Healing Hearts by Kim Watters

story. Her hesitations, her defenses, her mannerisms all spoke more to him than her words. He sensed a lonely, scared woman hidden beneath those defenses. He tried to put a tight rein on his budding emotions.
    “You’re right. I was born and raised here. Got into college on a scholarship, went to vet school, then came back and opened my practice to be close to my family.”
    He’d given her just as vague an answer. No need to mention his financial problems, or the fact that he was starting to care for Sarah, even though he hardly knew anything about her.
    As he looked at the woman sitting across from him, a war raged inside him over his need to help her and his need to stay emotionally detached because she was his employee. He lost the battle. Against his better judgment, he became determined to draw her out a little each day.
    Fortunately, their meal arrived. One medium deep-dish pie loaded with onions, mushrooms, green peppers, olives and sausage. His stomach growled in anticipation. Tony’s pizza was the best. After they devoured the pizza, he was sorry to see the evening begin to end. And even more sorry, but not surprised, when Sarah refused to let him pay the entire bill. Rocky, however, was ecstatic when they let him out of his kennel for the ride to Sarah’s building.
    Grant insisted on accompanying them inside. He knew Sarah couldn’t handle Rocky and carry the kennel and her lab coat at the same time, but she’d never ask for help. Not to mention his mother would have his hide if she found out he’d simply dropped her off and left.
    As they stood by her door in the dimly-lit hallway, he could see Sarah hesitate as she reached for her key, as if struggling with some inner conflict. He saw her gaze wander to the coat thrown over her arm, and he wanted to smooth away the worry lines creasing her forehead and kiss away her sorrows. “What’s wrong, Sarah?”
    The sound of the key turning in the lock broke the quiet. Her voice wavered with emotion as she turned to face him. “Did you really mean I could keep the lab coat?”
    Her question astonished him. “Yes. It’s a gift.”
    “No strings attached?”
    “No. It’s yours free and clear.” Grant put Rocky’s kennel down and ran his hand through his hair, perplexed at her question. “Why?”
    He heard Sarah draw in a ragged breath. “Thanks. I’ve never gotten a gift before without strings attached.” She opened the door, waved Rocky inside, and dragged in the kennel. “Goodnight, Grant. I’ll see you Thursday.”
    Grant stared at the closed door, his shock turning to anger at Sarah’s parents. Attaching strings to a gift? Who could do that to a child?

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Sarah lay in bed that night, long after her newly-typed report sat on top of the refrigerator where Rocky couldn’t reach it. Beside her, he seemed content, nearly asleep. His eyelids twitched, and he snorted as if he were chasing that calico cat in a delicious dog dream.
    A sigh escaped her lips. If only she could do the same. But every time she closed her eyes, the image of Grant stood before her. Only she saw him standing with his arms open wide, beckoning, begging her to push aside her fears and let him comfort her. If only it were that easy.
    Years of restraint and determination to hide her longing for acceptance were being peeled back by the generosity of one man. Grant Morrison. But it wouldn’t last. It never did.
     
    What a fool she’d been tonight at Tony’s. For a split second, she considered telling him about her checkered past. Thank goodness her sanity stepped in and brought her back to reality.
    She’d even been able to maintain that reality until she reached home. For one brief moment though, she’d forgotten and let down her guard and had admitted something from her past. A mistake she wouldn’t let happen again, even if she was attracted to him.
    “No!”
    A startled Rocky sat up and opened his eyes as she flopped onto her side and stared out