Operation Cupid

by Allyson Lindt

  Operation: Cupid

  Allyson Lindt

  Published 2014

  ISBN: 978-1-62210-083-5

  Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © Published 2014, Allyson Lindt. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  Liquid Silver Books

  http://LSbooks.com

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  Blurb

  Kaylee lost her true love on Valentine’s Day, so to say she’s not a fan of the holiday is the understatement of the decade. When being bombarded by hearts and flowers pushes her to the brink of tears, she wishes for her lost love back. A stranger, who reminds her of the past in every way, offers her comfort—but he summons painful memories, leaving her torn.

  Devin enjoys his job as a cupid, helping lonely souls move on from lost loves and heartbreak and seeing their joy return. His life was taken too soon and being a cupid allows him a second chance. When he’s assigned to Kaylee, he’s inexplicably drawn to her, but she triggers unfamiliar memories and emotions. He finds himself breaking all the rules of his job to make her happy, but he still can’t offer her the one thing she wants: her lost love.

  As Kaylee and Devin grow closer, the demons of their past still haunt them. If they can’t reconcile what could’ve been, they’ll both lose out on their second chance at happily ever after. Can true love survive all obstacles?

  Dedication

  For Ay: my second chance, my eternal dragon, my always valentine.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you. Thank you to everyone who supports me. To everyone who reads my books. To my sweetie, Ay. To my wonderful CP’s, Sofia, Rae, and Janeal. Much love to all of you.

  Chapter 1

  Maybe if Kaylee ducked her head low enough, and focused enough attention on her laptop, she could block out the haze of pink clouding her peripheral vision. Why couldn’t she have remembered it was Valentine’s Day before she’d left the house this morning? She stared straight ahead at the screen, forcing the words to be coherent. Work. She just needed to focus on work.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day.” A cheerful voice cut through her thoughts for the five-billionth time in the last two minutes. She bit the inside of her cheek to give her external pain to focus on.

  There was no way she was getting anything done in here today. She might as well finish her coffee and go back home. As a freelance graphic artist, she tried to work someplace besides home a couple of times a week—to make sure she got out and didn’t become a total hermit. Normally the background noise helped her focus.

  Today, it was just a painful reminder of…The thought cut through her, leaving an imaginary gash in her chest. No, she wasn’t going to think about it.

  She took another sip of her coffee. She didn’t begrudge anyone their happily-ever-after, but that didn’t mean she wanted to dig up memories about the one she’d lost.

  She’d find some kitty pictures or something cheerful online. If she couldn’t get anything done, she could at least distract herself. The last thing she needed to do was get sucked into the loss of the past. She opened a browser, and the simple, blank box of the default landing page blinked back at her.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day!” The cheerful chant in the background beat against her eardrums.

  She typed in the search box, “Being lonely on Valentine’s Day hurts like hell,” and clicked, “I’m Feeling Lucky,” to let the search engine automatically take her to the first site it found. Yeah, lucky. If it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any at all.

  The screen flashed, and for a moment she didn’t think it had changed. But the logo was different. There was a cartoon cupid with a heart in the background and birds circling him. She raised an eyebrow at the URL where she’d been delivered. www.cupid.hea? Really? The tacky name summoned a gag, even in the midst of her growing grief. In the middle of the screen was a single box. Above it were the words:

  We’ll help you find what you’re looking for. Just answer our question to get started. What do you wish for more than anything else?

  She sniffled, and the tender hurt she’d been trying to hold back washed over her in a single wave. Damn that ached. Her fingers shook, and her vision blurred from tears as she typed out her answer. The one thing I can’t have. I want Tyler back.

  The moment she typed the last word, her screen flickered and her browser shut. She should be worried, but she couldn’t push aside the misery long enough to care. Guilt, loss, loneliness—they all pinched and tugged at her until she thought her soul might bleed. A few tears escaped, rolling down her cheeks. She should get home. The last thing she needed to do was lose it in the middle of everyone.

  Her phone buzzed, startling her out of her misery, and she reached for it, grateful for the distraction. Her gut sank, and an ache grew in her throat when she read the series of texts from her best friend, Eden.

  I’m so sorry. I know tonight is happy singles night.

  But the guy on two? He asked me out.

  I’ll make it up to you, I swear. Xoxo

  Kaylee tried to swallow, but couldn’t manage past the lump in her throat. She sent a quick, It’s no big deal, have fun, back. Things would be so much different if she hadn’t…If Tyler hadn’t…She pushed the thoughts aside before they could bring an avalanche of sobbing with them. That wasn’t a path she could go down.

  “Hey. Are you all right?” The rich voice interrupted her thoughts.

  It took her a moment to realize someone was talking to her. She looked up and found herself gazing into the palest green eyes she’d ever seen. Second palest. Tyler still wins. Great, a cute guy standing there, and she all-but had tears streaming down her face. I can’t do this.

  She dragged the back of her hand across her cheeks. How forced does my smile look? “I’m fine.”

  He raked his fingers through his hair—jagged slices of jet black covered his forehead as soon as he dropped his hand again. He was gorgeous. The thought hit her hard. Sturdy shoulders, pale skin, and a hopeful smile. She couldn’t stop staring at that smile.

  She needed to go. But she couldn’t force her feet to move, or her hands to shove her laptop back in its bag. She licked her lips, suddenly wishing she had water instead of coffee in front of her. Not that it mattered. Even if the last thing she wanted was to spend today alone, she couldn’t impose on some random stranger because she was still grieving over a man who’d died two years ago.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day!” The cheerful voice devoured more threads of her composure.

  The new arrival scowled and half turned toward the register before looking at Kaylee again. He folded himself into the chair across from her, lanky legs sticking out into the aisle. His voice was smooth, rolling over skin. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t look okay. You look like you need an ear.”

  He reminded her so much of Tyler. Not just the eyes, but the way he moved, the lilt of his voice. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to talk to him a little longer. He had offered. She knew he wasn’t Tyler, but he was a friendly face, and she desperately craved that just now; though not quite enough to unburden herself on him. Company was one thing. Telling him her life story was probably a bad idea. “I can’t load you down with my sadness. We don’t even know each other.” />
  He extended his hand. “I’m Devin. You are?”

  Tyler’s middle name. She mentally shook the thought aside. If she was going to break down, she’d rather do it at home with a pint of brownie-batter cherry chunk ice cream than in the middle of a coffee shop in front of this random person. His grip was warm and firm, sending a pleasant but unwelcome tingle through her. She tried to be polite and subtle about pulling away as quickly as possible. “Kaylee.”

  His brow furrowed, he shook his head, and then his smile slid back into place. “There. Now we know each other, right?”

  The corner of her mouth tugged up against her will. Even the light, teasing sense of humor reminded her of Tyler. “I suppose.”

  “So tell me what’s got you down. And don’t say ‘nothing,’ because you’re not doing the best job hiding your grief. You look like someone stole your valentine.”

  Yeah, me. She bit back the bitter thought. “Something like that. It’s just a tough day for me. The rest of the year I’m fine.”

  He raked his fingers through his hair again, not having any more luck pushing it out of his eyes than he had last time. That was something Tyler had never done. Then again, he’d never let his hair get that long. Kind of a shame. Devin was cute that way. She nudged the thought aside.

  “What is it that gets to you?” A hint of teasing lined his question. “The commercialization. The pressure to prove one’s love. The series of one-upping that goes on across TV and stores for weeks before?”

  Another chuckle slipped from her throat at the combination of half serious, half joking tone of his questions. Tyler had felt the same way. “Don’t hold back. Tell me how you really feel.”

  “I’m not a love Scrooge or anything like that. I just don’t think people in love should have to wait for a holiday to show each other their affection.” He locked his pale gaze on her, seeming to peer into her soul. “And I think those of us spending the day alone should be allowed to do so in peace instead of the constant reminders that we’re not like the flower companies say we should be.”

  Heat flooded her cheeks at the attention, and she ducked her head. She dug her composure up from deep inside. “Does that mean you’re boycotting the holiday?”

  “Only if you are too. We’ll boycott together.”

  “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? Teaming up to protest that we don’t need someone to make it through the day?” She looked up in time to catch a wink. She was having a lot more fun talking to him than she’d meant to. “Besides, my favorite ice cream flavor is seasonal, so I can’t completely boycott.”

  “Too bad.” His smile never evaporated as he nudged his chair back and stood. “I’ll have to go find someone else to sit with and celebrate loneliness.”

  Her hand shot out before she could consider what she was doing, and she wrapped her fingers around his wrist. Familiarity rushed through her at the contact, warming her from the inside. “I’d actually rather not be lonely. You don’t have to leave.”

  Please don’t leave. The whisper in her head was more frantic than she wanted it to be. Just stick around a little longer. Distract me?

  Chapter 2

  When Kaylee grabbed Devin’s wrist, the heat between them almost dragged a growl from his chest. Her touch sent a sharp, searing need through him—more potent than shaking her hand had done. Images flashed through his head of tugging her out of this crowded, public place, trailing his fingers through her hair, and nipping at her lips between her giggles. The thought was so powerful he could almost taste it. He pushed the fantasy aside.

  He didn’t mind being assigned to people who had lost a loved one. Helping them reconcile the hurt, showing them how to move on—he enjoyed seeing joy return to anyone’s eyes after being filled with so much pain. But there was something about her grief that almost crushed him inside and filled him with the desire to obliterate anything or anyone who had made her feel this way and keep her safe until she learned how to smile again.

  Too bad this wasn’t a cheating boyfriend kind of loss, or an “I was dumped and it aches” type thing. He had the barest details; he knew she’d lost someone to death. There wasn’t a cruel ex to protect her from. The villain here was the cruelty of life—fate had taken her love.

  He tucked the compulsion away. Even if she did have light brown hair that just brushed her shoulders, full lips, and a permanent hint of pink on her cheeks, it didn’t mean she was different than any other job.

  At least protocol stated he had to stay until he was done. She was work, but he wasn’t going to complain about keeping her company.

  “I’ve got plenty of time.” He settled back into his seat, not breaking contact with her until he felt like he had to. Something inside him was drawn to this woman in a way he wasn’t used to.

  She took a sip of her drink, grimaced, and shoved it aside. “Do you make a habit of this, or am I unique?”

  Both. He swallowed the answer. “Habit of…?”

  “Striking up random conversations with miserable strangers.”

  Only those who deserve it. It’s simple, really. When you typed your wish into that website, they sent me. I’m not sure why, since I can’t grant wishes. All I can do is keep you company for the day. If it ends up being a bright spot in your existence, it’s worth it, because I honestly like seeing people smile.

  The answer blipped through his thoughts in an instant, the same way it did at the start of every assignment. Not that he could actually say it out loud. If there was the teeniest, tiniest chance she believed the truth, it would cost him his job, and in turn, his second chance at a life that had been—according to his boss—taken from him too early. That would suck on an epic scale.

  “I just…” He just what? Fuck, that half-smile of hers was throwing his standard responses into all sorts of a bumble. “Do you need another cup of coffee?”

  “I’m good.” For the first time since he’d seen her, she looked like she meant it.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day!” The cheerful call rang through the room again, and she cringed.

  That was really going to get old.

  “Well, I’m mostly good.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing for a moment. “It’s kind of noisy in here. I don’t suppose…I was thinking of finding someplace a little quieter. Do you want to come with me?”

  But that lip-chewing thing, he could watch that for a while. Maybe help her out a little, kiss away some of the stress and doubt. Heel, boy. Don’t go down this path with an assignment. “That sounds brilliant.”

  She stuffed her laptop away and shouldered the bag. He opened his mouth to ask if he could carry it for her, but then swallowed the response. Time had taught him there were some lines people didn’t cross with complete strangers, even those happy to unburden them, and touching electronics was high on the taboo list for most people. As the crowds in the shop jostled them together, he settled for resting a hand on the small of her back and steered her toward the door. Heat rushed through him when she didn’t pull away.

  “You’re sure you’re okay walking out with a total stranger?” he teased.

  She glanced back at him, smile reaching her eyes. “We’re not strangers anymore, you pointed that out yourself. Besides.” She waved at someone behind him before turning back toward the door. “The cashier knows me, and she just saw us leave together. So play nice.”

  On the street, the crowds were worse. People brushed past them, and she stepped aside, putting herself closer to him. A whisper of vanilla drifted off her, clouding his head further. He hooked his thumbs in his pockets and drummed his fingers on his legs to keep his hands occupied. Sure, he loved that his job was literally to make people’s day, but something about her…Seeing her smile warmed every inch of him.

  She hesitated, brow furrowing. “I probably should have had a destination in mind.”

  “I know a place. Stow your laptop, and I’ll show you. It’s almost always less crowded, and I can guarantee less pink. Besides, they make a ki
ller maraschino cherry brownie.”

  She glanced at him, an unreadable expression on her face. Surprise, maybe? “My favorite.”

  I know. Wait, he did? How did he know that? Sure, the place had the most convenient menu in the universe—it always had what the patron was in the mood for. But he’d never been granted insight beforehand into what that was going to be. This time the answer had just popped into his head. “Lucky coincidence.”

  “Super lucky.” She stepped closer to avoid a group women walking in the other direction, and his hand slid to the small of her back again out of instinct. A thread of warmth trailed through him when she leaned into the touch instead of pulling away.

  That felt nice. Comfortable and familiar. He dropped his hand as soon as the thought crossed his mind. What was he doing? He’d been attracted to assignments before, but something about her was throwing his brain all out of whack. Another image flashed through his thoughts—of lying in the grass, her kneeling over him, and her hair falling in a curtain around both of them, blocking them off from the rest of the world. The sun was warm on his skin, and each sensation felt more like a memory than a fantasy.

  A sharp chill stole down the street, snatching the sunshine of his vision away, and he dragged himself back to reality.

  “You didn’t answer my question before.” She had shoved her hands in her pockets, and she watched her feet as they walked. “Do you make a habit of this?”

  He searched for a point of reference and failed to make a connection. “A habit of…brownies?”

  “With random strangers, yes.”

  If only you knew. The one thing he hated about any assignment was the built-in deception. He’d rather get as close to the truth as possible, without giving away too much. “I like meeting new people, and you looked like you needed a friend.” He left out the bit about the pull he’d felt the moment he saw her tucked into the back corner of the cafe. That he probably would have approached her even if he wasn’t working. Something he never did.