Sheltering Hearts by Robyn Carr Read Free Book Online

workshops within the Zoë Institute.
    And now she was leading workshops. It filled her up inside to have come so far.
    Another sign of her growth was her improving relationship with her neighbor. The past couple of weeks since her car had been repaired had been very nice between her and Clay. On those late afternoons Dory and the kids came home to find him enjoying a day off, he’d either play a little catch with Sophie and Austin, walk down to the river with them so they could fish for a half hour or so while Dory fixed their dinner, or maybe even give each of them rides around the yards on the riding lawn mower. She got used to finding her grass cut and her trash hauled down to the road while she was at work. It was a cordial relationship—no pressure, no more dating talk. She was even starting to consider inviting him over for Sunday dinner with the kids.
    But just as that thought surfaced yet again, she looked out the window toward his house, and what did she see? Clay was perched against his porch rail, holding a beer, talking to a leggy blonde who reclined on the chaise on his porch. Dory couldn’t really see them clearly, but she had a good enough view to make out the brown bottle Clay held and the long, tanned legs in a pair of very short shorts.
    Well, she chided herself, you won’t go out with him. Did you expect he’d never find himself a girlfriend?
    She fought down the disappointment with the rationalization that they were really better off just as hospitable neighbors. Healthier for her, less complicated for him. After all, she came with a lot of baggage. She could still invite him for dinner—just a friendly little no-fuss dinner to thank him for being such a good sport with the kids.
    Concentrating on her conference details was a little harder at the moment, however. Dory found herself looking out the window toward his house a number of times. He and the blonde were gone, but both cars were still there—his and hers. They would be inside, she thought. Having grown-up time.
    So she finished her laundry and cleaning. She could at least manage that without focus.
    Then there was a knock at her door. She opened it to a smiling Elizabeth—blonde Elizabeth, her newest volunteer, wearing short shorts and a tank top. Elizabeth, dating Clay?
    “I had no idea you lived here!” she said, grinning. “When I told Clay that I was starting to do a little community service with a single moms group, he said his neighbor was into that and wondered if it could be the same group. I mean, how many people named Dory are there, anyway?”
    “Hi,” she said, but couldn’t help frowning a little. “How do you know Clay?” Dory asked, because she couldn’t bring herself to ask if they were dating.
    “He’s my brother,” Elizabeth said. “We came over so the boys could fish. They love walking down to Clay’s river. We’re going to put some hot dogs on the grill in a half hour—why don’t you and your kids come over and join us?”
    “Oh—I don’t want to impose on family time,” she said, almost backing away from the front door. In fact, she was a little embarrassed, not only by the conclusions she’d jumped to, but her reaction to those conclusions.
    “Come on,” Elizabeth said. “Believe me, it’s not much. I brought over deviled eggs and a bag of chips. Clay’s opening a can of baked beans and has plenty of hot dogs and buns. It’s casual.”
    “I’m so surprised I haven’t seen you in the neighborhood before.”
    “I’m not out here that often. I usually see Clay at my folks’ place or with one of my sisters, and he sometimes takes the boys off my hands for a few hours after school—either brings them out here to fish or meets them at my house.”
    “He seems to like kids,” Dory said.
    “Firemen,” she said, shaking her head with a laugh. “They have a real reputation for having soft spots for kids. Most of ’em, anyway. Come on, gather up your crew and come on over. You can use a