Stealing Cupid's Bow (8 page)

“What’s wrong, Mom?” she asked.

“It’s nothing honey. I was just remembering the days when I felt that way about your father.”

She squeezed her mother’s hand in sympathy wishing there was something she could do to help them get it back. What would become of them when they separated?

“Well, how do you feel about him now? Do you still love him?” she asked.

“I don’t know. There are some times when I feel like I don’t even know him. He just comes and goes as if I’m not even here anymore. I doubt that he still loves me.”

In a relationship as long as theirs, Raine doubted they even knew what was wrong anymore. The hurts, slights, and miscommunications had slowly built up into the mountain that was now dividing them.

How could she have not known, not seen what was happening?

The first night, when she arrived and her father had gotten home he’d been very happy to see her. But then, they’d all settled down to eat dinner and it had been as awkward as she’d expected. Thankfully her aunt and cousin had joined them. Both her parents had seemed happy and conversant but she noticed how they subtly avoided talking to each other.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I wish I had known what was going on. Now I keep thinking of all the times I called you with my problems and you had ones of your own.”

“Don’t you worry about that. You know your father and I don’t like to air our issues. Besides, being there for you always helped me forget about my troubles.”

I supposed I was just trying to protect you like any mother would. It just didn’t seem right to me to talk with my daughter about the issues with her father. There are two sides to every story you know.”

She nodded. “True. Still, I wish there was something I could do.”

“Everything works itself out in its own way. Why don’t you go on up to bed? You’ll want to get your beauty sleep so you’ll look good tomorrow night,” she said with a smile. “I’ll clean up down here.”

Her arms swung and her heart pumped steadily as she found her stride. The air expanding and contracting her lungs was cool and nourishing. It felt as though she could walk forever sometimes. A slight breeze tickled her hair and the early sunshine on her face felt good.

No matter what had happened yesterday, each morning brought new hope. She could feel it in her soul. Each day was an opportunity to turn it all around. The question was how? The streets were bare, only one or two cars went by. The world was still asleep. But then she remembered someone who, most likely, was up and working right this minute. Her feet turned down the street to her cousin’s store.

It was a cheerful and cozy-looking storefront. The name Cupcake Crusaders was painted in yellow with the slogan beneath. “Changing the World One Cake at a Time.” The store had always been Jane’s dream and her mom helped her get it started. She had a love of baking from a young age. The whole family had been involved as guinea pigs in the beginning, sampling different flavors and different recipes for Jane and giving her feedback. Some of the cupcakes were even named after family members.

It took a few raps on the window before a surprised-looking Jane poked her head out. When she saw who it was, she smiled and hurried to unlock the door.

“What a surprise!” Jane said, giving her a hug. She had her long, dark hair in a ponytail and was wearing glasses.

“I was out for a walk and figured you would be here.”

“Come on back; you can help me frost. I have a big order I need to finish for a wedding today.”

“Frosting! My favorite,” Raine said.

“Just make sure you get some on the cupcakes and not all of it goes in your belly.” Jane laughed.

The store reflected Jane’s personality well. She always thought of others, and so it was decked out with a variety of comfortable chairs, sofas, and tables. There were spots for people with laptops to work comfortably along with free Wi-Fi and coffee refills. A magazine and newspaper rack was set up along one wall and the days’ offerings were written in beautiful chalk writing on a blackboard above the register next to elegant display cases.

The aroma of baking cupcakes filled Raine’s nostrils as she followed her cousin to the back.

“What are you making right now?”

“Devil’s Double Chocolate is in the oven right now. But there are whole bunch of Lemon Meringue Love and Cheery Cherry Mint that are ready to be frosted.”

She led Raine over to a work area and set her up with tools for frosting. It wasn’t the first time Raine had helped out in the store, so she was familiar with the process. She grabbed a clean spoon, scooped chocolate mint frosting from the bowl and licked it, sighing at the taste of chocolaty goodness. Her cousin had always been a genius in the kitchen.

“It’s so nice to have you here,” Jane said, as she went back to mixing some dough on the counter.

“I know! It’s been a while. I wasn’t able to sleep, so I just got up and went for a walk.”

“Must have been a good drink last night.” Jane grinned, her gray eyes glinting with mischief.

Raine blushed. “It was.”

“Well? Come on! I’m dying to know!”

“He was…very charming. I had fun getting to know him.”

“Uh-huh. And he’s sexy, too,” Jane drawled.

Raine laughed. “I know! I feel like a flustering idiot when I get near him. There’s just something about him.” She slathered frosting on cupcakes and tried to pinpoint exactly what it was.

“So are you going to see him again while you’re here?”

“Yes, we’re having dinner tonight.”

Jane squealed in delight. “No way! No wonder you couldn’t sleep! I am so happy for you. He seems like a real catch, I mean, from the little I saw.”

“We’ll see,” Raine said with a shrug. “But enough about me, what about you?”

“What do you mean?”

“The guy, the customer you mentioned that comes here all the time. What was his name? Scott, that’s it!” she said, with a snap of her fingers.

Jane groaned. “Oh. There’s nothing going on. He just stops by to get cupcakes. But he’s really cute.”

“Well, I mean, have you flirted with him at least? How is he supposed to know you’re interested if you don’t make it obvious?” Raine knew her cousin. She was the loveliest person, but shy to a fault.

Jane mixed the batter harder and avoided her eyes. “I…I don’t know. I suppose I have.”

Rained rolled her eyes and shook her head. That meant no, she hadn’t flirted. “Jane, at the very minimum you have to look him in the eye and smile. It’s not hard. I’ve seen you do that plenty of times with customers.”

The phone rang, cutting off the conversation. Jane went to answer it. In a few moments, she hung up. “That was my mom. I let her know you were here already. She’s going to pick up your mom in a bit and they’re coming over to hash out the final details of the party.”

“Oh! That’s right. I’d forgotten we’d said we were going to do that. Well, I guess it’s a good thing I showed up here after all.”

Just then, the bell on the front door jingled.

“Probably someone needing last-minute cupcakes for an office party or something. I’ll be right back.”

Raine edged closer to the door to peer through the small, square, window. A man had come into the store, an attractive man. He was tall, with dark hair and brown eyes. She could only see the back of her cousin’s dark ponytail but she could tell by how she moved that she was being shy.

Aha! It was him!

Jane got a box out and pulled cupcakes for him. He seemed to be watching her cousin, not even caring which cupcakes she chose. And who wouldn’t? She was a beautiful girl.

Ask her out already!
she thought.
What are you waiting for? There’s no one else in the store
.

They awkwardly exchanged money and gave each other short, tense waves good-bye. Raine snuck back to her stool and picked up a cupcake and the frosting bag.

When Jane came back, Raine noticed a light blush had spread over her cheeks.

“So? Who was that?” she asked innocently.

“Just an early morning customer.” Jane waved her hand in dismissal.

“Ha! Don’t you lie to me Jane! That was him, wasn’t it?” She pointed the cupcake at her.

Jane’s mouth fell open. “You were watching?”

“I saw you out there, and I could totally tell!” She started to laugh.

“Okay, okay,” Jane said, with embarrassment. “Yes it was. How could you tell?”

“Oh, come on, I’ve known you forever. He was hot by the way.”

Jane started to laugh and picked up her mixer again. “He is, isn’t he? I just can’t help it. I get extra-shy when he comes in the store. I think it’s the way he stares at me. And when it’s just the two of us like that it’s even more intense. I just seem to go blank and not know what to do.”

She was familiar with that feeling having experienced it recently while with Alexander. “You’re not the only one from what I saw.” She picked up another cupcake and squeezed frosting on it.

“What do you mean?”

“He’s interested, I can tell. Besides what man on earth would spend this much time and money buying cupcakes? No one cares that much about their coworkers.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes! He’s either interested, or he’s going to be huge very soon from eating all of those cupcakes. I just can’t believe he hasn’t worked up the nerve to ask you out yet. He must be as shy as you are.”

“Maybe,” Jane said. She spooned batter into the baking tins in front of her.

“In that case, it’s going to be a long wait,” Raine teased as she shook her head.

Jane swatted her with a cleaning rag and then they both slipped into giggles. “I miss having you around,” she said.

“Me, too.” Hopefully this guy would be the one for her. She would give anything for Jane to find the happiness in her life that she deserved.

At eight o’clock, the white limo pulled in to the Palazzo and the tension in Raine’s shoulders eased a fraction. Thank goodness she’d had a reason to leave the house tonight. Her parent’s polite facade had cracked and she had snuck away mid-fight as they argued with each other in the kitchen. Never in her life had she heard such anger in their voices. Fear and anxiety had washed over her making her feel like a little girl. Their fight seemed to be over the fact that her father didn’t get down to dinner when it was ready.

“You couldn’t hear me calling you over the last half hour?” her mother had yelled.

“I was coming down. What’s the big deal anyway? It’s just dinner!”

Things had continued to escalate. As they did, so did her anxiety. Her intestines felt all twisted up inside. From the window of her bedroom she’d seen the limo coming down the street and breathed a sigh of relief. She felt guilty about tiptoeing down the stairs and out the front door without saying good-bye to them but it would have been awkward to interrupt.

She was glad it had been Cole driving the limo. He seemed the friendlier of the two. She’d chatted with him on the way there. From what Cole had said, she could tell he deeply admired his boss and truly enjoyed working for him. In Raine’s book that spoke volumes about the type of person Alexander was.

The limo slowed to a stop at the curb and Alexander stepped forward to open the door.

A little nervous, Raine took his hand and stepped out. He looked breathtaking in a very fine suit, minus the tie. His effect on her was stronger now with the memory of last night’s kiss in her mind.

“I’m glad you could make it,” he said.

“Me, too. Thanks for sending the limo.”

“It was my pleasure.” Tucking her hand into his arm, he led her into the casino.

“You look nice,” Alexander said looking down at her.

She blushed, glad that she had packed the light blue dress. “Thanks.” It felt nice to walk beside him as he led her through the casino and the passageway of shops. He walked slowly and chatted with her about her day and the plans they were making for the party. He was so easy to talk to that within a few minutes an easy familiarity settled between them.

It was nice, that feeling. It certainly made up for the moments just prior to her leaving the house. Maybe this time she could bring up the incident at the airport and the bow and arrow she’d seen him with. She was dying to ask him but at the same time knew how foolish and crazy it would all sound. Did it matter anyway? She was on a date with a handsome man. Why ruin a good thing?

They’d reached a set of elevator doors, and Alexander pushed the button to the eleventh floor.

“Where are we going?” she asked

“Bouchon. Have you eaten there before?”

“No. I’ve heard of it but never been. Isn’t it strange how you can grow up somewhere but never go to some of these popular places?”

“I agree.”

Their eyes connected, making her aware of how alone they were in the elevator. She remembered the way her body fit perfectly against his yesterday, the way her breasts had felt pressed against his firm, broad chest.

“I’m glad that I can be the one to show you something you haven’t seen before.” Pleasure glinted in his eyes.

Everyone in the restaurant, of course, knew him. The staff all greeted him by name and with smiles. They were shown immediately to one of the best tables right next to the window.

“I still can’t believe you live here. Which floor are you on? Are there other people who are residents as well?” she asked.

“There are a few others, yes. I’m on the twenty-third floor. I’ll show it to you after dinner if you want.”

“Sure.” She knew she probably shouldn’t go up to his apartment. It would send the wrong message, but her curiosity was piqued.

“Truthfully, I’m kind of fascinated that this is your home. I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

He grinned and cocked his head at her. “And you never will again,” he promised.

His confidence made her smile. He was probably right. “What type of work do you do?”

“After our discussion on the plane I think you will find my line of work amusing.”

“Really?” She tried to imagine what it would be.