Cupid In Blue Read online

  At the ends of the branches, where leaf buds would form in another two months, puffy red hearts appeared. They expanded in size until they were as big as apples, glittering in the weak February sunlight, suspended by golden stems. The outraged squawk of a bird shattered the silence as the winged animal crashed into one the hearts, which then shuddered and burst into a shower of red and golden sparks before it vanished. Aaron shooed the confused bird away in order to capture Catherine’s reaction. “Bet you’ve never seen that.” The pleasure he felt at his magical feat paled in comparison to her reaction. Desire threw a web around his consciousness.

  Catherine gazed at the shiny newness, her lips parted in wonder. She poked tentatively at the nearest heart with a forefinger. “How did you do this?” She giggled when the heart popped like a child’s bubble into colorful sparkles. “It’s great. And it’s—”

  “Magic.” Aaron’s breath caught in his chest when she smiled. He vowed to encourage her to do it more often.

  “Magic.” She repeated the word with awe in her voice.

  “It’s as unexplainable as love, but just as potent.” He brushed his fingers along the curve of her cheek. “Love gives us purpose and comfort, but magic lets us hope, believe in the impossible, trust in the unseen.” When the hearts nearest to them faded into showers of red glitter, Aaron leaned closer to her. “Magic is all around us. It waits to be recognized, but love is never recognized until we actually see it or, better yet, feel it.” Her excited breath warmed his lips. “I can show you what it feels like to be loved. I am Cupid, after all.” He waggled his eyebrows. God, did she have no idea how she affected him?

  Her gaze held his for a long, heart-stopping moment, then, with a tiny sigh, Catherine pressed her lips to his. She pulled away with a giggle. “It feels kind of stupid to kiss you in this tree.”

  “Then let’s move out of the tree.” Aaron’s heart thundered in his chest. He swept her from the branch and flew with her to the ground. The brief contact of their lips left him wanting more—much more. Once their feet were firmly anchored on the soggy still-dead grass, he cocked his head to the side, reluctant to release her from his arms. “Better?” He reminded himself to temper the urgency that threatened to clog his throat.

  “Yes, but I think I broke one of your arrows.”

  His passion faltered as he stepped back enough to take the quiver from her. He did a quick inspection. Seven arrows rested securely within the leather pouch. Aaron frowned. “Where’s the last arrow?” Apprehension swept the lust from his gut when she gave him a sheepish smile and held out her right hand, palm up. A tiny dot of crimson blood marred the creamy skin while the sweet scent of chocolate wafted around them. Aaron wondered anew at the mysterious liquid inside the arrows.

  “I accidentally stabbed myself with it when you conjured the hearts. I got distracted and wasn’t paying much attention. I must have squeezed the quiver too hard.” Her tentative smile morphed into a sly, sexy smirk. “I hope that won’t be a problem.” A definite purr accompanied the statement. She lifted a perfectly arched brow.

  Aaron’s heart sank. He watched the fragile crystalline shards of the arrow melt away. The sharp arrowhead embedded in her palm was the last to vanish. “Oh damn.”

  Chapter 5

  “Aaron, are you in here? You can’t hide from me forever.” Catherine tiptoed through the near-empty cafe section of Just Cookies, cringing when the bells on the door announced her presence with a cheery tune. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” She giggled at the singsong quality of her voice.

  Nearly an hour had passed since the Cupid’s arrow stabbed her palm. For reasons only known to him, Aaron had fled the area as if rabid hunting dogs nipped at his heels. He really could get up an impressive amount of speed with those wings. But Catherine wouldn’t be outfoxed by the winged wonder. She systematically checked out his typical haunts until she had finally tracked him to the bakery. Catherine stumbled into a chair and stifled a laugh as the piece of furniture scraped against the tiled floor. If she didn’t know better, she’d think she was drunk, but that was impossible. She didn’t remember having anything stronger than coffee that morning.

  “Catherine? Are you okay? You look a little…weird.” Jenika’s anxious voice seemed to echo off the walls and bakery cases.

  “I’m peachy, Jinx.” She blew an air kiss at her ex-roommate. “Now, tell me where that silly Aaron Bernhart is hiding.” Excitement bubbled in her stomach at the thought of seeing him again. She felt light and silly, almost as if… But no, that just wasn’t possible.

  “You can’t go back there.” Jenika wedged herself between Catherine and the door to the kitchen, panic clouding her green eyes. “I mean it, Cat. Mr. Bernhart was very explicit when he told me—”

  “Ah ha! He is here.” Catherine brushed past the petite Titan with a smile. “Don’t you worry. I’ll play nice.” She firmly closed the door on Jenika’s protests, snickering as she turned the lock. “Unless he asks otherwise.” A quick glance around the kitchen didn’t reveal the feathered hunk. “You can’t hide forever, Cupid.” Catherine laughed as Jenika’s frantic knocks rained on the door.

  Three trays of freshly baked cookies rested on the wooden counter, ready to be decorated. Catherine paused in her pursuit of the feathered flyboy to sniff the air. Her stomach rumbled as the sweet perfume of vanilla, orange and chocolate teased her nose. Her determination to catch Aaron wavered and her mouth watered. Chocolate. Rich, sinful, luscious chocolate. Her eyes darted about the quiet kitchen to land on thick chocolate ganache that waited in a stainless steel bowl.

  As if in a trance, Catherine moved toward the appliance. She licked her lips in anticipation of the smooth confection. What would it hurt if she just took a tiny taste? She moved a trembling finger toward the bowl then a muffled crash from the back office distracted her. “Aaron?” She shuffled to the open doorway. “Gotcha.” A grin stretched over her face when she spied the object of her desire near a closet door. “You can’t hide from me forever.”

  “Stay away from me, Catherine.” Aaron darted across the cluttered office to put a battered metal desk between him and her. “Go back to the boarding house. You’ll only end up hurting yourself.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Fly Boy.” She steadily advanced into the room. Her heart beat so hard in her chest she thought it would surely escape to dance about the room. “I intend to finish what we started earlier.” Tingles of electricity teased her spine. “I’m not leaving until I kiss you.”

  “What?” Aaron paused in his attempt to scramble away from her. “One kiss, then you’ll go straight to Mrs. Wiggins’s house?”

  Catherine met his wary brown gaze then nodded. “I promise.” She tamped down the devilish giggle that threatened to escape. Aaron didn’t say how short the kiss had to be. She trailed a fingertip over the cool metal desktop. “Surely you won’t deny me one tiny, little kiss?” She made sure her pout was exaggerated, pleased when his eyes focused on her lips. “After all, you are Cupid, and romance is your job.”

  Aaron remained silent as he stared at her.

  “Think of it this way.” Catherine deliberately kept her voice low and conversational as she sashayed over to him. “It’s your responsibility to see that people get the ‘feel good’ emotions associated with love. Why don’t you show me the deep, dark, sexy side of romance?” She grinned when his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “Convince me Cupid really knows what he’s pushing.”

  A barely audible groan from Aaron was his only response, but he stood his ground.

  Catherine interpreted his silence as an invitation. Sliding her hands up his chest, she wrapped them around his neck. “It must be hard to be in your position constantly watching other people get together, but nothing happens in your own life.” A red wave of lust swept through her body, prompting her for release.

  “Enough, Catherine.” His voice shook with strain. “This has been quite a display.”

  “And it’s about to get bett
er.” She pressed her lips to the side of his neck as the citrus and male scent of him invaded her consciousness. “Be prepared, Mr. Bernhart. You’re in for a bumpy ride.” With very little effort, she pushed him into the leather rolling chair then straddled his lap.

  * * * *

  Heaven and Hell came together in a thunderstorm of desire and longing so intense Aaron thought he’d die, but if he went, he’d be a happy man. “Catherine, stop…” His words trailed off as she nibbled a path of searing kisses along his jaw. With each gentle press of her lips, Aaron’s control lessened until he could stand it no longer.

  His hands slid along her trim hips to grasp her waist in an attempt to halt her amorous attentions, but when she entwined a hand in his hair, he knew he was lost. He brought his mouth to hers, intent to learn the secrets her lips had yet to reveal. Aaron ran the tip of his tongue along her bottom lip. When she moaned softly and pressed herself against him, Aaron nearly came out of his skin. “Catherine.”

  Her eyes fluttered open. He could see the passion that clouded her deep blue eyes. “Now is not the time for talk.” Her ragged breath warmed his lips, her own slick and glossy.

  Aaron couldn’t help but agree. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, urgency guiding his instinct. He manipulated her mouth until she parted her lips and met each stroke of his tongue. With every touch of her hands, with every tiny sound she made, Aaron’s blood smoldered, burned, until he knew he’d combust into full flame.

  His reaction to the supercharged woman on his lap was not enough to silence the doubts that flooded his mind. With a firm but gentle resolve, Aaron ended their kiss. “That’s enough.”

  “But I’m not finished.” She pushed her kiss-swollen lips into a pout, but he knew better than to fall for that ploy again.

  “You are now.” He grasped her waist and hoisted Catherine off his lap and onto the desk. Aaron inhaled several times before he could trust himself to look at her again. “Unless you want to end this afternoon on the cold, hard floor doing something you’ll undoubtedly regret when you’re sober, your little seduction attempt is over.”

  Catherine reached for him and frowned when he rolled the chair out of her range. “What do you mean, when I’m sober?”

  “You’re under the influence of a Cupid’s arrow.” He glanced at her rosy cheeks, disheveled hair and bright eyes then sighed heavily. There was nothing he’d rather do than crush her into his arms and kiss all reason from her. He refused to take advantage of her when she wasn’t in her right mind. It was unfair to her and underhanded of him.

  She shook her head. “No, I’m not.” She gave him a goofy, lopsided grin. “I’ve never felt better in my life.” She tapped her temple. “I know what I’m doing up here.”

  Depression chased the passion from his body as if he’d been doused in ice water. “I’m sure the arrow’s effects will wear off eventually, but until they do, you need to go home.” The practical half of his brain acknowledged her response to him had nothing to do with her own free will, but the hopeful half of his brain wished it weren’t so. He slumped in his chair. “Go home.”

  “I live in New York, so how can I get there right now, silly?” Catherine hopped off the desk and closed the distance between them to stand between his sprawled legs. “You’re cute when you sulk.” She put both hands on his shoulders. She leaned into him to press her lips to his. “But I like you with wings better. They’re very sexy on you.”

  Aaron swallowed hard but couldn’t resist a quick peek down her blouse. Her perfectly formed breasts, encased in enticing black lace, seemed to cry out for his undivided attention. With a monumental amount of willpower, he squirmed away from her to stand awkwardly at the door. Already highly aroused, he grew frustrated when he saw Catherine openly stare at the front of his pants. His groin twitched in response. He was going to die of need or embarrassment, and he didn’t care which as long as it put him out of his misery.

  “Jenika!” When the baker didn’t respond to his call, he bit off a curse and strode awkwardly through the kitchen. “Jinx, where the hell are you?” Catherine followed him. He was desperate to remove the temptation she presented him. At the door, he angrily undid the lock to enter the bakery.

  She rushed to him, her eyes wide while her red curls bobbed with each movement. “Is everything all right?” She looked down then raised her knowing gaze to his. “You look, um, happy to see somebody.”

  With monumental effort, Aaron ignored Jinx’s comment. “Where were you?”

  “Catherine locked the door and I couldn’t get in.” She glanced around him when Catherine slid beside him, a hand on his arm.

  “No, everything is not all right.” Aaron detached Catherine’s fingers and stepped away. “Jinx, please take her home.” He glanced about the near-empty cafe area. Only a few customers remained. “As soon as these folks are done, I’m going to close the bakery early today. It doesn’t look like there’s much going on anyway.”

  “I don’t want to go anywhere!” Catherine stamped her foot.

  Aaron frowned then took Jenika aside. He lowered his voice so Catherine couldn’t overhear him. “She’s a bit sick and needs rest.” He looked over his shoulder at the temptress. Her wide eyes and the dilated pupils gave her affliction away. “Let her sleep it off, okay?”

  Jenika nodded. “Is it permanent, whatever it is?” Fear shook her voice as she retrieved her purse from beneath the counter. “Is she on drugs? She’s been acting weird”

  “No, don’t worry. She’ll be fine.” He ran a hand over his face. “Just make sure she stays put.” Aaron stood back and watched as Jenika looped her arm through Catherine’s and spoke to her in low tones. The bells at the door tinkled when the two women finally left. He breathed a sigh of relief.

  He wished the sudden burst of affection Catherine had shown him wasn’t rooted in a falsehood. Icy fingers of despair clenched his stomach in a tight grip. Once the Cupid influence wore off, his beautiful, aloof Catherine would go back to mocking him at every turn. That thought plunged him into a black cloud of self-pity.

  * * * *

  Two days later saw Aaron ensconced in his leather recliner in front of the big screen TV, watching re-runs of The Honeymooners. Their antics held no appeal for him. He’d turned the program on for background noise. He rubbed his tired eyes. The one time he had ventured out late last evening, he ran into Catherine at the diner. One look at her smiling face and bright eyes when she noticed him told Aaron all he needed to know: the effects of the arrow still held her in its grip. When she approached him at the counter and laid a hand on his arm, he had mumbled an excuse and left. Immersing himself in life at home was better than working at a false relationship.

  “Well, you’re a fine mess, aren’t you, brother?”

  Aaron ignored Landon. What was the point of debating with his sibling when his brother would be gone soon? His listless gaze flickered over Landon’s two black, soft-sided suitcases at the door then moved back to the TV screen. A sappy Hallmark card commercial caught his attention, but he just as quickly dismissed it. What was the point of love?

  “How long do you plan on sulking?” Landon yanked the remote from Aaron’s fingers then flipped off the TV. “You haven’t shaved for days, let alone changed your clothes. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. It’s your busiest time of the year but you’d rather rot in front of mindless programming.” He tossed the remote on the coffee table where it rested atop an instruction manual.

  “I don’t care.” Aaron shrugged and stared at the darkened screen.

  “You ought to.” Landon sat on the edge of the recliner next to Aaron’s. “This is your job. Forget about what’s-her-name and do what you’ve been told to do. If you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to report you to the people at the Institute.”

  “I guess familial loyalty holds no attraction for you.” Aaron’s bark of laughter was a bitter sound. “What do I know of love anyway? I can’t manage to hold a woman’s interest unless she’s been hit wit
h one of my arrows.” He scratched at the stubble on his chin. He didn’t care that he probably looked like a pirate.

  “You’re feeling low. You’ve been taken in by a female. Get over it.”

  “Easy for you to say.” Aaron glared at his brother then closed the recliner, his feet on the floor. “You’ve got it all—a good job, an adoring wife, a future of happiness. So don’t lecture me on what I should be doing.”

  “I had my fair share of doubts and disappointments, but you have to be stronger than your personal life. You’ve got a job to do and you can’t get around it.” Landon stood. “Deep down, you know this to be true. When you are entrusted with a magical appointment, you can’t ignore it just because your life is in chaos.” He clapped Aaron on the shoulder. “The universe doesn’t work that way.”

  “Unfortunately, I know.” Aaron raised his gaze and saw only compassion and understanding on his brother’s face. “It’s too bad we don’t get a say when we’re randomly chosen by the Institute to carry out magical endeavors.”

  “Would you have refused the calling if you had prior knowledge?”

  Aaron thought over the satisfaction and pleasure of a well-aimed arrow shot and shook his head. “No. For whatever reason, my life before Cupid was a bit meaningless. But at least I had no trouble getting a date.” This time, his laughter was genuine. He stood and stretched. What he really wanted to do was unfurl his wings and take a flight around town.

  “Work on the magic. The rest will fall into place. Trust me.”

  “Thanks.” The implication of the luggage in the entryway hit home. “You’re leaving now, aren’t you?” When Landon nodded, Aaron rubbed at his chin again. “I knew it was coming but didn’t expect it to be so soon.” Life without his brother around to tease him would certainly be different. “Good luck, and don’t stay away too long.”

  He stood stiff for a few seconds when Landon clasped him in a gruff, manly hug. In a sudden burst of sibling rivalry, Aaron threw an arm around Landon’s neck to capture him in a headlock. “I’ll miss you, man.” He ruffled his older brother’s hair then released him, laughing when Landon cleared his throat and tried to put his chestnut waves to rights.