Restore My Heart by Cheryl Norman Read Free Book Online

Sally met few cars on the side street except a speeding pick-up splashing through the puddles. Pulling the Mustang behind his Dodge, Joe parked on the deserted street, then shut off the engine.
    “Thanks for dinner, Joe.” Sally seemed absorbed in unbuckling the old-fashion lap belt.
    “I’d like to do this again.” He unfastened his safety belt and twisted in the seat to face her. “Could we?”
    “I-I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “Look at me, Sally.” He waited until she lifted her head to face him. Even in darkness, he sensed her anxiety. “Before you dismiss me, get to know me better.”
    She slowly nodded. “I suppose that’s only fair.”
    He smiled, suddenly struck by inspiration. He knew just what Sally needed. Nina, his irrepressible younger sister. “Great. Let me take you with me to Mom’s for Sunday dinner.”
    “Oh, Joe. I-I don’t know about that.”
    “Think it over before you refuse. She’d really like to meet you.”
    “This must be a rough time for her. Are you sure she’s up to company?”
    “Trust me. It does her good.”
    “Okay, I’ll think about it.” A short silence followed. “Do you want me to tune up the Darrin? I can have it ready Monday afternoon.”
    “Sure. I’m thinking about driving it. My lease is almost up on the Intrepid, and the Darrin is a unique car. The average person won’t know it’s a fake.”
    He opened the car door and the dome light came on, giving him a clearer view of Sally’s pensive face. After hurrying to open her door and helping her from the low-slung bucket seat, he offered her his arm, guiding her around to the driver’s side of the Mustang.
    “You don’t think I should drive the Darrin as an everyday car?”
    Sally didn’t answer immediately. Biting her bottom lip, she either needed all her concentration to control her leg or she was considering his question. “It’s still a valuable car. Unfortunately, it’s worth a lot less than what Leo paid for it.”
    “Yeah. I need to get to the bottom of that. Think I’ll run up to Carmel, Indiana and pay this Howard Steele a visit.”
    Sally’s eyes widened with alarm. She pointed behind him, all the while moving her mouth without sound.
    “What is it?” He spun around, following her gaze, and swore.
    She pushed away, hobbling at an impressive speed toward the back door of Mustang Sally’s. A ribbon of smoke curled from the edges of one garage door, flames dancing behind its narrow window.

Chapter
FOUR
    “Sally, wait!” Joe shouted.
    Sally ignored him. Mustang Sally’s was her livelihood. Her life. She wouldn’t let fire or anything else destroy it. Her hamstring muscle burned in protest, but she pushed on. Judging from the glow through the garage door windows, the fire was confined to one service bay—the one with the Darrin! If she hurried, she had time to contain the damage.
    She made it to the back door, grabbed for the handle and cursed. “Joe, the keys,” she yelled. “Bring me my keys.”
    Joe raced back to the Mustang, returning seconds later with her key ring.
    Shaking, she fumbled with the keys. Identifying the correct one, she couldn’t steady her hand enough to insert it into the door lock.
    “Let me try.” Prying the key from her quivering fingers, Joe unlocked and opened the door. “Where’s your fire extinguisher?”
    “Right here.” She pushed ahead of him, then hoisted the cylinder from its bracket by the door.
    “Sally—” Joe coughed from the mounting smoke.
    “Got it!” Thank God Uncle Sal had drilled his employees on fire safety. She pulled the pin. Inhaling and holding a deep breath, she headed toward the flames, aimed the nozzle and stumbled. “Damn leg.”
    Joe rushed to her side, grabbing the heavy cylinder. “Here. I’ll hold it and you shoot.”
    Together, they spewed dry chemicals over the flames, extinguishing the fire in minutes—minutes that seemed like hours. Sally’s eyes burned. Her leg buckled, careening her to the