When Hearts Collide

chapter 8

I need to get out of this room.” Pearce slammed his hand on the desk.

Where do you want to go?” Molly asked.

Anywhere.” He threw his hands up in the air. “Anywhere beyond these four walls. I feel claustrophobic.”

What about outside on the patio?”

That would be better than being cooped up here.”

Oh, goodie.” Gracie squealed. “Daddy’s going out to play.”

Molly brought the wheelchair to the bed and after helping Pearce into it, sat Gracie on his knee. The child wrapped her chubby arms around his neck. Molly saw the glimmer in Pearce’s eyes as he held his daughter close, and her heart skipped erratically. For the love of a good man. Her thoughts drifted to places they had no right going.

Let’s go, Molly Mommy.”

Hold on, Gracie.” Molly set the wheelchair in motion.

Molly wheeled them out to the patio. It was a soothing space filled with hibiscus trees, weigelia bushes, and a trumpet vine that coated the top of the pergola. She sat on a lounger, content to watch father and daughter interact.

Their hair color could not have been more of a contrast—his so dark it gleamed like black pearls and hers so blond it resembled winter wheat. But their features were alike—the bright blue eyes, the long lashes, the way their lips turned up at the corner when they smiled. Fortunately, the resemblance stopped at the nose. Gracie’s pug nose was much cuter than Pearce’s aristocratic one.

Gracie snuggled against her father and kept up a running commentary. The look of pride gleaming in Pearce’s eyes melted a chink in the wall of ice Molly had built so successfully around her heart. Tears pricked at her eyes and she had to blink them away.

Strange sounds came from somewhere close by. Her first thought was of an intruder of the human kind, her second, an intruder of the animal kind, but she saw no sign of either. Her protective instincts kicked into play as she thought of Gracie and Pearce’s safety.

The sound seemed to be coming from the line of trees at the back of the yard. Every muscle in her body tensed and she concentrated on the sound. It sounded like whimpering. Molly glanced at the house. It would take about fifteen seconds to sprint to the patio door, about fifty from the line of trees. She had to make sure her charges were okay.

Pearce, do you hear that?”

It sounds like an animal.”

It may be hurt. I’m going to check.”

Is that a good idea?” he asked.

I’ll be careful,” Molly promised. “Gracie, stay here with your father.”

As she crept closer to the trees, the sound grew louder. Afraid of what she might find, either human or animal, her heart quickened. She couldn’t stand to hear anything in pain. She had to help.

Her hands shook as she pulled the branches apart, revealing a large dog. He lay licking a blood-matted area on his hip. Had he been hit by a car?

Hey, boy, what happened?” Despite the softness in her voice, the dog shrank back, his eyes holding a look of terror. Had he been abused? Was he vicious?

Moving closer, she bent beside him. Molly tensed, afraid he might try to bite, but he seemed to sense she was trying to help.

She ran back to the house, took an old blanket out of her car, and spread it out on Gracie’s wagon. She spoke quickly to Pearce. “It’s a dog. He’s been hurt. I’m going to bring him to the kitchen and clean his wound.”

Can I see him, Molly Mommy?”

The dog’s afraid. He might get scared and bite. You wait here.”

Molly laid a blanket in the corner of the kitchen.

Gracie had followed her into the house. “Can I get him water, Molly Mommy?”

That’s a very good idea. I’m sure he’s thirsty. Let’s get a bowl and put it by the blanket.”

The dog whimpered again as Molly came close. When she crouched beside him, he stretched out his tongue and licked her hand. His liquid brown-gold eyes were soft with gratitude. Molly slid her arms gently under the dog and gathered him into her arms.

He was much lighter than she had expected, and she could feel his ribs through the thick golden coat. “You poor boy. I don’t think you’ve had a good meal in a while.” She set him in the wagon and brought him up to the house. Gracie waited at the open kitchen door, watching while Molly laid the dog on the blanket. Pearce had wheeled himself to the patio door and maneuvered the chair inside.

Can I pet him, Molly Mommy?”

No,” Pearce warned. “He might bite.”

Your dad’s right. We need to give him time to get used to us.” Molly sat on a kitchen chair and drew Gracie into her arms. They watched the dog as he checked out the kitchen, his eyes tired and cautious and fearful, as if he’d learned to be constantly on guard. After a few minutes, sensing he was somewhere safe, the dog slumped back onto the blanket. Without getting up, he lapped at the bowl of water until the last drop was gone.

See, Molly Mommy, I told you he was thirsty. Do you think he wants some food?”

I bet he does. Let’s see what we can find.”

She refilled the water bowl and put several slices of meat on a plate. They were gone in one gulp, so she added more. Finally full, the dog lay back on the blanket and closed his eyes.

Molly watched the sleeping animal and wondered where his owner was. She wanted to check the cut on his hip, but she would leave that for now. The blood had congealed, and the cut appeared to have stopped bleeding. He needed to rest now that his belly was full. In a few days, the dog would be better and, like her, would be on his way somewhere. He probably had a better idea of where he wanted to go than she did.

Thinking back over the last few days, Molly was surprised at how well she’d adapted to looking after a child. Gracie was busy, yet well behaved, and Molly loved caring for her. It made her heart ache to think that she might never have a child to call her own.

Gracie had clung to her for the first days after the accident, whining and having temper tantrums, now she seemed to be basking in having the security of having her and Pearce. She was still mischievous at times, but her bad behaviors had disappeared. Now she would play contentedly on her own, her cheerful chatter filling the house.

Watching her, Molly’s heart would ache with a despair so deep she thought it might never go away. Sometimes she had to hold her chest so the pain didn’t send her to her knees. After years of telling herself that having children and a family didn’t matter, Molly now realized that she’d been lying to herself.

The dog whimpered in his sleep. What was she going to do? Pearce was reluctant to keep a strange dog around Gracie, but the poor thing looked like he hadn’t had a decent meal in several days, and his coat was matted and coated with burs. Where had he come from? Was he lost, or had someone abandoned him? She watched the even rise and fall of his ribcage and knew she needed to keep him for a few days until he was well enough to be on his way.

I’m sure he has a home,” Pearce said.

Gracie turned to her father. “Yes, with us.”

No. He doesn’t belong to us.”

As if he knew decisions were being made about his future, the dog opened his soft brown eyes and looked at Pearce. Molly knelt beside the dog and stroked his fur. Gracie joined her, wrapping her arms around the dog’s neck. His tail thumped loudly as he tried to wash the child’s face. “I’m going to call him Trooper.”

The way he’s wagging his tail, I think he likes that name,” Molly said to Gracie.

She decided to confront Pearce. Her nurturing needs were being challenged, but she had to protect the animal. “He’s friendly. He just needs a few good meals,” she said, her own eyes pleading the dog’s case. “Can we keep him until he’s better? We can try to find his owner in the meantime.”

Molly, ever the rescuing angel.”

We’ll keep him until then?” Gracie was jumping up and down. “Daddy, Daddy. We can keep him?”

Pearce grinned. “I guess that would make me the big bad wolf if I said no. Molly, are you sure the dog is safe around Gracie?”

She caressed the dog’s ruff, causing his tail to thump loudly on the floor. “I think he is. I’ll make sure I watch him with her.”

Okay, Gracie, the dog can stay until he’s better. Then he needs to go home. Do you understand?”

The blond head nodded several times.

Pearce shook his head. The tension had vanished, and his smile widened. He held Molly’s gaze, and she saw the way his eyes changed; saw their brightness deepen to dark sapphire as a smoldering flame grew. A silent spark of communication surged between them, and Molly felt a shiver of awareness, not of Pearce as a father, but as a man.

The tiny hairs on the back of her neck rose, and her heart pounded like a jackhammer on cement. She noticed Pearce’s gaze. It was fixed on the telltale leaping pulse at the base of her neck, and she saw the slow sensual way his lips turned up at the corners. Her heart missed a few beats before racing on.

Thank you, Daddy.” Gracie jumped up and tapped her shoes on the tile floor, setting off the lighting mechanism in her running shoes.

Thank you, Gracie. Molly sighed. Saved by the flashing red lights. At least no one could hear the siren sounding in her head. Molly needed to start paying attention to warning signs. She needed to put a stop to her growing attraction for this man, and she needed to let Pearce know they had to curb this flirtation. But her body protested, screaming its need for something more. Then those lungs were gasping for air as she heard Pearce’s engaging laugh. He had tipped his head and was watching her. His voice was soft and rich.

Are you turning me soft in the head? We’ve never had a dog. Too much trouble. I have enough to deal with taking care of Gracie.”

Don’t worry. I’ll just add him to my line-up of patients,” Molly assured him.

He sighed deeply. “What can I do, I’m putty in your hands.”

Molly grinned at him, but felt her face redden as thoughts of molding Pearce in her hands took on a whole other connotation.