Cupid Help Me! (Return to Cupid, Texas Book 4)

by Sylvia McDaniel

  Shadow watched as she walked out the door waving as she went.

  "Oh, one more thing," she said whipping around. "My brother is as rigid as they come. He needs someone to loosen him up and live a little. Give Cupid a chance."

  The image of Jim came into her mind. Now, she understood why those terrible looking overalls didn't seem to fit him. All those naked muscles, hidden. Shame she didn't get a peek, but she would have probably run into the night thinking the worst.

  Not knowing when Jim would get back or who else would walk through that door, she retreated to her bedroom and pulled out her cell phone hitting the number for her editor.

  Todd answered the phone, and she couldn't contain the squeal. "I've landed in clover," she said laughing.

  "Shadow, you're supposed to be going to Cupid, not someplace called Clover."

  "No, no. Last night on the way, my car caught fire. The man who rescued me had just danced naked around the fountain. I'm here at his house and I'm going to find out as much as I can about the superstition."

  When the car died and Jim pulled up in his big ole truck, her heart almost beat its way out of her chest. Only this morning she realized what a lucky break she received. Maybe her karma hadn't gone on vacation after all. Maybe her luck had returned, changing for the better.

  "What time were you driving into Cupid?"

  "Almost one o'clock in the morning when the car decided it was time to check into the junkyard."

  "Driving alone that time of night is not safe for a woman. Are you all right?"

  Looking back, leaving Austin the next morning made more sense, but she wanted to get started. The plan to begin her research today and return home no later than Saturday, now didn't seem possible.

  But if she waited, she would never have run into Jim, who had such a close connection to the story.

  "Oh, believe me, I was praying the man coming to my rescue had no serial killer tendencies. Jim, seems like a decent man. He took me to his house to spend the night," she said, regretting the words as soon as they spilled out.

  "Shadow. You could have disappeared and no one would have been the wiser," he said. "Taking unnecessary chances to write this story is only going to get you killed. It doesn't pay enough for the risks."

  Odd, the man who fought her at every turn suddenly appeared concerned about her wellbeing. Todd cared about the magazine, and nine times out of ten, he rejected what she sent him. Strange he now worried about her safety and agreed the magazine was cheap.

  "Please say that again. Especially now that I need to buy a new car, a new computer, even new clothes. Everything burned up in the fire."

  Sadness gripped her chest at the thought of everything she lost. She loved her laptop and her car. Though her auto was only an object, a means of transportation, it was still her no payments vehicle.

  "Are you certain you’re all right?"

  What if she wasn't? What would he do, leave the magazine and come find her. No, his concern reflected his anxiety because she made him money.

  "Of course, or I wouldn't be calling you. About the story, I'm going to need more time to order another computer. There are insurance people to contact. And I must find a place to stay. Plus, I want to make this a two parter, at least."

  Silence filled the phone and she could feel his hesitation. Business Todd had control once again and the caring human being had left the call. "Before I decide on how many parts, I'll need to read what you've written to verify there is enough meat to this story. Only then will I determine whether to make it into a serial."

  "Oh, come on, Todd, you publish once a week. We could make this a three- or four-part serial and put out each installment in the next four weeks."

  He'd given her an opportunity like this once before and she'd botched it up royally. All she wanted was a chance to make things right between them. Get her footing back at the magazine.

  "You'll need to send me the entire article at once. Until the piece is in my hands, I'm not putting out anything."

  Now it was her turn to be silent as she thought about what he said. No story, no pay. This would delay her getting paid and right now with the expense of needing a car, she needed the cash.

  "Todd, my car is toast."

  "Understandable, but you missed deadlines before. You're not doing that to me again."

  "One time, I missed my deadline when I came down with the flu."

  "That wasn't the problem. The problem was you never finished the story, making our readers angry and upset that you didn't complete something you started. In the process of saving your butt, I almost got my own ass canned. When I have the article, then I'll see about publishing it."

  Sighing, she knew he was right. Yes, she never turned in the completed article. After complaining for months she was always gone researching a new article, she came home to an empty, stripped apartment. The boyfriend left for greener pastures, disappearing with the rent due.

  The stress had caught up with her and taken her down. Trapping her in that lonely rental unit with her mother hovering, bringing her soup every day. Thank God, her mom never moved in, only dropped by.

  Listening to tales of her mother's glamorized dating life was not something she wanted to hear at the time. Being forced to endure the stories while her mother took care of her, tested their love for one another.

  "Any possibility of an advance," she asked, knowing they didn't do them, but hoping just the same.

  Todd laughed. "No advance. Write me a good story. One the subscribers will love."

  "Anything for you, Todd," she said sarcastically and hung up.

  Picking up a pen and paper she started jotting down notes about what she learned this morning about dancing around the fountain. The Cupid Stupid dance...

  Jim stood looking at the blackened vehicle on the side of the road with Shadow by his side. Staring at the scorched ground around the car, he realized she was lucky to be alive.

  A visible shudder went through her. "I loved that car. Why did it die now?"

  "Something broke, probably a gas line from the looks of the fire," he said glancing at her. A petite little thing, the top of Shadow's head only reached his chin. And she must weigh next to nothing.

  "Do you want to try to salvage anything inside?"

  Shaking her head, she stared up at him, her large emerald eyes framed in her heart-shaped face, her full lips trembling. In the darkness, she seemed strong, but today, seeing the wreckage, she teared up. The urge to take her in his arms and kiss her overcame him and he had to give himself a mental shake.

  Shadow was different. She was not his type of woman.

  "All I want are my clothes," she sighed. "If they're salvageable."

  Opening the passenger door on the burned sedan, he pulled out her suitcase, squatted down on the ground and tried to open what was left of the bag while she watched. The zipper still worked, but most of the cloth had not survived. Inside, her clothes were nothing but ashes, her toiletries melted. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Let's go. I've seen enough."

  Standing, he gazed at her. Last night, her eyes had become glassy, but she never really cried. This morning the reality of what happened had slapped her and now staring at the charred shell of her car, upset her.

  A little sob escaped her and he reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her. The warmth of her feminine body fit against him and he rubbed her back as she sobbed in his arms. Her breasts were smashed against his chest, the smell of her enveloping him, causing his insides to warm, his blood to heat. After her shower, her hair smelled of sweetness, though her blouse and jeans still reeked of smoke.

  "Yes, I know it's just a car, but it was my first."

  "Hey, it's time for another one. My first car was my grandfather's rusted out 1985 Ford truck. The paint was peeling, but it got me back and forth to school. It didn't impress the girls too much."

  Leaning back, she stared at him and the most incredible need came over him to taste her. Full, ripe lips beckoned to him
, and he almost groaned when her tongue flicked across her mouth in a tempting little gesture. A big rig sped down the road, the gust of air rocking them. The desire to protect her fired inside like a cylinder, causing his chest to clench, stunning him.

  Surprised, he knew they had to get busy or he would make a fool of himself. They still had many things to accomplish today. "We better go. We'll need to hire a tow truck to move the car to the impound lot. Your insurance adjuster can inspect what's left."

  With a dejected sound, she said, "That tornado, hail storm has them backed up for weeks. The adjustor told me it would be close to a month before he can work the claim."

  "What are you supposed to do until then," he said, stepping out of her arms and walking towards his truck.

  "I'll manage," she said.

  How, was what he wanted to ask her. Instead, he kept his mouth shut.

  "I'll call them again tomorrow to see if she has some answers for me."

  Reaching his truck, he assisted her inside and then hurried around to his side. Stepping on the running board, he lifted himself into the driver's seat.

  In fewer than ten minutes, they arrived in the bustling city of Cupid. As they drove through the town square, she gasped. "There is a statue of Cupid."

  "Well, it is the name of the town," he replied, recalling the memory of how he spent his evening dancing around said fountain the night before. A shiver of embarrassment and disgust rattled through him.

  His luck had held and somehow the sheriff didn't catch them and take him to jail. How long before someone stopped to help her if he'd been in jail? While anyone in Cupid would have helped, there were predators who roamed the highway.

  "Yes, but I had never seen it before," she said, staring out the window in awe at the God of Love.

  The growl of her stomach reminded Jim it was past noon and breakfast was early this morning. "Are you hungry?"

  "A little."

  "Let's grab a bite to eat at Braxton's restaurant," he said, pulling into a parking spot in front of the restaurant.

  "Sure."

  "Afterwards we'll hire a company to bring your car into town and we can visit my sister's boutique."

  "Kelsey came by while you were gone," she told him. "Said she would call you later."

  If not for Shadow needing some clothes, he would have avoided his sister's boutique. Because he knew she would be filled with questions, unless she grilled Shadow this morning.

  Oh yeah, Jim knew exactly why she wanted to talk to him. Curious to learn how his Cupid Stupid dance went. Except for the fact that her boyfriend was going to catch hell the next time he saw Cody, it was none of Kelsey's business.

  Walking into the diner, he placed his hand at Shadow's back and a tingle of heat slid through him. Twice today he felt that awareness. Was he so lonely that just any woman would do?

  Shadow came across as a free spirit and Jim was so far from that kind of life, he had no use for people who didn't have a code of ethics and uphold traditional conservative values. With a name like Shadow, she hardly seemed a person who lived a conventional lifestyle.

  "Good to see you, Jim," Taylor Braxton said, rushing over to him. "Who is this?"

  "Hi, I'm Shadow Wilson," she said, taking Taylor's outstretched hand.

  Oh, his sister's gossip circle would be busy tonight. Between Taylor, Meghan, and Kelsey, those girls could stir up more trouble. The kind he didn't need.

  "Are you visiting?" Taylor asked.

  Shadow laughed. "Kind of. My car went up in flames on the highway last night and Jim rescued me."

  Nodding, Tayler smiled. "That's our good Samaritan Jim. Welcome to Cupid. Have a pleasant stay with us."

  "Thank you," Shadow said as Taylor led them to a table.

  "The special of the day is chicken picante," Taylor said, placing menus in front of them and then turning to walk away and greet the next patrons who strolled in the door.

  Before she opened the menu, Shadow gazed around the cafe and frowned. "Is it true what they say about small towns. Everyone knows everyone else's business and how to fix it."

  Chuckling to himself, he knew she had a valid point, but still he enjoyed living here. "You could say that. But we also look out for one another."

  Excluding when your best friend steals your clothes while you're doing the Cupid Stupid dance. He would never say that to Shadow. The woman had enough problems to deal with for the moment.

  Fifteen minutes later, just as they were finishing their meal, Jim jerked when a man slapped him on the back.

  "Jim, how are you feeling this morning?" Cody asked, standing beside his chair with a grin on his face the size of Texas.

  "Be glad a lady is present or I would be kicking your ass, right now. The bet was to run around the Cupid statue, that did not include stealing my damn clothes."

  Not only had Cody failed him as a friend, he'd not held up his part of the wager. Everything that Cody had done went against Jim's belief system of right and wrong. Putting your friends in a dangerous situation that left them open to arrest was out of line, even as a joke.

  "Because you stole my clothes I was forced to wear overalls. She thought I was a damn serial killer," Jim said, his voice rising in the small restaurant. "Me."

  Cody laughed so hard, he grabbed his sides. "That's priceless."

  "Maybe for you, but not for me," Shadow said frowning at Cody. "Jim appeared scary in those overalls without a shirt."

  It wasn't until they reached the ranch that he realized just how frightened she'd been. Of course, for a woman all alone in the middle of the night, he could understand why she'd been on edge. But he'd never been thought of as a serial killer.

  "Sure, I took your clothes, but look, there's a beautiful woman sitting next to you. Which is more than you had yesterday," Cody said with a smile. Sticking out his hand to Shadow. "Since my future brother-in-law is not going to introduce us - I will. I'm Cody Graham. How did the two of you meet?"

  "Shadow Wilson," she said, her brows drawn together over her eyes like she mistrusted him. "This man helped me last night. When he pulled up and stepped out of his truck in those overalls, his arms bare, his muscles rippling, he looked ominous. For a moment, I feared I heard banjos playing in the background."

  Laughing out loud, Cody shook his head. "Believe me, this guy is a well-respected man of the community. I'd trust him with the city coffers and know we'd have more money in there than when he took office. You're physically safe with him. Emotionally..." He turned to Jim. "Are you now a believer in the Cupid Stupid dance?"

  What could he say. The vital piece of information everyone wanted to know, he decided to keep under wrap for as long as possible, because people would jump to all kinds of conclusions about him and Shadow.

  A beautiful woman, she was kind, a little ditzy in what he liked to call the whoo-whoo area of life - but overall a pleasant person dealing with a disaster the best she could.

  "No, I do not believe in the Cupid superstition," he said, determined Cody would not draw any deduction as to what happened last night. A nice girl, Shadow had nothing in common with the women he normally dated. Besides, he didn't accept this nonsense of a rock finding you true love.

  Cody scolded him. "Stubborn to the very end. Until Cupid hits you upside the head, you refuse to believe."

  "Excuse me," Shadow said, her voice rising. "Tell me why you think this superstition is true. What happens after you dance around this God of Love?"

  With a sigh, Jim observed Cody shaking his head and then he turned to Shadow. "The first person you meet is your true love."

  "I was the first woman you met?"

  "Yes."

  Nodding, she smiled at him and threw up her hands. "It's a superstition. Throw some salt over your shoulder and keep going. Love only occurs when two people fall in love. Not before. No statue is going to convince me any differently."

  He didn't know whether to feel relief or disappointment. Obviously, she wasn't into him anymore than he was into
her. But still staring at her full luscious lips, he wondered what they tasted like.

  Chapter 3

  Mentally exhausted from the day, Jim couldn't wait until they finished shopping for Shadow and got back home. Besides the nightly chores, there were things he needed to be doing. The bank statements had piled up, quarterly taxes to do, plus two months of Farm and Ranch Living to catch up on, not to mention Lady's pups were due any day now.

  Pushing open the door to his sister's boutique, he smiled at the ladies shopping. Since the opening, her clientele had been flocking to the store and profits continued to climb. For Kelsey’s sake, he hoped it continued.

  "Jim, Shadow, so glad you came by," Kelsey said. "Excuse me," she said to a client she was helping. "Let me, congratulate my brother and then I'll return."

  "Congratulate me?" Jim said. "For what?"

  "For a successful Cupid dance," she said with a grin.

  At least he was bringing enjoyment to his sister and Cody, since they were having fun laughing at him. "All I'm saying is, I honored the bet," he said with a growl, his stomach tightening.

  She ignored his comment.

  What did Shadow think now that she knew she was the supposed one he would fall in love with? "I brought Shadow here, thinking you could help her find new clothes."

  "Already started her a dressing room and put several items in there that I thought she would look lovely in," Kelsey said grinning. "Don't mind him. He gets cross sometimes."

  "No, I am not cross," he said, raising his voice, realizing he sure sounded that way. "My siblings like to get on my last nerve."

  All this Cupid nonsense made him nervous. Every time he gave his heart to someone, they died or left, and though he was lonely, he couldn't face another painful separation.

  Shadow laid her hand on his arm and gazed at him with those mesmerizing emerald eyes and he felt like the room temperature climbed over one hundred. "Don't worry," she said quietly, her voice almost soothing. A calming presence seemed to overcome him. "You rescued me. You'll always be my hero."