Healing Hearts Read Free Page B

came to mind and from the sparks flying from her eyes, he figured she wouldn’t quite appreciate the humor of the situation. “I—er—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed at you or your predicament. A dog’s first bath can be rather…traumatic for both parties.
    She looked at him for a few moments, her expression grim, though her anger had subsided—somewhat. He could still see the muscles twitching in her jaw and the rigid stance of her posture. “Ms. Churchill? Should I leave?”
    “No, Dr. Morrison—Grant. Don’t go, I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting any visitors. And please, call me Sarah.”
    He liked the way his name rolled off her lips, like a bubbling brook over stones. Soft and inviting, the sound washed over him, relaxing him, yet leaving him breathless and longing for her to repeat his name. The sudden urge to kiss her crossed his mind.
    But he wouldn’t. He was simply here to check on Sarah’s progress with her new pet.
    “Okay, Sarah. How can I help?”
    Her hesitation didn’t surprise him. Nor did the wariness of her tone, but her answer did. “Sure. Any ideas you can give me would be great. We aren’t seeing eye to eye, or hand to paw right now. C’mon.”
    He followed her through her one-room apartment and into a tiny space that qualified as a bathroom. Grant realized as soon as he looked inside that it barely accommodated Sarah and the dog she’d rescued today, much less himself.
    Maybe he should offer to wash the dog himself, but doubted Sarah would allow it. That she had a chip on her shoulder about accepting help was an understatement, he’d learned that this afternoon. He was amazed she’d even let him assist her now. Cautiously, he entered the room.
    “Well, I see your first problem.”
    “What?”
    “That.” He pointed to the partially filled tub. As he leaned over to pull the stopper out his shoulder grazed hers. A jolt of energy surged through him. He wondered if he’d electrocute himself if he put his hand in the water. Under his breath he muttered a prayer for strength and pulled the plug. “Don’t put water in the tub, what you’re actually going to do is give him a shower?”
    “A shower? That’s silly. Then why do they call it a bath?”
    The way she wrinkled her nose in confusion amused him again, but he held back his laughter. From what he’d already figured out, Sarah didn’t have much of a sense of humor and now was not the time to try to get her to lighten up. She had access to gallons of water. The last thing he wanted was to get his new polo shirt drenched by a sudden show of her temper. His chest still ached where she’d poked him earlier at the clinic.
    “Your guess is as good as mine.” Grant was glad she had the removable kind of showerhead with a hose attached. It would certainly make their job easier. “Good. You remembered to cover his leg,” he said approvingly, looking at the plastic bag taped over the shaved spot where he’d sewn up the dog.
    That she’d listened to him and had taken direction was a good sign they would work well together. Although it was a good thing he’d shown up when he did. If Sarah had managed to get the dog into the water-filled tub, no amount of plastic would have kept the stitches dry.
    “First, you get him into the tub…” Reaching to the puppy hiding behind the toilet, Grant pulled him out by the scruff of his neck. “Come on, big boy, a little water’s not going to hurt you.” He settled him into the tub.
    Sarah stood there amazed as Rocky just sat in the tub, his pink tongue licking Grant’s arm, his tail thumping on the old porcelain bottom. Her wriggling, writhing bundle of fur practically rolled over and played dead for the doctor. The nerve. It had to be a guy thing, she decided, as she watched him pull the hose from the hook.
    “Then you turn the water on…”
    The instant the whine of water came through the pipes, Rocky flew from the tub and skidded to a stop by Sarah’s legs. At least he