Hearts In Rhythm by Angel Wheeler Read Free Book Online Page A

and rubbed her back. The comfort overtook her and she wept on his shoulder. Suddenly she felt him pulling away.
    “I’m sorry,” he said walking back toward his wagon. “I shouldn’t have touched you. It was very unprofessional of me. If it’s all right with you and little buddy here, I’m going to cut this session short and come back later. I just think it would be best if I came back. Again, I apologize.”
    Allie watched him grab the handle to the red wagon and head to the door. She wanted to stop him. She wanted to tell him it was her fault. She wanted to feel his hands on her again; the warmth of him pressing into her. She swallowed hard and opened her mouth to urge him to stay but only the squeak of the wagon’s wheels filled the room. At the door he turned to her.
    “By the way, we practice Friday at 7. Can you make it?”
    All she managed was a nod.
    Then he was gone.
    * * * *
    Brandon closed the door to room 303 behind him and took a deep breath. Stunned did not even come close to describing how he was feeling. He pulled his wagon down the hall to the elevator and stepped in. He pushed number 1 and descended to the floor that housed his office. He had other patients to see, but he needed time to regroup.
    It amazed him how life worked.
    At his desk, he picked up the phone and dialed Matt’s cell number. He might be with patients, but he was hoping he was available. He answered on the third ring. After getting some small talk concerning how many hours of sleep they both managed out of the way, Matt came out and asked him.
    “So what’s up, buddy? You never call me while you’re at work.”
    “I just wanted to tell you that you’re a wise man. You really never know what someone is going through. Here I am, just thinking this Allie girl just wants to play drums, maybe to make it big, same as I, but that’s not true. You’re right, there are bigger things out there, things that matter more.”
    “I’m not following.”
    “I just left a patient’s room named Samuel. He’s in a bad way. You’ll never guess who his mom is.”
    “Allie?”
    “Yes, Allie. Her son is hurt. I feel like she needs some help. Maybe I’m supposed to do something more than offer her a drumming job. I have a feeling it’s what you meant when you said there’s bigger stuff out there than just myself.”
    “Follow your heart, Brandon.”
    “More counselor advice?”
    “That’s all I know, besides guitar.”
    Brandon hung up the phone. He didn’t know why this girl was in his life suddenly. All he knew, was he hoped he would find out soon.

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Allie paced Aisle 3. It was slow at Given’s Grocery. The snow had fallen throughout the night blanketing the town and keeping most people in. They had stocked up yesterday when the weather reporters warned of an approaching storm.
    Thomas, the shift manager had sent Allie to straighten inventory. Right now she was supposed to be lining up boxes of rice and stacking bags of beans, pulling everything to the front of the shelves giving the appearance of freshly stocked merchandise. She couldn’t concentrate. Her mind felt like a can of confetti string that someone squeezed all over the place. She had so many thoughts running through her head: Samuel, medical bills, the drumming gig, but mostly Brandon.
    The things she should be worrying about were being pushed to the outer edges by thoughts of him. If she concentrated hard enough she could feel his arms around her and smell the scent of the laundry detergent from his sweater mixed with the smell of soap on his neck. The guy was invading her every thought. Not only was he handsome, with the dark hair and the eyes the color of coffee with cream, but also he was tender showing great compassion by working with children. It took a great heart to do that. There had to be something wrong with him.
    Of course! That’s it! He’s gay. She should’ve known, men didn’t come packaged as wonderfully as he without a