New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love 4)

That didn’t surprise her. One glance told her this guy knew his own mind and walked his own path. She also sensed that the smooth layers of charm and charisma concealed a core of steel. He was a man only a fool would underestimate. And she was no fool.

“You don’t expect obedience?”

“Are we still talking about dogs here? Because this is the twenty-first century, and I like to think of myself as progressive.”

Whenever a situation or person unsettled her, she tried to detach herself and imagine what advice she’d give as Aggie.

Feeling breathless and tongue-tied around a man can be uncomfortable, but remember that however attractive he is, underneath he has his own insecurities even if he doesn’t choose to show them.

That didn’t make her feel better. She was starting to think this man didn’t have a single insecurity.

It doesn’t matter how you feel on the inside, as long as you don’t show it on the outside. Smile and act cool and he is never going to know that he turns your insides to the consistency of pulp.

Smile and act cool.

That seemed like the best approach.

“You should try taking him to obedience classes.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s a thing?”

“Yes. And it might help. He’s a beautiful dog. Did you buy him from a breeder?”

“He’s a rescue. The casualty of a vicious divorce case up in Harlem. The husband knew that Brutus was the one thing the wife loved more than anything in the world, so he fought for him in the divorce. His lawyer was better than hers, so he won and found himself with a dog he didn’t want.”

Molly was appalled enough to forget about the strange melting feeling going on inside her. “Who was his lawyer?”

“I was.”

Lawyer. She’d missed that one on her list of possible professions, but now she wondered why because it was a perfect fit. It was easy enough to imagine him intimidating the opposition. He was a man used to winning every battle he fought, she was sure of that.

“Why didn’t he give Brutus back to the wife?”

“Firstly because she’d moved back to Minnesota to live with her mother, secondly because the last thing he would ever do was something that would make his ex-wife happy and thirdly because, much as his wife loved the dog, she hated him more. She wanted to make his life as difficult as possible so she made him keep the dog.”

“That’s a horrible story.” Molly, who heard plenty of horrible stories in her working day, was shocked.

“That’s relationships.”

“That’s one divorce. That’s not all relationships. So you rescued him?” That revelation exploded all her preconceived ideas about him. She’d assumed he was the sort who put himself front and center of his life, rarely inconveniencing himself for anyone, but he’d saved this beautiful, vulnerable dog who had lost the only person who had ever loved him. He might be handsome and a sharp talker, but he was obviously a good person. “I think it’s great that you’ve done this.” She rubbed Brutus’s head, sad that this animal had paid the price for people’s failure to work out their differences. When relationships fell apart the fallout was far and wide. She knew that better than anyone. “Poor guy.” The dog nudged her pockets hopefully and she smiled. “Are you looking for treats? Is he allowed?”

“He’s allowed. If you have a spare.”

“I always carry them for Valentine.” Hearing his name, Valentine was by her side in a flash, possessive and protective.

“Valentine?” The man watched as she fed both dogs. “Is he a man substitute?”

“No. Last time I checked he was definitely a dog.”

He flashed her a smile of appreciation. “I thought maybe you’d given up on men and settled for the love of a good dog.”

That was closer to the truth than he could have imagined, but she had no intention of admitting it to anyone, least of all someone who seemed to have the world at his feet. What would he know about how it felt to have your weaknesses publicly exposed? Nothing.

And she had no intention of enlightening him.

Her past was hers and hers alone. More private than a bank account, hidden securely behind a firewall that allowed no one access. If there was a password, it would be Screw Up. Or possibly Major Screw Up.

“Valentine isn’t a substitute for anything or anyone. He’s my number one dog. My best friend.”