Valentine Hound Dog: The Hart Family (Have A Hart Book 2)

by Rachelle Ayala

  “Is that how you see me?” Spikes of adrenaline jolted through Jenna’s veins. “Am I arrogant and careless?”

  “Not on purpose.” His sideways grin was more self-deprecating than usual. “I know, because I used to be that way. You might have forgotten, but I was a football star and the fireman voted as the most desirable bachelor in town. In the Big Before.”

  “You still are.” Jenna pressed herself against him. “I’m sure lots of women want you. You’re a hero. A real one, not just a sports star. You saved those children’s lives. You matter.”

  Instead of agreeing or looking proud, Larry turned his face away and pursed his lips. “They never told you, did they?”

  “What about?” Jenna moved to reassure him, cradling his head to her chest. “You’re the best, Larry, no one can disagree.”

  “Except for the mother of that kid I left behind,” he muttered. “The one I couldn’t save.”

  * * *

  Larry recoiled from Jenna’s gasp, cringing at what he’d admitted to her. He wasn’t much of a hero, was he? He might as well set Jenna straight. If the woman was hero-worshipping, she’d soon see what a farce he was.

  “What happened?” She palmed his face between both her hands. “I’m sure you did all you could.”

  “It wasn’t enough. I dragged five out, but they had a little cousin staying over who wouldn’t come out of his bedroom. The stairs were gone, so I jumped onto a wall and hoisted myself onto the roof. Connor kept calling me to come back. But I left him. I left my partner.” Larry’s voice was a monotone, and numbness chilled him as he watched himself, replaying the horrendous scene. He could barely feel Jenna’s fingers, those magical fingers that curled around his neck and raked through his hair. Why was she still listening?

  Tiny kisses rained over him, along his neck, jaw, and cheek. Her soft cheek nuzzled against his scarred and pitted skin. He’d lost the tips of his nerves over the more damaged parts, so he’d feel her, then lose contact, then feel her again—like a radio signal coming in and out surrounded by static.

  “You almost lost your life,” Jenna said. “You did the best you could do. No one blames you. I’m sure not even the kid’s family blames you.”

  “They say they love me. They visited me often when I was in the burn ward, but they’ll never forget that little one. But the mother … I could tell. She was more reserved.”

  “She was grieving. In so much pain, but she doesn’t blame you. I’m sure she knows you did your best. You have to stop blaming yourself. And stop accepting second best.”

  Pow. Jenna’s words punched him deep in the gut. He was aware he blamed himself, but second best? Was that what he was doing? Accepting second best? Punishing himself?

  In the months following his recovery, he’d turned down opportunities—motivational speaking, raising money for burn victims, even coaching high school football. Instead, he’d taken the custodian job at the school Melisa taught at, knowing no one would ask him to make public appearances. As for the kids, they accepted him because they knew no different. He was the burned fireman who saved children. It was a cozy little world, and the entire school loved him, especially around Halloween.

  “You deserve more.” Jenna held him tight. “Because you’re the best. I’m not good enough for you, but I still want you.”

  “You do? Why?” He pushed back to study her face. How could this perfectly beautiful woman want him when she could have anyone she wanted?

  “You’re true blue, Larry. Everything I see is what I get. You’re kind, generous, caring, and honest. You’re always there to help, and you don’t have a selfish bone in your body. I know you don’t really want to do the fashion show, but you’re being a good sport about it because you’re Connor’s buddy and he asked you to do it.”

  “I’m doing it for you, if you don’t think I’d hurt the show.”

  “Hurt the show? Oh, no, no, no.” She shook her head vehemently. “You’re the one I saved for myself. I’ve already got everyone assigned and choreographed, when they’ll come onto the runway and with who.”

  “I’m not getting one of your supermodels?” He quirked his lip, pretending to be disappointed, but secretly jumping up and down with glee.

  “Sorry, unless it’s Harley. You can carry him in one arm and give me your other. Won’t we make an interesting trio?”

  His heart burst with joy and a weird falling sensation overtook him as he held Jenna close and claimed her lips.

  If this was love, then he didn’t mind being burned, not when the falling felt so great.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “What are you doing with Larry?” Jenna’s mother asked the next evening as she passed the potatoes at the dinner table.

  Her eldest sister, Cait, and her youngest brother, Dale, stopped cutting their steaks and waited for her answer.

  At the head of the table, her father also laid his fork and knife down, tugged at his napkin and cleared his throat.

  At least Connor wasn’t home, but with the entire fire station buzzing about Jenna and Larry, it was no surprise her family was on the warpath—likely one hundred percent on Larry’s side.

  “We like each other,” she said, passing the potatoes without taking a scoop. “Please pass the salad?”

  “You need some meat on those bones,” her mother said. “You can’t live on salad.”

  “I have to until Valentine’s Day.” The Valentine’s Dinner was two days after the the fashion show, and she wanted to stun the crowd with a new and daring design.

  “It’s always one show after the other,” her mother said. “You’re not a model, why do you have to walk the runway?”

  “I will while I still can.” Jenna placed three lettuce leaves and a cherry tomato onto her plate. Her stomach grumbled at the scent of flatiron steak with a whiskey cream sauce everyone else was gobbling down.

  “You’re letting her change the subject,” Cait cut in, shaking her fork. “I want to know what’s going on with Jenna and Larry. That’s the big surprise here.”

  Her father grunted from the end of the table and went back to his food, but Jenna could tell he was listening intently.

  “You two dating?” Mother asked point blank.

  “Not really. We’re kind of hanging out,” Jenna admitted. After all, once Melisa filled them in on her desperate dash across traffic to catch Larry, they’d think she was obsessed or something. Not that she wasn’t, but it would definitely add to her long list of faults.

  “You guys Netflix and chill?” Dale, who was still in college, grinned and waggled his eyebrows, knowing their mother had no clue that it meant having sex on the couch, not that she hadn’t tried, but in her Catholic household, he should know better than to bring such things up.

  “No.” Jenna pursed her lips and kicked him under the table. “We’re good friends.”

  “He’s a good man,” Dad said gruffly. “Don’t hurt him.”

  Jenna dropped her hands to her lap. “Why does everyone think I’m going to hurt him?”

  “Because you’re flirty and you never make up your mind about men,” Cait said. “Too many options.”

  “I am not.” Jenna’s hands formed fists under the table. “I happen to like Larry.”

  “Well, you be careful of his feelings,” Mother said. “That man’s been through a lot, especially when Shelly left him.”

  “Who’s Shelly?” Now Jenna was interested.

  “If he hasn’t told you, I’m not saying a word.” Mom folded her hands primly and gave Cait a warning glare.

  “Oh, me either,” Cait agreed, always the kiss-up to the parents. Being the eldest meant she often thought of herself as above the rest of the kids.

  “I heard she dumped him and kept the ring.” Dale winked at Jenna. “Now’s your chance to grab the rebound.”

  “Dale, stop gossiping,” her mother snapped, but her father kept his eyes on the table.

  “So, basically, you guys think I’m going to dump Larry and stomp
on him?” Jenna looked from Mom to Dad to Cait. “What about me? What if he hurts me? None of you are at all concerned about me.”

  “We quit harping about any of your men long ago,” Dad said, fixing her with an “I know about you” stare.

  Heat burned through Jenna’s face. They basically thought her a slut. So she hadn’t made the right choices. It wasn’t easy when guys threw themselves at her night and day. Larry was right. Women like her were a pain.

  Jenna shoved herself from the table. “I’m not hungry anyway.”

  “You need to eat,” her mother said, but no one followed her as she jogged up the stairs toward her childhood room.

  She might not deserve a decent guy like Larry, but shouldn’t her family wish her happiness? Why were they acting as if she were the bad one?

  Twenty minutes later, while she was pinning a piece of chiffon onto the gown on the mannequin, Cait snuck into her room.

  She shut the door and sat on the bunk bed. “Hey, you want to talk about it?”

  Jenna pulled a pin from her mouth. “Not really. You’ll just inform the parents.”

  “Promise I won’t,” Cait said, but without conviction.

  Jenna knew better. Cait was a stool pigeon and not to be trusted. More than likely, her parents had sent her to do recon—all for the purpose of protecting Larry.

  “You have Brian,” Jenna said. “He’s a decent regular sort of guy. Don’t you think I should have one too?”

  “But you hate boring. Come on, we all know you thrive on drama. You’re an artistic type.”

  “I don’t think Larry’s boring.”

  “That’s what you say now, when everything’s new and glittery. The guy’s a school custodian. What’s there to talk about? Vomit in the cafeteria? Plugged toilets?”

  “You think all we do is talk?” Jenna zinged a sly look at Cait. Oh, sure, she’ll catch fire later, but the virginity train had left the station long ago. Her mother could ask her to do penance, light candles, go to confession, but she wasn’t going to be guilted into letting Larry go because she was a “fallen woman” and not good enough for him.

  Spirals of worry twirled in her starving stomach. She might cause Larry some pain and heartache, but he didn’t seem to mind. He’d forgiven her easily about acting like he was the hired bodyguard. Larry understood what a slime someone like Gustave could be, and that it was better to avoid a confrontation than be mired into a long and expensive lawsuit.

  “So.” Cait stretched herself comfortably on the bed. “Tell me about your other men. Are they going to silently walk away now that you’re occupying your time with Larry?”

  “They don’t care. They’re friends.”

  “With benefits.”

  “One less benefit. I’ll help them with their careers, introduce them to people I know, give them tips on who’s hot and who’s not, but I’m not sleeping with them anymore.”

  Cait shook her head and snickered. “You won’t be able to help it. One day, someone will come offering you the chance of a lifetime. A runway show in Paris or an exclusive catalog for a princess. Then what?”

  “I won’t do it. I won’t compromise myself and hurt Larry.”

  “He doesn’t have to know.” Cait twirled her red brown hair around her finger.

  Jenna was smarter than to fall into Cait’s trap. That woman could be the devil for all she knew.

  “I would know and it would be wrong. I want to try something new with Larry. Something real.” Jenna finished tucking the chiffon into the pleat and stitched it in place.

  “You’d give up your jet set lifestyle to be wife of a janitor?” Cait rolled her eyes, always the instigator. “What a story that would make.”

  “I don’t have to give up anything. Larry accepts me the way I am.” Jenna hoped her voice wasn’t shaky.

  She’d been mulling over her future, and she knew full well the world of fashion depended too much on favors, and that one of the favors was one she no longer was willing to bargain with. Maybe she could teach at a local design institute, or start a trendy online business. She had to think outside the box, and success at this solo show where every piece belonged to her was crucial.

  “Larry’s a good man,” Cait said what everyone had been saying. Which only went to emphasize that Jenna definitely wasn’t a good woman.

  “I’m going to be good for him,” Jenna said.

  “My little sister is growing up,” Cait teased in a sing-song voice. “Is this true love? Jenna and Larry sitting in a tree …”

  For a married woman, Cait was certainly childish. Jenna picked out a piece of black lace from her scrap bin. Maybe she ought to concentrate on her own marriage. If everything was so good in Wonderland, being that her husband’s last name was Wonder, then why was she perennially hanging out at her parents’ home?

  * * *

  The evening before the fashion show, Larry held Jenna’s hand as they walked into the fire station. The men were having a potluck to pig out and celebrate. Everyone had picked up their tuxedos and were determined to eat enough to fill them out.

  Harley bounded out of the kitchen as soon as he heard Larry’s voice. Was it his imagination, or was the pooch bigger than the last time he saw him?

  Jenna seemed overjoyed to see Harley too. She knelt down, stretching her tight jeans, and scooped up the wiggling bundle against her black leather moto-jacket.

  The puppy slobbered all over her face, but she only giggled and made smooching noises. “I missed you so much, baby. I wish you could come home with me.”

  “Regret your gift already?” Connor stepped from behind Larry. “Everyone loves him here.”

  “I’m glad,” Jenna said. “He was supposed to be a surprise.”

  “Well, I’m waiting for a bigger surprise.” Connor grinned, flexing his muscles. “After all, I’m bachelor number one at the website.”

  “True. You do have the most comments, and there were a few catfights that had to be deleted from the forum.” Jenna poked her brother’s abdominals. “But, I do believe Larry will raise more money than you.”

  Larry’s cheeks flushed with heat. He’d tried not to peek at the auction page, but was pleasantly surprised that a few commenters swore they’d bid for him. With his luck, they were pranksters, and no one would bid.

  “I don’t mind, as long as I get to go home with the right lady.” Larry squeezed Jenna’s hand and drew her closer, if that were possible.

  “You two are disgusting.” Connor put on a mock sneer, but couldn’t quite hide his smile. “Unbelievable. My sister and my best buddy.”

  “What’s so unbelievable about that?” Jenna kicked her brother’s shin. “You should be happy for us.”

  Connor patted Larry’s shoulder. “If anyone can tame Jenna, it would be you. But watch out. She’s a little lioness.”

  “Raaorrr.” Jenna bared her teeth, then tugged Larry. “If you want to eat, don’t let me hold you back.”

  “I definitely will let you hold me back. I won’t eat if you won’t eat,” Larry said. “How’s that for a challenge?”

  “Then you’ll starve. Look at all this delicious food.” She dragged him by the buffet table.

  A photographer was shooting pictures and Larry tensed, recognizing the ass he’d punched out.

  Jenna must have seen him too, because she hid behind him and said. “Why don’t you get some food and meet me in one of the fire engines?”

  “We’re not supposed to eat in them. Have to keep them clean and spotless.”

  “Oh, sorry, I’ll go up the spiral stairs then.”

  Their station had been modernized and the pole with the hole that firemen in the olden days slid down from had been replaced with a set of spiral stairs with floating metal steps. Good thing Jenna was wearing jeans, or the guys would get an eyeful.

  She hadn’t gotten far when the photographer spotted her. He jogged up after her and grabbed her hand.

  This was too much for Larry. Dropping the plate on the table, he r
ushed toward them, but by the time he got to Jenna, she’d already twisted her hand from his.

  “I’m Gustave,” the photographer said to Larry, offering to shake. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.”

  “Larry Davison.” He shook the smaller man’s hand. “I apologize for the altercation earlier this week.”

  Jenna clambered halfway down the steps and grabbed Larry’s arm, leaning against him. “Gus, would you care to take a few pictures of us? Larry’s my escort tomorrow night.”

  Gustave raised his eyebrow. “Oh, really? I knew he was part of the bachelor auction, but I had no idea he was going out on the runway, too.”

  “You can speak to Larry directly as he’s right in front of you.” Jenna didn’t mince words.

  “Excuse me, my bad.” Gustave waved his hand. “Why don’t you two step on the staircase. Jenna, you go a step higher, and put your arms around each other.”

  The next few minutes, Gustave gave directions, and posed Jenna and Larry in various angles. Even though Larry tried to turn his face so that his scarred side was in the shadow, he wasn’t able to keep the photographer from jumping around and giving directions.

  Larry followed the directions and pasted on a smile or a frown, whichever the photographer suggested. He didn’t have to work on the look of love.

  “Yes, that’s right. Gaze into her eyes as if she’s the most magical creature in the universe. Look into them. That’s right. Closer, yes, close in on her. Good, good, wonderful,” the photographer talked his way through the entire impromptu shoot.

  Larry may have been seeing stars after all of the flash bombs, but being with Jenna was worth it. Besides, the wide-eyed, adoring look she gave him drew shivers of delight up and down his spine.

  If he wasn’t jinxing it, he could say to himself, She loves me too.

  Chapter Fourteen