by Roxy Wilson
The Christmas Cupid
By
Roxy Wilson
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, businesses and incidents are from the author’s imagination, or they are used fictitiously and are definitely fictionalized. Any trademarks or pictures herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks or pictures used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form (electronic or print) without permission from the author. Please do not participate in piracy or violating the author’s rights.
Editor: Leanore Elliott
Cover Art: Fantasia Frog Designs
Book Design: Wicked Muse Productions
Copyright © December, 2014 Roxy Wilson
CHAPTER ONE
The night was young. Janay Riley swiped her beer from the countertop and took a sip as she surveyed the milieu at the bar. The tall, heavy Christmas tree glowed with twinkling lights. Christmas may still be three weeks away, but the festive season had already begun. She could feel the excitement in the air, the sense of anticipation and good cheer. Buoyed by it, surrounded by a bunch of friends and buffeted by the fast music that pumped out of the speakers, she felt great. After a hard day’s work at her and her sisters’ company, Grand Events, she liked hanging out with her friends in one of the thousands of hot spots that dotted the city.
New York was her favorite place to be, especially at this time of the year. Her work was fantastic. She had a great coterie of friends. Janay wasn’t the sort to get bogged down by anything; she loved her life and enjoyed it to the fullest.
The bar seemed to be hopping. Someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“Kiera!” She hugged the cherubic blond girl whom she met more than six months ago. “So glad you could make it.” Then she swiveled to the rest of the group. “Hey, everyone! This is my friend, Kiera.” Amidst the friends’ enthusiastic greeting she continued, “She’s an aspiring interior decorator, currently working with James Rush’s Beautiful Homes.” Janay wriggled her eyebrows at Mason, a doctor she’d known for the past five years. Having gushed praises of Kiera to him, she now sat back to see if her hunch would be right.
“Would you like something to drink?” Mason asked Kiera.
“Sure. A martini would be nice.” Kiera squirmed on the stool when Janay pinched her on her arm. “Why don’t I go and order with you?” Kiera added hastily, as she rubbed the spot.
The group watched as Mason and Kiera sauntered off to place their orders.
Jason chuckled. “Jan, don’t tell me this is another one of your matchmaking schemes?”
“Hey! I’m fairly good at it. I’m now fresh off the success of Cheyanne and Malick’s engagement party. Let me tell you, I’ve got an uncanny eye for this.” She glanced at the retreating couple as they meandered their way through the bar. “Mason and Kiera are perfect for each other. They’re both slightly geeky.” She chuckled as she ticked off their traits with her fingers. “Both love animals,” she said as she touched her thumb. “They’re both an only child.” She tapped her index finger. “They want to have at least two or three kids one day and they’re ready for a serious, long-term relationship.” She ticked off two more fingers. “I can just sense it…”
She glanced up at the ceiling as if she were actually having an epiphany. “Just wait and see.”
“What are we waiting to see?”
Janay stared into the startling dove-gray eyes of her best friend. Randy Fitzgerald—Fitz, to no one else, but her—and she completed their high school together and later, he went to law school. Despite the fact that he moved out of state, they stayed in touch. But two years ago, he came back to New York and they resumed their friendship as if seven years hadn’t passed in between. “In a matter of a few days, you’ll see the result of my latest matchmaking efforts,” she explained, as the group of friends shifted a little, so Fitz could join them around the same table.
“Ahhh, Janay!” he groaned. “You’re still at it even after Chuck and Lori broke up?”
Janay grimaced. Trust him to bring that up! “That was a severe blow,” she admitted with a quick toss of her hair. “But it wasn’t my fault that they weren’t smart enough to see how good they were together.”
“Oh, yeah?” Fitz rolled his eyes. “Except that they nearly killed each other during one of their fights.”
“Hey, if Chuck couldn’t keep it zipped up?” She shrugged. “No woman wants a guy who can’t be faithful to her.” She raised a hand before Fitz could open his mouth to comment again, “Okay, fine. I’ll accept that they weren’t one of my greatest achievements. But you’ve got to admit, my success rate is good, damn good if you ask me.”
“You only do this because when they get engaged or married, they come to Grand Events to give you some business,” Fitz joked.
She laughed as she gave his arm a playful punch. “You devil! That’s not why I do it and you know it. I’ve been doing this since high school. Don’t you remember—?”
He place his index finger on his mouth. “Hush, now! I don’t think I could take another lecture about all the people who’ve been showered with eternal love because of your matchmaking abilities.” He extended his arm to her. “Come and dance with me. I love this song.”
Janay picked up her beer bottle, gulped down the remnants of her beer and set the bottle on the table. Since she loved to dance, it was an offer she could hardly refuse. “Okay. I’ll show you some moves, man.”
“Been taking dance lessons again?” he teased.
“Zumba is for exercise.” She held her chin high as he led her on to the floor. One thing about Fitz; he was a hunk of a man.
With his broad shoulders, narrow waist and long legs, he could have been a model. Instead, he’d become a hotshot lawyer who was fast making a name for himself. Becoming a partner in his law firm was his dream.
She felt quite confident that he could do it. For as long as she’d known him, he knew what he wanted and how to get it. He always had a plan. And no matter what came his way, he made it work for him.
More than anything else, he was a great guy. It always amazed her to see that he was still single. Oh yeah, sure...he dated women, but there wasn’t any serious relationship for a long time. What could be the reason for it? She watched him as he danced. He sure did have moves, for a white guy—and that’s why stereotyping others because of perceived differences was wrong on so many levels. Case in point, she knew some black guys who seemed to have two left feet—or two right feet for that matter—when they were on the dance floor. As for Fitz? The man knew how to move his body to get the maximum mileage. There were a lot of women who were staring at him. While they danced together, completely in tune with each other’s rhythm, she wondered why he didn’t have his dream girl yet. Probably, because he was too choosy.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Just wondering why you haven’t hooked up with anyone as yet?” She twirled while he turned her around. When she came back into his arms, her breasts pushed against his chest. Immediately, a frizzle of desire tingled its way up her spine.
And why the hell not?
He’s a hot guy—and she wasn’t exactly dead. But he was her friend. And not just a friend. He is the friend. She relied on him a lot to set her right when she lost her direction. Always there when she needed him. There were plenty of times when she cried on his shoulder; after a break up, before a hook
up, when her aunt died and when her parents moved away. Fitz had always been an important pillar in her support system and she wasn’t going to lose him just because she couldn’t keep her hormones under control. She ignored the need pulsating inside her to push her body against him. That wouldn’t do at all.
No way!
“I just haven’t found the right person,” he muttered. “Looks like your latest effort may be quite a success.” He gestured towards Kiera and Mason who were strolling out onto the patio together to be separate from the rest of the group.
Janay caught Kiera’s eyes and the woman waved with a smile. Janay gave Kiera the thumbs-up sign. She turned back to face Fitz. “Way to go, Kiera.” She chuckled.
“I suppose, we’ll never hear the end of this now.” Fitz groaned and pulled her into his arms.
For a moment, his chin rested on her hair and she could’ve sworn that she heard him taking a deep breath. For the first time, it mattered to her if he loved the scent of her hair and her skin.
Then they separated. The song changed and Fitz led her back to the table.
“I’ll reserve judgment on Mason and Kiera’s relationship until it’s a few weeks old,” she told him as she sat. “You want another beer? I can handle one more, before we leave.”
“No,” Fitz replied. “Allow me!” He went to order their drinks. A few minutes later, he returned and put her bottle on the table. “So, what’s the news?” He took the seat opposite to her. “I heard your sister Brielle is hitching up again.”
“Yep!” She rolled her eyes. “With Toby of all the people!”
Fitz frowned. “You don’t like him? I remember when they were married. You couldn’t stop talking about what a cool guy he was. You used to sing his praises as if he were a saint.”
Just one more thing she loved about Fitz. They had a history. He knew everything about her family and was on friendly terms with her sisters…so easy to talk to him. “Oh, I like him well enough,” she admitted. “Always did. He’s a great guy, but they both went through such upheavals that I just hope all goes well this time around.”
“I’m sure it will. Brielle is sensible. If she’s taking a chance with him again, it means it’s the right thing to do.”
“People make stupid mistakes in love,” Janay noted. Was she imagining it or did his gray eyes have streaks of blue in them? Why didn’t she ever notice before? “Oh! Look at me talk. I should withhold my judgment. Actually, I’m quite fond of Toby. He’s a gem. It’s just the protective sister in me talking.” She chuckled. “You mess with one Riley sister, you mess with all of them.”
He took a swig from his bottle. “When are they getting married?”
“In February and you’re invited. In fact, if you’re free, you could be my date. I’m not seeing anyone right now, and I don’t want to take a loser to my sister’s wedding.”
“Why? You’re not going out with that what’s-his-name-the-egotistic-brat anymore?” He referred to her last boyfriend, an investment banker. “Thought you guys were going strong.”
She snorted. “We broke up two weeks ago. He was getting on my nerves. I mean, if he can’t trust me, what’s the point of going out?”
“Trust is very important in a relationship,” Sandra, another mutual friend chimed in while listening to their conversation. “If a man doesn’t have a hundred percent faith in me, there’s no point being with him.”
“Easy for you to say,” Fitz retorted. “But with hot girls like you, boyfriends have to be on their toes all the time. Otherwise, someone will manage to sneak you away, right under their noses.”
They all laughed.
Janay put her hand on Fitz’s arm. “Is that what happened with you and that girl…what was her name?”
“You mean, Christina?” He took a swig from his bottle. “No. She was just too busy with her work. Didn’t want to step out and have some fun, barely free during weekends. And you know me. I crave time with other people. What I need is a girl who’s like me.”
Janay opened her mouth to say something but just then, Mason sauntered back to their table. He nudged her. “Hey, Janay, thanks! Kiera and I are taking off.” He gestured for her to give him a high five. “I owe you one!”
“Good luck!” she whispered for only Mason to hear, “Be good to her or you’ll have to answer to me.”
Mason nodded with a smile and wound his way back out towards the door where Kiera waited.
Janay eyed them until they stepped out. A sweet feeling of euphoria spread through her heart. It felt nice to hook people together and give them the opportunity to discover the good things about each other. Of course, she wished she could do the same for herself. But whereas, her vision regarding others seemed clear and unhindered, she couldn’t say the same thing when it came to her own love life. It’d been a while since she’d been in a long-term relationship. Men were plentiful and she never did without male attention for long, but she’d grown tired of it all. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that one of her sisters got married last year. The other one would be getting hitched this year. It definitely made her the odd one out in the family.
Not that it bothers me. I’m still young.
Well, all right, maybe it bothered her just a little bit. She felt like the odd wheel whenever she hung out with them. Perhaps it’d come time to pay more attention to her rather lonely life.
“Hey. Earth calling Janay!” Fitz tapped her bottle with his. “What happened?”
“Umm—nothing!” She forced a bright smile. She surveyed the people at the table. Who needed a man when she was surrounded by such amazing friends? She was indeed lucky to have these people in her life. She was free and full of fun…just the way she liked it.
CHAPTER TWO
With a surreptitious glance, Fitz feasted on Janay’s glowing face…A woman after his own heart. He didn’t know how long it’d been since he first craved her attention. In high school, it seemed like a mild crush. He never acted on it because he wasn’t sure if she would take too kindly to him wanting to be more to her than just her socially-awkward-but-best-guy-friend. During law school, he dated several girls but somehow, it never materialized into anything strong and long lasting. When he moved back to New York and met Janay again, he finally discovered why every woman fell short of his expectations. He, Randy Fitzgerald, Fitz to no one but Janay, was the problem. He’d been in love with her for the many years.
No woman could compare to her.
Sure she was beautiful and sexy, but he loved her feisty, take-charge, I’m-not-gonna-take-shit attitude just as much. Only her family and close friends knew that under her ballsy, tough-as-nails exterior lay a heart of gold, loyal and compassionate. He enjoyed spending time with her. Sometimes, he imagined running his fingers through her dark hair, touching her smooth, warm, fawn-colored skin, kissing and making long, sweet, hot love to her. Just thinking about it made him aroused. Fitz shook his head. The same thing as spinning castles in the air. If he didn’t do something, someone would snatch her soon enough.
He wanted to ask her out on a real date and considered making the move on more than one occasion. What stopped him each time was the realization that if she wasn’t interested, which she didn’t seem to be, he would lose out on a great friend. He didn’t want to risk that. Also, there hardly seemed to be a time when she wasn’t super busy. She was, after all, the financial brain behind Grand Events, a business in which she co-owned with her sisters, Lexi and Brielle. Not to mention the fact that she was a popular girl and didn’t lack for male attention. Situations like this were rare, in which they were both single at this moment. It would be the perfect time to take his chance…to make his move.
The problem was—she appeared so clueless about his feelings that he just didn’t know how to spring this on her. She might dismiss him summarily and that would not only adversely affect their easy relationship, but it would break his heart. What made these circumstances more frustrating was the fact that he knew they were perfect for
each other. They were interested in the same things, enjoyed similar activities, had a strong network of mutual friends and even shared the same core values. A pity really, that she couldn’t see what existed right under her nose. Janay seemed to be so good at matchmaking other couples, yet she failed to see him as the perfect man for her.
Without being egotistic, he knew that together, they would be a stick of dynamite. Explosive. But how could he convey that idea to her?
It would be best if she came to the realization on her own. It would make the biggest impact. Then when he asked her out, she wouldn’t—hell, couldn’t—say no. So, how could he turn the whole thing around, so it would be her who chased him, rather than the other way around?
“So, now that Kiera and Mason seem to hit it off, who’s next on your agenda?” Jason asked.
Jason’s question jolted Fitz back to the present.
“I would ask her to find me a guy, but I’ll take a rain check. I’ve been hopping from one relationship to another like some kind of relationship grasshopper and it’s so not good for my emotional health,” Sandra complained. “But I seem to be attracted to the wrong kind of guy, so it would be a relief to be on my own for a while.”
Janay’s lips lifted in a wicked smile. “Tell me when you’re ready. I think I have someone in mind for you.”
Sandra leaned closer. “Who’s he?”
Janay tapped her fingers against her beer bottle. “Didn’t you just say that you wanted to be alone for a while?”
“I did.” Sandra bit her bottom lip as she considered Janay’s words. “You’re deliberately trying to tempt me. That’s not fair.”
Janay’s tinkling laughter was full of mirth.
Fitz loved seeing that naughty gleam in her eyes. The girl was simply too enticing. He longed to pull her into his arms and deliver a kiss, but she would probably slap him, or worse, make it seem like a joke. With an effort, he kept his hands on the table.
“Let me know when you’re ready.” She chuckled. “Janay is my name and matchmaking is my game,” she said in a singsong voice. “You’ll be in good hands.” She rubbed her palms together. “But you have to be ready to put yourself entirely in my hands.”
