Calling Maggs, Piper ran to the door. She told her friend what was happening, and asked her to take Buzz home for the night. Maggs was worried, but couldn’t accompany her as she had paintings arriving and her staff were on leave. Piper told her she’d stay in touch.

Hauling in a deep breath, she tried to think clearly. She’d walked in today, deciding the exercise would do her good. It would take time to get her car, but she should be heading out of town in under forty minutes.

Dear God, Joanie.

Piper fought back the agony of knowing her friend was gone. Her head felt weird suddenly, like it was spinning out of control, and she was starting to shake. Jerking open the door, she stepped out. Cold air was what she needed. She ran straight into a large, solid chest.

“Piper?”

Two hands grabbed her shoulders to steady her. Looking up, she encountered the ice-blue eyes of Dylan Howard.

“Sorry.” Piper tried to step back, but the hands simply held her in place.

“What’s the hurry?”

“I-I need to go. Bye.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just need to go, s-something’s come up.”

“You look upset.”

“No!” She hadn’t meant to shriek, but it had come out that way. “No... I’m fine.”

“Is Joe in the bar? Need me to walk you over there?”

“No, he’s out of town with the rest of my family.”

“Okay then, how can I help you?”

“Let go of my arms.”

“Normally I’d be the first to do that and avoid whatever is going on with you, but I’m trying to be a better person so my sisters start liking me, which in turn means I need to know what’s going on with you.”

“Nice, but I don’t have time for you to use me as practice. So let me go, Dylan.”

The frown drew a line down his forehead, and he looked genuinely concerned. She’d kissed this man senseless days ago, and he’d kissed every part of her body, but right at that moment he was nothing to her. Her mind was someplace else, in Rummer.

Joanie, dear God!

“At least tell me what’s wrong?”

She was starting to shake, and her body felt cold from the inside out.

Piper needed to go, really needed to get in her car and head to Rummer. She couldn’t afford to delay that; Grace needed her as soon as she could get there.

“News... I had some news. I have to go to Rummer, and my c-car is at home. So let me go so I can run there and get it.”

“Bad news?”

“Yes, damn you! Bad news, the worst kind in fact! Jesus, will you just let me go!” Piper tried to breathe, tried to battle down the panic.