A Hero to Love Read online

  Cover Copy

  A military police officer on the verge of a new beginning. A beautiful woman devoted to her career and her dream of putting down roots. The hardest thing they’ll ever do is to take a chance on love . . .

  Navy Chief Master at Arms Jackson “Jax” Faraday is at a crossroads. He has to decide whether to reenlist or get out while he’s young enough to make a difference in the civilian world. Either choice could mean leaving behind his girl: his K-9 partner, Bella. But when she’s injured during a training session, Jax’s only concern is making sure she’s okay.

  As the Navy base veterinarian, town local Risa Reynolds is right where she belongs: close to her parents in a farmhouse full of animals—with room to grow. She’s seen enough to put military men on her “not happening” list, because they always leave.

  But when a tall, hazel-eyed sailor arrives in her clinic with his dog in his arms, Risa finds herself falling hard. And all kinds of rules will get broken when Jax, a man who sticks to the straight and narrow, learns that there’s no predicting the twists and turns of the heart . . .

  Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

  Books by Gail Chianese

  The Changing Tides Series

  Love Runs Deep

  A Hero to Love

  The West Side Romance Series

  Bachelorette for Sale

  Boyfriend for Hire

  Fiancé for Keeps

  Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

  A Hero to Love

  The Changing Tides Series

  Gail Chianese

  LYRICAL PRESS

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  Copyright

  Lyrical Press books are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2017 by Gail Chianese

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund- raising, and educational or institutional use.

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

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  Attn. Special Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

  Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  LYRICAL PRESS Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.

  First Electronic Edition: August 2017

  eISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0031-6

  eISBN-10: 1-5161-0031-X

  First Print Edition: August 2017

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0032-3

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-0032-8

  Printed in the United States of America

  Dedication

  This one’s for Penny

  Thanks for all the laughs and for reminding me of what’s important.

  Acknowledgments

  A heartfelt thanks to my editor, Martin Biro, for his guidance and support as well as all the amazing people at Kensington/Lyrical Press. I’m truly blessed to part of this family. Also, thanks to my agent, Jess Regel.

  Many thanks to my writing chapter for always being there for me, especially my MTBs: Jessica Andersen, Sadie Hartwell, Jamie Beck, Megan Ryder, Regina Kyle, Katy Lee, Jamie K. Schmidt, Tracy Costa, Jen Moncuse, Beth Iorio, and Laura Moore. You ladies rock, and keep me sane and going.

  No book would be complete without thanking my (thankfully) way-too-patient husband, my children—who never lose faith in me, or my mom for being there. I love you.

  To you wonderful readers, as always thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing to spend time in my world.

  Chapter 1

  Jackson Faraday was worried about his girl.

  He should have been worried about his future. Time was running out for him to make a decision—stay in the Navy or get out—and the detailer was breathing down his neck. But the decision to throw away the past twelve years wasn’t easy.

  He wanted more.

  If NCIS—Naval Criminal Investigative Service—would make a decision on his application, that would be great. But what if they turned him down? Did he stay in for twenty years and retire? Then what? Start over at the bottom? Go home to a one-stoplight town with a police force that spent all its time dealing with bored teens wreaking havoc or frustrated couples fighting? Work security for one of the nearby casinos? All viable options, just not what he wanted.

  He wanted to make a difference.

  He shoved away the nagging questions. He had more pressing concerns. Like what was wrong with Bella, which was why he was at the base training center, even though his shift was officially over.

  “Come on, Bella. Give me your best for an hour, and then I’ve got a treat for you.” He wagged the Frisbee to get her attention. Instead, Bella whined and flicked her ear.

  “Hey, Jax. Heard we had a win in the courtroom today.” Chief Casey Thomas drove his Jeep up next to the chain-link fence.

  “Stone? Yeah, he’s going away for a good couple of years for that little video stunt of his. Not that it makes up for what he put Lieutenant Riley through, but it’s a start.”

  “Me and a couple of the guys are going to grab some grub and head out to the beach. Enjoy what’s left of summer. Come join us.” Casey drummed his fingers on the outside of the driver’s door, giving away he had more on his mind than a night’s celebration.

  “What’s up with you, man? You seem agitated.” He and Casey went back a ways; spent some time in the sandbox together. Normally the guy was as easygoing as cool beer slipping down your throat on a summer day.

  “Got my orders in today.” Casey slid out of the vehicle and walked through the gate. “I’m heading to Pensacola.”

  “Isn’t your ex-wife there?”

  “Near enough.” Casey squatted down and scratched Bella’s ears. “Did you hear back on your application yet?”

  “You know what they say: No news is good news.” At least he hoped that’s what it meant.

  “You know what you need? To find a nice lady who can take some of your stress away and make you forget your worries.”

  “The only lady I need in my life is Belladonna.”

  “She’s a little hairy and full of attitude.”

  “Aw, but you forget. She loves me unconditionally and always has my six.”

  “Not lately.” Casey stood and looked out at the obstacle course. “The new handler had her out this morning, running her through basic commands, and she ignored them all. I know you two have a tight bond, especially after two tours, but you’re leaving soon. She’s got to get used to new people.”

  Bella had been more than his partner while deployed; she’d been his anchor, his pillar of strength, his confidant, and his hope when all seemed lost. She wasn’t just his K-9 partner. She was his family, and the idea of leaving her was ripping him apart inside. Chances were she could sense his mood and the turmoil going on inside.

>   “Which is why I’m passing on your offer.” Jax released the German shepherd’s leash. “Thought I’d do some special one-on-one training with her and see how it goes. Find out if it’s the new guy or her.”

  “She wouldn’t be the first dog to burn out.” Casey looked down at the dog, who hadn’t moved. “Of course, if she’s declared unfit for duty, you could adopt her. But then, what would you do with her while you’re in Glynco for NCIS training?”

  Jax dropped the leash and Frisbee on top of his backpack and looked into the brilliant blue sky. He’d been playing the “what if” game for two months now with no answers in sight.

  “Let’s deal with one problem at a time.”

  “If you change your mind about tonight, you know where to find us.” Casey waved as he hopped back into his Jeep and drove off.

  Jax squatted down and ran his hand down Bella’s back. “Okay girl, let’s get the work over so we can play.” Truthfully, everything they did was work. The game of Frisbee honed the dog’s speed, agility, and tracking ability just as much as anything else they did. She simply liked it better than the obstacle course. Not that Jax blamed her.

  Jax stood up and gave the hand signal for sit.

  The dog looked at him, then closed her eyes with a deep sigh.

  “Bella, sit,” he commanded.

  She rolled over onto her side and laid her paw across her nose. Casey really nailed it with his description. The dog was full of attitude—bad attitude—and a military working dog that didn’t follow orders was of no use to the service.

  Jax went through the commands again and again, getting no response. The two of them had worked together for almost six years, since Bella’s first assignment, and she’d transferred with him from the Middle East to the Sub base. In all that time, she’d never ignored an order from him. He bent back down and gave her a cursory inspection, but he didn’t find any obvious reason for the dog to balk. Concerned, Jax sat down on the ground next to his partner.

  “Bella girl, talk to me. What’s going on in that brain of yours? Is it the heat? Don’t you like the new guy? Tired of the same old routine? Trust me, I’d understand if that was the problem. Maybe we should call it a night, and tomorrow go see Doc and make sure you’re okay.”

  Bella scooted closer and laid her head on Jax’s lap, her tail thumping in the grass.

  “You gotta be okay, girl.” Absently, he scratched behind her ears as he thought of the past six years. “I don’t think I could handle it if we’d come this far and something happened to you.”

  Jax leaned forward and picked up the Frisbee. As he talked about nothing to the dog, he tossed the toy up and caught it, making no demands on Bella. Pretty soon she was sitting, her gaze following the disc.

  “Ah ha. Okay, I get it. There are times when I don’t feel like working either. I’ll make a deal with you. Five minutes of play and then a lap around the course. Deal?”

  Bella barked in response.

  Jax laughed and jumped to his feet, relieved to see her respond like her old self. He threw the Frisbee, and Bella took off at the speed of light. She caught the disc and returned it.

  They repeated it again and again.

  “Okay, last one and then we work.” Jax threw it with all his strength.

  The disc flew up. Bella chased, but instead of running straight across the lawn, she ran up the stairs of the dog walk. When she got to the top, she jumped and caught the disc in her mouth. But as she came down, she twisted.

  The scene before him unfolded in slow motion. He ran, reaching for Bella. Almost there. He dove to catch her but it was too late. Bella crashed to the ground a couple of feet in front of him, letting out a yelp that made Jax’s stomach cramp. He crawled to her side.

  Thank God she was breathing. He ran his hands over her body. Nothing protruded and there was no blood, but she was crying.

  Carefully, Jax scooped her up and ran for his truck. “Hang on, baby. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  And he prayed like he hadn’t done since his last night in the desert. Just like now, Bella had been at his side and they’d been pinned down by enemy fire. He’d prayed that night that they’d make it home alive and in one piece. He prayed now that his dog would live, because even though she technically belonged to the U.S. Navy, she was the love of his life.

  * * * *

  Risa Reynolds took one last look around the back examination room before flipping off the light switch. It had been a long and busy day at the base veterinary clinic, and she was ready to go home to her own four-legged babies: Athena, Eir, Morpheus, Buggsy, and Lolita.

  Some said she had too many animals. She’d say she didn’t have enough.

  She headed toward the back door just as someone pounded on the front door; or, rather, tried to kick it in. It could only mean an emergency. Risa dropped her bag and ran through the small building. Her heart stopped at the sight of the limp dog in the man’s arms.

  Quickly, she had them both inside and the dog on the exam table. Risa didn’t bother with paperwork; her objective was to assess her patient’s condition, not to worry about her human’s ability to pay.

  “Okay, sweetie,” she cooed in response to the dog’s whimper. “Everything’s going to be alright. What’s her name?” Risa glanced up into a pair of striking hazel eyes that were filled with concern and love.

  “Bella,” he croaked. “Belladonna. She’s okay, right?”

  Risa ignored the question. It was too soon to say. “Bella. Such a fitting name for a pretty girl.” And probably deadly too, because she’d be willing to bet every last nickel in her bank account her patient was a military working dog.

  “Okay, run me through how she got hurt.”

  The man, Jackson, introduced himself and ran through the events as Risa slowly felt each muscle, joint and bone, noting the dog’s reaction—especially the yelp when she touched her hindquarters.

  “That’s where she hit the deck of the dog walk.” Jackson put his face right in the dog’s face and crooned to her. Risa thought about warning him that dogs in pain could bite unexpectedly, but the man and dog seemed to have a bond that went beyond that of a normal partnership.

  “We’ll need to X-ray her to see if anything is broken. Is Bella a working dog?”

  He nodded, never taking his gaze off of the animal as he gently stroked her ears. “She is. We’ve been together through a lot.”

  “How old is she?” Risa felt along her spine and let out a small sigh of relief when Bella didn’t cry.

  “Seven.”

  Risa scratched behind the beautiful shepherd’s ears and examined her eyes, checked her mouth, and looked for other signs of shock.

  “The good news is she’s still young and in excellent health, and she’s not showing signs of shock.” But she was too quiet and too still, and Risa didn’t like that at all. That information wouldn’t help Jackson or her patient, so she kept the worry to herself and would wait for test results. “I’ll need to call in one of my techs to help me, so I can X-ray Bella.”

  “I can act as your assistant.”

  “Keep her calm. I’ll be right back.” Risa slipped out of the exam room and prepped the X-ray table, filled a syringe with a painkiller, and grabbed the trauma board they kept handy for patients that couldn’t handle being picked up. Walking back in the room, her heart broke a little at the sight of the big man—he was well over six feet tall—with tears in his eyes. “How’s she doing?”

  He cleared his throat and looked down at the dog. “I think she’s in a lot of pain.” She tried to scoot closer and started whimpering. “She came down hard on the dog walk. You don’t think she’s bleeding internally, do you?”

  Risa had no way of knowing at this point, but telling him wouldn’t help him or Bella, and she needed a calm assistant. “No, I think she may have a broken rib or hip, and that’s why she’
s so still. I’m going to give her a shot of pain meds, and then we’ll move her into the other room. Okay?”

  Risa gave her the injection. Within a few minutes, Bella settled into a deep sleep. Together, Jackson and Risa lifted the dog on to the board and carried her to the X-ray table. Jackson stuck close to Bella’s side.

  “Sir, you’ll need to step back here behind the shield with me,” Risa said.

  “Please call me Jackson or Jax.”

  Jax. She liked the sound of that, especially the way he said it with his southern drawl.

  “Where you from, Jax?” She absently asked as she took the pictures necessary to see what was going on inside of her patient.

  “Promise you won’t laugh?”

  It was the first smile she’d seen and wow! It was a good thing she wasn’t walking or operating heavy equipment. He was a good looking guy, maybe not quite in Hugh Jackman’s league; then again, in her opinion, no one was. His hazel eyes were striking in that they were neither blue, nor green, nor brown, but a mix of all three colors. The hair at his temples had started to gray, yet it blended well and made him look distinguished. But it was his smile that got her. When his lips tilted upward, the result was devastating.

  “Cross my heart and hope to die, or however that goes.” For good measure, and to keep the smile in place, she drew a big X across her chest.

  He took a deep breath and let it out on a chuckle. “Jacksonville, Georgia, ma’am.”

  She cringed and laughed. “Please, thirty-three is much too young to be called ‘ma’am,’ and I hear it way too often with all the young kids in sub school around here.” She stepped out to change the film and angle of the machine. “So Jackson from Jacksonville? I like it. Guess your parents didn’t want you to forget where you came from, huh?”

  “Technically I was born in Stuttgart, Germany—Army brat—but I think my mom was homesick at the time.” He watched her every move as he monitored Bella’s sleep.

  “I’m almost afraid to ask if you have siblings and, if so, what are their names?”