Valentine Pets & Kisses: Fourteen All-New, Sweet Valentine Romances

by Rachelle Ayala

  Larry’s heart felt like a tire with the air let out. He picked up Harley, or the dog she called Little Treat, and opened the door for Jenna. She didn’t want to stay and he wasn’t going to beg. Besides, he didn’t like beautiful women anyway. Everything they had was on the surface, and there was oftentimes nothing beneath all that glow.

  “Okay, at least let me walk you to your car,” he said, more out of politeness for her being Connor’s sister.

  “That’s fine. I’ll call a cab.” She flicked her wrist. “This was all very touching and I’m just over the moon that Little Treat has a place to stay until I surprise Connor with him. You won’t say anything, will you?”

  “About the puppy?”

  “Yes, the puppy, and my fainting episode.” She tilted her head and wiped her forehead dramatically. “Can’t let my parents think I’m starving myself.”

  “You are, though.” He reached for her before he could stop his disobedient hand, and touched her cheek. “You were so pale. Are you sure you’re going to be okay? You can wait for the taxi here, or I can drive you home. I know the way.”

  She shook her head and backed from his doorway. “I better not. I mean, it’s too weird. I wake up on your couch and you have my pants unzipped. Are you sure you didn’t touch me where you weren’t supposed to?”

  Larry could only gape as she turned and walked down the corridor, tossing her hair at him with a quick backward glance. Right before she turned the corner, a surge of energy rose in his chest, and he felt like he was powering up.

  “Did you want me to?” he shouted and slammed the door.

  Chapter 6

  The next morning, Jenna woke up with a nasty headache, then almost threw up her diet breakfast drink. That stuff tasted chalky and nasty. Add to that, she hadn’t slept well, and she needed to buy fabrics and order champagne for the after-party.

  So many details and she hadn’t picked up a needle in three days. Not good. She stared at the partially constructed gown hanging off her adjustable mannequin dress form. Should she turn the knob and widen the waist area? Could she get away with a more flowy look?

  Ugh. Designing her own dress was the hardest. Unlike the professional models who were all legs and arms, Jenna had boobs and a butt, and at five foot eight, she wasn’t quite tall enough to walk the runway. But as designer of the show, she had to be memorable, especially if she wished to line up the buyers at the after-party.

  Jenna poured the rest of her nasty diet shake down the sink and pulled on a motorcycle jacket before heading down the stairs of her parents’ house.

  She had no time to feel sorry for herself. Even though this show was a charity event, it was make or break for her career. She’d already been passed over thanks to that ex-boyfriend of hers stealing her designs last year.

  Last time she’d trust any sweet-talking man.

  “Mom, I’m taking the Toyota,” she yelled as she grabbed the keys off the hook.

  “Wait a sec. Can you swing by the station?” Mom opened the refrigerator. “I’ve a casserole for the boys.”

  “I need to talk to Connor anyway. Why doesn’t he ever come home?”

  Of the six children in her family, only Connor lived at home, although truth to be told, he was mostly at the firehouse.

  “Maybe because you’re home, right next door to him?” Mother chuckled as she fit the casserole into an insulated carrying case.

  “What’s wrong with me?” Jenna bristled, even though her mouth watered at the beef brisket with barbecue sauce packed inside the carrier. She should have at least tasted Larry’s temptations last night, but she wouldn’t have been able to stop at the antipasto salad. Her stomach squeezed in complaint, turning sour.

  “Nothing.” Her mother said in a sing-song manner that spoke loads of something behind that. “Give him a kiss from me, and go on your way. I know you’re busy, busy, busy with the show.”

  “Doubt he’d let me get close enough.” But then again, maybe her mother’s casserole would get her a few minutes alone with her brother, who seemed to be pulling out all the stops to avoid her.

  Ten minutes later, Jenna parked on the driveway of the station. Of course she wasn’t supposed to, but as sister of the chief, they’d warn her before they towed her mother’s car away. After all, she sported the right bumper and window stickers for their firehouse.

  Two guys came out of the lobby and spotted her. Good. She knew them. Chad and Jackson. The casserole wasn’t heavy, but she wasn’t going to risk spilling sauce over her silk blouse.

  “Jenna,” Chad called out. “What’cha got there?”

  She lowered her oversized sunglasses and whipped out a smile. “What makes you think I got something for you?”

  “You’re driving your mom’s car.” Jackson crossed his arms and stood like a typical bulging fireman, his legs apart and shoulders square.

  “I come bearing bribes.” She pointed to the back door. “And I’ll let you two have first bite if you help me.”

  “We’ll take it in, sure thing.” Chad extracted the casserole in the padded carrier, while Jackson grabbed the shopping bags full of bread, rolls, and other baked goods her mother picked up from the farmer’s market.

  “Whatever you need, I’m your man,” Jackson lifted an eyebrow, obviously flirting with her.

  “Ever heard of the firemen’s fashion show?” Jenna dragged her eyes up and down his fine body.

  “You mean the kind where we dance and swivel our hips and women stick money in our pants?” Jackson’s mouth widened with a long leer. “I’d love to, but Chief’s against it.”

  “That’s why I need to bribe him.”

  “Sorry, but his mama’s casserole isn’t going to be enough,” Chad said, peeking into the bag.

  “Neither will women. We tried,” Jackson said. “He’s stuck on that doctor lady.”

  “But how about a puppy?” Jenna followed the two burly men through the doorway toward the lunch room.

  “You got him a puppy?” Jackson stopped in the middle of the corridor. “You’re lucky you’re his sister.”

  “What do you mean?” She looked from one man to the other. “Didn’t Bear die?”

  “Exactly, he isn’t over him.” Chad’s eyes shifted up and down the hallway. “When Jackson mentioned getting another station dog, he had a cow.”

  “A cow?” Jenna hadn’t realized how stubborn Connor was, although she wasn’t surprised. “But surely, you guys need a station dog, you know, a mascot. Someone to pet. Someone adorable who’d eat your table scraps.”

  “He won’t hear of it. Just like he won’t let us do strip shows,” Jackson said. “You have to come up with something better.”

  “What about dates for all of you with my models? A bachelor auction?” Jenna was scrambling for air. There had to be something her brother would allow.

  “Now, that’s an idea,” Chad said, rocking from one foot to the other, as if he had to go to the bathroom. “I’d be all for it.”

  “Provided Connor’s not the one being auctioned,” Jackson cautioned. “He’s onto his sisters and mother trying to set him up.”

  “Well, fine. He’s exempt, but wouldn’t that be a morale booster for the rest of you?”

  “I like it.” Jackson grinned. “I bet all the single guys will sign up.”

  “Yeah, let me put this in the refrigerator and pass the word around.” Chad’s face lit with a broad smile, as if he was picturing his date already. “Connor’s a good boss, and if we want something that won’t make the department look sleazy, he’d allow it.”

  “Great. Then black tie for all you gents. My models will be wearing evening gowns. We’ll make it classy.”

  “What about a date for Rachel?” Chad asked on behalf of the newest member of the team, a female rookie firefighter.

  “Well, I wasn’t planning on any male models,” Jenna said. “But maybe the photographer would step in.”

  Except the photographer was her on-and-off date. More off these days,
but he’d do anything she asked, provided there was an angle for him.

  “Cool, then everyone’s taken care of,” Jenna said.

  “Who’s taken care of?” Heavy booted footsteps clomped toward them. Connor’s eyebrows were drawn together as if he expected Jenna to be up to no good.

  “All your men and woman,” Jenna said as chirpily as she could. “I agree with you about not doing the burlesque show, so we’ll have a dating auction instead. I’ll get my models to date your firemen and one woman.”

  Connor scratched his head and frowned. “Sounds good, but how’s that going to raise money for you?”

  “I, uh, hadn’t thought of that. It’s a Valentine’s Day fashion show, so people will bid for dates.”

  “Except my men and one woman have no money to attend your fancy-smancy thousand-dollar plate dinner and dance.” Connor placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward his office. “You need a better plan than that.”

  “Does that mean you’ll help?” She glanced over her shoulder at Jackson and Chad. They gave her a thumbs up and a wink. Maybe all it took was finding out how Connor wanted to help and not her forcing her ideas on him.

  “Depends on what you want me to do,” Connor said. He shut his office door. “And what I want from you.”

  “Oh, good. I love horse trading.” Jenna’s heart did jumping jacks. She was finally getting somewhere. “So, if the date auction doesn’t work, what do you think will work? I need to have a big success. Big buyers to place orders. The fashion rags to write raving reviews, and of course raise money for the widow and orphan fund.”

  “That’s a tall order.” Connor flexed his muscles and sat on the top of his oak desk. “Your idea of a strip show won’t work. It won’t draw the right type of crowd. A bunch of horny middle-aged women sticking dollar bills down the trousers of my men and one woman isn’t going to give you the right type of attention.”

  Jenna gulped at Connor’s description of the ticket holders. “Actually, I’ve already advertised the firemen as part of the show. I’m afraid they’ll be disappointed.”

  “They won’t. But instead of promising dates with your models, I’ll let you run a bachelor auction as long as my men are dressed decently. I’ll speak to them. They might have to spend an evening with a chief executive or a wealthy widow, but they’ll do it for the widow and orphan fund.”

  “That’s awfully kind of you.” Jenna placed her hand on her older brother’s arm. “I can get tuxedos fitted for them as soon as I take their measurements. Will you be one of the men?”

  Connor’s mouth tightened and he inhaled heavily through his nostrils. “Yeah, I will. A leader should never ask from his followers something he isn’t willing to do himself.”

  “Oh, that’s awesome.” She threw her arms around him. “Connor, I hope you meet someone who clicks with you.”

  “I hope I don’t. I’d rather date one of those female venture capitalists or investment bankers and raise more cash for your show. That’s the only reason for doing this. Don’t make me regret it by trying to set someone up to bid on me.”

  “I won’t. I really won’t,” Jenna promised, although Connor had just given her an excellent idea. “Now, is there anything you want from me?”

  She knew her brother. He was a horse trader, and he’d call in his favor either now or later.

  “Yeah, one thing. Larry.”

  “Larry?” Jenna’s heart stuttered to her throat. Larry. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind, try as she might. What had he meant about her wanting him to touch her? And why was the thought of him touching or peeking at her so exciting? She tamped down her fluttery thoughts and steeled herself for her brother’s request.

  “Set him up with one of your models,” Connor said. “I’ll convince him to be in the auction, but I’ll pay for the bid.”

  “Pay for it? What do you mean?” Jenna couldn’t quite wrap her head around it. “Why would you need to pay for a bidder?”

  Connor quirked his eyebrow as if Jenna was a slow student. One side of his lip curled and he shook his head. “In case you haven’t noticed, he hasn’t had a date since he came out of the burn unit.”

  “You’re going to pay someone to bid for him? That’s so underhanded.”

  “Not any more underhanded than you, Mom, and Cait foisting women on me.” Connor snorted, looking like a bull pawing the ground toward a matador.

  “No, no, this is different,” Jenna said. “This isn’t right.”

  “Then I won’t have my men do the bachelor auction.” Connor stood his ground. “Get Larry a date. He likes blondes. Someone who looks like Melisa. Sweet, kind, and cute.”

  “But my models are all tall and thin, not cuddly like Melisa.” Jenna’s tongue stumbled over itself. “And didn’t we agree that he should get over Melisa? This is insulting for him.”

  “Not if he doesn’t find out we were behind it. I’m sure that Russian model of yours, Irina, would do. I’ll pay for it. Tell her to bid as high as she can to get him.”

  “But, can you afford it? Didn’t you say all the women bidding would be investment bankers, CEOs of technology companies, and venture capitalists?”

  Connor laughed and snickered. “She might be the only bidder. Don’t worry your pretty head about it.”

  “But …” Jenna hated the thought of tricking Larry into a date. “What if he thinks Irina really wanted to go out with him?”

  “It’s only a date for charity. He won’t think anything.” Connor patted Jenna on the back. “Everything will work out.”

  Sure. Except Larry would be hurt if he found out his best friend had to pay for him to have a date. Even worse. What if Irina ended up liking him? Then what?

  Chapter 7

  Another Friday night. Another evening without a date. But who was counting? Larry had Harley now. What did he care about a woman who all but accused him of fondling her? What kind of man would he be if he’d taken advantage of a fainting woman?

  Sure, he’d noticed her smooth belly and lacy panty-line, but he’d kept his hands to doing first aid. Well, okay, so he had touched her cheek, but hadn’t she touched him too?

  Larry flinched at the memory of Jenna’s gentle touch. The ache in his heart was a reminder of all he’d lost when he came out of the burn unit. It wasn’t like he was so hung up on his looks before, but back then, women liked him. He’d been a football player through high school and a firefighter afterwards. His foster mother had been so proud of him, and his girlfriend had been bugging him to propose.

  All that disappeared when the house with the child trapped behind the window exploded. His foster mother got hit by a car and his girlfriend moved across the country.

  If it hadn’t been for Connor and his family, he’d be a lonely bum—unwanted and unloved. Rehab was the most painful thing he’d gone through—all the hours of slowly learning to walk, of taking care of his injured skin, of waiting for his grafts to heal, and the memories of the daily debriding? Hell would have been better.

  Larry opened the refrigerator and carved out a piece of ham for a sandwich. He wasn’t complaining. He had a job, friends, and a dog—assuming that flaky woman wasn’t coming back for him.

  He’d just finished the sandwich when someone buzzed his doorbell. Harley jumped from his feet and waddled to the door, sniffing and whining.

  Could it be Jenna? Larry finger combed his hair and wiped his mouth with a napkin, his heartrate accelerating. After all, Harley or Little Treat belonged to her and she hadn’t asked him for a progress report on his potty-training.

  Clearing his throat and practicing his smile, he opened the door.

  Connor stood outside balancing a pizza box with a case of beer.

  “What’s got you smiling like a dumbass?” Connor swaggered through the doorway. “You got laid or something?”

  “Wwaoooruuhff.” Harley wagged his tail, moving his entire rump with it.

  “Oh, sweet. You got a dog.” Connor shoved the pizza on
to the coffee table and bent to pat the basset hound.

  Larry pulled on his pant legs to sit. “Actually, he’s not my dog.”

  It actually hurt to admit this, because he wanted Harley so much, but he was meant for Connor, and his buddy seemed to like the little guy already.

  “You’re dog sitting for someone?” Connor lifted the puppy onto his lap and worked him over, loose skin and all. “I’ve thought about getting a puppy, but I hate everyone pushing me like I have to get over Bear, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Larry reached out for a beer bottle. After Shelly broke up with him, everyone had set him up on blind dates, but he wasn’t ready to get back to dating—not with his physical problems and compromised immune system. After almost two years of being alone, he didn’t mind it much—until lately. He shook off the temptations. Melisa had made it clear he was friend territory, and as for Jenna, she was way out of his league—more like out of the solar system or entire galaxy.

  “Nice dog. Who’s is it?” Connor handed the puppy to Larry. Was he imagining it, or was his buddy not that interested in Harley?

  “Uh, well, she said not to say anything.” Larry picked at the label on the beer bottle.

  “She?” Connor opened the pizza box and pulled out a slice. “Are you holding out on me? Who? You have a girlfriend?”

  “No, no girlfriend. I’m just watching her puppy. Well, actually potty-training him for her.” Gosh. Was he sick or what? Even saying ‘her’ sounded so good to him, as if he had a ‘her’ in a relationship with him. He petted her dog instead. Although Harley wasn’t really Jenna’s since Jenna wanted to give him to Connor. But then, if Jenna forgot about the dog, would she let Larry keep him?

  “Her who?” Connor was a persistent man. No wonder he became fire chief at twenty-nine.

  “A friend.” Larry could feel his face reddening—or at least the side that was free of the orange-peel-like scars. He set Harley on the floor and pried the cap off the beer bottle.