Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Rancher Buys a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) by Paige Cameron Read Free Book Online

the family room. “I dressed as soon as you left. I’ve called 911.” She held out the phone.
    “Good girl. Get out of here. I’m going to try and slow the fire down until help gets here.”
    “No, leave with me. I won’t go without you.” He frowned at her. “The place can explode at any moment.” Clouds of smoke rose around them.
    Drake ran to her, and they rushed outside. Flames ran up the side of the house now, a red glow against the black sky. Jack came running from the direction of the garage. Drake pulled a hose around and directed the water toward the house. Jack carried another hose over his shoulder. He fastened it to a nearby spigot and joined Drake.
    In the distance, Drake heard sirens. “Move further back,” he yelled to Janice as sparks flew everywhere. Anger filled him at the thought of someone deliberately setting the fire. The house could be rebuilt, but if they’d been sleeping, they might not have awakened in time, even with the alarms. He’d already been down the stairs before the first one went off.
    Fire trucks came to a squealing stop and firemen poured off the truck and around the house. Their captain yelled at Drake and Jack to get back out of the way. Drake strode across the lawn to where Janice stood, her arms wrapped tight around her and tears in her eyes.
    “Are you all right?”
    “Yes, but your beautiful house is ruined.”
    Drake hugged her trembling frame. “No one got hurt. That’s what is most important.”
    A tentative smile crossed her face. “Aren’t you cold?”
    He peered down at his bare chest and jeans hanging low on his hips. He grinned. “I forgot all about my clothes. Thank goodness I didn’t run downstairs naked. I might have shocked the firemen.” Drake kissed the top of her head. “I’m going to have Jack take you home.” He pulled her tighter against him. “I’ll stay here. I need to talk with the fire marshal and the police.”
    “What do you have to report to the police? I see a police car, but I thought the fire marshal decided what started it all.”
    “He does, but it will be a police matter, too, since I saw a man running from my kitchen just when the fire started.” Drake motioned to Jack.
    Jack joined them. “Take her home. See her safe inside with the door locked before you leave. I’ll walk with you to the garage. Stay here, honey. Jack will drive the car around and pick you up.” He gave her a quick kiss and strolled down the lane to the garage.
    “Jack, I’m going to call my brother, Brent. I need around-the-clock coverage for Janice. I don’t want her to know, so it needs to be a crew who knows how to stay out of sight. If I told her what I’m planning, she’d insist she didn’t need protection.” Drake stopped at the garage door. “There have been two strikes against me tonight, both in her company. My gut feeling is he wanted to get Janice and me. Who and why, I don’t know. I’m depending on you to stay close to her until relief comes. Park the car out of sight, and watch the house. I’ll be in touch.”
    “Sure, boss.”
    Drake flipped his phone on and rang his parents’ home.

Chapter Five

    Janice thanked Jack and started to step inside her front door. “Let me go first,” Jack said and placed himself in front of her. “Drake wanted me to check your place out. He’s concerned about you.”
    “I don’t understand why, but go ahead.” She didn’t want to admit it, but she was glad to have him with her going through the empty rooms. She’d seen the gun he’d pulled out from under his coat. He wasn’t just a chauffeur.
    “Your place is nice,” Jack commented when they returned to the living room. “You should be fine. Remember to lock this door after me and”—he glanced more closely at her lock— “you need to get a locksmith to put on a better deadbolt. Yours is too short.” He nodded at her and left, clicking the door shut behind him. Janice heard him waiting to hear her fasten the lock. After