Free Blessings of the Heart and Samantha's Gift by Valerie Hansen

know.”
    Bree didn’t stop to analyze whether it was his gentle tone of voice or their empathetic words that drew her to him. All she knew was that Mitch reached out to her and she responded.
    One moment they were standing there commiserating, and the next they were sharing a tender embrace. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had hugged her to offer comfort with no strings attached.
    The feeling was one of peace, yet exhilaration; innocence, yet awareness; solace, yet perplexity. Listening to the sure, solid thudding of his heart as her cheek lay against his chest, Bree was certain of only one thing. She didn’t want to let go.
    Minutes passed. No one spoke. They didn’t step apart until they heard the sound of approaching footsteps and the clicking of tiny claws on the tiled hall.
    By the time the children and Barney appeared in the doorway, Brianne was on one side of the room, and Mitch was on the other.
    “Hey, Dad, can we have a cookie?” Ryan asked.
    “You’ll have to ask Ms. Bailey. This is her house. And put that dog in the bathroom. I told you he has to stay there.”
    “Okay, okay.”
    The boy turned sparkling dark eyes to her. “Can we have cookies? Please?”
    “I suppose so. If you eat them at the kitchen table,” Bree said. The bouncy little dog had ducked beneath her desk and disappeared from sight. She circled to the opposite side and bent to try to keep an eye on it.
    “Aw. We’ll miss cartoons,” Ryan whined. “Mama used to let us eat on the floor by the TV.”
    Mitch took over the conversation. “There were a lot of things your mother let you do that I don’t intend to permit. Might as well get used to it. We’re guests in this house, and I expect you to behave that way. If you want cookies, you’ll eat them when and where Ms. Bailey says. The choice is yours.”
    “Okay. The TV’s been actin’ funny, anyway. It keeps goin’ on and off by itself. We’ll go watch till it quits again, then we’ll have cookies. Come on, Bud. Come on, Barney.”
    The adults glanced at each other across her desk as the two boys sped down the hall.
    “Have you noticed any fluctuations in the electricity since last night?” Mitch asked.
    “No. But I probably wouldn’t in the daylight. I threw the circuit breaker that powers my computer early last night when the storm started brewing. I haven’t turned the computer on since, so I don’t have any easy way to tell. That wouldn’t be why the regular telephone didn’t work just now, would it?”
    “No. Phone lines are separate. Better leave your computer disconnected, though. If we are having power surges they could fry your appliances.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Speaking of frying, I still smell burned pancakes.”
    “Are you sure that’s not the odor of wet dog?” Mitch paused, sniffing and scowling. “I didn’t see Barney leave with the kids, did you?”
    “No. The last time I saw him he was crawling under my desk. By the time I came around here to check, he was gone.”
    “Well, he has to be somewhere. Stand back. I’ll find him for you.”
    Bree wasn’t about to leave the search to Mitch. After all, her office was her personal sanctuary. She looked about the room, chasing shadows. Her random survey led her to the cellular phone charger, where she paused. That was funny.
    “Hey, Mitch. Why did you move the phone? It can’t be fully charged yet.”
    “What are you talking about? I didn’t move the phone. It’s right over…” Puzzled, he stared at the empty receptacle. “That’s impossible. Nobody’s been in here but you and me.”
    “And the boys. But they stayed by the door.” Bree’s gaze locked with Mitch’s. Together they said, “Barney!”
    Brianne dropped onto her hands and knees.
    Mitch did the same on the opposite side of the desk. “There he is! Got him!” he shouted.
    “The phone. Does he have the phone?” By the time she clambered to her feet and joined Mitch, he had the dog tucked under one arm and