Heart's Refuge (Lucky Numbers)

by Cheryl Harper

  “You’ve been generous with me.” Sarah nodded once. “But you might be right. Besides, I couldn’t wait. I want the best for those animals.”

  They both nodded and definitely did not look at each other.

  “Shelly and I are going to get the battery replaced in the van tomorrow. With Les’s help. Today I’m getting the ball rolling for the open house, so I’ll leave around noon.” Sarah clasped both hands over her knee. “And I think...”

  “At this point, you need to concentrate on the shelter instead of staring at the phone.” She did. That was a relief and a disappointment at the same time. He reached back into the locked drawer and pulled out his own ledger to cut her a check for her hours at the front desk. “I’ve gotten a couple good candidates to interview. I won’t be running the place by myself for long.”

  He ripped the check from the ledger and slid both of the checks across the desk, one with Sarah’s name on it and the other made out to Paws for Love. “I appreciate your help.”

  “I wish I could do the right thing here and turn down your check. You and I both know you were a bigger help to me than I was to you.” Sarah tapped the check against her hand. “But I can’t. Your sister, acting board of director–ish, informed me that I have to come up with a living arrangement fast. Camping out in the office doesn’t send the right message.” Then she wrinkled her nose. “Find a place. Find more money for Bub’s adoption fee. Budgets are complicated.”

  Will met her stare. “They are. Stay here for the second week, like we talked about.”

  “As long as I can keep my lips to myself?” Sarah asked.

  An impossible question to answer. The right response? Say yes. Laugh about it. Move on.

  Take the easy way out.

  He couldn’t do it.

  This time, Sarah was strong enough to do the right thing for them both.

  “It’s time to come up with a plan, something that can get me through more than just a week. I’ve been fooling myself that someday... Well, it’s hard to let go of my old life, but I need to face the truth.”

  Had her father contacted her? Told her he wasn’t coming back?

  Or had she really believed he was innocent all along? Until now.

  She shouldn’t have to deal with a burden like that alone, but he had to let her make her own decisions.

  Right?

  Sarah nodded sharply as she stood. “If you hear of any cheap housing that loves big brown dogs, could you let me know? That may be the biggest challenge of my life.”

  Will didn’t answer and he didn’t step back outside his office until he heard Sarah call goodbye.

  Then he picked up the phone, scheduled four interviews for the next day and wrote up three investment options for Rebecca, Stephanie and Jen. Right now he had plenty of work.

  He also had a cat. His daughter was happily bussing tables at the diner. And tensions were easing between him and Jen. That was enough to concentrate on at the moment.

  * * *

  ALTHOUGH AN IRRITATED curse rattled around in her head, Sarah didn’t make any sound when she parked the shelter’s van next to the roofing company’s work truck. Of course Jen was already here, waiting on her. She wanted to see Hope. The ominously tapping cowboy boot suggested she might have a secondary motive, as well.

  “Sorry to keep you from visiting Hope. She’s doing pretty well. We let her out in the play yard this morning. At first, she was timid, but Shelly said by the end of the hour, she’d loosened up. That’s a good sign.”

  Sarah shoved the key into the lock and opened the front door to the shelter. “Our normal afternoon hours are three to six, but I’m late because the repairs on the van took a bit longer. Still, I’m happy to cross one thing off the to-do list. Next up, figure out the invitations, order them and then decide how to make peanut butter cookies in Shelly’s oven. That should take care of Wednesday and Thursday or the rest of my life.”

  Her chatter was out of control. Jen’s single raised eyebrow communicated, “Are you done?” louder than the actual words would have.

  “Yes, I’ll stop now.” Sarah checked for any phone messages. No blinking light equaled no escape from this awkward conversation. “If you want to take Hope outside, I’ll wait fifteen minutes or so to let the first group of dogs out. That might give her time to get comfortable.” And when the second yard opened up, things would be so much easier. All the dogs would have more time running free. They could even open up more pens.

  But Jen knew that. It had all been a part of the shaky presentation.

  “Got you a volunteer. His name’s Desi. He’ll be here on Saturday. Needs volunteer hours for his college application.” Jen walked behind the counter. “You’re welcome.”

  Sarah wrote a note that no one would be able to read. “That’s great news.”

  “And keep your lips off my brother.” Jen’s disgust was clear. It would have been sort of cute except Sarah knew she meant every word.

  Sarah hung the van keys on the inside of the counter door and closed it. “A new place to live is on my list. His place is not. You don’t have to worry.”

  “I’m not worried. He’s smart. Don’t tell him I said that.” Jen rolled her eyes. “And you’re not dumb and horrible, but that doesn’t mean I want to sit next to you at dinner.”

  “Good to know.” Sarah saluted her and waved to Shelly and Les, who had followed her from the repair shop. “All right. Open house, you will be mine.”

  Eventually, Jen left. Shelly and Les closed the place down, cleaning pens and feeding the animals after the walk-in hours were up, and Sarah vaguely remembered calling goodbye to them before the lights outside her office went out.

  Bub’s snores were comforting background noise as she worked out the wording for the open house’s invitation. She reviewed her list of donor contacts—the people who’d been solid supporters for Paws for Love before the shelter manager disappeared—and her own former friends.

  “As soon as the invitations are printed, we’re set.” Sarah sighed as she crossed her legs. “Less than two weeks. I’ll go to the printer tomorrow, get these in the mail Saturday and then...” Sarah closed her eyes. For every single item she crossed off the list, two more replaced it. But she was on track to make up lots of ground.

  If she could keep up the pace.

  “Peanut butter. I missed my dinner, Bub.” At the word dinner, her companion flowed off the couch to stretch his front legs and his back while his mouth yawned wide enough for her to count every single pearly white tooth. “You could go for some dinner, huh?”

  He walked over to the door, his tail lazily wagging as if he didn’t have anywhere to be but he’d wait right there for her.

  “So patient with me.” She ran her hand over Bub’s head and fought with the office door until it opened. “Handyman. Moving right up the list.”

  After making her sandwich and giving Bub the treat he deserved for being her late-night comfort, Sarah took a quiet turn through the cat room and the dog pens, where not a creature was stirring. Not even Hope, the nervous pit bull. Instead, she was rolled up into an impossibly small ball, the tip of her tail twitching as she dreamed.

  Sarah rested her forehead against the glass pane in the door to the play yard. Now that she could worry about work instead of money, it was hard to sit still. Sleeping hadn’t gotten much easier, either.

  “Could be because you’re such a couch hog.” Bub settled more securely on top of her bare foot.

  If she was going to find a place to stay by the open house, she had to do something quickly. With Will’s check and the last of her consignment money, she could get a small place. Her measly stipend wouldn’t be enough for rent, so she’d have to get a job, a real one, with a boss who’d expect her to work set hours doing...something.

  Which meant she’d have to step back from the shelter.

  She glanced over her shoulder at Hope.

  A job would mean she’d miss out on so much.

  Experience answer
ing a phone and years of volunteer “work” were what she had to recommend her.

  In a town where her last name was mud.

  Homelessness was a true, scary possibility.

  Angry that she’d given up before she’d even started, Sarah grimaced at her pale reflection. She could give it a shot at least. As a waitress, she might have shifts that would leave her free to work at the shelter in the mornings.

  Or retail. That could be a better choice. Her lousy handwriting and her family name might make waiting tables a high-conflict, low-tip proposition.

  If she’d learned one thing while finding donors for Paws for Love, it was that she couldn’t be afraid. She needed a job. She’d do whatever it took to find one.

  And if she was lucky, she’d find someone as open-minded and generous as Will Barnes to help her along the way.

  Bub slumped against her leg, clearly in need of his beauty rest, so Sarah decided she could spend another hour staring up at the ceiling.

  When Bub was settled comfortably on the couch and she was contorted around him, Sarah said, “Tomorrow, we’re going computer shopping, too. Then I can make this insomnia work.”

  As her eyelids were growing heavy, lights reflected across the ceiling.

  Bub raised his head, both ears forward.

  This time, there was no convincing herself she was imagining things. Someone was in the parking lot. In the middle of the night.

  Sarah stretched to grab her phone off the floor. Who could she call? The sheriff’s office would respond, but how ridiculous would she feel if it was some delivery driver or high school kid turning around?

  She eased up and listened as hard as she could for doors opening or any other noises.

  Half a second before Sarah pressed the emergency button on her phone, she wondered again who would want to break into the shelter.

  Unless it was Hope’s owner.

  Could someone be mad enough about losing his or her dog to break in and take Hope back?

  But the first time she’d seen the lights had been before Hope’s rescue.

  Sarah stood slowly and walked over to the shelter’s front door. With her ear pressed against it, she thought she might hear an engine running, but nothing else.

  After an eternal minute, she eased back from the door. Being afraid had never gotten her anything but bad decisions and enemies. Sarah stepped over to the window and shifted the blinds.

  The parking lot was empty.

  Her heart pounding with adrenaline and fear and relief, Sarah double-checked the locks before she went to sit down next to Bub. When he climbed into her lap, Sarah realized she was his guard dog. And that was fine.

  “It’s nothing. Maybe I imagined the whole thing. Fatigue will do that.” Sarah forced herself to put the phone down.

  No matter what, she had to find a place soon. Being surrounded by people would make it harder to panic over every single passing car.

  Instead of falling asleep, she reorganized her to-do list. Stopping in to see Will rose to the top.

  Checking what brand and model of computer he had made perfect sense.

  And if she managed to work the late-night visitor into the conversation to hear his thoughts... Five minutes, tops. There was no reason to feel guilty about a drop-in visit when it was that short.

  Even if she’d meant to keep her distance.

  Why his opinion was the first one she wanted regarding either electronics or potential problems...

  That wasn’t quite as simple.

  * * *

  “YES, DOUG, I GOT the signed contract. Everything looks great.” Will clicked on his email as a reminder popped up. His first interview should be arriving shortly. “I’ve already set up your account with the mix of short-term and long-term targets. I usually send monthly updates, but I’m going to send you a link with a username and password so you and Cece can check your balances anytime you like. And I’m always here for questions. We’ll reevaluate in six months unless something changes.”

  “Thanks for all your help,” Doug said. “This thing with Sarah Hillman, I’m glad it’s resolved. Cece can move on to something else now.” Doug Grant cleared his throat. “Old grudges are the worst, but I know firing’s never easy.”

  Will rubbed one eyebrow to smooth away his frown. This again. He should let it go. What difference did it make what Cece, her husband or the rest of Holly Heights believed about Sarah’s temporary assignment? None. He’d do a good job and eventually people would forget.

  But Sarah was still dealing with the stares and whispers.

  This was one bit of gossip he could try to set straight, even if he knew it was a waste of breath.

  “Sarah was only helping short-term. She’s pretty busy at the shelter, and I’ve got some interviews today with experienced assistants. It was temporary for us both, and actually, I’m sorry she couldn’t work this week, too.”

  Will missed Sarah’s coffee, and more than that, he missed her sunny morning greeting.

  He needed to stop thinking about Sarah and focus on the job.

  Just as he had before Sarah Hillman came back into his life.

  But even Jelly had had trouble keeping up her end of the conversation. Chloe had skipped her two-hour battle with wizards to head directly to the diner. Either he was boring her, or his mood was so dark it infiltrated headphones and role-playing games. He should straighten it out before he hired an assistant who had to read his mind.

  He was half a second from taking his grim mood out on poor Doug Grant, a man who already had to live with Cece.

  “Sure, sure,” Doug said. “I understand the official line.”

  “How did you know she’s not working in the office anymore?”

  “She stopped at the Shop-on-in to ask Cece’s mom if she was hiring part-time help.” Doug whistled. “Brave. Or crazy.”

  Will frowned as he wondered why it had never occurred to him that Sarah would be making the rounds, talking to the same people he’d been trying to secure as clients. Somehow, even with all the changes he’d accepted in Sarah Hillman, he’d never quite adjusted to the fact that she wasn’t rolling in cash anymore.

  “Flexible hours would be good for her. She’d have plenty of time to keep up the work she’s doing at Paws for Love.”

  “Right, but Cece’s mother will die there, behind the counter at the Shop-on-in. Not sure who’s hiring now.” And the distraction in Doug’s voice suggested he didn’t really care, either. “You don’t sound like a man talking about a temp, Barnes. Maybe instead of gossiping about Sarah’s work life, Cece should have been focused on her personal life. You two have a thing? That makes a whole lot more sense than hiring a criminal out of the goodness of your heart.”

  An immediate surge of anger at Doug Grant’s sleazy insinuation made Will’s head throb. Counting to ten to regain his equilibrium would have been a good idea.

  Will had no time for that.

  “Let’s get a few things straight, Doug,” Will snapped. “Sarah Hillman is no criminal. This town has tried and convicted Bobby Hillman, but Sarah didn’t run. She’s still here, doing her best to save some animals and help this town while she ignores insults like yours. Instead of building all these conspiracy theories, maybe take a look at how her friends, the good people of Holly Heights, are treating her and ask yourself if it’s fair.”

  He’d done his best to charm Cece into forgetting that she’d demanded he fire Sarah, but he wasn’t going to back down on gossip like this.

  Sarah worked hard. She deserved respect.

  Was he ready to lose a client to stand up for her?

  “Come on, Barnes. Sarah Hillman’s no angel. Never has been. Just be glad you’re done with her. You’ll see. Once the buzzing at the club stops, your business will benefit.” Grant lowered his voice to add, “And if you aren’t exactly done with her, keep it hush-hush.”

  Slamming the phone down would be so satisfying, but anger made it hard to think. Defending his honor and Sarah’s could lose not
just the Grants as clients but the rest of the sharks they traveled with.

  The blessed door chime gave Will the perfect excuse to get off the phone. “Check out all the information on the website and let me know if you have any questions.”

  “Will do.” Doug wasn’t happy with their conversation, either.

  Before Will could respond, he heard the dial tone.

  Will carefully hung up, his hand shaking. He should have told Doug Grant where to go and asked him to take his two-faced wife and all their money with him.

  The Grants would not make or break Barnes Financial. If the business failed in Holly Heights, he’d move to Austin.

  Why had he hesitated?

  Why was gossip he would have secretly enjoyed—before he’d worked with Sarah—making him so angry?

  Success mattered.

  But so did Sarah.

  He was still shaking his head as he paused in the doorway. Sarah was studying the computer on the front desk. Her hair was neatly rolled up in a bun and she was wearing the nice suit he’d realized was her only business attire. “Did you forget? You don’t work here anymore.”

  Nice. It’s always good to start a conversation as if you’re a jerk with no social skills.

  “I meant to say good morning.” And why did you quit if you still need the work? How can I help? Do you know what people are saying about you? How can you stand to live here?

  Sarah was smiling as she straightened. “I wanted to make a note of the kind of computer you have. Today’s the day I choose one for the shelter and I’m not sure where to begin.”

  She pulled a list out of her purse. “I need to post an ad for the manager position, get some résumés for the board to review. Then I’m on my way to pick up invitations for the open house, along with the new donation boxes. Shelly took some great photos so the graphic artist will have lots of cute faces to work with.” She smoothed a stray hair behind her ear. “And I’m boring you.”

  She studied his face. He had a feeling his expression was not boredom. Seething anger would probably show in the set of his jaw.

  Time to get a grip.

  Will crossed his arms over his chest. “I thought you were my first interview of the day.” He checked his watch. “Fifteen minutes. I expected her to be here by now.”