Heart's Refuge (Lucky Numbers)

by Cheryl Harper

  “This day,” she muttered as the tears welled over. “I cannot catch a break with this day.” Stupid emotions. They were going to be the death of her.

  “This is why what you’re doing matters,” Les murmured, and took the leash. “I’ll have to remove the collar with anesthesia. It’s not coming out any other way. She’s had puppies, so we need to take another look, make sure we can’t find more dogs.” After he clipped the leash to the dog’s collar, he handed her the looped end. “Let’s get her out of here.” His warm hand wrapped over her shoulder and Sarah’s gratitude was overwhelming. Life was hard. Some people were so, so good in spite of that.

  Sarah stood slowly and urged the dog away from the pole. The way the pit bull eased down on her belly to crawl across the grass was enough to break Sarah’s heart in two all over again. “It’s okay, girl. We’ll take it easy.”

  By the time they’d made it to the truck, Will and everyone else was working their way through the yard, checking for more dogs. Sarah lowered the tailgate and sat while she watched the dog stare wildly around and shake.

  “Scared to death. I know what that feels like.” Sarah eased down to sit next to her on the ground. “You need a name.” The dog lowered herself on her belly and rested her chin on Sarah’s knee. “That’s adorable. Keep that up, okay?” She ran her hand over the dog’s head and bony back, the embedded prongs of the collar making her stomach twist. When the dog blinked up at her, Sarah whispered, “Hope. That’s your name, girl.”

  “Fits her.” Will had rested both forearms on the truck. She didn’t know how long he’d been there or if she cared that he could watch her meltdown. If anything deserved a puddle of tears, this dog did.

  “No more dogs?” Sarah asked, and took even breaths in case she could get control.

  “No. I guess that’s a good thing.” Will moved around the truck and the dog immediately cowered next to Sarah. “I was going to lift her, but...” They both watched the dog try to move behind Sarah. “Think you can do it?”

  She’d asked herself that question so many times.

  Here, there was no other option.

  And as she’d proven more than once, when there was no other option, she could totally do it.

  “Open the door for me?” Sarah stood and watched the dog cower. With easy motions, she reached under Hope and lifted her, ignoring the way the muscles in her back protested, even after weeks of hard work at the shelter.

  Hope was frozen in terror when Sarah managed to ease her inside the carrier, but Sarah was covered in sweat. Adrenaline, anger at the way people treated animals and her own fears had shot Sarah’s blood pressure through the roof. She needed to lie down somewhere cool and quiet for hours.

  “Paperwork’s done, boss.” Shelly and Les were on the other side of the truck. “Meet you at the shelter?”

  “Yeah,” Will said, “we’ll meet you there.” Neither of them moved as Shelly studied Sarah’s face for a second and then got in Les’s car. “You okay?” He wrapped both hands around her shoulders and guided her around the truck to the passenger’s side. “You did it. All of it.”

  Where was the pride she deserved to feel? Burned away in fear and anger, emotions she couldn’t control.

  Adrenaline was powerful, but she could feel the crash rolling in.

  “So pale,” Will murmured as he ran his hands down her arms.

  Don’t lean against him. Just a little bit longer and you’ll be okay. You can do this.

  Sarah tried to straighten her back, but Will wrapped his arms around her, pulled her against his chest and stood there, strong, silent, steady in a crazy world.

  “Just for a minute. Stop.” His voice next to her ear sent a shiver through her, along with a surge of restless energy.

  Sarah closed her eyes, determined to enjoy every second of that minute. It had been so long since she could do this, relax and know that someone else was watching over her. His hands rubbed circles on her back that erased the tension and replaced it with something else.

  “Thank you.” Sarah leaned away and felt the separation like a tear. The concerned frown as he studied her face, the way he held her carefully, it was too much for her.

  The kiss was unavoidable. When a woman met a prince like Will, kissing was expected.

  If that woman was brave enough.

  Sarah pressed her lips lightly against his, prepared for his rejection. Instead, Will sighed and pulled her closer before exploring her lips. The world disappeared. So did her exhaustion. Only Will’s kiss and his hands and his solid presence mattered.

  Until he stepped back. Then it was too hot and too bright and she could barely hold her head up again. His silence could mean anything, but when he helped her up to her seat and quietly closed the door he didn’t seem like a man thrilled with a kiss.

  Which was good. She’d done it. He hadn’t felt the same desire. And now, she’d go and die somewhere and everyone would believe it was because she’d worked so hard.

  Sarah shook out her tingling fingers. “Don’t forget the tailgate.” With her last bit of energy, she turned to watch him close the tailgate carefully, quietly.

  He started the truck and navigated the bumpy road. His concentration made it easy to convince herself no conversation was needed. Will turned the air conditioner up as high as it would go, pointed all the vents in her direction and eased onto the highway. Sarah watched the pet carrier in the back, but it stayed in place. She realized the trip back to the shelter was taking at least twice as long as the trip over. Will was driving slowly.

  As if he knew his cargo was important.

  When he pulled into a small gas station about a mile from Paws for Love, she said, “Why are we stopping?”

  “Wait here,” Will muttered as he hopped out of the running truck and jogged inside.

  Sarah alternated between watching Hope’s carrier and the glass door. Will ran back out so quickly, a bag in hand, that she couldn’t imagine what he might have accomplished.

  He thrust the bag at her as he shut the truck door. “Ice-cold Coke. Good for what ails you.”

  Clumsy in her haste to get the bag open, Sarah almost dropped it, but by the time he pulled into the Paws for Love gravel lot, she had the can open. One long, satisfying swallow was all it took to see that Will knew exactly what he was talking about.

  “Thank you.” Sarah didn’t turn to look at him. “I might live.”

  He nodded. “Think she’ll be okay?”

  “Yes.” Hope would be better than okay. Sarah would do whatever she could to make it happen. “All she needs is some good food and love, and she’s going to be fine.”

  Sarah had to believe that. If she didn’t, why keep battling to save the shelter?

  “I believe you.”

  Sarah glanced at Will as he parked the truck. “I don’t know how this happened,” he said, “but if there’s one thing I know about you—aside from our history, who you were, what you want to do—it’s that you’ll make sure that dog is okay.”

  Sarah couldn’t stop herself from gasping. “Why? Why would you believe that?” For so long, she’d been sure she was going to let everyone down. This man, who had every reason to know how she could fail, seemed pretty convinced she had Hope’s future under control.

  He shook his head. “Good question.”

  Will slid out of the truck and Sarah had to wonder how she felt about that answer. Given the circumstances, she respected the truth. He was still giving her the truth.

  Asking about the kiss? That might be too much honesty.

  By the time she made it to the back of the truck, Will had the tailgate down, the carrier open, and he’d stepped way back to allow Shelly to approach with the leash.

  Sarah wanted to tell Shelly to back off. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but there was no way she was better prepared to handle this situation than Shelly.

  “C’mon, girl. You’re doing beautifully,” Shelly murmured as Hope slid out on her stomach, her large brown eyes s
earching their faces anxiously. Instead of seizing her immediately, Shelly held her fingers up for Hope to sniff. When Hope’s tail wagged, Shelly ran a hand over her silky ears. “You’re gonna make it, aren’t you, girl?”

  Shelly lifted her down and the somber parade followed the dog as she took wobbly steps at first and then started to explore.

  “Let’s get her inside. We’ll weigh her, check for heartworms, ehrlichia. Then we’ll tackle that collar.” Les shook his head. “This one’s going to be banged up for a while, but the right person could turn her into a beauty.”

  Will held the door open and they all filed past. Jen had both hands propped on her hips while her shadow, Chloe, cradled Jelly. Rebecca was in the middle of the floor, both arms wrapped around Bub. “How did it go? No visitors here.”

  As soon as Jen stepped around the counter, Hope glanced up. Jen slid to her knees in front of the wobbly dog.

  “What did they do to you?” Jen whispered, her fingers hovering over the metal prongs of the collar.

  Hope inched forward on her belly until she was close enough to rest her chin on Jen’s knee.

  Sarah wiped her eyes and glanced around the room. At least she wasn’t the only one gulping away tears.

  “A weakness. Jen Neil has a soft underbelly just like the rest of us,” Sarah murmured over her shoulder to Will. “And now you have something else in common. You’re both owned by pets.”

  He shrugged. “Sure, but she’s a dog person and I’m totally pro-cat.”

  “I’m still house hunting,” Jen said softly, “but I’ll have a big fenced yard.” She traced delicate fingers over the white stripe down Hope’s nose. The dog sighed happily. “This is my dog.”

  “We’ve got to give the owner time to protest and claim her,” Shelly said, nodding firmly in response to Jen’s madly shaking head. “Yes. If the owner shows up, he or she will have a chance to answer charges of neglect. Then Hope is ours. Otherwise, we wait a week, usually extra around here. And she’s not going anywhere until she’s been spayed.” Shelly turned to Sarah. “I mean, those are the rules. Right?”

  Jen opened her mouth to argue, but Sarah held up both hands in defense. “Yes, those are the rules. No one’s saying you can’t spend every single day here in the meantime. She’s going to need some socialization.” The dog sighed happily and licked her lips as Jen ran a hand over her back. “Or that’s a good theory, anyway. It seems like she socializes like she falls in love. Instantly.”

  Will and Les shifted at the same time, and Hope immediately crawled closer to Jen, a quiet whimper punctuating her distress.

  “Want to help with the tests? She’s calm with you around.” Les held out a hand to Jen.

  “Definitely.” Jen stood slowly and Hope followed behind her, head down and tail tucked between her legs.

  “Rebecca, Stephanie, thank you for staying.” Sarah leaned heavily against the counter. “This is kind of the way it goes with me. I ask for one thing. You say yes, and then watch out. One favor after another.”

  Rebecca bumped her shoulder. “Admit it. You found Jen’s soul mate as the ace in the hole.”

  For a second, Sarah had a hard time following Rebecca’s train of thought.

  “No way she’s saying no to any of your requests. Not now.” Stephanie crossed her arms over her chest. “I wish Hope hadn’t needed to be rescued, but if you wanted to convert your biggest critic, that match is foolproof.”

  “You guys, don’t give Sarah false expectations.” Will placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. Immediately, Sarah realized her shoulders had been up around her ears and her muscles were so tense that her neck hurt. “The thing about Jen is that she can continue to give you grief, even if she likes you.”

  Rebecca and Stephanie both nodded sheepishly.

  “You guys want a ride home?” Will asked. “Sarah needs to...unwind.”

  Unbend, unwind, come apart, fall to pieces. Something like that. But he was right. She wanted to celebrate winning the funding, and she needed to process her grief and joy over Hope’s rescue and the way she and Jen had found each other. Sarah couldn’t help worrying that Jen would change her mind and Hope would lose that connection.

  “Ah, sure, we’ll tell Jen we’re leaving.” Rebecca motioned over her shoulder, Stephanie hurried to join her and the two of them turned to go.

  “Chloe, could you go ask Shelly for a carrier?” Will smiled down at his daughter.

  “We’re still taking Jelly home?” Chloe wrapped her arms around Will’s waist. “Thanks, Dad.” Jelly, being the confident cat that she was, yawned. She was ready for her nap. “Back in a flash. We’ll need to stop and get her some toys and treats, but this is going to be so much fun.”

  “And more expensive than a new tablet before it’s all over,” Will muttered.

  When they were alone again, Sarah realized Will’s hands were still on her shoulders.

  And she wanted to keep them there.

  But he stepped back and frowned. “Uh, big day.”

  Sarah bit her lip and nodded, not quite sure what to say and what to never, ever admit aloud.

  She’d thanked him already.

  And if she explained what his steady support had meant, even though she’d blackmailed him into it, everything would get even...weirder between them.

  They worked together. His sister might disown him if he lost his mind and took it any further.

  But right there, in that run-down shelter, after a day of highs and lows, Sarah wanted another kiss.

  Will Barnes must have been reading her mind again, because he pulled her closer. “One second. That’s all.” He wrapped his arms around her and Sarah closed her eyes to savor this connection.

  When she would have stepped away and stuttered out an incoherent explanation for her lapse in judgment, Will covered her mouth with his. His lips were warm and Sarah got an immediate boost of energy. He kissed as if he was certain, without a doubt, that this was the right thing to do.

  That was why Will was dangerous. She trusted him to do the right thing. Always.

  The sound of chuckles from the exam room reminded them both that the world hadn’t stopped turning.

  Even if they might wish it could.

  “Oh, man, Will. You missed...” Stephanie stumbled to a stop. “Well, I guess...”

  She shot Rebecca an awkward look, and Rebecca chimed in with, “Hope stole the bag of dog treats while Jen was distracted.”

  “Her appetite and coordination are solid,” Stephanie said with a grin. “Hope’s. Your sister is way too slow. That dog’s gonna weigh three hundred pounds if Jen doesn’t get quicker.”

  Sarah and Will both laughed. She refused to gawk at him like some kid who’d gotten her first kiss outside the Holly Heights Country Club.

  “Let’s go.” Will’s voice was rough and Sarah nodded. “See you Monday. We’ll talk money.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  THE TENSION INSIDE his truck had easily passed could-cut-it-with-a-knife stage. Rebecca and Stephanie hadn’t said a thing...yet. Maybe he’d get lucky and Chloe’s presence would dampen any grief they might wish to give him.

  He didn’t know whether they had seen the kiss. And if they had, what would they think about it? There was no need to guess what Jen would say. Fraternizing with the enemy. Forgetting where they’d come from. Disappointing his stepmother.

  “Nice weather we’re having,” Stephanie said from the backseat. “Lovely day to spend a fortune.”

  Rebecca pursed her lips. “Honestly, there hasn’t been a day that wasn’t perfect for that, rain or shine.”

  Will tightened his hands on the steering wheel and decided his contribution wasn’t needed. He stopped in front of Rebecca’s house.

  “Thanks for the ride.”

  He nodded.

  Neither one of the women slid out of the truck.

  “Your plan worked flawlessly. Jen had no clue until we turned off.” Rebecca shook her head. “Although she was driving. She sh
ould not operate heavy machinery on an empty stomach.”

  Will stared harder out the windshield.

  “You did good, Will Barnes. This was what I had in mind, although I was nearly sure you wouldn’t be able to pull it off.” Rebecca leaned forward to get his attention. “Without Jen’s approval, we all would have been heartbroken.”

  “Yep, all for one and one for all. That’s the way it’s always been, and to be honest, your sister has been the wrench in the works more than once since we met that day on the bus ride to school,” Stephanie murmured. “But I always suspected she wasn’t as tough as she pretends.”

  “Hardly anybody is.” Will clenched his jaw, determined not to bring up all the ways Sarah had proved to be different from how she’d once seemed.

  “Hmm,” Rebecca said. “Clever observation.”

  “That Sarah. She’s sure surprising.” Stephanie’s game-show-host tone suggested she was reading a script.

  Will wished he’d gotten a copy of it. He glanced back at Chloe and saw that her eyes were wide, but she had zero plans to interrupt this conversation. She wanted to know where the whole thing was going.

  “Not as surprising as the guy who kissed her.” Rebecca blinked her eyes and Will reminded himself that, while all three of them were dangerous, she might be the most dangerous, mainly because it was easy to forget how clever she was with her wide blue eyes and golden curls.

  Chloe clapped both hands over her mouth, but he couldn’t tell if there was anything other than surprise going on. Also, he was going to have to murder his clients.

  The circus would get an extra ring if they found out it was actually their second kiss.

  “Do we know anybody who’d be that brave? To steal a kiss from the meanest girl in town?” Stephanie was still using her tell-him-what-he’s-won voice.

  Will closed his eyes. “Don’t share that with Jen.”

  The silence was heavy until their chuckles filled it. “Right. We can’t make that promise.”

  Stephanie held up her phone. “I was thinking of texting Jen as soon as we slide out of this truck. I mean, I’m amazed we made it this far.”