Red Hot Valentine: Falling for Cupid (4 page)

I suddenly didn’t feel so bad about my own
name. “Do you have any siblings?”

“
A brother. Brace
yourself,” he teased.

I smiled, moving forward with perked
ears.

“
Saint Nicholas Christmas.
And no, he wasn’t born on Christmas.”

I know my eyes widened, revealing my horror.
“She didn’t.”

“
She did. At least he has a
normal name in there, thanks to the legends of Old Saint Nick. I
have to say Coop like it’s short for Cooper and pray my sweaty
palms don’t give me away.”

“
Well, Nick and Coop sound
normal.”

He chuckled. “They just hide my mother’s
dirty secret.”

“
I suppose I can’t complain
about my name now.”

“
Daisy is cute for a
girl.”

“
Exactly; for a
girl.
I’m a grown woman.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I take it you didn’t look at my full name with
my maiden last in the papers.”

He squinted, the edges of his mouth fighting
a smile as he put the two together.

“
Daisy Hibiscalily
Field.”

He schooled his reaction well. “It’s not
awful.”

“
My middle name belongs to
an evil botanic scientist.”

He cracked, laughing heartily. “Thankfully,
for both our sakes, middle names are rarely used.”

“
Yes, thank goodness. Brad
is also being kind and letting me keep his last name.”

He stiffened, his humor quickly falling away.
“I’m sure you’re relieved.”

I couldn’t figure him out. He had the oddest
triggers. I was suspended in place, waiting for him to bolt again.
To my surprise, he recovered and pressed on.

“
By chance is your mother a
florist?”

“
How ever did you guess?” I
clutched my palm to my chest dramatically.

The twinkle was back in his depths. “I like
you, Daisy Hibiscalily Burke.”

I practically melted in my
chair. My heart reacted as though he’d confessed his undying love
to me. I knew my eyes were bright with enthusiasm. He was a
gorgeous hunk, chock full of sex appeal. I was more than a little
flattered, even if he meant it as an innocent statement. “I like
you too, Mr. Valentine.”
Do not blur the
lines. Do not cross a single one, girl.

“
Please, call me Coop.”
There was that dazzling smile again.

Before I could do something foolish, like go
goo-goo over a non-professing declaration, I withdrew myself from
the situation. “It was a pleasure, Coop, but I must return to work.
I have wardrobes to stock and fannies to kiss.”

His gaze didn’t falter, nor did his smile.
“The pleasure was all mine, Mrs. Burke.”

I stood, half-f coffee
cup in hand, and grabbed my clutch. “Please, call me Daisy.”
Sweet cherry pie, did I really just wink at
him?
A nervous giggled escaped me. “Have a
good day, Coop.” I strolled away with an extra swing in my hips,
oddly self-conscious, hyperaware of prying eyes on my
figure.

My face split and my confidence surged when
he mumbled, “I will now.”

—

Chapter Three

November
27
^th

Daisy

It’d been a month since I’d last seen Coop,
yet he was fresh on my mind every night as I lay in bed and each
morning when I woke. His smile, full of humility and charm, seduced
me. His eyes, glossy and bright, pierced me. I could only fathom
their beauty when dark and dangerous, brewing with intense passion
as he took a woman…namely me in my dreams.

I dreamed vividly of his hard against my
soft, squishing me rather than me squishing him. His powerful stare
and his bulging, flexing muscles as he took me to the brink never
ceased to steal my breath away. I always morphed the professional
good guy into a sultry, confident bad boy in my head, unashamed of
taking rather than asking.

Sweet cherry pie I wanted him to fuck me. I’d
gone off the deep end. I was a touch away from being obsessed. The
worst part? He’d done nothing to warrant this reaction from me. I
just couldn’t keep my thoughts from slipping to him, like Cupid had
shot his arrow straight through my desperate, lusty heart.

I groaned, jerking the covers over my head. I
was a mess.

—

Cupid

I squeezed my stiff cock. I’d had another
dream about owning her luscious curves. Every smile she’d given me
had been one of innocence, yet my imagination had run wild,
altering them into acts of seduction. Every day I fought the urge
to call her. It would be so simple to reprint a document and fake
it as reason enough.

I’d been strong, so far.

Every time I closed my eyes
though, I saw her. Her red lips around my hard prick, sucking
harder, her bountiful curves writhing beneath my command, her
breasts bouncing, begging to be pinched then tongued, as I took her
hard and fast, throwing romance and mercy out the window.
Jesus I was a fucking sadist.
I wanted to pound her pussy into the next millennium in the
roughest way.

The more I thought about her, the larger my
muscles felt. I could easily crush her; overpower every whimper,
every plea. I would accept nothing less than complete compliance on
her part as I pushed us both to our limits.

I shook my erection in
frustration. This wasn’t me. I was worse than a twisted stalker and
I hadn’t seen her in weeks.
God help the
next woman I take.
Aggression seemed to
permeate my every pore, driving me to claim her.
Her.

I forced out a breath, flinging my arms over
my eyes. This wasn’t good. If this was what it felt like to be hit
by Cupid’s arrow - to be filled uncontrollably with lust and need
for a person you barely knew but couldn’t seem to shake, to turn
away from, - then someone needed to burn them all.

I forced myself out of bed and towards the
bathroom. Another cold shower was in order. I’d never been so clean
and pruney in my life.

—

Chapter Four

January
3
^rd

Cupid

I stormed out of the courtroom. Rage coiled
in my chest, burning. I’d never been so angry. Worse, now, even
with my upset, I had to tell my clients the bad news. I hated that
I actually wanted to see her. I’d never craved someone’s company so
bad. I’d been strong until now. With my mind consumed by her for
months, I didn’t know if I could be trusted around her, but I
couldn’t miss the chance either. Damn I sounded like a girl all
whiny, confused and uncertain. And it was only getting worse.

I plowed through the doors of the courthouse.
My suit protected me against the elements as I made a beeline for
my car. I slid behind the wheel and pulled out my phone.

“
Happy New Year, Coop. Am I
officially a single woman?”

I smiled. Her voice wrapped my heart in
warmth. Oh yeah. I wanted to see her. “Not yet unfortunately. Are
you able to meet me so I can discuss what the judge said?”

“
Oh. Um, hold on.” The
phone rustled, creating a bit of static. “Brad’s with me. We can
leave now and meet you at the coffee shop if you’d
like.”

“
Perfect. I can be there in
fifteen minutes.”

“
See you then.” She hung
up.

I hated upsetting any of my clients, but
especially her, and I’d heard it in her voice. She was worried. I
was uncomfortable with the fact that I cared this much, but
apparently when Cupid’s arrow hit, it hit hard, demolishing every
filter, every bit of sanity, every ounce of resolve surrounding his
other victim.

Turning the key in the ignition, I peeled out
and headed towards the other side of downtown.

—

Daisy

My knee bounced as Brad drove. I steadily
worked my bottom lip, grateful I hadn’t worn lipstick today. I was
dressed casual, by my standards, today. I wore a forgiving yet
stylish pair of boyfriend jeans, rugged with shredding and rolled
up cuffs, a tight, navy blue, long sleeved turtleneck with a cream
colored scarf and a delicate yellow gold necklace. Camel colored
ballet flats with a large bow on top of them gave my ensemble a
certain schoolgirl charm. My long dark brown hair was in a fishtail
braid, the rubber band at the end concealed by a half-inch wide,
satin, navy blue ribbon I’d tied into a bow.

I glanced at Brad. I knew he was worried, but
he came off cool as a cucumber. Fitted dark wash jeans, a red
pullover sweater I’d given him two Christmases ago and black tennis
shoes were still, unmoving aside from when he breathed or shifted
gears. He casually glanced at his watch as he pulled into a parking
space.

He put his hand atop mine, stopping me from
getting out immediately. His thumb brushed my wedding band; he
stared at the half-carat diamonds that wrapped halfway around the
band. “No matter what happens, I want you to know that I don’t
regret marrying you. Okay?”

A lump formed in my throat. Tears stung my
eyes as I met his gaze. A thousand thoughts converged at once,
making it impossible to single any out. “Okay.”

He squeezed my knuckles before releasing me.
“Let’s go.”

Brad said he didn’t regret
it, but guilt would haunt me to my deathbed if our divorce was
declined.
Can judges even stop you after a
certain amount of time has passed?

I slid my chocolate brown, hunter green, navy
blue and cream colored plaid, structured tote on my arm as Brad
held my door open. I stepped out, facing him with trepidation.
“What if-”

“
Stop. Let’s wait for the
facts. Don’t make yourself sick on speculation alone.” He shut the
door and pressed his keyless remote, locking it.

I sighed. “You’re right.”

He smiled easily. “I’m always right.” He
winked.

I harrumphed. “Lisa and I would disagree with
that.”

“
I’m shocked.” He wasn’t
really.

We walked side by side. He held the door for
me. The warmth of the coffee shop was welcomed. Winter, well, for
Florida, was in full effect. The air was a crisp forty-eight
degrees with a wind chill of thirty-nine. A quick scan showed Coop
wasn’t there yet.

I’d made the mistake one night after too much
wine of confessing my lust for Mr. Dreamy to Brad and Lisa. Brad
immediately issued an, “I knew it!”

Lisa had more tact. She gave me an
encouraging smile and said, “I say go for it. If he says no, you
don’t have to see him again after the divorce is finalized. But, if
he says yes.” Her eyes widened as her smile turned coy. “Let’s just
say I don’t know how you’ve gone this long without.”

The truth was, it was one thing to pine after
someone from a distance. You were safe. There was no chance of you
getting hurt. But admitting your desire put you in front of the
firing squad. Your pride, your confidence, your heart, were all at
risk.

“
Want a drink?” Brad placed
a hand on my shoulder, directing me to a nearby table.

I dropped my purse over the side of the chair
and sat down. “My usual, thanks.” I was shaking and I didn’t know
why.

Brad headed to the counter and ordered.

I kept nervously glancing back at the
entranceway.

Kind blue eyes met mine when I refocused on
the table. “Stop, Dais. I’m sure it’s just a last minute form to
fill out, something minor.” He passed me my cup.

I took a deep breath. “This is torture. You
know I hate surprises.”

He rolled his eyes, humor touching his
expression. “Yeah, I know. You love to plan them though.”

“
That’s
different.”

“
Of course it’s different.
Opposite ends of the spectrum.” His words were coated in
sarcasm.

I cut my eyes at him. “Don’t patronize me,
buddy.”

“
Wouldn’t dream of it.” He
winked, a cocky smirk in place.

“
What day does Lisa get
back?” I blew into the slot on the lid of my beverage. Steam puffed
out, giving my lips a mini facial.

“
Thursday, I
think.”

“
You better clean the house
before she gets back. I know how you are, mister.”

“
Jeez. It’s like I have two
wives between the two of you. Should I go ahead and convert to
Mormonism?”

I smacked him across the table.
“Asshole.”

He chuckled, unfazed. “And yet you put up
with me.”

“
Because you put up with
me.”

“
Because you’re
awesome.”

“
Damn straight.” I
beamed.

He frowned. “You were supposed to tell me I’m
more awesome.”

“
Sorry. I’m not kissing
your fanny after the Mormon bit.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I can live with
that. I don’t need your approval.”

“
Remember that when it’s
time to get your tux for your next wedding.”

His lips parted in mock shock. “Now that’s
just cruel.”

I laughed. “You’re the one who said it.”

“
Okay, I take it
back.”

“
Fine, then I’ll ensure you
look so damn sexy on your big day, Lisa can’t wait until after the
reception. You might want to do a closet check before meeting her
at the alter.”

“
I can always count on you,
Dais.”

I met his gaze, humor slipping away. “Always.
I’ll always be there for you, even when you annoy the shit out of
me.”

He patted my forearm across the table.
“Ditto. You can always count on me.”

“
I know. And I love you for
it.”