Once Upon A Valentine

by Emma Roman

  "What person hasn't told a fib to make themselves look better," Kelsey said. "You've never distorted or misrepresented something? Never kept anything from your friends?"

  Well, crap, this just kept getting better and better. Yes, she hadn't been truthful to them about her and Ryan. "Okay, so I didn't tell you the truth about Ryan."

  Meghan snickered softly.

  "Do you love him?" Kelsey asked.

  Tears welled up in Taylors eyes and filled her throat. This week had been horrible. Probably the worst of her life. First Jack and then the break-up with Ryan. Today on what was supposed to be a relaxing time, like a dog with a bone, Kelsey was determined to make it tough. Taylor needed some peace and tranquility. Not being forced to deal with loving a man whose morals she questioned.

  "Yes, I love Ryan," she said almost shouting the words.

  Kelsey smiled. "Good."

  "Are you happy now?" Taylor asked.

  "Why are you letting an incident that happened almost seven years ago stop you from getting the love you deserve? Why would you let the mistakes between us keep you from happiness?" Kelsey said, her voice rising with disbelief.

  Taylor thought for a moment, wondering to herself why she would pass on a chance at everything she's been searching for with a man. Yet, he'd lied and cheated. Her honest lawman had done wrong.

  "He had sex with someone else while the two of you dated," Taylor said vehemently. "I vowed never to date another man who can't be faithful. Ryan wasn't loyal."

  Kelsey smiled that knowing grin that made Taylor nervous. "At eighteen, he wanted to lose his virginity. I wanted to surrender mine in college. Now, if he did that today, then yes, I'd be getting a rope and we'd be stringing him up in the Cupid courtyard in the town square. He wasn't the only one who screwed up. You hid this relationship from us."

  "Only to protect you. You've said how much you dislike him," Taylor said.

  "And I did. Yesterday, we buried the hatchet. Life is too short and he said he was sorry. How many men apologize and admit their error," Kelsey said, gazing at her friend. She picked up Taylor's hand. "You admitted you love him. Give him a break. Give him some time."

  Meghan giggled even louder.

  Taylor stared at her friend's polished fingernails. Kelsey was giving Ryan a second chance and would even be friends with him once again; why couldn't she?

  The last few days had been the most miserable of her life. She missed Jack, but more importantly she felt like part of her was missing. Without Ryan, her life seemed empty.

  "All right, I'll give him another opportunity, but I'm going to lay down some rules. This will only happen on my terms."

  "Great," Kelsey said and jumped out of the foot spa much to the technician’s dismay as she splashed water all over the floor in her exuberance to reach out and embrace Taylor. Meghan bounced up, giggling, splashing water everywhere and joined in the group hug.

  She continued to giggle.

  "Why have you laughed this entire time?" Taylor demanded.

  "Don't you see," Meghan said smiling. "The Cupid superstition is finding us love. You're the first one to succumb to the spell."

  "I didn't want love," Taylor said amazed at what Meghan said. Could it be real? Was the Cupid superstition working to bring her and Ryan together.

  Kelsey started jumping up and down, forcing the others to follow her lead. "I have such a great idea. I know how to get you your happily ever after. I can't wait for us to return to Cupid."

  Taylor smiled at her friends, certain they were all thinking the same thing.

  Ryan sat in his office, finishing up paperwork before he headed out. His shift was almost over and tonight he just wanted to go home, crawl in bed, and try to get some elusive rest. The last week had been difficult. Right up there with his introduction to Afghanistan and learning to adjust to a new life.

  Since Taylor asked for some time, he'd been trying to adapt to living without the woman he'd fallen in love with. And he didn't like it one bit, but he would go on.

  His dispatcher walked into the office and frowned. "We got some women doing the Stupid Cupid caper again. Just received a report of a naked woman dancing around the fountain in the square."

  "Damn," Ryan said grabbing his coat. "I'm not in the mood for this shit. Prepare a jail cell for them. I'm tired of this crap."

  All he could think about was Taylor and her friends sprinting around the statue naked. But mainly Taylor. Her firm breasts, trim waist, and legs that were long enough to curl around a man and squeeze him into forever.

  The man smiled. "Go get them, Sheriff."

  Keys in hand, he walked out the door. It would take him fewer than five minutes to arrive and five minutes to arrest this public nuisance, but now he didn't care. Hitting the lights, he gunned the car, racing down the street. He really needed to convince the city council to tear down Cupid.

  Pulling into the square, he saw her. She wasn't naked. She sat by the fountain, waiting for him. Had Taylor made the call?

  Getting out of his patrol vehicle, he glanced around and didn't see any nude women.

  Stepping up in front of her, he stopped.

  "Evening, Sheriff," she said.

  "What are you doing, Taylor?" he asked.

  "I went to the spa this weekend and spent time with the girls. Kelsey told me what you did," she gazed up at him reached out, took his hand and pulled him down beside her. The wind coming off the fountain’s spray was cool and occasionally she felt a drop of moisture land on her.

  He didn't say anything. He was too afraid to respond and somehow ruin what he hoped was happening.

  "In the last month, I've fallen in love with you, grown to know you and how you care for the people in this community. How you chase Mrs. Raffsberger's cat. How you responded to Jack's death. How you saved Zeus and cared for me. You're a good man with a generous heart and I love you. That still doesn't mean I'm not scared. One lawman cheated on me, yet, I think you're different."

  "I am different," he whispered, pushing back a lock of hair that fell onto her face. "I love you, Taylor Braxton. I love you with my heart and soul, and I'm scared as well. There are some things I'm no longer willing to do. I'm not going to hide our relationship from anyone. I'm not sneaking around. You can have access to my phone, my emails, my Facebook account, all my personal information is at your disposal to make you feel secure that I'm not cheating on you."

  He took her face in his hands, his mouth covering hers, kissing her with all the pain drifting away as he showed her how much she'd been missed.

  Abruptly he broke the kiss. "There's one other thing..."

  "What?" she said, staring at him as he stood.

  He dropped down to one knee in front of her. "My other condition is that you marry me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. I want us to have a family and grow old together. I want to wake up each morning next to you. Will you please honor me and become my wife?"

  She reached out and pulled him to her side, her eyes filling with tears. "Yes, I'll marry you. I love you, Ryan Jones. I love you so very much."

  He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. "Promise me you won't tell our children about the Stupid Cupid superstition. I don't want to arrest my children or have to take them home naked."

  Laughing, she kissed his mouth. "No promises. I never believed in the superstition, but it brought us together. Love you."

  "You too. Let's go home to that crazy dog of yours."

  They stood and Taylor glanced at the statue.

  "Thanks, Cupid," she said as she walked away, her arms wrapped tightly around her man.

  Dear Reader,

  Thanks for reading! I owe a big thank you to Krystal Shannan for inviting me into the Autism Box Set. When I was trying to decide what book to write, I remembered that years ago, I wrote a story set in Cupid, Texas. I decided to go back to that little town and bring in new characters. I hope you enjoy the Cupid superstition.

  As always, if you’re i
nclined, please go to your favorite retailer and let others know what you think. Whether or not you loved the book or hated, it-I’d enjoy your feedback.

  Sign up for my newsletter if you’d like to learn about my new releases before everyone else. Thanks for venturing into my world and I hope to see you here again soon.

  Yours in Drama, Divas, Bad Boys and Romance!

  Sincerely,

  Sylvia McDaniel

  Sylvia McDaniel is a best-selling, award-winning author of over thirty western historical romance and contemporary romance novels. Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances, Sylvia is the author of The Burnett Brides a historical western series, The Cuvier Widows, a Louisiana historical series, Lipstick and Lead, a western historical series and several short contemporary romances.

  Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.

  Married for over twenty years to her best friend, they have two dachshunds and a good-looking, grown son who thinks there’s no place like home. She loves gardening, hiking, shopping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan).

  You can write to Sylvia at P.O. Box 2542, Coppell, TX 75019 or visit www.SylviaMcDaniel.com.

  Return to Cupid, Texas

  Once Upon A Valentine

  Cupid Stupid

  Cupid Scores

  Cupid Dances

  The Burnett Brides Series

  The Rancher Takes A Bride

  The Outlaw Takes A Bride

  The Marshal Takes A Bride

  The Christmas Bride

  Boxed Set

  Western Historicals

  A Hero’s Heart

  Ace’s Bride

  Second Chance Cowboy

  Ethan

  American Brides

  Katie: Bride of Virginia

  9. His Moonstruck Wolf

  A Wolves of Willow Bend Novella

  Heather Long

  A Letter From The Author

  Welcome to the world of the Wolves of Willow Bend. When I was asked to participate in this project, I didn’t hesitate—not only because of the cause we’re supporting, but because it touches so many lives. I knew that I wanted to tell a special Valentine’s Day tale from my wolves, but I wrestled with which pack to visit—should I go to Willow Bend? Hudson River? Sutter Butte? The Yukon or…then it struck me. A masquerade at Valentine’s Day, and I knew it had to be Delta Crescent.

  Please join us for the party, then stay for the love.

  Many kind regards,

  Heather Long

  To all the dreamers and the believers of a crazy little thing called love.

  Happy Valentine’s Day.

  About the Book

  When a matchmaker gets toasted at the after party, she finds the perfect wolf for her in the most unlikely of places. Of course, the last thing he wants is a mate, much less a matchmaking one.

  Hugo Ferrar is one busy Hound. Acting as a messenger for his alpha, he spends more time out of New Orleans than in it. Home in the Big Easy for only three days, Hugo has a strict schedule to adhere to—celebrate his brother’s mating, eat and drink his fill, and find a lovely wolf at the masquerade for a fling.

  Lesley-Anne Saucier is drunk on life and one too many hurricanes. Her masquerade is just the kind of party Delta Crescent needs, especially since they are celebrating the mating of a popular couple—a match she helped to make. Avoiding her eager fans, Lesley-Anne is bowled over by a wolf in the garden—a stunning, male, perfect for her. The moon is full, the masquerade is in full swing, can the matchmaker find her own perfect mate?

  Delta Crescent Wolves

  Hugo Ferrar – Hound, Delta Crescent

  Lesley-Anne Saucier – Matchmaker, psychologist Delta Crescent

  Serafina Andre Buckley – Alpha, Delta Crescent

  Linc Buckley – Alpha’s mate, transplant from Willow Bend

  Amy Lange – Traiteur, Delta Crescent

  Trish LeClere – Hound, Delta Crescent and sister to Jerome

  Jerome LeClere – Hound, Delta Crescent and brother to Trish

  Rene Victor – Senior Advisor to Serafina Andre

  1

  The party was in full swing. The zydeco band filled the air with festive music. Dancers frolicked while, on the sidelines, partygoers drank, ate, and laughed together. It was the perfect night to celebrate the mating of Christopher and Rachel. The wolves were ideally suited to one another, came from good families, and were well established within the pack. Though neither represented some great advance in station or pack standing, the mating itself was a fantastic excuse to give the Delta Crescent a party they needed and richly deserved.

  Lesley-Anne Saucier raised her glass to toast her accomplishment then took a long drink before sliding out the doors and onto the veranda. It was exceptionally warm inside with all the dancing. Outside, the air was still a bit humid but the cooler temperatures of February wrapped around her. They were just a couple weeks shy of Fat Tuesday, but with moon overhead, Valentine’s Day made the perfect reason for a Voodoo Valentine’s Ball. The alpha had opened her home as host to the whole pack, and they’d traveled in from all over the region to attend.

  Lesley-Anne leaned against the railing, the stone helping to cool the rise in her body temperature. She was also ducking out to avoid matrons in the pack who wanted her to inspect their grandsons or granddaughters for mate potential.

  Sometimes, being the Delta Crescent matchmaker was more trouble than it was worth. She took another long drink of her hurricane. It was her fourth one of the night, and it finally started to compete with her wolf’s metabolism and dull some of her senses. They had plenty of Hounds on duty. Security escalations had become a recurring theme for the pack, but she didn’t want to worry about all the darkness swirling out in the world right then. Tonight, Christopher and Rachel represented the promise and potential of the future. Their mating proved life went on. The pack hadn’t celebrated like this since Serafina returned with her mate from Willow Bend. They’d thrown a grand party which lasted a whole week. The voodoo masquerade might only last one night, but it was enough.

  A laughing couple escaped out the doors as they continued their dancing. Then the male picked his companion up and kissed her. The scent of their passion twined and Lesley-Anne allowed herself a smile. The couple didn’t carry the promise of mating in their scent, but they were young and having fun. That was all that mattered.

  Another couple slipped out the doors, both laughing and giggling like children. They hesitated when they saw her, but the male gave her a self-conscious grin followed by an incongruous wink before tugging the woman away. Lesley-Anne smiled again—not all wolves wanted to know if they were possibly mates, so she tended to keep what she knew to herself.

  She had been known in the past to warn a wolf who seemed to be getting too attached, if only to prevent them from heartbreak later. The desire for a mate didn’t always result in a happily ever after for all parties, particularly if they wanted it too badly.

  She lifted her mask and wiped away some of the sweat from around her eyes. Fortunately, she didn’t favor a lot of heavy cosmetics or this weather would’ve already eaten half her makeup. She’d just got it back into place when the doors opened again. A rush of sound and light and scent lashed out. Every nerve in her body electrified. Not only did she scent mate potential…

  She scented hers.

  Not possible.

  Pivoting, she found a tall, lean wolf studying her as he made his way outside, drink in hand. Like so many of the men at the party, he was dressed in a full tux and tails. It might surprise some to know that when Delta Crescent dressed up, they did it right. Even the alpha’s mate cut a dashing figure in his suit, and his vest and tie had been designed to match the alpha’s stunning red
dress. They made such a striking couple.

  The male continued to approach, and Lesley-Anne lowered her gaze a fraction. Her wolf rose within her, unexpected in her interest. The last thing she wanted was to leap on the unsuspecting approaching wolf. A matchmaker was a tracker with a finely attuned sense of smell—one which detected certain notes in body chemistry. Although, in Lesley-Anne’s case, it also had something to do with her degree in psychology.

  “Running away already?” The husky masculine voice wrapped around her like a leash seeking purchase.

  “Hardly.” She lifted her drink. “I came out to cool off and have a drink. You?”

  “I came looking for you.” What a pity he delivered the hope-inspiring-line with such practiced ease. Even knowing he possessed all the right scent markers, declaring him her potential, the smoothness with which he declared he’d come in search of her suggested his goal was more a warm body for the night rather than a heart seeking shelter.

  “I see. It doesn’t seem as though you have to look very hard.” She didn’t bother to disguise the challenge in her voice. She didn’t want an operator, and while wolves might be highly charged and very sexual creatures, it didn’t mean she had to accept whatever life had to offer. Mate potential didn’t mean mate acceptance.

  “How do you know I haven’t searched the whole of the bayou for you?” Playful flirtation seemed to shimmer within every syllable.

  “Because there’s not a speck of dirt on your very shiny shoes.” He was lucky she didn’t snort in his face.

  He chuckled then tugged off his filigreed mask. Oh, she could have wished he hadn’t done that. Hugo Ferrar. Really? She wanted to take her wolf out back and shake it. Hugo Ferrar was a Hound, second only to Jerome, and exceptionally well known in the pack—both for his reputation as a fighter as well as a lover,