Cupid In Blue

by Sandra Sookoo

  “Jayne and I will stay with Uncle Chris until we can find a house. Feel free to drop by anytime. I have a feeling I’ll need the moral support.”

  Aaron’s lips twitched. “You mean being around the elves and the toy factory all day, every day, won’t always be charming?” He laughed outright at the pained expression on Landon’s face. “Sorry. Come back to Crystal Falls for summer vacation.”

  “Will do.” Landon moved toward the door then hefted the first suitcase. “Have you read the instructions?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “First rule of being a paranormal. Trust but verify, brother. Your bow and arrow came with rules or a manual. Read it and figure it out.”

  “Geez, Mr. Know-it-all, don’t worry. I will.” Aaron frowned. When Landon remained silent, Aaron shrugged and grabbed the second suitcase. “Have a safe trip. Call if you need me for anything.” He followed his brother down the sidewalk to the waiting Santa-red, four-door sedan. “A car? I thought you’d use the MED system.”

  “Jayne wants to drop by her mom’s before we leave.”

  Aaron surrendered the suitcase he held and watched as they were both shoved into the crowded trunk. “Good luck trying to explain your situation to your mother-in-law.” He closed the lid of the trunk as Landon threw himself behind the wheel. “Take care of yourself, and tell Jayne good-bye for me.”

  “I’ll stay in touch.” Landon buckled the seatbelt around him. “And listen, if you can’t forget Catherine, then your only other option is to give her another chance. People have the capacity to surprise us, you know. I’m impressed at how you’ve dealt with the whole wing thing.”

  “Funny. What will I do without you bossing me around all the time?” Aaron smacked his brother good-naturedly through the open window of the car. “See ya around, brother.”

  “I expect a full report.” The door slammed closed and the window glass rose. Aaron watched as his brother backed down the driveway and onto the road. He heaved a sigh and wondered how many more episodes of The Honeymooners he’d have to watch to make him forget the problems in his own life.

  Chapter 6

  Aaron woke up with a start and realized he had been snoring. And that only occurred when he was under stress, at least that’s what Landon always told him. He struggled to roll over but couldn’t because he wasn’t in his bed. His body lay at awkward angles in the recliner as the TV blared an infomercial about some sort of weird half-blanket thing. He shook his head and stared bleary-eyed at the colorful images before reaching for the remote, which still rested on the coffee table—on top of the Cupid instruction manual, of all things.

  He brought the recliner upright with a violent snap of the mechanism. The infomercial forgotten, he yanked the booklet from the table with shaking hands. The Official Instruction Manual for the Newly Appointed Cupid.Aaron snorted. If the bow, arrows and wings hadn’t sealed his fate as Cupid, seeing “the facts” in print definitely did. He flipped through the black-and-white pages until one particular heading caught his eye: “Cupid Arrows.” He smoothed the pages against his leg and settled in to read.

  In your welcome box, we have given you ten arrows to start out with. We fully expect you to use the samples within a few days. Please contact The Institute of Magical Instruction for replacements.

  Great. He was already behind schedule.

  Inside each arrow is a unique blend of a highly concentrated red liqueur. It is comprised of one part magical dust, one part a mixture of male and female pheromones and one part chocolate essence. Chocolate has long been considered an aphrodisiac throughout the ages and gives the arrow’s interior a pleasant smell upon impact.

  Cold prickles of apprehension stabbed the base of his spine but he continued to read.

  When you have selected your designated target, shoot him or her with an arrow. It is important to note that the arrow’s liqueur will only affect the person for one hour after being struck. The magical substance within the arrow is intended to relax your target and loosen their inhibitions. Love can only bloom between two willing parties and relaxation is the key. Once first contact has been established, the body’s own triggers and emotions will take over. Generally, a second arrow will not be needed.

  Aaron’s shot to his feet. The instruction manual slipped from his fingers. He had made the biggest mistake of his life. Had Catherine’s seduction attempt been a direct result of the arrow or had the magical effects worn off before then? Icy dread crawled through his brain like a bad dream. He knew the answer. The time between the arrow’s prick and her appearance at the bakery were spaced enough that there was no possible way she could have still been under the influence.

  And what was more, her enthusiastic greeting in the diner had been real, honest emotion. He cursed himself as the dumbest man that had ever lived.

  Just to be sure, he needed actual proof. He needed to see her again. He scratched his fingers through the out-of-control stubble on his cheek. First, he needed to clean up a bit. Cupid never sported a five o’clock shadow or stained and rumpled clothes. Aaron glanced at his watch. Almost ten. Would it be too late to visit the boarding house?

  * * * *

  “Are you sure you have to leave right now?” Jenika passed a white business-sized envelope to Catherine. “I signed your deed. Sorry for the delay. I just wanted to be very sure it was what I wanted to do.”

  “It’s okay.” Catherine slipped the offering into her purse. “My flight leaves Indianapolis for New York at eleven. It’s the last flight of the evening. The cab’s waiting outside, so I’ll have plenty of time to find the gate and settle in.” Her voice wobbled but she ignored the aberration. “I’ve got to go.” She zipped her one and only suitcase then extended the handle. “Are you sure you won’t come back to New York with me?” Her stomach churned to the point she thought she’d throw up. She had never been conflicted about anything before, let alone a man.

  “I’m happy here.” Jenika drifted over to stand by the bedroom door. “Are you sure you don’t want to stick around here for awhile? You seem sad. What happened to your devil-may-care attitude?”

  “I don’t know.” The compassion in her friend’s voice triggered a few tears for Catherine, but she managed to wipe them away without much fanfare. She sniffed and rubbed her eyes. “There’s no reason for me to stay here now. I just needed the deed.” She would not remember the feel of soft downy wings or how she fit so perfectly into a pair of strong arms… She shoved her arms into her leather jacket. “Well, that’s it.”

  “Look, I know you have a little ‘thing’ for Aaron. You’re not as suave as you think at hiding your emotions.” Jenika opened the door and followed Catherine into the hall and down the ancient wooden staircase. “But don’t you owe it to yourself to see if there’s anything between you guys?”

  Catherine fiddled with the handle of the suitcase. “Trust me, there’s nothing between us. I made a fool of myself a few days ago but that’s all.” She spied the yellow cab through the etched glass panel. She wrenched open the front door then turned to Jenika. “Well, give me a call sometime. Keep me posted on anything weird or new in your life.” The heaviness in her chest increased when the taxi’s horn blew a few staccato notes. “I’ve gotta go.”

  She stumbled down the front sidewalk, threw her suitcase into the seat beside her then slammed her door firmly shut. The sooner she left, the better.

  * * * *

  Breathless by the time he arrived at the boarding house, Aaron paused on the front walk to suck in lungfuls of air. Ever since he had gotten his wings, he hadn’t taken his customary daily jogs. He needed to get back to his strict exercise routine. Cookies and women were giving him love handles. He caught himself mid-snicker. Cupid with love handles. How uber-attractive. He threw a glance around the darkened street. Far down at one of the two stoplights in town, a set of brake lights vanished as a car sped off into the night. With one last deep breath, Aaron transferred his gaze to the house itself. Only a lamp in the foyer burned br
ight against the velvety darkness. Damn! He’d have to wake Mrs. Wiggins. He’d rather have a root canal. She had a tendency to be a little…persnickety when annoyed.

  As he watched, movement behind the door caught his attention. Maybe his luck was about to change. Aaron ran up the sidewalk then rapped his knuckles on the glass panel of the door.

  He gaped as the door opened to reveal his baker, clad in yellow flannel pajamas and slippers depicting the short, big-headed yellow bird from the popular old cartoon. “Jenika.” His lips twitched but he managed to style a laugh. Somehow, the thought of the petite redhead being a fan of the show struck him as funny. “I need to talk to Catherine. Can you ask her to come down?”

  “I can’t.” She shuffled her slipper-covered feet. “She’s not here.”

  “Where is she?”

  “My guess is stranded out among the cornfields.”

  He stared at her for a few seconds. “Jinx, it’s late and I’m not in the mood for riddles. Why don’t you just tell me what you mean?” As he raked his fingers through his hair, annoyance guided his actions.

  She shrugged then stuck her hands in the pockets of her pajamas. “She left for the airport just a few minutes ago, but I had a weird vibe so I stuffed a bunch of gold coins in the taxi’s gas tank. Any minute now it should stall out.” She grinned. “The coins were strange too. I found a handful of them just lying on the floor of my bedroom. I don’t know where they came from.”

  Aaron saw her green eyes dance with laughter, and not for the first time did he wonder about her heritage. That story would have to keep for another time. “Did you know I would come here tonight?”

  “Not really. Just sensed I needed to delay the process. I didn’t know why.” She shivered. “Will you stop her from leaving?”

  “I’m gonna try, but I can’t promise anything. She’s the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.” Aaron turned and jogged down the sidewalk to the quiet street. Time was of the essence. He didn’t have time to mess with foot travel. He unfurled his wings then sighed with satisfaction as he flapped them a few times.

  “I knew it!”

  “Damn.” Aaron glanced over his shoulder to see Jenika standing on the sidewalk, her mouth hanging slightly open. “I’ll explain later. Until then, it’s imperative to keep this knowledge a secret. Understand?” When she nodded mutely, he smiled. “Wish me luck.”

  With a whoosh and a downward push of his wings, Aaron lifted off the ground. The familiar pleasure filled his being as he flew higher through the darkened sky. Stars twinkled in the blackness, a nice backdrop for the pale light of the crescent moon. His eyes scanned the gray ribbon of road below but there was no sign of the taxi. Onward he flew as he followed the curving gray ribbon of asphalt. Chilly wind stung his cheeks and rushed through his argyle sweater, but Aaron ignored the slight discomfort.

  He was on a mission.

  The red glow of taillights ahead captured his attention. Anticipation filled his gut. Would this be Catherine’s stranded ride? With another downstroke of his wings, he propelled himself closer. Under the glow of the taillights, yellow paint was visible. The only person Aaron could see was a short man with a potbelly pacing by the front bumper of the car, a cellphone to his ear as his right hand gestured wildly.

  Aaron circled the cab as his mind raced with possibilities. What would he say? How would she react? With a shroud of finality, he lowered himself to the ground. “Excuse me, sir? Can you tell me if you have a passenger inside?” The cabbie turned toward him just as Aaron tucked his wings beneath his skin.

  “You stay away from me!” The cab driver waved his cellphone in front of him as if it were a talisman. “I’ve heard stories about this town and the weird stuff that goes on here. I don’t want any part of it!”

  Before Aaron could say another word, the bearded man plunged into a cornfield, weaving through the graveyard of short, dried leftover stalks. Another two steps brought Aaron near enough to the car he could see inside. His heart lurched when he spied Catherine, her head rested against the seat, her eyes closed.

  Urgency compelled him to finish what he started. He rapped gently on the window then cringed when Catherine started. He hadn’t meant to scare her. Catherine’s eyes flew open to stare at him, disbelief clouding her gaze.

  Slowly, the window inched its way down. Catherine stuck her head out as her fingers gripped the edge of the door. “What are you doing here?”

  “Oh, it was such a clear night, I decided to take a stroll.” A grin lifted his lips—he couldn’t contain it. She was here before him. He wanted to take her out of the cab and crush her to him, do something to cause her eyes to light with happiness. But he wanted to go slow. He didn’t want to spook her. Instead, his gaze devoured every line, every nuance of her face. If he wasn’t able to convince her to stay, he wanted to remember her in the endless years ahead.

  “Aaron, it’s late, I’m tired and I’m in danger of missing my flight home.” She tapped a perfectly manicured fingernail against the door’s metallic side.

  “Look, I made a mistake and treated you unfairly. I can’t help but wonder if you’re leaving because of me or something else.” His muscles tensed, for flight or action he couldn’t discern, but the long moments before she spoke again nearly tore him apart.

  “And because you acknowledged you were rude, you expect me to fall into your arms as if nothing ever happened?” She rolled her eyes. “Guess what? That’s so not gonna happen. I got what I needed. Now I intend to put this town behind me and shake the dust from my shoes as fast as I can.”

  Aaron opened his mouth to protest then closed it just as quickly. “You’re right. It was stupid of me to think you’d stick around for a few more days. I thought you had feelings for me and that, with time, we could build a great relationship.” He was glad she opted to stay within the confines of the cab. If she were before him now, he would have no recourse but to try to convince her with kisses. But that would mean he’d influence her decision and he really wanted it to be her emotions, not his, that made her stay.

  This time he wanted no misunderstandings. He wanted no errors.

  He wanted her.

  “Catherine, listen to me.” He laid a hand against the metal frame of the car and leaned down to the window. “I need to know the truth. When you kissed me at the bakery, was it of your own free will or did you feel compelled to do it”

  “What difference does it make? You pushed me away, sent me back to the boarding house. I felt stupid, especially since I took a chance.” She snatched her hands away when Aaron attempted to touch them. “Then you hid yourself away for two days. I can read the signs. You aren’t interested. I get it.”

  His heart plunged at the pain that flitted across her face. “I’m sorry. I was confused. I thought you responded in that way because of the arrow.” He could smell her light, floral perfume, and the tiny tentacles of scent twisted his insides into a tormented knot of longing.

  “The arrow had nothing to do with the bakery incident.” Her lips pulled downward in a frown and Aaron stifled a groan. Her mouth would be his downfall. “I wanted to kiss you, plain and simple, but what does it matter now?” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the seat in front of her.

  “I can’t talk to you like this.” Aaron yanked on the door handle then wrenched the car door open. “Either scoot over or come out. We will settle this tonight.”

  She blinked at him in surprise, but slid across the ratty fabric of the seat until her back bumped against her suitcase. “What is it you think will be settled?”

  Aaron wrinkled his nose against the stale smell of the cab. He fought to contain his excitement when he saw her eyes light with interest. He pulled the car door shut, then as he turned to her, his knee brushed hers. Embers of need flared to life in his chest. He willed himself to be patient. “Life’s too short to dance around the truth. You’ve turned my world upside down. I listen for your voice and actually look forward to what you will say. I love it when you
tease me. I never know what you’ll do next. But what I like most is your smile.”

  “Really? What’s so special about it? It always looks a little bit lopsided to me.”

  “That’s because you need to practice more.” Anxiety coursed through his veins like a waterfall. Her face was wan and pale, and for the first time since he’d known her, she had on absolutely no makeup. Because of that, he could plainly see the splash of freckles that covered her nose and cheeks in the dimness of the dome light before it switched off. “God, Catherine, you look amazing, and you have no idea.”

  She made a sound of disbelief. “I have freckles, my smile’s crooked and I have gray hair underneath the dye. I’m hardly amazing.” Nervousness made her voice slightly higher than usual. “I’ll miss my flight.”

  Aaron blew out the breath he hadn’t been aware he held. “There will be another tomorrow, I’m sure. That is, if you really want to leave.” He inched closer to her on the seat, pleased when she couldn’t move away due to the suitcase beside her. “I’m serious. Say you’ll stay, even if it’s for a few days.” He leaned in closer to her. “Don’t you think you owe it to yourself to find true happiness?”

  “Jenika asked me the same thing.” She laid a hand on his chest.

  He knew her resolve wavered, and he decided to press the issue. “I think what she means is, don’t cheat yourself. Take a chance on something. Stop living your life with a safety net. You’re tough as nails, yet you don’t like to take a chance.”

  “But what if I mess up, or what if I fall?”

  “What if you do? I’ll catch you.” He slipped a hand beneath the warm curtain of her hair to caress her neck. “I have wings, remember? There’s nowhere high enough that I couldn’t rescue you from if you should lose your footing.” Gently, he pulled Catherine to him until their lips almost touched. “Do you have anything else to add before—”