Love, Valentine Style Read online

  “But – ”

  The front door opened. Randy stepped inside. He wore black Flash basketball shorts, a gray Flash hoodie, and a weary expression. Gemma’s heart gave a pang of longing.

  She shoved the name plate in the box, plopped into her receptionist chair, and turned toward her computer, pressing the On switch. Heat crept up her neck. Don’t let him recognize me. She barely wore any makeup and her hair was nothing like Glitterfrost Gem’s. Randy hadn’t ever recognized her without the makeover before. She prayed he wouldn’t do so now.

  Something clattered on the receptionist shelf above her desk. Something red, most likely Italian.

  Her body froze. Only her eyes moved, confirming what it was.

  “I wondered what happened to my other shoe,” Cora said dryly.

  “Are we good, Farrell?” There was a protective edge to Blue’s tone that surprised Gemma and warmed her heart.

  “This is between Gemma and me,” Randy said, a matching edge to his voice. “You Rules always make everything so complicated. Give us some space.” And then he added in a softer tone, “Please. For Gemma’s sake, if not mine.”

  Gemma bit her lip and sent the other Rules pleading looks, which they disregarded.

  One by one, her siblings retreated, leaving Gemma to face her mistake alone. She realized they’d come to her rescue if she called – Blue with his big brother bluster, Amber with her peacemaking calm, and Cora with sharp words that shielded. Maybe…just maybe…they did accept her. Army boots and all.

  Randy cleared his throat.

  She felt as if someone had tackled her. It was hard to breathe. She couldn’t look at Randy. She couldn’t…

  She snuck a glance in his direction. There was disappointment in the set of his mouth, but something softer in the look in his brown eyes. She jerked her gaze back to her computer screen. “How did you find me?”

  “Gemma,” he said softly. “You’re not Clark Kent. Straight hair or curly. Glasses or not. Combat boots or high heels. I’d recognize you anywhere.”

  Her mouth dropped open. Slowly, she spun her chair to face him. “Last night? You knew who I was?”

  “Gemma, I met you last summer when Coach Parker was introduced to the Flash, remember?”

  She did. She’d assumed he hadn’t. “But last night…You said from the moment you saw me.” How those words and his kisses had haunted her last night. Somehow Gemma found the sarcasm that was her everyday armor. “You never chose me for Women Crush Wednesday until I showed up on Mimi’s Twitter feed.” All glammed up.

  “I recognized you in that post. I’d been trying to work up the nerve to talk to you and it was easier to start a relationship on Twitter than face-to-face.”

  “Bull.”

  He shook his head, adding quickly, “The day we met you were wearing a black skirt and combat boots. You told Cora off for something she did with Coach Parker, and your chutzpah won me over. Hollywood women have hidden agendas I can’t decipher. You say exactly what you mean, whether to the Flash owner or a bartender. Since I saw you that first day, I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”

  Something warm opened slowly in her chest, making it easier to breathe. But there were still lies between them. “Glitterfrost Gem isn’t who I am. This is me. Blue jeans and army boots.” She’d never hide who she was again.

  “I know.”

  “And…last night was a set-up.” Damn her meddling siblings.

  “Yeah, by me.” He gave her the barest of smiles. “I asked Blue if I could do the show, on the condition that you were one of my dates.”

  The warmth in her chest spread.

  Randy had really long arms. He used one to reach over the counter and take her hand. It was the same hand he’d touched her intimately with the night before. Her mother would be mortified to know she’d let someone touch her like that. But she wasn’t living her life by her mother’s standards. She was finally branching out on her own.

  Gemma felt oddly curious – not chicken – about what would have happened if she’d let him continue.

  “How about we start over?” he said softly. “Have dinner with me tonight. I promise to take things as slow as you want to go.”

  “I…uh…would you go really slow? Would you wait until…say…things were legal between us?” He had to understand she was saving herself for marriage.

  “Gemma!” Cora yelled from her office. “This is not the Victorian era. You have to know if you’re sexually compatible before the wedding.”

  “Cora!” Blue and Amber chorused.

  Randy’s gaze never wavered from Gemma’s. “I said I’d wait. And I will.”

  “Really?” Gemma swallowed and whispered, “Why?”

  “Because you remind me of what’s real in the world. You see past the veneer. You don’t buy into the hype. You ground me with your honesty and your sarcasm.” He squeezed her hand, gently pulling her to her feet. “And your kisses make it worth the wait.”

  Gemma sighed and allowed him to tug her lips to his. This was how she envisioned a romance beginning – with honesty, sweet words, and a flutter in her chest that said this might be more than Women Crush Wednesday.

  It might be love.

  *

  About Mel Curtis

  Thank you!

  I hope you enjoyed reading Valentine Rules.

  Would you like to know when my next book is coming out? Sign up for my book release email list at www.MelindaCurtis.com, follow me on Twitter at @MelCurtisAuthor, or like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MelindaCurtisAuthor.

  Reviews help readers find books. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

  Valentine Rules is the first novella in The Hollywood Rules series. Amber Rules launched the fun and sexy, full-length novels, followed by Blue Rules and Cora Rules. Daisy Rules is a full-length novel due out in early summer 2014. Look for the next novella, Breaking the Rules, Jack and Viv’s story, sometime in 2014. Jayne Anne Krentz says of Blue Rules: “Sharp, sassy, modern version of a screwball comedy from Hollywood’s Golden Age except a lot hotter.”

  I also write sweet romances for Harlequin Heartwarming. The Harmony Valley series launched October 2013 with Dandelion Wishes, with Summer Kisses (book 2) out February 1, 2014, and Season of Change (book 3) out May 1, 2014. More books are planned in this small town, fun, contemporary series. Brenda Novak says of Season of Change: “Reading Slade and Christine’s story reminded me of why I enjoy romance. SEASON OF CHANGE has found a place on my keeper shelf!”

  Acknowledgements

  Anyone who knows me, knows I believe in good vibes, good karma, and the power of positive thinking. The Hollywood Rules series is a way for me to blend those vibes with young, sexy, fun Hollywood. I couldn’t have finished this novella without the love and support of my family and friends. As always, Mr. Curtis was patient during the completion of this project (and even helped distract a puppy I fell in love with and brought home while I was under deadline). My undying thanks to my writing group – the Tiny Killer Bees! Readers can thank Anna Adams, A.J. Stewart and Cari Lynn Webb for the redemption of the Hollywood heroes/heroines. Chelsea Elizabeth, I love your covers for the Hollywood Rules series! Much appreciation to the other authors in the Love, Valentine Style collection (Jasmine Haynes, Haley Whitehall, Raine English, Lois Winston, and especially Pamela Fryer, who handled logistics and the cover design). Thanks to PurplePapayaLLC for helping spread the gospel of The Hollywood Rules. And thank you, dear reader, for reading.

  Copyright Notice

  Be My Other Valentine - Copyright 2014, Jasmine Haynes

  Hotel Amore - Copyright 2014, Pamela Fryer

  Civil War Valentine - Copyright 2014, Haley Whitehall

  Forever My Valentine - Copyright 2014, Raine English

  Finding Mr. Right - Copyright 2014, Lois Winston

  Valentine Rules - Copyright 2014, Mel Curtis

  The stories in this collection are works of fiction. The names, characters, places and inc
idents are products of each writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not construed to be real. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights are reserved. No part of any story in this collection may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the individual author and copyright holder.

  Table of Contents

  Be My Other Valentine Jasmine Haynes

  Hotel Amore PamelaFryer

  Civil War Valentine Haley Whitehall

  Forever My Valentine Raine English

  Finding Mr. Right by Lois Winston (writing as Emma Carlyle)

  Valentine Rules by Mel Curtis

  Copyright Notice