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By Rosalie Joyce

It was for Lizzy's sake that Cindy went along with a bogus engagement to Carl, and it was for Lizzy's sake that she opened the door of her home to the handsome young man. But had she opened the door of her heart as well? Each chapter is enhanced with music to help bring the story to life. Read the first few chapters of this touching romance free before purchasing as a browser readable e-book on CD-ROM from Antelope Publishing. Price $9.95

Part One

"DEBBY Haskins, how many times must I tell you not to daydream on company time!" At the irate reminder the slender, young woman in the blue smock turned from the shop window she had been staring out of for the past five minutes and smiled mischievously.

"Don't you know, Cinderella?" she asked, "I'm waiting for Prince Charming to come charging up on his white stallion and sweep us away from all of this drudgery!" Twin dimples flashed in the corners of her cheeks as she made a dramatic gesture in the direction of the cages and tanks that filled the small pet store.

Cindy wasn't amused. Over the years she had heard enough about Prince Charming. In fact, she had heard enough about the male species altogether. She would be quite happy if one never entered her life again, and her sister knew it.

"As it was a man who made it necessary for this Cinderella to discharge the help and do all the work ourselves, I don't think counting on one to come galloping to our rescue is very practical," she said sharply, shaking clean bark dust into the hamsters' cage.

"My, my, sister dear, if one didn't know better they'd think you bitter." Cindy's younger sister crossed to a cage and removed a Cocker Spaniel puppy which she carried to the large front window that showcased a few of their animals. She positioned food and water next to it, speaking to Cindy without turning to face her, "All men aren't selfish, gigolos like Lance Larsen. Someday you'll met a genuine man. One who will love you for your tender-hearted, sweet natured self."

Cindy didn't answer. It still smarted to think that the man she had thought herself in love with had been more interested in her money than her welfare. The handsome, smooth talking man had utilized her credit cards so liberally that it would take her years to pay off the bills. In the meantime, Debby had had to quit college and go to work in the store that had, at one time, been more of a hobby than a profession. Bitter? You bet she was bitter. Bitter and wiser. It would be a long time before she put her trust in another man.

"Put the Samoyed in with the Cocker," she instructed, turning the 'closed' sign over to read 'open'. "It's time that fellow was finding a home."

"Let's hope that home doesn't end up being ours," the young girl laughed. "Your unwanted pets are eating into our meager profits."

Cindy knew it wasn't practical to take the pets that she couldn't sell home with her. Yet, hadn't she managed to find adoptive families for most of them? And wasn't the small acreage she had inherited from their parents big enough to house a few unwanted souls?

A loud squawking reminded her that she still needed to feed the parrots.

As she moved to the back of the room she heard the front door open and close. It was unusual to have someone enter at such an early hour. As she glanced back and saw a man in a business suit entering her heart sank. Was this a creditor come to harass her? Hadn't she made it clear that she was doing her best with what she had? Were they sending their henchmen out to her shop now?

The man stroked the puppy that Debby held in her arms and Cindy breathed a sigh of relief. If he were a creditor, at least he seemed a kind-hearted one.

Her mind was so much on her financial woes that she wasn't paying proper attention to what she was doing and Sam, the most bad-tempered parrot she had every had the misfortunate of having in her shop, gave her a sharp nip to remind her of her priorities. Her startled cry drew the man's attention. His smile was even more disarming than Lance's half crooked one had been, she thought and took an instant dislike to him.

"Are you Cindy of 'Cindy's Pet Shop'?" Since he had obviously read the name embroidered on her smock she couldn't very well deny the fact. "Perhaps you can offer your suggestions," his voice was deep and soft. A gentleman's voice, yet very much male.

She finished feeding Sam and moved toward the front desk. "How may I help you?" she asked, trying to keep the chill out of her voice. A sale was a sale, after all, and they needed every customer they could get.

"My niece is turning seven tomorrow," he explained. "And I wanted to surprise her with a puppy. The young lady said that this little fellow is a friendly breed."

"It also grows up to be a rather large, spirited breed," she warned. Much as she wanted to get rid of the Sammy she wanted more for it to go to a home that would suit its needs. "The Cocker in the window is a smaller breed, but its coat requires a lot of attention. Is your niece wanting a pet to pamper or to play with?"

"A little of both, I expect," he said, again with that disarming smile.

"Would the pet be living inside or out?" she asked, moving to the row of cages that housed their puppies.

"In mostly. Lizzy needs the company."

"You'll no doubt want a smaller dog then." She opened the door that housed the young Pug that she had taken a special liking to. "This fellow is a toy breed, but sturdy, and he's able to make himself as at home in an apartment as he is on a large estate."

"His face should cheer Lizzy, if nothing else," he seemed amused by the pushed in face of the young animal as it looked up with its big round eyes, its tongue panting in eager anticipation of the attention it hoped to receive. "I'll take it."

She noticed that he didn't ask the price, but then, perhaps a man that wore a pin-striped business suit that was obviously custom tailored for his virile frame didn't care how much things cost.

"Debby will ring him up for you," she said passing the dog to her sister and turning toward the canaries and parakeets that still needed tending.

"I was hoping you could deliver it tomorrow," he was saying to Debby who had been puttering at tiding a nearby shelf, but was now directing her full attention on the tall, dark haired, broad chested, narrow hipped man.

"I'm afraid we don't deliver," Cindy said firmly.

"I'll make it worth your while," he promised, again with the smile. "I'm having a birthday party for Lizzy tomorrow. It would really top off the festivities if she were presented with the puppy then."

"We can make an exception this once, can't we, Cindy?" Debby was asking her sister but was gazing at the man, a large, silly smile on her face. Well, if she wanted to make a fool of herself, fine and dandy. She could deliver the dog herself.

"Here's my card," he withdrew the small piece of paper and held it out to Cindy.

"If you could drop by about noonish, I would appreciate it. I expect the dog will need a bed, food and the like. Just add it all onto the bill and I'll write out a check when you arrive."

He seemed to be a man accustomed to giving orders and having them obeyed, Cindy thought as he glanced at his wristwatch as though remembering he had a pressing appointment elsewhere.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," he said, flashing another smile, before he turned and left the store.

"If that wasn't just the most handsome man I've ever seen!" Debby sighed, leaning her elbows on the counter and resting her chin in her cupped hands. "Not a prince exactly, but he was charming, and, from the look of him, he has oodles of money. I'd say he's a lawyer or a doctor."

Cindy glanced at the man's card. The address was in a residential area that she had heard others refer to as 'snob hill'. The place probably teamed with lawyers and doctors.

"You can ask him what he does for a living tomorrow, when you deliver the puppy," Cindy suggested. "If he's a lawyer, you might ask him how to undo the damage done by another smooth talking male."

"And if he's a doctor, sister dear, I shall ask what he can do about getting some warm blood pumping through that frozen heart of yours," Debby purred smoothly before turning her attention toward her morning chores.

Part Two 

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Once Burned
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