Heart's Refuge

Don’t panic. You can work this out, Sarah.

“Vaguely. But none of us are in high school anymore.”

Will crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, she still is. Teaches there every day. Probably keeps the memories alive.” His lips were a tight line as he studied her face.

The hole he’d punched in her hope made it difficult to stand straight and tall. Flash him a smile, grab the dog and live to fight another day. “I’ll be excited and grateful to show you around the shelter. Thank you so much for your valuable time.”

She didn’t think her fear or discomfort could be heard in her voice, but her gritted teeth didn’t much resemble a smile. Still, she calmly, slowly led Bub out of the office, working the dress, the heels and her best features until she stepped back out on the sidewalk. As soon as she passed his window, she collapsed against the brick, closed her eyes and fought back tears.

“That was harder than I thought it would be.” Bub licked her hand and she remembered why fear, frustration and her own embarrassment didn’t matter.

At this point, she was out of options. Difficult was the only way.

Until her father came back for her or she tracked him down.

She fished her phone out of her handbag. No missed call. No text. Nothing to indicate that her father was on his way.

“Time to get back to work. These shoes are beautiful but deadly.”

Bub stood, too, happy to go wherever she was going, but a woman coming down the sidewalk called Sarah’s name before they could take two steps. The dread was nearly immediate. Running into any old “friend” was bound to be another lesson in humility.

Why was it these lessons were coming so often lately?

“Hey, Cece, it’s good to see you.” Lying through her teeth was one lesson Sarah had learned a long time ago. She gave Celia Grant’s cheeks the expected air-kisses and stepped back.

“How long has it been? Three months or so?” Cece asked, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I loved this dress, too. I finally had to let it go, though. Needed the space in my closet.” She leaned forward. “You didn’t pick this up at the consignment store over on First, did you?” Then she twitched her shoulders as if she was being a naughty scamp.

So turnabout was fair play.

For years, they’d traded similar exchanges. Cece must still be annoyed about Sarah’s comments on her green Armani. But there was no room for argument. Sixty-year-old Deborah Simmons had worn it better and first.

“Ah, no, and I’m certain this dress isn’t yours.” Sarah stepped back and studied Cece’s gorgeous outfit. “I’m pretty sure we’re still different sizes. Yours would positively swim on me.” She smiled sweetly.

Although it was a direct hit, Cece didn’t give her the pleasure of wincing. “Always such a funny girl. How’s the family?”

“Oh, you know how hard it is to stay in touch sometimes, but I’m doing well.” Sarah navigated all of Cece’s land mines and then changed the subject. She’d been moving in the shark-infested waters of society for a long time. “Are you and Doug moved into your new house on the golf course yet?”

As Cece droned on and on about the challenges of building a five-bedroom custom design in a small town like Holly Heights—not to mention the lack of solid contractors—Sarah weighed her options for escape. On one hand, this couldn’t go on indefinitely. On the other, her feet were about to walk away and leave the rest of her stranded on the sidewalk.

When Cece wound down, she pointed at Bub. “What sort of dog is that?”

Bub cocked his head at her and seemed to give a disapproving expression.

“Mutt. Rescue. The best kind.” Sarah ran her hand over his head and realized that this encounter was meant to be. The Grants were wealthy enough to have spare cash lying around. They could be the ones to keep the lights on.

“Of course. Pedigrees are expensive, aren’t they, darling?”

Sarah studied Cece’s eyes. In high school, Cece had been one of the crowd that circled Sarah, always ready to take advantage of her father’s wealth. There wasn’t much friendship showing in her eyes now, if they’d ever been real friends.

“Actually, it’s wonderful to run into you. I’m planning a fund-raiser next month for the shelter and I’d love to include you on the list.” At Cece’s reluctant nod, Sarah got a jolt of energy, which made it easier to press for more. “We’re always in need of donations from caring people like you and Doug, so don’t wait for a formal invitation. Stop by and see the shelter sometime, won’t you?”

“It does seem you could use cash right now. Doug’s always got more requests than money to give, but I can persuade him to visit. I’d love to find out more about your little hobby. But there won’t be any actual animals there, right? They make such a mess.” She was shaking her head as she pulled out her wallet and removed every bit of cash she had. “Here. This should buy some dog food and...things.”

Feeling a bit like a panhandler, Sarah swallowed her pride and accepted every wrinkled bill. “Cece, you’ve made a big difference for Paws for Love. I won’t forget your generosity.” She riffled through her purse until she found a pen and an old grocery receipt, then scribbled the amount and signed it. “Here. For your records.” Then she put the cash in a ragged, empty envelope and jotted down the date, Cece’s name and the amount.

It wouldn’t be enough to keep the doors open, but this month’s dog food was now paid for. That was a relief.

Cece awkwardly pinched the wrinkled paper. “I’ll make sure to pass it along to Doug. What are you doing here? Hiring Will Barnes as your financial adviser?” Bub picked that minute to turn on the charm and batted his eyelashes at Cece like a starlet. She took a step back, but the corners of her mouth turned up.

The dog was magic.

“Adviser? I thought he was some kind of accountant.” Sarah studied the facade of Barnes Financial. She should have asked more questions about what Will did. That might have been the polite thing to do, and it would have given her a better concept of his donation potential. If he was drawing Holly Heights’s upper crust, he could write a check, too.

“According to the gossip at the club, he’s some kind of investment guru. He was part of a big firm in Dallas until he moved to town to open his own office. I keep telling Doug that we might want to find someone local to help with money management, but you know how husbands are.” Cece stopped and patted Sarah’s arm. “Oh, sorry, darling. You don’t know how husbands are.”

Good one. Cece had gotten sharper.

The near-smirk and warm glow in her eyes suggested she knew it, too.

“Maybe you should try the patented moves on Will...” Cece winked. “As I recall, no boy was immune once you turned on the charm. Of course, he’s not a boy, is he? Maybe they’re too weak for men.”

Do not mention my inability to catch a husband again or I’ll...

Bub leaned against her leg, distracting her from plotting mayhem. Woman’s best friend obviously.

Cece was right. Beanpole Barnes had blushed three colors of red if she so much as glanced at him. Will had met her head-on and cut right through her tried-and-true moves. If things were different, that would have doubled her determination. But now she wasn’t sure she could conquer him even with her old wardrobe and her father’s money.

A small part of her understood that the challenge made Will a prize worth winning.

“If you’ve got the time...” Cece held out her hand. “Come to lunch. My treat.”

Sarah wanted to. The chance to sit down at a nice restaurant, eat a meal prepared by someone who knew how to cook and not worry over how she’d cover the bill was seductive. But she had Bub. And these shoes were a torture each second she stood there. “I can’t. I’ve got so much work to do at the shelter, but I meant what I said about stopping by. I’d love to catch up.”

Cece wrapped her arm around Sarah’s shoulders. “I will. I wish there was more I could do to help with your situation.”

Sarah tapped her purse. “You’ve already helped so much. Watch for your invitation in the mail.”

“I’ll warn Doug to start saving his discretionary funds, darling.” Cece blew her an air-kiss and walked away.

“Good news. We’re going to have water for a few more days.” Sarah scratched Bub’s neck, dodged his tongue and enjoyed the brief instant of relief. “Let’s go home.”

He woofed in response and followed her to her car, a sporty black convertible that had been perfect for the heiress to a car fortune. Now it was too small to do what she needed and too paid for to get rid of. Her single suitcase would fit neatly in the backseat when the time came.

“Load up.”

Bub jumped into the passenger seat and Sarah fastened his seat belt in his harness. Shelly had almost had a fit when she’d loaded Bub into her car that morning and nearly forgot the harness. Animal safety was a Big Deal for Shelly. And now that she knew better, Sarah could understand the commitment.

Still, if he was riding shotgun often, Bub was definitely going to need a cool pair of sunglasses.