"He wouldn't give you the time of day before. Now he will, since you joined the pretty ones."
The comment caused her to snap her attention back to Dora. “I'm not pretty Dora, it's only clothes and a haircut. Beauty is on the inside.” She cast a smile and turned to the escalator.
* * * *
Zane had stopped in his tracks when he saw Eric hug Charity. He hadn't liked it. Then again she didn't blush or look nervous around the blond. She actually looked like she enjoyed talking to Dora more. Zane shouldn't have eavesdropped, but he was curious about what the ladies had been talking about. Now he was glad he had listened. He didn't want to set Eric up with Charity and after overhearing the conversation he really didn't want to. His eyes followed Charity as she took the escalator up. He had to find her love, not that she was bound to find it with the Casanova menswear manager.
He didn't have to glance at his watch to know she was early. What was she doing here? He started to move towards the escalator when Eric approached him. “Just the man I'm looking for."
"Oh?” Zane glanced to see Charity slip out of sight on the escalator. He looked back to Eric and shoved his hands in his suit pant pockets. “What can I do for you?"
"I noticed you were with Charity the other day, and then when we were talking yesterday, I got the impression that you knew her a bit."
"I own the store; I try to know all the people that work here.” Don't ask me about her, you're a jerk.
Shrugging the man smiled. “I was wondering what you could tell me about her. I was thinking that she is looking really good, and I would like to ask her out."
A groan came from the perfume counter and Zane stifled his smile. He looked to the woman that had talked to Charity and waved. “Hi Dora, did you have a good day?"
She beamed. “I did, thank you, Mr. Cupid.” She cast a sour glance to Eric and lifted her brows back in disgust at Zane.
He turned back to Eric. “I really don't know that much about her."
"Oh, well if you find anything out, maybe you can let me know?"
No chance in hell. “Sure, you have a good night.” He pulled a hand from his pocket and patted the guys arm. He wanted to slug him for the way he used women but thought better of it.
He walked to the escalator and moved up to the floor where his office was. He should try and track Charity down and talk to her. His dad said he had to find her love. Not love with Eric. He thought a moment and wondered what kind of guy Charity would be suited for. He knew she did okay for money, that she liked to help people and—
His thoughts ended when his body collided with a soft curvy one. He hadn't been watching where he was going. By the soft curves that brushed against him he knew he had run into a woman and steadied her. He placed his hands on her upper arms and looked into warm brown eyes. His lips curved into a smile, and he recognized the perfume at the same second his brain registered who he was staring at.
"Zane, I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention where I was going.” Charity blinked her long lashes at him. Her cheeks tinted slightly with color but not as much as usual.
"I was just thinking about you,” he whispered as his eyes scanned her pretty features.
Her full lips turned into a smile. “Really? That's weird. I was hoping that you would be here."
He glanced around and then locked her gaze with his. “Is everything okay?"
Sighing, she took a half step closer to him. “What if I told you it wasn't?"
Her breasts were inches away from his chest. He wanted to pull her hard against him. However, the middle of the fourth floor by the escalators wasn't the place to do it. “Should we go to my office and talk?” He released his hold on her.
Her slender throat moved as she swallowed, and she caught her full lower lip between her teeth. Releasing her lip she pursed her lips together. The urge to taste her again sparked heat through his body.
She glanced around nervously and locked her fingers together in front of her. “What if I told you I wanted to do more than talk?"
Zane's cock stiffened at the images those words brought to his mind. “I would say maybe we should have this conversation in my office."
Chapter Six
"I think that would be as good a place as any.” Charity told him and pivoted on her heel. “I do have some things I need to talk to you about, as well.” She explained and glanced to the floor. A white, soft object caught her eye where it rested against the floor. She bent down and picked it up. It was identical to the feather at home on her coffee table. Zane moved to her side as she glanced around then brought her eyes to Zane's sexy face. “I didn't mean to bump into you, but I was nudged, and I maybe wouldn't have tripped into your arms yet again, but—"
"No, that's fine.” He told her and reached a hand out. He took the feather from her hand. A slow smile played across his lips as he stared at the feather. A strange look accompanied the grin. His eyes met hers. “You said you were nudged in my direction?"
"I think that's what I just said.” Why wasn't she nervous and flustered?
He continued to stare at the feather. He looked around. “Let's go to my office.” He shoved the feather into his suit coat pocket, then placed his hand at the small of her back as they walked like he had last night. The simplest touch heated her skin. Not as much as his kiss had. Kissing him again was what she wanted to do other than talk. First, she had to talk to him about this crazy plan of his to set her up with Eric.
Zane only removed his hand from her when they reached the office door and unlocked it. He pushed open the door and had her enter. He flipped on the light and shut the door.
She looked at him leaning against the door. There was so much she wanted to say, and even more she wanted to ask him, but most of all she wanted to kiss him. His eyes were taking in her body similar to the way Eric's had; only when his eyes met hers she saw heat in them. She had never been forward with men, but it wasn't like she was a virgin either. She had experienced sex three or four times before, but who was counting?
Just go over to him and kiss him. She nibbled on her lip. Neither of them said anything, they just looked at each other. She was afraid if she kissed him he would push her away. More than the fear of rejection, she needed to know if she had imagined the heat and desire that had burned through her body last night when he kissed her. Had he kissed her, or had she initiated the kiss then, too?
"What are you thinking?” He stepped closer to her.
Just do it and get it over with. “I just was trying to think if I did something, or just imagined I did it but didn't really.” Why does my voice sound so funny? Right, because he is stealing my breath.
He nodded his head once and she closed the distance between them. He looked at her through his long lashes and her heart started to race. His gaze fell to her lips. “Charity—"
"I just need to know if I did something wrong,” she whispered and stretched up slightly. Her lashes closed and her lips touched his. She feared him moving away. Instead, his arms circled her waist and his lips met hers with hunger. His tongue slid across her tongue and her lips parted. He worked his tongue inside her mouth and brought her body closer to his. She pressed her breasts against his solid chest and circled her arms around his neck. His hands slid from her waist and caressed the denim over her ass. He pulled her closer to him and she felt the solid thickness of his desire in his pants press against her belly.
Groaning, he cupped the flesh beneath his hands and deepened the kiss. She moaned against his tongue as her thong dampened between her legs. She wanted him, but she had wanted him last night and he had run off. She lifted her lips from his and opened her eyes. His lashes fluttered open but his hold stayed around her. “Why did you run away after you kissed me last night?"
His features fell and he released her. He brought his hands up and gently wrapped them around her arms. He lowered them from around his neck and let go of his hold on her. He stepped back and looked completely torn. “I didn't think I should have kissed you, sinc
e I planned on setting you up with Eric."
"What is this big fascination with setting me up with Eric?” She turned and started to pace. She ran a hand through her hair and looked back at him. “More so, why did you kiss me just now?"
"I wanted to kiss you. Hell! I lay in bed last night thinking of nothing but the kiss we shared last night.” He shoved both hands through his hair and walked over to his desk chair. “I can't be doing this, as much as I want to. And yet it doesn't feel wrong, and that makes it wrong and I feel guilty.” He threw his tall, strong and very built body into the chair.
Shaking her head, Charity tried to make sense of what he just said. “That made zero sense. Try again Zane."
He sighed. “Can I be honest?"
"I would expect nothing different."
"My father and my mother thought I was a selfish person. I pay a lot of attention to the department store, which is my mom's family business, but not to my dad's."
She folded her arms across her chest and waited. Finally she waved a hand and motioned him to continue. “Go on."
He pursed his lips and blew out a long breath. Then pulled on his tie and loosened it slightly. “Anyway, my parents threatened to take away my trust fund if I didn't do a good deed."
"You took breakfast and visited with my elderly neighbor. That was sweet. Your mom was a witness. What's the problem?"
"The good deed I had to do was find you love, and since I noticed you talking to Eric the other day, I thought—"
"Wait!” Charity was sure she had misheard the hunky store owner. “You had to find me love?"
"Yeah, when your father finds people love for a living and you don't show any interest—He wanted me to show him I could be a cupid, too."
Rubbing her temples, she was getting a headache. She almost rubbed her eyes but remembered she was wearing eye make-up. She focused on Zane. “Your father has a dating service?"
"Not exactly.” He grabbed a pen and started to tap it against the large calendar that covered a good portion of the heavy oak desk.
"He's from an old country and is a matchmaker?"
Zane tossed the pen, causing it to roll and skid across the desk. “Closer, but actually, he's Cupid."
"I know that, thus the reason you're a Cupid."
"Right.” He shook his head. “No!” he stood and stepped towards her. “No. I mean my dad is actually Cupid. You know arrows of love, Valentine's Day, sweet, romantic bliss and all that other jazz."
Hot as hell, a body that deserves to be naked in a bed and all of it destroyed by mental illness. “Right, let me guess he knows Santa and the Tooth Fairy too?"
He placed his hands on his hips. “There is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy."
Okay good, maybe I misunderstood him.
"But actually, Nick Clause is not a bad guy."
Oh hell! He is a lunatic. She covered her face with her hands. “I'm not hearing this."
"My father is really Cupid and if I didn't find you love, I risked losing my trust fund."
Snapping her head up, she looked at him. “I should have known.” Why was I so stupid?
He winced and shook his head then looked at her. He tilted his head to the side. “You should've known what?"
He was obviously unhappy, but she didn't care. She was far from a good mood herself. “I should have known there was a reason you were suddenly noticing me."
He straightened his head and withdrew his hands from his pockets. “Charity—"
"Save it, Zane! I don't want to hear it.” She stepped back out of his reach. “You know what, I should go. I have to get to work. I now have two windows to do since the lingerie one has been destroyed."
"Charity, I don't think you understand.” He took another step closer.
"I do, and I was going to tell you that I wasn't interested in Eric. Only right about now, he looks appealing.” She turned on her heel and hurried out the door before he could comment.
She closed the door and paused. The last thing she wanted to do was cry. Then again, she didn't always get what she wanted. Zane was proof of that.
* * * *
"I'm an idiot!” Zane groaned and slapped his palm to his forehead. He didn't even get a chance to tell her he was crazy about her. That she heated his body with a look. Her kisses enflamed him and her sweetness to others ... “I just blew it.” He shrugged off his suit coat and tossed it on the leather sofa against one wall. He threw himself into his chair and unbuttoned the cuffs of his dress shirt. He then started to roll up his sleeves.
He looked to the leather sofa and to his coat that had the white feather sticking up from inside his pocket. Undoubtedly, it was one of his father's. He sighed. Why would his father interfere with Charity? It didn't matter now. He wasn't going to be able to keep his trust fund, and he certainly wasn't going to get the girl. He unfolded himself from the chair and walked over to the feather. He lifted it out of his pocket and ran his fingers over the silky texture.
His father had said he had to find her love. Would it have been wrong to find her love with him? Last night, a white feather had fallen before he kissed her, now she had fallen into him and again a white feather was there. Why would his parents insist on him setting her up if they were nudging her in his direction? Did they want him to match make, or were they setting him up for heartache?
Sure, he had dated beautiful women. His father was right though, they had all been pretty shallow and consumed with money. Charity was different. He knew it to his soul. He liked the way he felt when he was around her. He had enjoyed taking breakfast to her neighbor and having the visit. It had meant a lot to Mr. Samson and the feel-good feeling had stayed with Zane all day. He furrowed his brows. Charity got to experience that every day. Maybe his parents had been right. Maybe he was selfish. Twirling the stem of the feather in his fingers, he turned toward his desk and thought of her kisses; of everything he knew about her and set the feather on his desk top. He should go home and sleep but knew it would be pointless. He could always try and track down Charity, but what would he say to her? Hell, what was he going to tell his father?
Maybe he should tell his father the truth. That he had started to fall in love with her. She wouldn't talk to him in the mood she was in, and the sadness on her face when she had walked out of his office looked like a prelude to tears. He was miserable and knew the only thing that would distract him was a trip to the toy department. Walking out of his office, it was like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
He made his way to toys and looked at the rocket display. It did nothing to soothe him. It just made him wonder what she would think if it. He bypassed them despite the urge to take one out of its box and headed to the remote control monster trucks. He thought about his situation and how he hated the fact Charity was mad at him. She had been right. He wouldn't have noticed her if he hadn't been assigned to find her love. Now that he had experienced her in his life and had lost her, how was he ever going to get her back?
His heart tightened. He wasn't going to be able to. If he thought Eric didn't deserve her, Zane knew he deserved her even less.
* * * *
"It's been three days, Lovell!” Lusty barked at him and threw her round bottom down on the edge of the bed. She folded her arms across her chest. The motion pushed her breasts up to reveal more milky cleavage over the dip in her cream colored chemise. “They still aren't speaking to each other, and Charity avoids him at all costs.” She pouted her full lips. “Our son is miserable."
Lovell was all too aware that it had been three days since his son had talked to Charity. Now it was almost midnight of the third day and he knew Zane still wasn't home. He was probably in the toy department playing. He was still a kid in so many ways. “What do you want me to do?” he finally asked his wife.
Unfolding her arms and placing her hands in her lap, she glanced down at them and looked up at him. “Can you try talking to them?"
"I could.” Lovell stepped closer to his wife and smiled weakly. He
clasped his hands behind his back. “Why don't I start by talking to Charity, since she seems to have reservations about our son's mental health?"
Lusty rose from the bed and closed the distance between them. “She doesn't believe in Santa, or you, at this point, love.” She placed her hands on his chest. Even through his white silk pajamas, her heat warmed him. “She's at the store.” She kissed his lips briefly. “I'll be in bed reading and waiting for you to return."
His wife turned on her heel and walked over to the bed. She had just made up his mind for him. He could talk to Charity, but the question was, would she listen? With Valentine's Day only days away, he could only hope.
Chapter Seven
Charity had not only sulked, she had avoided everyone except Mr. Samson and Dora. She went to work, did her job, and purposely kept away from Zane whenever she saw him coming. She had nothing to say to him. She had been foolish and stupid. She only had a chance with him because he was insane. On stupid thoughts, she had been intercepted by Eric twice, who had hugged her and raved about her many talents with the windows. However, Eric didn't seem as hunky or as sexy as he did before. Maybe he would if she didn't know what she did about him or compared him to Zane.
True, the windows were drumming up more business than last year and stock was hard to keep in. Her sudden brilliance on the windows was good for the store, but creating more work in the process. She sighed and glanced around the stock room. She was out of ideas, out of energy, and out of her mind with thoughts of Zane. Maybe she should try talking to him. She was still as miserable as she had been since she walked out of his office the other day.
Groaning, she rolled her eyes and decided what she really needed was a coffee and another look at the toy window to see what she could come up with. She took the elevator up and walked past the large stuffed bear pyramid at the bottom of the escalators. They were big, white and fluffy, and they were holding hearts, perfectly cute and lovable. They would be ideal for the toy window. She made a note to keep them in mind and went past menswear towards the toy department window. All the display windows were on the ground floor, but she would still have to go upstairs and scope out the toy department for something brilliant.
Cupid's Target Page 5