something, and since he didn’t, that said it all. She’d been hanging onto a hope, wish, or some other foolish thought. He was just not into her that way. He obviously cared for her, or he wouldn’t have been so shaken up about the bomb being close to her, but he wasn’t into anything permanent. She needed to accept it and move on. She wasn’t going to settle for anything less; her days of being second best were over. Never again.
    Paige looked for an app on car rentals and found an agency that would pick her up. She glanced around at the police tape as she made the call and decided to have them pick her up on the next block over.
    “Hi, my name is Paige Conner and I need a vehicle, an SUV would be best. Could you have it delivered to the street over from Blaine? Yes, the street to the West of Blaine. Maple? Yes, that’s the one. Thanks.”

Chapter Two
     
     
    Paige reached inside Bryce’s truck, grabbed Samson’s bowl and chew toys, and stuffed them in her bag. In her peripheral vision, she saw Bryce break away from the group discussing how to disable the device and head toward her.
    “Have you found where Sheba is?” he asked.
    “Yes, she’s somewhere just outside of Darke County. Any idea how that could be?” she asked.
    Bryce looked her in the eye and said nothing.
    “Well, I’m out of here.”
    “Wait, don’t go without me. It could be dangerous. And I have a favor to ask.”
    “Bryce, if it’s dangerous, I’m getting my dog out of there. You need to stay here and clean up this mess, but I don’t.” There were so many things she wanted to say, but if she got into it now, she’d make a fool of herself. At least if she stayed mad at him for taking and then losing her dog, she didn’t have to admit how his actions had hurt her. His phone rang and he looked at the caller ID. By his expression, she could see he needed to take the call.
    She’d turned to walk over to Maple, when Officer Jenkins came