A Miracle for the Flirtatious K-9 Handler (Love in Sweet Bloom #10)

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

As they climbed into their vehicle, Paul couldn’t help but wonder about the tone of Emily’s voice when she told him to be safe. Did it mean she had feelings for him? He shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand, but the question lingered in the back of his mind.

“Okay, everyone,” Emily’s voice came through the radio, crisp and professional. “I’ve got the details from the factory. They think there might be five people trapped in the collapsed section. Be cautious—there may still be unstable ground in the area.”

“Thanks, Emily,” Paul responded, his brown eyes scanning the darkening horizon as they approached the factory. “We’ll keep an eye out for any signs of instability.”

“Copy that,” Emily replied just as he pulled up to the location.

Paul stepped out of the vehicle, his heart racing with a mix of anticipation and nerves. This was his first major rescue operation since joining the Sweet Bloom Sheriff's Department. He had to prove himself.

“All right, Maddox,” he said, opening the back door for his canine partner. “Let’s show them what we can do.”

The German shepherd bounded out, alert and ready. Paul clipped on the search vest and gave Maddox a reassuring pat as Deputy Phillips joined him.

“Paul, do you copy?” Emily’s voice crackled through his radio.

“I copy, Emily. We’re on-site and ready to begin the search.”

“Be careful in there,” she said, her tone softer than before.

Paul’s heart skipped a beat. There it was again—that hint of something more in her voice. He pushed the thought aside, forcing himself to focus.

“Will do,” he replied, trying to keep his own voice steady.

There was a group of factory workers standing in a huddle. Paul made quick work of getting an update from them before heading back to Phillips.

“How should we handle this?” Phillips asked as he joined Paul and Deputy Horton trailing behind.

“According to the factory representative, the sinkhole is on the west side, which means we should enter from the east side.”

As they approached the factory entrance, Paul took a deep breath. The scent of dust and debris filled his nostrils. He could hear the muffled sounds of creaking pipes and splintering wood.

“Okay, Maddox,” he whispered. “Find them.”

With a quiet command, Paul sent his K-9 partner into the building. He followed closely behind, his flashlight cutting through the darkness. Every step was cautious as the ground trembled beneath their feet. Dust hung in the air like a thick fog, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. Maddox’s ears were perked up, his nose working diligently to catch any scent of the missing people.

“Easy, buddy,” Paul murmured, patting Maddox reassuringly on the side. “We’ll find them.”

Paul could feel the weight of Emily’s concern hanging around him, even though she wasn’t physically present. As much as he wanted to reassure her, he knew actions spoke louder than words, and right now, their priority was finding the trapped workers.

“Got something, boy?” Paul asked when Maddox suddenly tensed, his tail twitching with excitement. The German shepherd let out a low growl, then barked once before bounding forward.

“Wait, Maddox,” Paul’s desperate shout echoed through the air, but Maddox didn’t slow down. The ground trembled and shifted beneath their feet, and before Paul could react, he was plummeting into a freshly made sinkhole. His body hit the hard ground with a sickening thud, his ribs and leg enduring the impact. Gasping for air, he struggled to free himself from the tangle of rocks and debris that pinned him down. With each passing second, his fear grew as he realized he was trapped and at the mercy of the unstable earth around him.

“Help,” he croaked, struggling to breathe. “Can anyone hear me? I’m trapped.”

“Paul, I heard you fall. Hang on, help is coming,” Horton shouted from above, but before he could move to get help, the ground shifted again, and he came tumbling down, landing right next to Paul.

“Are you okay?” Paul asked with concern.

“I’m fine, but looking around, I don’t see any way out of here,” Horton said, with a hint of panic in his voice.

“What about Maddox? Where is he?” Paul inquired between shallow breaths. He didn’t want to think about what might’ve happened to his loyal partner.

“I think he’s down here with us,” Horton informed him.

That’s when the canine whined next to him, as if to say, ‘I’m here with you.’ Relief washed over Paul; Maddox was okay.

“It’s okay, boy,” Paul whispered, his voice cracking. “We’re all going to be okay.”

“What are we going to do?” Horton asked with audible fear in his voice.

“Send Maddox for help,” Paul told the rookie deputy. “Go, Maddox. Go find help. Find Deputy Phillips.”

Maddox hesitated for a moment, but then, with one last lick to Paul’s cheek, he turned and raced toward the surface, barking frantically to alert the rest of the team.

“Paul, are you okay?” Emily’s voice crackled over the radio, her fear evident. “Horton told us you fell into another sinkhole, but then we lost contact.”

“Yeah, I think I’m okay, but I’m trapped with Horton,” Paul told her.

Maddox’s relentless barking echoed through the air, guiding the freshly arrived paramedics and deputies to the trapped Paul and Horton. The first responders quickly sprang into action, using shovels and ropes to extract the two men from their perilous situation. Their shouts and grunts mixed with Maddox’s continued barks, creating a crescendo of determination and teamwork. Finally, after what felt like hours, Paul and Horton emerged from the sinkhole, battered but alive, thanks to the timely efforts of their rescuers and Maddox’s unwavering loyalty.

“How are you doing?” Phillips asked with concern.

“Been better,” Paul grunted, wincing as they hoisted him onto a stretcher. “Maddox…he saved us.”

“That’s right. You better give him a giant bag of dog bones once this is all over,” Phillips told him with a chuckle. “And don’t worry about the missing workers. We’ve located them and are getting them out now.”

“Are they okay? Is Horton?” Paul asked with concern.

“All of them are fine. Just hang on.”

“Thanks, Phillips,” Paul whispered, his heart swelling with gratitude. Then, wanting to prove he was okay, he added, “I think I can get up and help.”

“Paul, we have to take you to the hospital,” Phillips insisted, concern etched on his face. “We need you to be checked out to make sure you’re okay.”

“Fine,” Paul agreed, knowing it was the right call. As they carried him away, he couldn’t help but glance back at Maddox, who stood guard nearby. Their bond had never been stronger, and Paul knew he could trust his K-9 partner with his life.

“Let’s go, Maddox,” he called gently. “We’ve got a new destination.”

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the nearby hospital. The sterile smell of the hospital room mingled with the scent of dirt and debris left over from his clothes. He was rushed inside and taken through a battery of tests and then admitted to the hospital for observation.

He was just settling into his hospital bed when Emily came rushing into his room. “You can’t ever do that to me again,” she scolded, her eyes wide with concern. “My heart nearly stopped when I heard you had been injured.”

“It’s nothing,” he assured her. Some scrapes and bruises. But since I hit my head, they want to keep me overnight.”

Still, when I thought…I almost…I couldn’t...” Her voice trailed off, clearly unable to get out the words.

“I get it. You were scared you would lose me, but I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Emily nervously shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she stood beside his bed. “Good, because I think I like having you in my life.”

“You think?” he questioned with a tilt of his head.

“I know,” she corrected, barely above a whisper.

“I feel the same,” Paul admitted as Emily took a seat on the edge of his bed and looked into his eyes.

“Well, now that we got that established, how are you feeling?”

“Better now that you’re here,” Paul replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he rubbed Maddox’s head as he lay beside him on the hospital bed. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle around them. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking—about pushing past fear and taking risks.” He paused, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. Finding none, he continued, “And I realized I don’t want to let my fears dictate my actions, especially when it comes to...us.”

“Us?” Emily’s voice was barely above a whisper, her expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

“Yes,” Paul affirmed, his voice steadier than he felt. “I really enjoy spending time with you, Emily. More than just as friends or coworkers.” He watched her intently, trying to gauge her reaction. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’d like for us to explore something more than friendship. Only if you feel the same way, of course.”

There was a brief silence as Emily processed his words. Then, slowly, a smile formed on her lips—not just any smile, but one that reached her eyes and seemed to light up her entire face. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it, too,” she confessed, her green eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions.

Paul felt a rush of relief so potent it nearly knocked the breath from his lungs. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” she laughed softly, her earlier reservations seeming to melt away in the warmth between them. “I’ve been so careful with my feelings—especially around anyone wearing a badge.” She bit her lip thoughtfully. “But with you, it’s different. You make me want to take risks, too.”

Encouraged by her words, Paul reached over and took her hand in his. His skin tingled at the contact, and somehow, everything felt right in the world when she didn’t pull away but instead squeezed his hand back.

“Paul, I…” Emily hesitated, swallowing a couple of times before continuing. “I have feelings for you, too. But I’m scared.”

“Scared?” Paul asked gently, his gaze never leaving hers.

“Of getting hurt again,” Emily admitted, her green eyes filling with tears. “You know about my past and how badly it ended when I dated someone in law enforcement. And after today, seeing you injured… I don’t know if I can handle the constant fear for your safety.”

“Emily,” Paul said softly as he lifted his hand to cup her cheek. “I understand your fears, and I won’t try to sugarcoat it because I know you know how dangerous this job can be. But I promise you, I will do everything in my power to stay safe. I’ll work smart, train hard, and trust Maddox to keep me protected. And I want to be there for you, too, to help you heal from your past hurts.”

“Can we take it slow?” Emily asked, her voice barely audible. “I want to be with you, but I need time to trust again.”

“Of course,” Paul agreed, rubbing his thumb along her cheek. “We can take all the time you need. We’ll build our relationship on trust and understanding, one step at a time.”

“Thank you,” Emily whispered, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Emily, I want to make a life with you, no matter how long we take to get there,” Paul said earnestly. “You’re worth the wait.”

“I want that too.”

As they sat in the quiet hospital room, hands entwined and hearts beating as one, Paul knew deep down that together, they could overcome any obstacle life threw their way. And for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to believe in the possibility of a future filled with just one woman.