For a Hero Read online

  ‘Wonder Boy?’ David grinned, he liked that.

  *****

  “Dinner was wonderful, David. Thank you so much.” Jenna sat in David’s passenger seat, holding her swan-shaped foil left-overs in her lap. “The whole evening, actually, was perfect.”

  “It was my pleasure. It was so much better than I thought it would be.”

  “What? You thought you wouldn’t have a good time with me?”

  At her look of dismay, he quickly tried to explain. “No, not at all, Jenna. I just really dislike these social functions Blaine drags me to. They are usually stuffy and boring and I get humiliated in some way or another. But tonight was different. You were amazing.” He drove on, with his right hand resting warmly on her thigh. He felt like he needed to claim her in some way. “But the whole dancing thing was kind of terrible.”

  “Good. I was hoping it would be something like that. And the dancing was adorable. You didn’t fall over too much.” They drove into the night. Southwest Austin was mountainous and green. Even at night, the hills could be seen rising above them.

  “Where do you live?”

  “On North Lamar past Koenig.” That location perked up David’s memory.

  “I ride the bus over that way sometimes.”

  “Yeah, I know. David, I have a confession to make.” She put her hands in her lap, curling up into herself, nervous for the reaction he would have to her revealing.

  “What is it?”

  “There is a reason why I simply had to buy you this evening. I have seen you before.”

  David looked puzzled. His concentration bore down on her words as he turned north to reach her apartment.

  “I was on the bus the day you got in a fight with that man because he wouldn’t let the women sit down. I watched you stand up for them. I noticed how you refused to throw a punch or say a cruel word.”

  “That wasn’t a big deal. Anybody would have done that.”

  “No, David, they wouldn’t. I have never met a man like you before in my life. I noticed you because you were huge and beautiful and striking, but after I saw what kind of heart you have, what kind of soul you have, I just couldn’t get you out of my mind.” She began to come out of her cocoon as she bared her soul.

  David didn’t know what to say. He sat there in silence and drove, dumbfounded.

  “Did I upset you?” She retreated again.

  “No, Honey, not at all. This is just new to me. I haven’t had a lot of things happen to me like this, and I’m just trying to take it all in. I am flattered. I just don’t understand.”

  “You are unreal, David Conlon. I just wanted to get a chance to figure out if you are as wonderful close up as you were from afar, and David, you are an angel.” She wrapped her arm around his and scooted over into the middle seat. She laid her head on his shoulder and rested.

  They arrived at her apartment and he pulled into a parking spot. He, in true David fashion, hurried from his seat to hold her door. “Jenna, this evening has been magical. I hope you had as great a time as I did.”

  He walked her to her door and stood with her. She looked down, fumbled with her keys, kicked her feet into the floor, and prolonged their visit as much as possible.

  David hugged her, smiled and turned to walk away.

  She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back. “Where do you think you’re going? I paid fifteen thousand dollars for you; I better get my money’s worth. Come here.” Wrapping her arm around his neck, she leaned up into his chest and placed her mouth very near his. . Sensations of heat and arousal pounded through her body, making her knees weak with longing. Jenna trembled as he looked into her eyes and slowly lowered his head until their lips met and melded together in a scorching, sweet kiss. Jenna moaned as their tongues danced, sliding over one another sensuously. They ate and drank of each other like they’d never get enough.

  Her hands moved to his sides and pulled him closer. His arms wrapped around her shoulders, and she nestled against him, her breasts pressing into his chest. She could feel her nipples grow hard with need. .Their kiss was passionate, real, a once-in-a-lifetime type of kiss. He was perfect – just perfect and she wanted as much of him as she could get.

  Letting her lips slide from his, Jenna reluctantly slipped from his arms. “Thank you, David. Everything was perfect. I wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow or I’d ask you to come inside, but the good people at Prudent Advertising wouldn’t appreciate my sleeping through the job.”

  “No, thank you, Jenna. I enjoyed every moment,” his body ached for more, but now wasn’t the time. Holding her hands tightly in his, he clasped them together, brought them to his lips, and let her go. He walked away, but just enough so that she could go inside. He watched her enter, partly because he wanted to make sure she was safe, and partly because he wanted to catch every glimpse of her that he could. ‘David, you just kissed the most beautiful woman in the whole world.’ He floated home on cloud nine, never touching the ground.

  *****

  “If you might sell this old place, why do you put so much of your crap in here?” Blaine paced through David’s loft in construction. He eyeballed the additions being created and touched everything, much to David’s chagrin. “For example, why did you make a sculpture of your parents in the living room?”

  “Whatever, Man. This is the only place I have. Where else would I keep my sculptures?” David stood atop a ladder in a Captain Morgan pose drilling bolts into the wall.

  “I think you’re missing the point. Anyway, how did it go?” Blaine’s voice rose highly at the end of his question.

  “How did what go?” David played dumb.

  “You know exactly what I mean. How did the evening with your new owner play out?” Blaine reclined on David’s couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table.

  “You are extremely too comfortable doing nothing while I work.”

  “Nonsense. I am on the job right now. As we speak, I am remotely monitoring a merger between my company and a competitor over my smartphone.”

  “A merger or a hostile takeover?”

  “We never have to employ any kind of force. Stop changing the subject. How did it go?”

  “Better than it should have.” David climbed down the stairs

  “Was it supposed to be crap?” Blaine asked as his friend joined him on the couch, having grabbed a can of Coke Zero from the fridge.

  “No. It just wasn’t supposed to be good. She didn’t really want me. She wanted a hero, some guy who is famous for being good and always does the right thing. She’s got it wrong. She just enjoyed me last night because of the plans you sat up for us.”

  “That sounds like a load of shit to me. You know that stuff is going to kill you, right?”

  “Coke Zero is an absolute good, and it’s true. She loved the ball and the fancy food, and those things aren’t me. I’m a fireman, a construction worker and a man who loves his country and his mama, there’s no glamour in any of that.”

  “Stop acting like such a bitch, David. She paid an outrageous amount of money for you before she ever saw the ball or the dinner. You give her a call and see her again. Show her the real you and then have some fun for once in your dutiful, sad, little life.”

  “Maybe you’re right. But it’s too late now. I can’t call her. I didn’t get her phone number.”

  Blaine stood up abruptly. “Didn’t get her phone number? Have I taught you NOTHING? Quit sabotaging yourself!” He pulled out his smartphone and began typing away.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m finding this girl for you!”

  “Don’t do that.” David rose and went back to work.

  “Why?”

  “I already know where she lives and where she works.”

  “Well hell, Boy. Go get her! Put down that hammer and that toxic caffeine cocktail and go get her!”

  “I can’t. Tonight is when I volunteer at Austin Pets Alive to walk the dogs.”

  “Come on, David. La
dies love dogs! Plus that is totally you! Take her with you.”

  “I don’t know if I should. I have a lot of work to do here and there is only so much embarrassment I will allow you to put me through in a week’s time.”

  “David, you’re my best friend, and I love you, but you have to stop being such a coward. She was in to you, every minute. You should have seen her little hand tremble when she held up that placard. She is different than the other girls, and the complete opposite of Veronica. David, if you don’t start putting yourself out there, you are going to end up alone.”

  “Maybe I want to be alone.” David’s voice turned sour and his hands sped up in his work.

  “Relax; I’m not trying to make you mad. Look at it this way, did you have a good time with her?”

  “Yes, an amazing time.” That released a little tension.

  “So have an amazing time again tonight. If you don’t see her again, you’ll never see her again, if you do, there is a chance you might finally start having a little fun. Logic will prevail eventually, Boyscout. Go get her and for once, think about yourself.”

  David stopped working and thought. “I guess I really don’t have anything to lose, do I? Hell, I might as well. You’re right!” David took his tool belt off and tossed it on the couch and headed for the door.

  “Wait.”

  “What? You got me all pumped about this and now you are telling me to wait?”

  “Change shirts, you Neanderthal.”

  David looked down at his sweat-drenched white Hanes t-shirt. “Yeah. Good idea.”

  David ran to his bedroom. Blaine grabbed his Coke Zero and tossed it into the garbage. “Damn right, it’s a good idea.” He spoke to himself. “Now, if I can get you off of this poison.”

  *****

  Jenna had settled into her new office nicely. The boss was a lot sweeter, as far as she could tell, and she was getting closer and closer to Miranda.

  Her desk started to take shape. There were not as many knick-knacks and not as many memories, but it was growing. Her picture of her sister stood by her laptop. She had bought some new office equipment to give a fresh feeling to the atmosphere. Nothing adds spark to a desk like a new stapler. And the newest addition was the brochure from the Holiday Fantasy Date. One page had its corner bent down for remembering and on it was a picture of her angel. She didn’t know if she would ever see him again, and that was okay. She didn’t feel worthy of him. She paid for one night, and it was more than she could have asked for. It was time for her to get back to work. If her mom could see her day-dreaming, she would never hear the end of it. But, Jenna would never forget. The feeling of his lips on hers would be burned into her memory forever.

  Miranda slumped across the office and down into her desk. She plopped her head onto her arms across the desk and moaned.

  “Too much champagne, Miranda?”

  “Nope,” she said, never lifting her head, “it wasn’t last night. But today I want to die.”

  Jenna giggled. “Did you get your prize? Did you get Blaine last night?”

  “Oh, god. Don’t remind me. I can barely remember what happened. I was having a great time on the dance floor, I think. And then, after a few drinks and dances, he was gone. It’s like he just vanished. But the good news is: that blonde hussy didn’t vanish with him. She was still there when I left. It’s not really a defeat if my enemy didn’t win. I have time.”

  “That’s good for you. Best of luck.”

  “I’m too hung-over to notice undertone. Are you being sarcastic? Just tell me so I can slap you when I feel better.”

  “Good luck with that.” Jenna flipped her hair back and dove into her work.

  “You sound happy. How did things go with your wonder boy after the dance?”

  “It went fine.” Jenna smiled in remembrance.

  “You’ll have to tell me more than that. Under the influence, remember?”

  “It was good. Dinner was lovely, we chatted and then he took me home.”

  “That’s it? You paid fifteen thousand dollars for an evening with him and didn’t jump his bones after dinner?”

  “Sssshhh!!! He’s not a prostitute. He is an angel. It was perfect, but now it’s over. I should look forward and think about other things.”

  “Oh Jesus, Girl. I can’t believe you. You’re not even going to see him again?”

  Jenna’s spirit fell. “Probably not. A man like that wouldn’t want a girl like me. We’d better get to work before the boss walks by and sees me chatting and you loitering.”

  “Geez.” Miranda forced herself up on one elbow and turned her computer on. Jenna focused her mind on the task at hand only to have her concentration broken shortly after.

  “Miss Johnson. You have a delivery.” Mr. Cartwright, her new boss, strode up quickly and stopped at her desk to inform her.

  “Yes, Sir. Will it be brought up to my desk?”

  He leaned down to her on her desk. “We usually wouldn’t have a problem with bringing you your packages, but this one, you might want to go downstairs and get yourself.” He caught her eye and smiled a little. He was a gentle man, not like the snake back in Dallas. He leaned up and left her.

  “I wonder what it could be. I didn’t order anything.” She looked over at Miranda whose curiosity had given her another great reason not to work. Miranda shrugged and popped some gum in her mouth.

  “Go find it, and if it’s food, PLEASE share.”

  Jenna stood and walked toward the elevator. She pressed the button and waited. When the doors slid open, a few of her coworkers stepped out and smiled. “Jenna, right? I think you’re going to like what’s waiting for you in the lobby.”

  “What is it?” Why was everyone so wrapped up in her delivery? Do they not have lives?

  “I don’t think I should ruin the surprise. I’ll just have you know that it’s a little too big to keep on your desk.” Her coworkers laughed and slipped off into the office.

  Jenna took the elevator down to the lobby floor. When she stepped out, her eyes grew wider than dinner plates. There stood her angel, crisp in a blue dress shirt, holding a bouquet of red roses.

  “Hey Jenna.” David smiled, still finding it hard to believe that he had made himself come to her place of business to do this.

  “Oh my god, David. What are you doing here?” Jenna rushed to him, standing only a few feet away. The receptionist and a few others sat giggling and pointing behind the desk.

  “I wanted to see you again. Last night was wonderful. I brought you these.” He held out the flowers for her. She took them into her arms and smelled them deeply.

  “How did you know that red roses were my favorite?”

  “I don’t know. It just seems like they would be. They are beautiful, and elegant and classic, just like you.” He was proud he had made the right decision.

  “They’re wonderful. I love them.”

  “I’m so glad. Listen, Jenna. If I’m not too out of line, I’d like to see you again tonight. Might you be available after work?”

  Jenna thought about it, she didn’t want to seem too eager. “I’ll have to check my schedule, but I’m mostly sure I can squeeze you in.”

  A broad grin exploded onto his lips. “That’s wonderful news. We’ll have a double date. I’ll pick you up here at five thirty. Are those shoes comfortable to walk in?”

  “Yes, it won’t be a problem.”

  “Excellent. I have to go, but I’ll be back. Have a good day at work.” He was so excited. He waved at her and almost knocked someone over on his way out the door.

  She watched him leave and smelled her flowers one more time. They smelled so sweet. She turned and walked back toward the elevator. Her head shifted toward the receptionist, to whom she gave a smile and pointed at the flowers.

  Back at her desk, Jenna set the flowers amongst her life’s collage, near her sister’s picture. They made a wonderful contribution to the whole, she thought.

  Miranda careened into her. “Wooo. Who’
d you get those from? Your angel?”

  “They might be from him.” Her smile shone brighter than the sun.

  “I guess you will be seeing him again.”

  “Yes, I guess I will. It’s a double-date though, which isn’t what I expected. But, regardless, I am excited.”

  “Tell me all about it tomorrow!”

  The whole world faded away as Jenna looked at her desk. It looked so different from her workplace back in Dallas. There was organization here as well, and work and projects, but also so much more. All of a sudden, the five years it would take to get her promotion didn’t seem quite so long after all.

  *****

  David pulled up to her office. This time he had cleaned Jr. out really well. He sparkled like a Cullen. He stepped out when he saw Jenna leaving the building.

  “Hey Gorgeous, are you ready?”

  “Yes, I am. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day. Who are we going on a date with?”

  “Two extremely good friends of mine. You are going to love them, Jenna. They are sweet, smart, pretty and do exactly what they’re told.”

  ‘Do what they’re told?’ Jenna thought. ‘What kind of people are we meeting?’

  Jenna talked with David about their day and their work but what he said about his obedient friends never left the back of her mind. It was so out of place compared with the rest of his behavior.

  They drove south of downtown but with the scrapers still in view. Jr. rode west along the river until they got to a quaint quartz-colored building.

  “Jenna, this is Austin Pets Alive. It’s a non-profit organization with the goal of eliminating the killing of companion animals in Austin. I have been volunteering with them for a while. It’s kinda one of my hobbies.”

  “I can’t think of a better hobby. I love animals.” He let her out of the truck and she noticed something new in him, a spunk, a pizzazz. He was clearly happy to be there. She stepped out and looked around the building. “Is this where our date is?”