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

  “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 wante
d 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 Seven

  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 heart rate 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 onto 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.

  “You have a girlfriend.” Connor slapped his back. “And you haven’t said a thing to me. Who is she?”

  “I don’t have a girlfriend.” Larry swallowed a swig of beer. “I’m not over Shelly yet.”

  “You’re not?” Connor wasn’t buying his obvious lie. “I thought you had a thing for my sister.”

  Which sister? Oh, right, the youngest one. Melisa.

  “Actually not. We’re friends. I just thought of her as well, someone who wouldn’t mind my problems. You know, she’s a kindergarten teacher, and she’s got a kind heart.”

  “That ship sailed long ago. I think she imprinted on Rob the day Mom brought her home from the hospital.” Connor gulped down half a bottle of beer. “I can’t believe you’re still stuck on Shelly. She’s not worth it.”

  “Neither is Elaine.”

  “Hey, I’m over her.” Connor spread his hands out. “In fact, I’m so over her, I’m going to be in a bachelor auction for Jenna’s fashion show.”

  “That’s good.” The mention of Jenna’s name set Larry’s heart racing. He wiped his hand on his jeans and put the beer bottle on the floor. “I hope you raise a lot of money for her.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re going to help.” Connor took the remote and turned on the TV. “Every single guy in our station’s going to be in the show. We’re going to escort the models, do a photoshoot before the show, and then be in the auction. I want you in it too. You’re just as much a part of Station 22 as we are.”

  “I can’t do it. I gave up firefighting two years ago.”

  “Doesn’t matter. This is a charity auction.”

  “Can’t do the auction. If she wants me to sweep up afterward or do set up work, I can help.”

  Connor pursed his lips and shook his head, his stubborn streak showing. “It’s all of us or none of us. Besides, Jenna’s happy about it. I got her permission to put you on the stage with the rest of the models and do a photoshoot. And don’t worry, you won’t be half-naked. Everyone’s wearing tuxes.”

  “Jenna wants me to be in the show? Are you sure?”

  “Definitely. She has no problem with it.”

  Warmth surged through Larry’s chest and his heart woke up, pumping its fist. Yes! She wanted him, or at least had no problem with him being in the show.

  “You sure? I might not raise very much money.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Women love firefighters. They’ll bid.” Connor clapped his shoulder and slung back the rest of the beer as only a handsome and desirable man at the peak of his virility could do.

  Larry took a deep breath and dug into the pizza. There wasn’t much he could do about whether someone would bid on him or not, but he’d do his best to help Jenna and her show. “I don’t think I should do the photoshoot.”

  “Why not? You’ll have models on both your arms. Besides, you do have a good side.”

  “True.” As long as he kept his right side to the camera, he’d do okay. “As long as it helps Jenna.”

  “I knew you’d come through, bud.” Connor settled back to watch the game on TV.

  * * *

  Jenna jogged through the south side of Golden Gate Park. Even though she wasn’t looking, she couldn’t help wondering whether Larry and Little Treat were also out for a walk. She was a real jerk, leaving the puppy with Larry, but she truly hadn’t had a moment of free time. The gowns had to be finalized and model time was expens
ive. She could only afford to fly Irina out early, so hopefully the other women’s measurements were not too far off.

  She’d already spoken to Irina about bidding for Larry and the model had agreed, saying many men in Russia had scars on their faces and she didn’t mind it at all since she wasn’t really paying for the date.

  Jenna didn’t mind his scars either, but she couldn’t afford to think about him in any way other than as her brother’s friend. In less than a week, she was due back in New York and then it was off to the London Fashion Week to represent Moonique Designs, before heading for Paris to set up the hotel suite and woo buyers.

  Besides, she still had too much to do before the charity show. Tickets to confirm with movie stars, rap artists, and celebrities, including current reality show favorites. Egos to soothe, and even a narrowly-missed catering disaster. Someone had called and canceled her event. Fortunately, the caterer had called to inform her that she still owed the deposit despite her supposed cancellation. That had been a close call. What else could go wrong?

  Right. She hadn’t lost the ten pounds yet.

  Jenna pumped her arms and lengthened her stride. She’d let the mannequin’s waist out, but it had ruined the design. There just wasn’t any room for even an inch. Her stomach growled continually, and she was dizzy and irritable. Nothing was working out for her. Add to that, she hadn’t been sleeping well, indulging in long-winded fantasies of her and Larry in all sorts of dramatic scenes: on the Titanic, kidnapped and rescued, running from the law on a crime spree, but always she would be secretly loving him, and he was completely unaware, until he almost lost her, whether to a hurricane, or a horrible illness, or teetering at the edge of a cliff, and then—then he’d sweep her into his arms and tell her that he’d always loved her and then they would kiss and …

  Her steps took her past the fire station, not that she could stomach flirting with the men. She’d already measured all of them except for Larry, who of course didn’t work there anymore. Why was she putting it off? Obviously, she could claim she was there to check on Little Treat. He was, after all, still her dog.