New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love 4)

“Where is she?” Daniel stooped to pat the Dalmatian. He was no expert, but even he could see that Valentine was a beautiful dog. And that heart-shaped nose was pretty cute. “Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong. I need a heart-shaped nose to win her over.”

He was wondering whether he should hold on to the dog or let him go, when Molly appeared, out of breath and annoyed.

“Valentine!” She reached them and frowned at the dog. “What did you think you were doing?”

Valentine wagged his tail hard.

It seemed to Daniel that whatever the dog had thought he was doing, he’d done it.

He guessed Molly hadn’t intended to walk this way today, but what the hell. She was here. That was all that mattered.

Today she was wearing a pair of running leggings that clung to her body in a swirl of purple and black. Her sleek dark ponytail curved like a question mark over her back.

Daniel unclipped Brutus’s lead and he sprinted off with Valentine. “Whenever I let him off the lead, I worry that might be the last I see of him. I only let him off when Valentine is here.”

“Valentine never usually runs off.” She frowned after the dog. “I don’t understand it.”

“I guess he wanted to play with his best friend. Look how happy they are.” He gambled on the fact that seeing her dog so content would stop her leaving and judging from her smile, he was right. She’d decided to forgive the dog for his transgression. “So how do you persuade a dog to come back when you call?”

“Training.”

“And if that doesn’t work?”

“Then you’re in trouble.”

He loved the way her eyes lit up. He loved the tiny dimple that flickered at the corner of her mouth. He loved the way her hair whipped across her back when she ran. He loved the way she ran like she owned the park. He loved the way she loved her dog—

He was definitely in trouble.

“Are you in the mood for an Earl Grey tea? Say the word.” He couldn’t believe he was suggesting tea when what he really wanted was champagne, moonlight and her naked.

“What’s the word? Please?”

“Fetch.”

The smile turned into a laugh. “You ‘fetched’ last time. It’s my turn.”

He liked the way that sounded, as if this was something regular that was going to happen again. “But then I’d have to watch the dogs, and you’re the responsible adult.”

“You’re not responsible?”

He looked at her mouth. “I’ve been known to be irresponsible once in a while.”

* * *

Molly sat on the bench, watching the dogs play. Irresponsible? Irresponsible was her sitting here waiting for him to come back instead of finishing her run and going home.

She’d started the day being responsible. She’d taken a different route on her run, but Valentine had protested. He’d sprinted away and for the first time ever had refused to come back when she’d called him. And now she was here again, on their bench, waiting for Daniel.

It was still superficial, she reminded herself. It was everything light and fun.

A heart couldn’t break if it wasn’t engaged.

“Tell me about him,” she said to Brutus, but he was too busy trying to bite Valentine’s ear to pay any attention.

Daniel returned as Brutus was tangling himself with Valentine. “I don’t suppose you specialize in dog psychology? My dog needs help.”

She took the tea from him, careful not to touch his fingers. “I’m better at understanding human behavior.”