Healing Hearts (7 page)

“Speaking of Veronica, how about going out for pizza tonight?” There hadn’t been time lately and he missed his usual pie, but he knew it wouldn’t be the same without Sarah.”

“Oh, thanks. I already have plans. Rocky is…” She held a hand to her mouth and whispered, “He’s getting a B-A-T-H. Aren’t you, boy?”

“A B-A-T-H?” Grant mimicked her. Memories flashed back to the other time Sarah tried washing him. There was nothing sexy about giving a dog a bath unless you included a curvaceous blonde a tiny bathroom and one wet, clingy purple T-shirt. “Need any help?”

“Thanks, but I think I can do it this time.” Sarah answered coolly. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she turned away. Leave it to Grant to remember that embarrassing incident.

She headed into the clinic before taking Rocky off his leash. Even with his training, she didn’t quite trust her dog not to sniff out that stray cat or any other animal.

“I’m sure you can.” Grant followed her. “It’s been quiet today, there’s not a lot to do. Why don’t you take Rocky to the park or give him his B-A-T-H now?”

Sarah stopped in her tracks and she felt a bit light-headed. Her bill couldn’t be paid off. Sarah had figured on at least another month at the rate she was going with all the added expenses. The neutering, the chew toys, even the new bowl and leash cost money. Money Sarah didn’t have but was more than willing to work for. Grant had offered to pay for them all, but she refused to accept his charity. She couldn’t.

“Hey.” He moved around in front of her and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to gaze into his eyes. She didn’t flinch. “Just because there’s nothing to do right now doesn’t mean your job is done. I thought you’d like some time off. Play time. I don’t think you get enough. That’s all.”

Sarah had never seen such tenderness, such compassion directed at her. And for the first time in a long time, believed it was all true. Mesmerized, she watched him lean closer and plant a light kiss on her lips.

It was all she could do not to reach out and wrap her arms around his neck and explore unknown territory. In that instant, Sarah was glad to leave. She had to get out before she did something stupid, like kiss him back.

“Hi, Sarah. Mind if I come in?”

Taken back by his unexpected visit, she paused, then nodded and held to the door wider to admit a somewhat hesitant Grant. This time she knew his visit was more than to check up on Rocky. Still reeling from this afternoon’s crazy emotions, her voice wavered as she clutched her hands together. “Hi. A pizza from Tony’s?”

“Yep. Sort of a peace offering. Since I couldn’t entice you to go out for one, I brought it to you. I hope it doesn’t upset your plans.” Grant walked past her, juggling a pizza box in one hand and a bottle of soda in the other as the aroma of melted cheese, sauce and spices wafted by her nose. She remembered the smell well. Her mouth watered. The box of macaroni and cheese on the counter could wait.

“Not at all.” Another lie slid past her lips. Her plan had been to spend the evening rebuilding the walls around her heart, not spend her time with the man who intended to break them down. She might not have the education he had, but she had street smarts and knew what he was trying to do. For the most part, it had been working. He’d gotten her to admit far more than she’d ever admitted before—even to her counselors.

Rocky’s bark echoed through the apartment. “Here, let me take that before Rocky makes you drop it.” She gave him a slight smile as she lifted the box from his palm and held it securely between her hands just as her dog jumped over the make-shift gate and charged at Grant.

“Heel.” The command didn’t do any good since Sarah didn’t have his choke collar on, but Grant didn’t seem to mind. He knelt and petted her dog vigorously behind the ears until Rocky dropped onto his back. “I put him in the kitchen after his bath to dry, but I see it didn’t work.”

“Aha. I thought you smelled like a rose.” His gaze on the dog, he rubbed Rocky’s belly. The dog’s paws scratched at thin air with pleasure. “And I can see you’re hardly worse for the wear. Or you either.”

At Grant’s look, the intense longing returned. Who was Sarah kidding? His mere presence affected her. It was all she could do to answer him. “The bath wasn’t easy, but it wasn't a failure like the first time. I’m only a little wet. It’s just going to take some time. And Rocky’s forgiven me, haven’t you?” Her dog jumped up and nudged her hand. “Oh, you. You just want a piece of pizza.”

She set the box down on her make-shift coffee table, which was a piece of plywood balanced on two milk crates covered with a floral tablecloth. “Stay out, Rocky.”

Grant’s gaze met hers as she looked at him across the table. At his grin, her pulse quickened and her knees turned to jelly. She’d fallen for him, no question about it. Forget her earlier plan. Her heart would never be completely safe again as long as he was around.

Suddenly, she felt…inadequate, dressed in damp purple sweats compared to his crisp Oxford shirt and khaki pants. “Um, I need to change. I’ll be right back.” She bolted from the room, grabbing a pair of jeans and a red sweater from the closet on her way to the bathroom.

Satisfied with her outfit, she glanced in the small mirror above the sink. Sarah gave her hair one last pat, opting to leave it down. She rarely went for the wild took, but tonight, something felt different, something felt right, regardless of how she felt earlier. It was as if she wanted Grant to see her in a different light. Not as an assistant, or a waitress, or even a charity case, but as a woman. She’d taken chances before, and most of them had turned out okay. Still, the idea scared the heck out of her as she applied a quick splash of cologne.

Exiting the bathroom before she lost her nerve, she walked over and flipped on the radio, her only source of entertainment. Soft strains of a classic rock song chased away the silence. Since the sun had set, her apartment basked in an intimate glow, but with the light fading, Sarah switched on the overhead light to dispel the lengthening shadows. “Yum. Smells good.”

“Then let’s eat.” Grant raised the lid of the box.

“Hang on. Let me get some plates and napkins.” Eating out of a box reminded her of when she lived on the streets. Those days were over, but the memories still haunted her.

“Let me help.” Grant trailed her into the little alcove of a kitchen, no bigger than a closet with a stove, refrigerator and a few cabinets. “Where are your glasses?”

“In the cabinet left of the stove. Drat.” Sarah bent over to pick up the fork she’d dropped on the floor. Grant watched mesmerized as the jean material stretched tight across her bottom.

“Is something wrong?” Sarah looked at him quizzically.

“No. Nothing.” He retreated to the main room with two glasses in hand. How could he explain that he wanted to be more than her boss? Fortunately, Sarah couldn’t read his mind as she settled herself on the floor across from him.

“Soda?”

“Yes, please,” she answered, watching him as he unscrewed the lid of the liter of cola and poured it into two juice glasses. “Sorry I don’t have the right glasses, I don’t spend much time here.”

“Don’t apologize, any glass will do.” He gave her a grin and lifted his glass. “Cheers. Let’s eat before the pizza gets cold.”

They devoured the pizza. Sarah occasionally gave a piece of crust to Rocky, who sat impatiently between them.

“That’s not good for him.”

“I know, but he’s being such a good boy.” She leaned over and kissed Rocky’s nose. “Aren’t you my sweet?” She fed him another bit of crust and he licked her face. She laughed again. “Do you have any dogs? You never mentioned it.”

“Yes. Two.”

“Two? Why don’t you bring them to the clinic?”

“Max and Matilda are Queensland Heelers, and very territorial. It’s easier to leave them at home.” At this moment, Grant was feeling very territorial, too.

The carefree look Sarah gave him sent his body into overdrive. Something had changed since he’d arrived. Her apprehension had disappeared along with the pizza. With her hair down, the soft curls falling carelessly around her shoulders made Sarah look every inch available. He wondered if she had any idea the affect she had on him.

“Max and Matilda? Those are interesting names. Can you honestly tell me you don’t feed them table scraps? How can you look at their precious little faces and not share what you have?” Rocky licked her face again.

This stray dog had done wonders for her, softening her around the edges and breaking down some of her barriers. He was glad he’d convinced her to take Rocky home. Insanely enough, he wanted her to let him into her life as well.

“You’re right.” He gave Rocky the last bit of crust on his plate. “I have a soft heart for my dogs, but I try to keep their scraps healthy. Promise me you won’t feed him pork or chicken bones. They can splinter in his throat. And don’t feed him chocolate. It can be toxic.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t.”

As Sarah cleaned up the mess, he looked around the apartment. The last time he’d been here, he hadn’t had the chance to notice his surroundings. Bare beige walls met a white ceiling and tan carpet, which had brown splotches on it because of Rocky. He had to remember to get her a bottle of spot remover so her landlord wouldn’t get mad.

Other than the spots, the room had an almost sterile look to it. The only furniture was the daybed where he sat, a blue dresser in the corner, a painted chair with all four legs chewed—courtesy of Rocky—and the table in front of him.

Odd, there were no pictures. No family, no friends, not even one of herself. Nothing personal about her at all. Perplexed he thought of his own place. Pictures graced his walls and tables. All gifts from his mother and sisters, but still, he had something to identify with as family.

Sarah returned and sat down as Grant refilled their glasses. He looked around her apartment again. “Why don’t you have any pictures of your family?”

“I have no family.”

A closed look on her face replaced the open one she’d worn earlier, but Grant decided not to let the moment pass. He was emotionally involved with Sarah whether he liked it or not and he wanted her to open up and accept his friendship. Accept him. “None at all? I won’t judge you, Sarah, if that’s what you’re afraid of. You can tell me.”

“No, I can’t.”

Grant heard the tightness in her voice and saw the pain in her eyes. The way she seemed to shrink in upon herself as if wrestling with some inner demons stabbed him like daggers. He couldn’t stand it any longer. Sarah needed him, needed his help whether she realized it or not.

“Yes, you can.” He settled next to her and wrapped his arms around her. It felt so right to hold her against him as he rested his chin on her head. She didn’t fight him off. Instead, with a shudder she melted into him.

The idea of telling Grant terrified her but she felt close to him tonight. Somehow, she knew she’d feel better to share some of her secrets. She hadn’t realized it then, but baring her soul was the choice she’d made when she let her hair down in the bathroom. Her attraction for him had blossomed into love, which would only hurt her in the end, but for tonight she didn’t care.

A sigh escaped her lips as she leaned into him, accepting his strength, even if it was just for a moment. “Biologically, I once had parents, if the people who produced me could be called that. But they didn’t care about me. My father could have been one of four, my mother didn’t know, or care. She didn’t care if I was hungry or thirsty, or dirty. In fact I think she resented my presence. She lived from one alcoholic binge to the next. If it hadn’t been for the neighbor in the trailer next door, I probably wouldn’t have learned to walk or talk. If anyone was family, it was my neighbor, Mrs. White.”

“Oh, Sarah.”

Grant held her, as if trying to absorb her pain, which was impossible. But after all these years, it felt good to tell another person. She had to continue. “Finally, when I was eight, my mother died in a drunk driving accident. I spent years in the foster circuit, bounced from one home to another until I was eighteen. I hit the road and never looked back. You know the rest.”

That wasn’t exactly true. And what she didn’t tell him would probably come back to haunt her.

Chapter Six

The next morning, Grant found a spring in his step that hadn’t been there before. The day had dawned crisp and bright as he went for his morning jog now that he had the luxury of resuming since Sarah went to the clinic in the morning to take care of the animals. Cool air filled his lings, making him feel younger than his 30 years.

He waved to his neighbor retrieving the morning paper across the way. “Morning, Jack.”

“Morning, Grant. Joyce mentioned something about bringing Sebastian in. Do you have time today?”

I always have time for you. Tell her ten o’clock would be great. See you later.”

Grant resumed his run, listening to the leaves crunch under his feet. Fall was his favorite season, and this year proved to be no different. Mother Nature had certainly outdone herself by providing a spectacular burst of yellows, red, and oranges on the old elm and oak trees lining the street. A light breeze blew, rustling the leaves overhead.

By next month, the remaining leaves would drop as the days grew shorter. The stark contrast of bare trees reaching their limbs to the gray-stained sky had always fascinated him. He wondered what season Sarah liked best.

Sarah. Last night was a revelation. She’d given away another piece of her identity, allowing him to understand her better. Her walls were a defense mechanism, meant to protect her from what must have been a life from hell. Grant could only wonder at the things that happened, not wanting to give voice to the horrible things that crossed his mind.

He also realized the information she’d given him hand t been easy, and he was glad he hadn’t kissed her again like he’d done in the office. Because this time, he didn’t think it would be a light peck on the lips. His body had ached for it, but he wasn’t sure Sarah was ready for that kind of intimacy. With a few barriers down, Grant might be able to span the vast gulf that still lay between them. A few more weeks and maybe he would know the whole story. He sure wanted to.