Cupid to the Rescue: A Tail-Wagging Valentine's Day Anthology

by Lisa Mondello

  She threw a mock glare at him. “Are you kidding? I’ve got enough on my plate. You’re the artist in this house. And that’s final!”

  He approached with a wicked grin. “Then let’s practice something else. We had our dessert earlier. Are you ready for the main event?”

  She melted under his gaze. Her heart was his. “We’re probably the only ones in town who think this coziness is romantic.” She held out her hand, and he tucked it in his larger one. She felt a kiss on her temple.

  “Except for the howling wind, pelting sleet and icy snow…and those flickering lights...then yeah. It’s romantic enough for me.”

  With that short warning, the house went dark. “Timing, as they say, is everything,” said Brandon. “Hold on to the romantic thought while I work on the fire. It’s too soon to ignore it for long. It might go out.”

  “Well, at least dinner is behind us,” said Kathy, making her way to the sofa.

  “The only hot food we’ll have from now on is what we can toast in here,” he said while adding another log. “But we’ve got storm windows and great insulation. The ROMEOs do a great job with this place.”

  “They answer to that William Adams Foundation, and they’re keeping insurance rates down,” said Kathy. “They really have no choice.”

  “There are always choices,” he said.

  “Maybe for some, but not when Bart Quinn is chairman of the board.”

  Brandon threw back his head and laughed heartily. “It’s probably a position for life!” He stood and examined the room. “I’ll get a couple of flashlights. Then we’ll move the couch closer to the fireplace…”

  “You’ve got it all figured out, huh?”

  He was quiet for a moment. “All? No, just some of it. Storm prep is pretty simple. People are more complicated.”

  Her stomach tightened. “How about the people in this room?”

  He walked toward her, lifted her chin, and bestowed a kiss that ran deep. “Of course we’re complicated. We’re human. But I’d say it works for us.”

  “And I agree.” But their tucked-away Wonderland life had to end soon, and then a new reality would lie ahead. As she thought back, she realized the L word hadn’t come up in conversation. She’d seen his admiration of her reflected in his drawings and pictures. She’d certainly felt it in his touch and embrace. Evidence was everywhere! But as delightful as that was, she wanted to hear the one word too important to be forced. The one word, she realized, that neither of them had uttered aloud.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  In the glow of the firelight, Kathy watched Brandon stoke the flames. His dark hair shone with hints of red as he worked, his hands adept with his chore and his profile etched in concentration. His navy thermal tee pulled tautly across his back, revealing a pair of broad shoulders. The longer she watched him, the harder she tried to tamp down the racing current inside her. Never before had she been so attracted to any man. Never before had she worked to hold back a moan.

  He stood, replaced the fire screen, and approached. One look at her and his eyes blazed. “You are not alone, Katarina.”

  And then she wasn’t. He climbed in beside her, adjusting to the narrow seat, and lowered his head until his mouth touched hers. She pulled him closer, totally absorbed in the kiss, and followed him down to the carpeted floor, on top of the blankets and pillows he’d gathered earlier. Good idea.

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Kat, inside and out.” His kiss trailed down her neck and stopped at her shirt. “Do you need this?”

  “You’re supplying enough heat,” she whispered, pulling off the garment. “But two is only fair.” She tugged at his tee, and in a moment, her hands explored the hardness of his chest, her fingers weaving through the coarse hair, pausing on his nipples, teasing them.

  “Oh, nice,” he gasped. He rolled on his side, his hand caressing her bare stomach before his fingers slowly trailed up the center of her chest, pausing a moment at the clasp of her bra before freeing her. They continued around one breast, then around the other, slowly, deftly. And again.

  Her breath caught with sharp gasps of excitement each time his hand circled closer to his goal, toward each peak, closer and closer. He leaned over and gently blew across her nipples. Her entire body tightened, and she clutched the blanket at her side as her moans escaped. His tongue found one nub and his fingers found the other. Her head rolled from side to side.

  “Ooh…”

  “I love seeing you like this,” he whispered.

  She reached for his waistband. “I want you with me.”

  “Wonderful idea.” He tugged his pants off in one quick motion, and she drew him down toward her. “Hang on a sec,” he said, “and I’ll love you all night.”

  She heard a ripping sound. “Smart,” she whispered, reaching to embrace him, vaguely remembering his earlier use of the protection.

  “Now where was I?” His tongue found its target again, and she felt her breast swell under his touch. God, her nipples were so sensitive. His slow hand made its way down to her thighs, to that corner where they met, where her pleasure point was the greatest. Shivers rippled through her.

  “Brandon, come to me,” she gasped.

  “Not yet…” He kissed every inch of her from neck to waist, and as she quivered and moaned, he slowly lowered himself, slowly inched himself through the narrow opening, to that private place she wanted to share. She grasped him around the waist and pulled him closer. “Come on. It’s okay.”

  But still he paused. “Shh...want to make sure…”

  She tightened around him, knowing he couldn’t hold back another moment--which he didn’t. And she welcomed him inside.

  Brandon knew he held an unexpected gift in his arms, a gift he had not sought but found. Katarina. A delightful, loving, wonderful prize, and he hadn’t wanted to spoil it. He’d tried to enter her carefully, but she was ready for him and the ride began. They found their tempo quickly, her eyes glowing from within. The happier she was, the happier he became. At times, their bodies moved in such exquisite harmony, he didn’t know where he left off and she began. As if they were one. She was so different from any other woman he’d known. He explored every inch of her, but she did the same with him. Their kisses led everywhere.

  They rode the waves, sharing the discovery of new lovers, knowing that they were special in the universe. Surely, they were. And after the exquisite explosion, after the fireworks had cooled, she nestled against him, her head on his chest near his shoulder as naturally as if she’d been there a million times. He picked up a dark curl and held it gently.

  “I can’t fall asleep before I rebuild the fire,” he said quietly.

  “Uber man—you get an A in the ‘building fires’ department.”

  “You imp!” He waited a bit, as new ideas accosted him and filled his mind. “Kat? Hmm…I’m thinking…you know…about us.”

  He heard her inhale. “I’m definitely listening.”

  “We’re good together, aren’t we? Happy, too.”

  Her short pause seemed like years. “Yes, I think we are. And not only”—she waved at the linen—”in here.”

  Bingo! She’d hit it. That was the difference from his relationship with Amber. With Kat he felt joy and pleasure in the small things as well as the large. They shared ideas, supported and helped one another. Any stress they’d faced flew in from the outside. Sure, the physical attraction might have come first, but alone, it would not be enough to sustain a full life. He knew that now. He also knew that he wanted that full life and all the chaos that went with it. Heaven on earth would be sharing that life with Katarina Russo.

  He rolled on his side, leaned down, and kissed her again. “I’ve never been happier, Katarina. I love you. Simply put, there’s no one else in this world for me.”

  Tears rolled down her cheeks, and his heart almost stopped until he remembered that women and men were different. “I hope those are happy tears?”

  “Bingo.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥


  Snow still fell steadily the next morning when Kathy and Brandon walked the dogs in front of the house.

  “As if the snow isn’t enough, it’s almost eight and it’s pitch-black out here. Just like inside. What is wrong with this picture? We should be visiting Nonna in Florida!”

  “Some of us have to work for a living,” said Brandon, “including you. Be careful where you walk. In these cold temperatures, sleet freezes to ice on the ground. If it happens over and over, like it’s done this winter, it can turn into a thick base coat of black ice.”

  “Dangerous stuff. I know all about it. Which is why I like taking the T instead of driving this time of year.”

  She meant the MTA—Boston trains. Okay. He’d be flexible about places. “So you’re thinking Boston is the better idea?’”

  She stopped in her tracks, shaking her head. “Actually, I wasn’t thinking at all. Just reacting to what you said about black ice.”

  “Not to worry, Kat,” he said with a laugh. “You have a built-in Uber guy.” She stared right at him, and even through the falling snow, he could see her wide smile.

  “So I do. I really did pick a winner,” she said, giving his arm a squeeze. “Although I had to convince you to adopt Rocky.”

  “I did better than you,” he countered. “I picked two winners!”

  “And don’t forget it!” Kathy said. “Oh, Bran, isn’t this fun?”

  He knew what she meant. The nonsense, the discovery, the going to the next level. The novelty for all those who’d found love for the first time.

  “The best of fun. This storm, however, is no longer fun. Any chance you can conjure up something for breakfast? I worked up an appetite last night.”

  “Really? I wouldn’t have believed it if I weren’t there myself.”

  He stepped closer, keeping the leashes apart, and put his arm around her. “A perfect night.” Her cheeks turned red, and he knew it was not from the cold.

  “Hard boiled eggs, PBJs, or cold cereal with milk,” she offered. “All safe. I put the milk outside last night.”

  Laughing, he said, “Is that your way of changing the subject?”

  “It’s…it’s all so new,” she said quietly.

  Brandon kept his arm around her as they made their way up the driveway and back into his kitchen. “I need to bring more wood inside so our good fire doesn’t go out.”

  “I can help,” she said, crouching to wipe the dogs dry and clean their feet. “We don’t know how long this outage will last.”

  His cell phone rang. “Hey, Uncle Ralph. What’s the word?” He held up a finger to Kat. “Yeah, yeah. A few more hours. Okay. By tonight at the latest. Take care. Thanks.”

  “That’s not too bad,” said Kathy. “At least we can count on a hot dinner.”

  And that’s what he loved about her. Lemons to lemonade. He leaned down and kissed her—just because he wanted to. Her happy smile filled him with well-being. “Love you for that.”

  “I don’t ever guarantee what I’ll actually produce… You know me by now.”

  “Wasn’t referring to the food, just to you seeing the sunny side.”

  She winked at him. “It’s a newly acquired skill. That visit with my family made a difference.”

  Her family. From what he’d picked up, there’d be a lot of noise, opinions, and personalities. He stood a bit taller and stretched his shoulders back.

  “Invite them down, Kat. I’d like to meet them, and I don’t want to remain a mystery man.” He’d handle whomever and whatever he had to.

  “Not yet,” she said. “I’m not quite down the finish line. And endings have to be…just so.”

  “You’ve lost me,” he said, ready to go out again. “Don’t you want me to meet them?”

  “Of course. But you know my deadline is Valentine’s Day.” She began pacing. “Only six weeks! Not one person except Nonna respects my writing time. If I invite them next week, I’ll be inundated by calls every day thereafter and get nothing done.” She stopped walking and shook her head. “Nope. Maybe in February. We’ll see.”

  He got it. Finishing her book was the whole reason she was in Pilgrim Cove in the first place. “Totally your call. Whatever works for you, I’m on board. What a coincidence that we both make our living on deadlines.”

  She held her hand up like a traffic cop. “I can hardly call my writing making a living but maybe one day… I just hope I’m not fooling myself,” she said quietly. “So much competition, so many doubts. And then, there’s my other career, which I also love.”

  “Having choices is great.” He knew little about her insurance job, but thought her first book was pretty good. “Don’t think about the competition. Just focus on the manuscript. If I worried about every other graphic artist out there, I’d never get out of bed in the morning.”

  “But you’re so good!” she said, standing still and looking amazed.

  “Everyone has doubts. I hate to say it, kiddo, but you’re not as unique as you think—except, of course, to me.” He embraced her. Kissed her. And vowed to start on her website. That should perk her up. And he’d straighten out her family, too.

  Her Roadside Rescues: Chapter 12

  If she didn’t stop daydreaming, nothing would get done! A week after the New Year’s Eve storm, Kathy sat at her computer, humming under her breath while she worked numbers to help a new client company establish a first-ever retirement plan. The company had grown since opening two years before, and she needed to determine what could they afford to offer employees without incurring risk to themselves. After that, she’d continue with the family risk project—why some people wanted to engage in rock climbing while having small children, she didn’t understand. But she didn’t have to. If she ever had a child, rock climbing was out! But skiing…well, that was another matter.

  Oh, for crying out loud, Kathy. Focus!

  Her phone dinged and she looked at the text. Am I ready for dinner?

  Lost track of time. Come on up.

  She glanced at the wall clock, stood quickly, and stretched. Laughing ruefully at her stiffness, she planned on a long walk with the dogs that evening.

  She heard her door open and then the kitchen was filled with man. A man who swooped in for a kiss. “How was your day, my little Kat?”

  “So good that I need some exercise later. Let’s do the beach tonight.” She walked toward the pantry, then opened the fridge. “Leftovers okay?”

  “Since when am I fussy?”

  Smiling inside, she brought out a bowl of meatballs and transferred the food to a pot for a stovetop reheat. “That’s one of the things I love about you,” she said. “You’re easy!”

  “Insulting my virtue, huh?” His eyes gleamed as he stole another kiss. “I want to show you something after dinner.” He hefted his laptop and placed it near hers at the end of the long table.

  “New project?”

  “You could say that.”

  She boiled some pasta while he filled the dog bowls, pausing to pet Sheba and Cleo, who’d greeted him as if they hadn’t seen him in years.

  “And you’re my boy, Rocky,” he continued, “You get the credit—for all this.”

  Amused and content, Kathy continued to assemble the meal. “Set the table, will you?”

  He opened the correct closet door with the familiarity of one who knew his way around. Then he sniffed the air. “Smells good in here. I don’t know why you downplay your skills. We haven’t had a bad meal yet, not even once!”

  “That’s because, at the very least, I’m better than you. Between the two of us, we won’t starve, but just wait until you taste my mother’s cooking. You’ll see the difference.”

  “I’ve already had your mom’s food. Way back when you brought a carton back from Boston. It was great, but so is yours.”

  She walked to him and cupped his cheek. “Is that what’s meant by love is blind?”

  He shrugged, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Just telling the truth.” />
  “I’m glad you’re happy, but cooking is not my priority, never has been.” She focused her gaze down the table toward her computer. “Everything that’s important to me, that’s part of me and who I am, is in that laptop.” She pointed at it and looked up at him. “Our careers say a lot about us.”

  His brow rose in curiosity. “That’s true, but it isn’t the complete picture.”

  “Well, of course not. We’re about people and love and family, too. But we spend an awful lot of time working. I’m a firm believer in not waking up with a bellyache every morning!”

  “No argument here,” he said, grinning. “Who wants to live that way?”

  “But people do, Bran. That’s the awful thing. Many people do dread going to work.”

  He shrugged and said, “In the end, it comes down to opportunity and choices. I think people usually figure out how to make their lives work.”

  She stabbed a fork through a piece of penne and held it up. “Let’s see what happens…” She raised her arm.

  “What are you do—”

  She threw the pasta against the wall. It stuck, and she grinned at him. “I’ve always wanted to try that.”

  “Like your mom?” he asked, shaking his head with amusement.

  “Are you kidding? Her pasta always comes out perfectly, but from now on I’ll use the wall method.”

  Suddenly she was in his arms, held tightly, and being danced around the room. “You, Katarina, are my perfect pasta. No wall involved.”

  She snuggled closer. “You were right,” she said. “People usually figure out how to make things work.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  As they cleared up a while later, Brandon’s thoughts raced to the ideas he’d brought to show Kat. Surprisingly, a bit of anxiety flowed through him. Almost as though she were a paying client he had to please.

  “C’mon,” he said, reaching for his laptop. “I want to show you a few concepts I came up with.”

  She tilted her head and blinked once or twice. “What kind?”

  Did she not have a clue? He’d promised her a redesign for her internet presence. “Sit down and you’ll see.”