Stealing Cupid's Bow (6 page)

“Let’s see, the beach, the great weather, my job….” She ticked them off on her fingers as she had many times before.

“You won’t change her mind, Nora; believe me I’ve tried,” said her mother as she sipped at her iced tea.

“Well, I, for one, am jealous, Raine. I would love to live out there, for a while a least. It would be a nice change,” said her cousin, munching on some fries.

“Come out and visit me already,” she said. “Haven’t I invited you several times before?” she said, rolling her eyes. It would be great to have Jane visit. They had been raised together and were like sisters.

“I know. I will.”

“So, Jane, are you seeing anyone special these days?” asked Raine’s mom.

Jane blushed shyly. “Not really.”

“What does that mean?” asked Jane’s mother.

Aunt Nora looked the most surprised of them all. Raine guessed it was the first time Jane had spoken of it.

“There’s this customer who comes into the store all the time but…I guess we’re just friends.”

“Really? Who is it?” asked Raine.

Jane flushed some more. “It’s a customer. His name is Scott. He’s one of our regulars.”

“Oh, yes. Scott comes in a lot.” Aunt Nora nodded. “At least twice per week. He’s a good customer.”

“Has he asked you out on a date?” Raine asked, amused. Her fair cousin’s cheeks were flaming.

Jane twisted a strand of her brown hair. “No, he hasn’t. It’s just…he comes into the store often to buy cupcakes and he seems friendly. Nothing’s really happened yet.”

“And what do you think he needs so many cupcakes for?” Raine asked.

Jane shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe he takes them to his friends at work. We have some other customers that do that. People really like our cupcakes. We have a lot of regulars.”

Despite what her cousin said, Raine had a feeling it was something more. She hoped, for her cousin’s sake, that it was. She deserved to have something wonderful happen to her.

“How about you, Raine? Are you and Brad still dating?” Aunt Nora asked.

She grimaced. “Not anymore.”

“What? You and Brad broke up? Oh that’s so sad!” Jane said. “We wondered why he wasn’t here with you.”

“Yes, well, it just happened.”

“Oh. That’s too bad. You’d been together for a while. We thought you two might be making it permanent soon. What happened?” Aunt Nora said.

Raine received a sympathetic glance from her mother.

“I caught him cheating on me.” Raine said it quickly, like ripping off a bandage. Better to just tell them and get it over with.

Jane gasped and patted her arm. Aunt Nora went off for a few minutes on how boys today just were not raised to be men the way they were in the old days.

Raine couldn’t help but agree with her, just a little. But, rather than get sucked into the discussion, she decided to concentrate on eating her sandwich. She glanced at her cousin, who gave her a wink. No doubt she had heard the same tirade many times before.

Following lunch, they decided to drop by the hotel where Aunt Nora and Jane had reserved a room for the party. They wanted to get a peek at it and make sure they had enough supplies.

Raine’s mouth dropped open as they turned up the driveway. It was the Palazzo Hotel. Her heart started beating faster at the thought of possibly running into Alexander again.

The valet at the beautiful, curving driveway took their car and they walked inside to the lobby. It had marble floors and high, arched ceilings. It suggested the best of Italy in a very sublime way.

They went to the information desk to get directions to Valentino—the restaurant where they were holding the party. The receptionist directed them to the Venetian next door, which they could walk to through the shopping area that connected them.

“Sorry, everyone, I thought it was in this hotel. Guess I didn’t look at the web site close enough,” said Aunt Nora.

Together they strolled through the busy casino and then down the large hallway that bustled with all kinds of people.

It was excellent people-watching. Raine loved observing the various vacationers as they gambled, drank, and shopped. There was always an interesting vibe in the hotels on the Strip. The feeling that anything might happen hung in the air.

She liked the lights and sounds that beckoned, inviting you to come and have a good time. Adults of all ages sat at slot machines and stood at gaming tables, some serious and some giddy. And there was a constant parade of people walking through on their way to who knew where. They wore all types of clothes, from shorts to glamorous dresses. It was only here, in a Las Vegas hotel, that they all seemed to fit together under one roof.

From the corner of her eye, the back of a blond head, paired with broad, strong shoulders, caught her attention.

She knew who it was instantly.

Alexander was walking up ahead of them in the same direction. Her entire being zeroed in on him at once and she felt her pulse spike.

Jane was saying something to her, but all of her attention was tied up with trying to see his face. He’d moved off to the side now, and it looked as though he was watching someone intently. Actually, a couple of someones—a man and a woman. On the surface it looked like he was strolling along casually, but she could not mistake the intensity of his gaze on them. It seemed almost…predatory. Was he following them?

Both her mom and her aunt walked so slowly it was almost an agony for her. She didn’t want to lose sight of him. But there was nothing she could do. If she tried to make them hurry, it would spark questions from all three. And the most likely result of her telling them why would be her mother flagging Alexander down in a loud voice, which would be embarrassing.

Jane continued to chatter away, but Raine still couldn’t focus on her cousin.

Up ahead she saw that the man and woman had stopped next to a fountain. The man was saying something. From the look they shared, it seemed to be one of those special moments. Alexander stopped, too. He was leaning casually against a pillar watching the couple.

The man Alexander watched sank down on one knee while retrieving something from his pants pocket.

Alexander changed his stance at the same time. Out of nowhere a bow appeared in his hands. He quickly notched an arrow from the right side of the quiver on his back. He drew and took aim, gazing along the shaft of the arrow.

From what she could see there was only one target apparent in that direction: the woman.

As he released the arrow, a scream rose from within her, but the sound caught in her throat. The gleaming shaft streaked across the space and sunk deep into the woman’s chest, emitting a shower of golden sparks on impact. A second arrow struck the man as well and another cloud of gold erupted. She stopped walking and, since their arms were linked together, Jane did, too.

“Did you see that?” Raine asked.

Jane glanced at her. “See what?”

She pointed in the direction and her cousin peered up ahead.

“What is it, Raine?”

Her cousin wasn’t reacting at all and neither had either of their mothers. And none of the people that had passed right by the scene of the crime were disturbed. She looked again at the couple, afraid of what she might see…and blinked.

There was no blood. No body lay on the floor. No arrow shaft stuck out from either of them. Quite the opposite. The woman was unharmed and glowing with happiness. She had accepted the ring and the man was now swinging her around in joy.

“Did you mean the couple getting engaged?” Jane asked. “Oh yes, it happens all the time here.”

Raine was stunned. Her eyes found their way back to Alexander.

He was still standing there, leaning casually against the pillar now. No bow or arrows anywhere in sight. He was watching the couple with a sort of nostalgic, bittersweet look on his face.

Her family’s path had taken them in his direction, and they were passing right next to him.

His blue eyes homed in on her instantly.

Her mother noticed him before Raine could get a word out. “Aren’t you the nice young man who drove my daughter home?”

He nodded and smiled as he was introduced to her family, shaking hands with Aunt Nora and Jane.

“Raine. You’re looking better today.” He held out his hand to her as well.

She wasn’t sure what to think about him after witnessing what she thought she had, but ended up blushing when their palms connected. “Yes, I feel better. Thanks.”

“And what are you lovely ladies doing here in the hotel? Shopping?” His gaze swept over all of them and then settled back on her.

“We’re here to look at the room we reserved at Valentino for my parents’ wedding anniversary,” she said. “Do you know that restaurant?”

“Yes, very well. Great restaurant. Why don’t I escort you there?”

He tucked both her mother’s and aunt’s hands on his arms and they walked together to the restaurant. He asked them both nonstop questions about the anniversary and family. It only took seconds for them to be charmed by him.

Raine noticed that Jane was silent.

“Is that the man from the plane you mentioned?” she asked.

Raine nodded, she’d told her cousin a little about him last night at dinner.

“You like him don’t you?”

She squirmed inside.

“Well of course you do.” Jane patted her arm and her eyebrows rose with emphasis. “How could you not?”

She smiled and stifled a nervous laugh. Jane always had a way of understanding things.

Together they followed along in silence, listening to Alexander’s conversation with their mothers and enjoying the sight of his perfect form. He was wearing the kind of jeans that displayed his butt and thighs to perfection.

He stopped with them in front of the restaurant. “Ladies, thank you for the pleasure of your company. My afternoon has been significantly improved.”

Her mom and aunt gushed and fawned over him. Both invited him to the anniversary party as well. He graciously agreed to stop by if he was able.

After saying good-bye to Jane, he took Raine’s hand in his. She felt her body heat up by several degrees instantly.

“So when will I see you again?”

“Um, well….”

“Why don’t you two meet for a drink later after we’re done here?” her mother butted in.

“What an excellent suggestion, Mary. You are free a little later aren’t you, Alexander?” asked Aunt Nora.

He grinned. “Yes, I have no plans.” He lifted an inquiring brow at her. “Raine?”

The embarrassment she should have felt by her family arranging a date for her was dissipated by the fact that it came from love. All eyes were upon her, but his made the most impact. They were almost tugging, pulling her into their blue depths. He was irresistible.

“Sure, that sounds good,” she finally managed. “But weren’t we going to discuss the final plans over dinner?” she said, turning to her family.

“We can do it tomorrow over breakfast,” volunteered Jane. “Everyone can come to the shop.”

With her cousin in on it there was no turning back now.

“How will I get home?”

“You’re in Las Vegas, Raine,” said Aunt Nora, “There are millions of taxis out there.”

“Actually, there’s no need for a taxi. I’ll make sure she gets home safely,” said Alexander. “Call me when you’re done here, and I’ll come meet you. You still have my number?”

She nodded.

“Good. It’s settled then,” Aunt Nora said with satisfaction.

Her family collectively sighed as he turned to walk off. He was barely out of earshot before they all started in on her.

She met him at one of the loungy bars in the hotel. When she arrived, he was already settled into a leather sofa with a drink in his hand. The waitress lingered near him and they were chatting in a familiar way.

Should she ask him about what happened earlier? Had he really shot the woman and man with arrows? He would probably think she was crazy. Heck, she might be. No one else had reacted to it at all. His gaze locked on her, and she could almost feel the heat of his fingers on her chin again. Feel the intensity as he’d looked her in the eye and told her that Brad was an idiot.

He rose from his seat. “Raine, I’m glad we could meet again. This is my friend Tania.”

She exchanged hellos with the petite, blonde waitress in a skimpy cocktail dress. “What would you like to drink?” Tania asked.

“A glass of white wine, please.”

Tania took down her order and winked at Alexander before heading to the bar.

Alexander took Raine’s hand and pulled her to sit beside him on the couch.

“Thank you for inviting me. I can’t stay long,” she said. “It’s been an exhausting day.” She wasn’t sure why she said it and felt like a coward immediately after the words came out of her mouth. Was it because he had such a powerful presence? Whatever it was, she felt awkward and clumsy. It definitely didn’t feel like the right moment to bring up what she’d seen. She barely knew him. “No problem. How did you like the restaurant?” he asked.

“It’s fabulous. I think it will go really well with this year’s theme.”

“Theme?”

“It’s their fortieth wedding anniversary, and the symbol for that is ruby, so everything is around love because of the color.”

“Isn’t it always love?”

“No. I mean, love is always a part of it, of course, but there have been different themes throughout the years.”

“Does everyone in your family celebrate their anniversaries this way?” he asked.

“No, just my parents. My father started it. The symbol for a one-year anniversary is paper. When they first married they were very young and struggled to pay the bills and keep the lights on. When their anniversary came up, my father had no money to buy my mother a present or anything. But he loved her so much that he couldn’t bear the thought of letting the occasion go uncelebrated. So he invited the whole family over for a barbecue in the backyard.

“Since he couldn’t buy her any presents, and the anniversary symbol was paper anyway, he wrote her a love letter and read it to her in front of everyone. I’m told it was very romantic. Anyway, everyone had so much fun that night they decided to continue doing it every few years.” She felt a prickle inside as she remembered the story and almost sighed. It was one her mother had told her many times.