As he drove the route she walked home, he searched until he arrived at her house. He couldn't have missed her by much. A warm glow came from inside and he could hear Zeus barking.
Knocking on the door, he heard the dog yapping excitedly. The door opened and there she stood. Every time he saw her, a rush of excitement went through him.
"Hi," she said.
Sadness gazed from her red-rimmed eyes where she'd been crying. "Tough day?"
"Yes," she said and he walked through the door. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips, knowing he couldn't wait to take her in his arms.
Reaching down, he petted Zeus who jumped and danced around like his best friend just walked in.
"I saw you at the funeral, but when I finally got free, you were gone," he said.
"I spoke to his daughter and then I left," she said. "He's no longer there."
"No," he said knowing she was right, but shocked she didn't wait for him.
They sank down on the couch at the same time. She turned to face him, bringing up a leg to keep him from getting closer. He frowned. Usually they sat holding one another for at least ten to twenty minutes, just talking. Tonight, she seemed to be trembling in her corner, keeping distance between them. What was wrong?
"You and the girls still going to the spa this weekend?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. "We're leaving day after tomorrow."
It would be lonely without her, but then this week he was working every day but Sunday.
"Kelsey came over this morning," she said.
A trickle of alarm spiraled up his spine. For days, he meant to tell her before they left for their retreat, knowing she needed to know before the women were all together about his reasons for lying.
"I asked her to have breakfast with me so I could understand why the two of you haven't patched things up. I couldn't fathom how a break-up in high school would leave two people hating each other as much as you two obviously do."
"I don't hate Kelsey," he said wanting her to know right up front that he held no animosity toward the woman he'd done wrong.
"She told me what happened between the two of you," Taylor said, her voice stern, her eyes wide and her hands shaking. "You lied. You said you'd never cheated. Yet you cheated on Kelsey."
How could he make this better? He was in so much trouble. He faced her, trying to think of any way to get out of this, realizing he'd been caught. "You're right. I lied to you. I wanted to spend time with you, get to know you and show you not all lawmen are cheaters. I knew if I told you the truth, you would never go out with me."
"Why didn't you tell me before I found out?" she asked.
"I tried. Every time I went to tell you, something would happen. I put off being honest with you because I knew this would not be an easy conversation."
"No, it's not," Taylor said.
"Look, I did two-time Kelsey, but I would never do that to you. At eighteen, I was a young, stupid, horny male who wanted to experience sex. A virgin who wanted to prove I was a man. I got drunk that night and later learned I screwed Rhonda. I don't even remember being with her. After seeing how much my indiscretion hurt Kelsey, I swore to never cheat on another woman. And I haven't."
"But you deceived me."
"I had no choice if I wanted to spend time with you. I don't regret this time together. I crave being with you, only you. No one else."
She turned her blue eyes on him. They were glistening with tears. "I was falling for you. I thought that whatever this thing is between us could grow into forever. How can I build trust with a man who lies? How can I ever be certain you're telling me the truth?"
He swallowed, his chest aching with the pain. How could he argue with her? She was right, but he hadn't duped her in a mean spirited way. His reasoning had been selfish. But his stupid high school drunken mistake was not something he told everyone.
Running his hand through his hair, he sighed. "I'm so damn honest, it hurts. But you're right. I mislead you about Kelsey because I wanted no one else but you."
A tear trickled down her cheek. "I think you should go. I need some time to think."
"Taylor," he said, fearing that if he left, she would never let him back in. "Everyone makes mistakes. I made a huge one when I stepped out on Kelsey. I was wrong and I'm sorry. When I deliberately deceived you, I did it because I wanted to be with you. There are no doubts in my mind. I still want to be with you."
She shook her head. "You've got to go."
He rose, feeling like a fifty pound weight sat on his chest. He loved her. He hadn't told her because he wanted the moment to be special and everlasting. And now it appeared that moment would never come.
"I'm leaving, Taylor, but I'm not giving up on us. I want to be with you," he said walking to the door.
She didn't say anything, but turned her back as he left her townhome.
* * *
For two days, Ryan couldn't sleep. He couldn’t eat and it was a good thing the Raffsberger's cat didn't come up missing or he might’ve jail that pussy. He worked, he moped and grew angrier.
An incident in his life at the age of eighteen still wreaked havoc on his life. He missed Taylor’s closeness, the smell of her, her smile, and the way she would take his hand in hers and squeeze their palms together.
She was his missing half and he wanted her back. For two days, he gave her space, knowing she needed time and distance to realize the worst crime he committed against her was wanting to be with her.
At night, he followed in the patrol car not far from her, watching her walk home, tormenting himself because he couldn't chase her down, pull her in his arms and kiss her senseless.
He loved her and needed her.
His mind searched frantically for some solution that would make her grasp his lie showed he cared. Tomorrow, she was going to the spa to be with her girlfriends. She'd be with Meghan and Kelsey.
Like a slap to the face, the solution hit him and he groaned. The idea was perfect, but gut wrenching. Grabbing his hat, he slipped on his coat and strolled out the door.
Five minutes later, he pulled up in front of the Kelsey's Boutique, where he hoped to find Kelsey inside.
Opening the door, he heard her working.
"Cody, is that you? I'm almost ready," she called.
"No, it's Ryan," he said, his strides taking him toward her voice.
She came around the corner and stared at him. "What are you doing here?"
He removed his hat and twirled it nervously in his hand. "I know you hate my guts and I can't blame you."
"I don't hate your guts," she said frowning.
"Well, let's just say I came here today to apologize. At the time, I was an eighteen-year-old horny boy who was disappointed when I couldn't get into your pants."
She laughed.
"At the graduation party, after several shots of tequila, the alcohol loosened me up and made me stupid. I started making out with Rhonda which led me to cheating on you." Hanging his head for a moment, he looked into her eyes. "I want to say how sorry I am. If I had remained sober, the teenage hormones would never have gotten loose."
He glanced into her eyes and noticed they sparkled with what appeared to be laughter. How she must enjoy hearing him grovel after all these years.
"That night taught me a very valuable lesson. Never drink until I lose control. Besides the tequila making me sick, I could have caught any number of diseases or created a baby with a woman I didn't even like. Young and stupid, I just wanted to experience sex for the first time. Cheating on you exposed the damage I could cause. I've never stepped out on another girl. Please forgive me."
Kelsey smiled. "We were childish and naive," she said. "I must thank you. Because of you, I got a tour of Europe that summer. Mom and Dad wanted to keep us apart so we took off traveling. It was the best trip of my life."
"I'm glad something good came out of it for you," he said. "Your brothers beat the crap out of me that day."
"Sorry. They've always been awfully
protective of me. Sometimes a little overly protective. What made you come over here today and tell me this? Is it because of my meeting with Taylor?"
He bit the inside of his mouth, scrunching his eyes shut and then opened them wide before he spoke. "We're taking some time. She's kept everyone in the dark about us seeing each other, but I really care about her, Kelsey. We have fun together. We fit each other, but more than anything, she makes me happy."
Nodding, Kelsey laughed. "What are you going to do?" she asked.
"I'm lost. I want her back in my life. Yes, I lied, but I did because I wanted to be with Taylor. Something drew me to her and I had to know if there was a possibility of this attraction growing. She would never have given us the chance. Now, I want to ask her to marry me, have children with her, grow old together," he said.
Kelsey frowned. "I can't believe I'm saying this." She shook her head and gave a little snort. "Give me some time. We'll all be together at the spa on Saturday. Let me see if I can somehow help her understand."
He wanted to grab and hug her, but refrained. That was not how you proved to your ex-girlfriend you were being loyal to your current girl.
"I would so appreciate any help you can give me. Thank you," he said, standing there awkwardly, he glanced around the store. "Your shop looks nice."
"Thanks. Now get out of here before my boyfriend arrives and finds us together. I don't want a repeat of our teenage years. What a crazy day."
"Your brothers let you have a boyfriend?" he asked his brows raising.
"Yes. My brothers don't know yet."
He shook his head. "I pity the poor man. Tell him that Jim has a mean right hook."
"I'll warn him," she said and walked him out the door.
"Thanks for coming by and apologizing. Let's put the past behind us and start fresh," she said.
So grateful, he gave her a polite, gentlemanly squeeze. "Agreed. Enjoy the spa."
"Oh, we will," she said smiling as she closed the door behind him.
Ryan had done everything he could to save his relationship. Soon it would be in Taylor's hands as to whether or not they stayed together.
* * *
Taylor glanced around at her friends as they sat in their bathrobes with their hair up in towels, drinking a glass of wine while they received a pedicure. They'd already gotten a massage and a facial. So far the day had been fun. Tonight, they had reservations at an expensive restaurant and were staying at an exclusive hotel in downtown Dallas.
Meghan laid back in the chair with her eyes closed. "This is the life. We should plan on doing this at least once a quarter."
"Maybe," Kelsey said watching the young man wrap her legs in a towel. "Depends on how the shop does."
"If I can find someone to cover the diner, I'm game," Taylor said.
Kelsey sighed. "I have a confession to make."
Taylor gazed at her friend an uneasy sense overcoming her. What would Kelsey share?
"Ryan came to see me yesterday. After almost seven years, we finally put to bed the past. He apologized about how he hurt me."
"What?" Meghan said. "I knew you guys broke up, but what did he do."
"He cheated," Taylor said. "An apology doesn't make it right."
"He had some excellent points. He admitted to being a young, horny boy who just wanted to get into any girl's pants. And when you add tequila and a willing teenage girl to a high school party, you get trouble."
"Still doesn't excuse what he did," Taylor said.
"Hmmm," Meghan replied. "Did you ever have too much to drink in college and do something stupid?"
Taylor frowned. But that didn't compare, did it? Looking back, her college days were filled with high jinks that left her less than perfect. In fact, she was lucky to live to tell about some of her escapades. Ryan pulled his stupid stunt in high school. She no longer did those wild and crazy stunts. What made him exempt from evolving into a better person?
"I certainly did. It was a wonder I graduated," Taylor said, not liking the direction of this conversation.
"I told you how I popped my cherry in college. No, I'm not proud. What makes me any different from Ryan?" Kelsey asked.
Sitting there, Taylor didn't say a word, but listened as the two girls talked. Meghan didn't know about her dating Ryan, and Kelsey wondered if she realized how serious Taylor and Ryan were before she discovered his deceit.
"Did he do this to convince you to talk me into going out with him again?"
Kelsey laughed. "No, we didn't discuss you much. Though for only being on one date, the man seemed pretty crazy about you. You kept us in the dark regarding you and Ryan."
She swallowed. Well, rats. He told Kelsey about the two of them being together.
Meghan sat up, her eyes widening with surprise. "You and Ryan? Seeing one another? Really?"
She started laughing and sunk back on the chair.
"Yes, me and Ryan," Taylor said, wishing she'd been honest with them. "But he lied to me."
"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.
<
br /> "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?
Cupid Stupid: Return to Cupid, Texas Page 11