Heart's Refuge
Her life has turned upside downBack in high school, Sarah Hillman was a rich girl who protected herself by always being on the attack. Now her father's skipped town, the money's gone and she's sleeping in her office. Too bad the only person she can turn to has every reason to reject her.Will Barnes isn't a gangly math nerd anymore. He's a financial advisor and a father, and when Sarah shows up in his office, he threatens to kick her out. And yet, Will agrees to help. But if Sarah falls for this kind, strong man, she'll have to stay in Holly Heights, a town where everyone knows her…and hates her.
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Her life has turned upside down
Back in high school, Sarah Hillman was a rich girl who protected herself by always being on the attack. Now her fatherâs skipped town, the moneyâs gone and sheâs sleeping in her office. Too bad the only person she can turn to has every reason to reject her.
Will Barnes isnât a gangly math nerd anymore. Heâs a financial advisor and a father, and when Sarah shows up in his office, he threatens to kick her out. And yet, Will agrees to help. But if Sarah falls for this kind, strong man, sheâll have to stay in Holly Heights, a town where everyone knows her...and hates her.
âIâm not accepting any new clients.â
Not even if she was the daughter of the richest man in town and he could use the business. Will walked around the dog and held the door open for them. âAnd Iâm too busy to make small talk.â
Sarah put her hand on the dogâs head and looked down at him for a minute. Will was pretty sure he was going to win this encounter. It was a weird feeling. At seventeen, heâd been happy to escape her notice. Now he wanted to see the expression on her face while she digested that bit of information.
She straightened her shoulders, smoothed her red dress and shifted in the sky-high heels. Her red lips curved up and she tilted her chin. âCome on, Will, wonât you even give me a chance to tell you how much I need your help?â
Ever since I met a beagle puppy named Jake, Iâve been dog crazy. Back then I was cute enough to convince my parents that dogs sleep in the house and on the bed. Today Iâm lucky to have a writing partner named Jack, a stray I met in the middle of the road. I believe in rescues. Old or young, purebred or indeterminate mix, shelter dogs (and cats) change lives. Rescue work is a challenge due to hard stories, limited resources and the unending, disheartening turnover. The flip side is the serious joy of successful adoption and proof that second chances happen every day.
In Heartâs Refuge, Sarah Hillman is already falling under the spell of a shelter dog named Bub when she corners Will Barnes in his office. Sarah gave Will a hard time in high school, but sheâs determined to save Paws for Love and she needs Willâs help. Iâve loved spending time with Will and Sarah and the animals that change their lives, Bub and Jelly. I hope you will, too!
If youâd like to know more about my books and whatâs coming next, enter fun giveaways or meet my dog, Jack, please visit me at cherylharperbooks.com. Iâm also on Facebook (CherylHarperRomance) and Twitter (@CherylHarperBks). Iâd love to chat!
Cheryl Harper
CHERYL HARPER discovered her love for books and words as a little girl, thanks to a mother who made countless library trips and an introduction to Laura Ingalls Wilderâs Little House stories. Whether itâs the prairie, the American West, Regency England or Earth a hundred years in the future, Cheryl enjoys strong characters who make her laugh. Now Cheryl spends her days searching for the right words while she stares out the window and her dog, Jack, snoozes beside her. And she considers herself very lucky to do so.
For more information about Cherylâs books, visit her online at cherylharperbooks.com or follow her on Twitter, @cherylharperbks.
To everyone who calls a rescued dog or cat a member of the family, and the volunteers who keep these animals safe until their new families find them, thank you.
Contents
WILL BARNES STRAIGHTENED the pad of paper so the bottom was perfectly aligned with the edge of his desk. Next, he hit Play on his voice mail. For more than a decade, every morning had started the same wayâvoice mail, email, crisis management. Whether he was in a Dallas high-rise or his quaint new office in downtown Holly Heights, his clients, the ones whoâd stuck with him, had come to expect quick answers.
People liked to know what was happening with their money.
And dependability mattered. Especially now that Will had left the practice heâd helped build to step out on his own. Proving he was the same guy whoâd protected his clientsâ futuresâminus the slick city officeâwas critical.
Only his daughter, Chloe, could convince him to walk away from what heâd built, the partnership heâd been chasing, for the unknown.
Since she was currently clearing every one of his shelves and restacking the books to her liking, he wasnât sure he was off to a great start. Entertaining a twelve-year-old girl for a whole summer would tax his creativity.
Neither of them was certain he could do it.
When the last message started, Will realized his day was about to take a sharp downturn.
