Stray Hearts

by Jane Graves

  At least he could save the shelter. It had been his dream since he was a kid, and he couldn’t let it go now.

  Then he thought about other dreams. Adult dreams. A wife, a family...

  No.

  He closed his eyes, willing those thoughts away. He’d made a decision, and there was nothing he could do to change it now.

  Matt checked his watch. Ten to seven. In just a few minutes he was going to gain twenty-five thousand dollars and lose his self-respect. And the only thing he was thankful for was that Kay wouldn’t be there to see it.

  When Kay stepped inside the hotel ballroom, she was astonished at the size of the crowd. At least two hundred suits and cocktail dresses flowed around dozens of linen-draped tables aglow with candlelight. Up front sat a small, portable stage with a podium in the center. To her great relief, she didn’t see Matt.

  She’d already decided that if she happened to meet his eyes, she’d just turn away. And when he got up to receive the grant, she’d just pretend he was someone else. Someone who ran an animal shelter that needed money. Someone who hadn’t made a deal with her slimy ex-fiancé behind her back. Someone who hadn’t broken her heart.

  But at least for Mr. Breckenridge’s sake, Kay was glad she’d come. And in talking with people, she discovered that the general consensus seemed to be that there was no more deserving grant recipient than Dr. Matt Forester. Either they’d read Matt’s application and knew what a wonderful place the shelter really was, or Robert had done one hell of a sales job.

  “Kay! What a surprise!”

  Kay spun around. Robert was standing behind her wearing a big, phony smile, and she felt an instantaneous rush of loathing.

  He sidled up next to her. “What brings you here tonight?”

  Mr. Breckenridge moved up beside Kay. “I do, Mr. Hollinger. Do you have any objection to that?”

  “Why, of course not! Kay has been a volunteer at the shelter. Of course she’d want to see Dr. Forester receive the grant.” He turned to her with a snide little grin. “Isn’t that right, Kay?”

  Kay just stared at him, remaining calm, refraining from wrapping her hands around his neck.

  “I’d like to meet our guest of honor,” Mr. Breckenridge said. “Is he here yet?”

  Robert checked his watch. “Uh...I’m sure he’s arrived.” He glanced around the ballroom, looking a little nervous. “I just haven’t spotted him yet.”

  Kay felt a rush of hope. Could Matt have decided to stay home after all? To forego the grant? Was it possible...?

  “Ah!” Robert said, looking toward the door. “There he is.”

  Kay glanced around to see Matt standing at the door of the ballroom, wearing a dark gray suit, blue shirt, and silk tie. He looked even more handsome than she remembered, and she felt a rush of longing so powerful it hurt. What had ever made her think she could do this? What had made her think she could see Matt again and not have the pain of his betrayal cut through her like a knife?

  “There’s a table up front for you and Kay,” Robert told Mr. Breckenridge. “I’ll bring Dr. Forester over.” Kay’s heart beat wildly as Mr. Breckenridge escorted her to the table Robert indicated. She wanted so badly to leave. She wanted to walk out of here and forget this night had ever happened. But what would Mr. Breckenridge think?

  A minute later Robert arrived with Matt, and it was clear he was every bit as shaken to see Kay as she was to see him. Then he turned to Robert, his surprise becoming an accusatory stare.

  “Don’t thank me,” Robert told Matt, as if his discovery of Kay at the ceremony was something to be celebrated. “I had nothing to do with it. It was Mr. Breckenridge here who had the foresight to bring Kay along. There’s nothing like having one of your volunteers here to see you receive this award, is there?”

  Mr. Breckenridge extended his hand to Matt. “Hello, Dr. Forester. I’m Albert Breckenridge, president of the Dorland Group. I’m delighted your shelter is receiving this grant. Ms. Ramsey has told me what a wonderful service you’re providing the community.”

  Matt’s shook his hand. “Uh...thank you. I appreciate that.”

  Robert glanced at his watch, then gave Matt a congenial grin. “Well, Dr. Forester. Looks like it’s show time. Mr. Breckenridge will give some opening remarks, and then I’ll go up to introduce you.”

  Mr. Breckenridge pulled out a chair for Kay. Matt took his seat beside her, looking at the table, at his watch, at the chandelier overhead—clearly focusing on anything to avoid looking at her.

  Mr. Breckenridge welcomed the crowd, then talked about the Dorland Group and its history of philanthropy. Robert sat down across the table from Kay, his expression at least twice as smug as usual. She’d thought she already hated him to the greatest degree that was humanly possible, but tonight he’d swept her past that point by a mile.

  Finally Mr. Breckenridge introduced Robert. He rose from his chair and went to the stage while Mr. Breckenridge returned to the table. And as Robert told the audience about this year’s recipient of the Dorland Grant, Matt’s attention was focused exclusively on the stage as if Kay weren’t sitting next to him at all. As if she meant nothing to him. But all the while his finger tap-tap-tapped against the tabletop in a nervous rhythm.

  “And now I’d like to introduce the man who’s behind the Westwood Animal Shelter, a man who you all will agree is a worthy recipient of this year’s Dorland Grant— Dr. Matt Forester.”

  The applause began, but instead of rising to his feet, Matt turned around and looked at Kay. His sudden attention startled her, but as she stared into those dark, mesmerizing eyes that had caught her attention from the first moment she saw him, all at once she instinctively knew his thoughts were the same as hers. He was thinking about the wonderful life they’d built together in such a short time, and about how two people who never should have fallen in love fell in love, anyway. But was he also thinking, as she was, that it was just too precious a thing to lose?

  Then he touched her hand, and for a few sizzling seconds she had this wild idea that he was going to change his mind. He’d reconsidered taking the money. He was going to lean toward her, wrap his arms around her and—

  “No,” he said abruptly, looking away. “I can’t do this.”

  Before the applause had even died down, he pulled his hand away from hers, rose from his chair and headed toward the stage.

  Chapter 14

  I can’t do this.

  As Matt’s words echoed over and over in Kay’s mind, tears welled up in her eyes, hot and insistent. How could she have thought Matt might change his mind? He was there for one purpose tonight, and one purpose only. Didn’t she know by now what was most important to him? Didn’t she know it wasn’t her?

  I can’t do this.

  What he couldn’t do was love her more than the shelter.

  The applause that brought Matt to the stage faded away, and he stepped up to the microphone. Kay felt as if she’d stepped outside her body and was watching every terrible moment unfold in excruciating slow motion.

  “First of all,” he told the crowd, “let me tell you how much I appreciate being chosen for this honor. Your group has a remarkable history of providing aid to organizations that couldn’t continue to exist without your help.”

  Kay was dying inside. Little by little, she felt her life draining away.

  “I’m proud of what we’ve done at the shelter. It’s become an asset to this community. A place where helpless, homeless animals can get a chance at a decent life. A place where animal lovers can find a pet to make their lives a little brighter.”

  Matt paused, looking out over the crowd, as if gathering his thoughts.

  “I started the shelter because of a vow I made as a child, and it came to be an obsession. For the past two years I’ve lived my life for it, struggling to keep it alive and growing. It was the most important thing in my life, and I can truthfully tell you that there’s nothing I wouldn’t have done to make sure the doors stayed open.” He paused again,
and a faint smile appeared on his lips. “Until now.”

  His gaze fell squarely on Kay, his expression intense and unwavering. She stared back at him, dumbfounded. What was he saying?

  “I’ve come to realize that living in the past has put me in danger of destroying my chance at happiness in the future. See, I’ve found something I love even more than the shelter. And I have Robert Hollinger to thank for that.”

  There was a moment when Kay’s brain didn’t quite catch up to Matt’s meaning, and when it finally did, tears of joy sprang to her eyes. She couldn’t believe it. The hundreds of people in the audience might not know it, but Matt had just said he loved her—more than the shelter.

  And that meant more than anything.

  “I know you’re not going to understand this,” Matt told the audience, “and I’m not going to try to explain it. But as generous as this grant is, and as much as I appreciate being chosen to receive it, I’m afraid I can’t accept it.”

  For a moment, Kay couldn’t breathe. Right before her eyes, the man she knew, the sweet, sexy, wonderful man she thought was lost to her forever, had suddenly reappeared.

  I can’t do this.

  Why hadn’t she heard what he’d really been saying? What he couldn’t do was take the money if it meant losing her.

  People started murmuring among themselves, and soon a crescendo of protests arose. Matt ignored all of it. He left the stage and walked toward the table where Kay sat.

  Robert gaped at Matt, his expression thunderstruck. Kay could tell his conniving little mind had never believed that anyone would think that she was more important than money. For probably the first time in his life, he was speechless.

  Without missing a beat, Matt took Kay by the hand and pulled her to her feet, barely giving her a chance to excuse herself to Mr. Breckenridge. He led her out of the ballroom and headed for the lobby of the hotel, moving so quickly that Kay had to trot to keep up. He continued past the front desk, and without saying a word, he pulled Kay around the corner, tucked her head in the crook of his arm and kissed her—a deep, hard, insistent kiss that made her forget the grant, forget this evening, forget her own name. All she could remember was the words he’d spoken on stage, and how much she loved him for saying them.

  Slowly Matt eased away and took her face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Kay. I never should have made that deal with Robert. It was wrong. I was wrong.”

  “Matt—”

  “Just listen to me, okay?” His hands tightened against her face. “I can’t live without you. I can live without the shelter, but I can’t live without you. I love you, Kay, and I’m not letting anything get in the way of that ever again.”

  Kay stared at him, tears clouding her eyes. She couldn’t believe it. He wanted her, not the money. And he wanted her forever.

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen with the shelter, but it doesn’t matter. You’re what matters. I miss you. Hazel misses you. Chester misses you. And Buddy... Good Lord, if that dog brings me that Frisbee one more time with that look on his face—’’

  “I love you too, Matt.”

  Matt stopped in mid-sentence. Then one of his heart-stopping smiles spread across his face, and he dropped a gentle kiss against her forehead. “Thank God. Can we go home now?”

  “Not so fast, Forester.”

  Matt and Kay spun around to find Robert staring at them, his eyes tight little slits of anger. “You can’t just walk out of here. You have to take that money!”

  “No,” Matt said. “I don’t believe I do.”

  Robert got right up in Matt’s face, spitting fire. “But that was our deal! You can’t just back out now!”

  “Back out of what, Mr. Hollinger?”

  Robert spun around, his eyes wide. As he continued to search for his tongue, Mr. Breckenridge glared at him with unconcealed disgust.

  “I’ve never been particularly fond of you, Mr. Hollinger. I never could put my finger on the reason for that, until you lied to me about Ms. Ramsey’s suitability as an employee.”

  “I didn’t lie! She was a lousy assistant. She—”

  “Impossible. She’s the best assistant I’ve ever had.” Then he turned to Kay. “I intend to get to the bottom of this eventually. But right now, I just need to know one thing. To your knowledge, did Mr. Hollinger attempt to redirect the funds of this organization in an underhanded manner?”

  Kay had to tell the truth. “Yes, sir. He did.”

  “I see.”

  Robert’s mouth fell open. “You’re taking her word for it?”

  “Of course I am. You see, we’ve already established the value of your word.”

  Robert just stood, speechless once again. Twice in one night. This had to be a record.

  “I’m going to recommend to the board that your firm be expelled from this organization. And rest assured that I’ll make it clear to the membership why that decision was made.”

  “But he agreed to take the money!” Robert said, pointing at Matt “He’s just as much at fault as I am!”

  “So you did try to give Dr. Forester the grant in exchange for some kind of personal gain?”

  Robert paused a moment, shell-shocked. “Well...no!"

  “Yes,” Kay said quietly.

  “You shut up!” Robert said, pointing an angry finger, then turning the same finger on Matt “If I go down, you’re going down with me!”

  “Excuse me,” Mr. Breckenridge said, “but I believe Dr. Forester just turned down the money. You, on the other hand, had every intention of seeing this deception through to the very end.”

  Robert opened his mouth to speak, then snapped it shut again.

  “There’ll be more discussion on this matter, I assure you,” Mr. Breckenridge said to Robert. “But right now, I believe it would be in your best interest to leave the premises.”

  All at once Kay realized a crowd had gathered behind them, a crowd of people clearly wondering why the man Robert had pushed so hard to receive this honor had just tossed it right back in his face. When Robert saw he had an audience, he swallowed hard and started to back away.

  “You can’t do this, Breckenridge.”

  “Watch me, Mr. Hollinger.”

  Robert spun around and strode angrily out the front door of the hotel. Matt looped his arm around Kay’s waist, and she leaned into him with a silent sigh of relief. Just when she thought this evening couldn’t get any better, it had.

  Mr. Breckenridge turned to Kay. “There’s one more thing I’d like to talk to you about before you go.”

  “Yes?”

  “You told me you have several dogs at the shelter that might be suitable for a pet. Would it be possible for me to drop by tomorrow to have a look?”

  “Oh, yes!” Kay said. “Absolutely!”

  “Excellent. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  As Mr. Breckenridge walked off, Matt whispered in Kay’s ear. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

  Home.

  Home to a monstrosity of a house with a pretty little storybook room where dreams come true. Home to a Frisbee-catching mutt and a feline sex goddess. Home to a ratty old sofa the size of a doomed ocean liner that might as well have been the size of Becky’s love seat, because curled up in Matt’s arms that was about all the space she figured they’d occupy. Home with the man she loved. And she couldn’t wait to get there.

  True to his word, Mr. Breckenridge showed up at the shelter the next morning promptly at nine o’clock. But before surveying the canine population for a pet, he had news for Kay and Matt.

  “After you left last night,” he said, “I held an emergency meeting of the board of directors and the selection committee. A poll of the committee members indicated that the shelter was a few votes shy of the number needed to receive the grant, which means that after Mr. Hollinger tallied the votes, he misreported the outcome. When the board heard about this, he was unanimously voted out of the Dorland Group.”

  “So another organization actually won the grant?
” Kay said.

  “Yes. And that organization will receive twenty-five thousand dollars.” He pulled an envelope from his pocket and held it out to Matt. “And this is for the Westwood Animal Shelter."

  "What's this?" Matt asked, as he opened the envelope.

  "A personal donation."

  Matt stared down at the check with a look of total disbelief. Kay took a peek and was equally dumbfounded. Five thousand dollars?

  “Take it, Dr. Forester," Mr. Breckenridge said. "With my blessing.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything. Your actions last night spoke louder than words, as did Mr. Hollinger’s. He’s getting what he deserves. And so are you.”

  Kay felt as if she were flying. They could make up the back payments on the mortgage, buy a new air unit, maybe even expand a little to take in more animals. The shelter was going to survive. And she and Matt still had each other.

  They escorted Mr. Breckenridge to the Dog Room, where he did a thorough evaluation of every dog in the shelter, but it wasn’t an easy choice. One was too big, the next one too small. One was too hairy, another too loud. And a puppy was out of the question—he couldn’t possibly deal with all that activity.

  Who would have thought a three-legged bulldog would be just right?

  Kay sniffed a little when she filled out the paperwork, got tears in her eyes when she handed Mr. Breckenridge the leash and cried like a fool when she hugged Chester goodbye. And Matt couldn’t stop smiling.

  An hour later Mr. Breckenridge phoned back to say that his niece had expressed interest in getting a dog, too, but she was afraid that the average dog might have trouble maintaining his sanity around her four wild, uncivilized sons. Since Rambo had no sanity to lose and could clearly hold his own in any uncivilized situation, another match was made.

  “Those were the tough ones,” Kay told Matt later, as they lay in bed, bathed in moonlight. “The rest will be a piece of cake, particularly since Clyde’s living with us now.”