Winter Cupid
Parts 1 & 2
Operation: Santa’s Elf
&
Operation: New Year’s Kiss
By Allyson Lindt
Copyright © 2015 by Allyson Lindt
All Rights Reserved
This book is a work of fiction.
While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Acelette Press
For my eternal dragon
Operation: Santa’s Elf
Winter Cupid Part 1
Chapter One
Ella’s footsteps echoed off concrete as she skipped down the stairs. Christmas. An entire week away from work. Away from phone calls, and stress, and deadlines. She pushed out of the stairwell and into the main floor of the office building she worked in.
It was true, she was spending the week alone. Her family lived out of state, and she was single—by choice, so it wasn’t like she was moping over some guy—but she was looking forward to all the alone time to catch up on her reading. Maybe do an extra deep clean around her apartment.
Normally the self-assurance sated any gnawing dissatisfaction inside. Today, the word alone echoed in time with the slap of her boots against tile, taunting her.
“Ella.” Ashton’s voice landed against her back.
She bit the inside of her cheek, as her stomach fluttered against her will, and she paused in the middle of the hallway. Ashton was so off limits it wasn’t funny. Even if she were looking for a relationship, and even though he was gorgeous with his square jaw and six-foot two inches of sculpted yumminess, he was a solid asshole when it came to relationships. In the two years they’d worked together, he’d flirted with her and every other woman in the office, and skipped from one girlfriend to the next without pausing.
And still, she couldn’t stop her body from reacting when he was around. Stupid physical attraction.
“Hey.” He draped an arm over her shoulders. “I’m so glad I caught up to you.”
Her skin tingled at the contact, and she brushed the desire aside. “What’s up?” At least that had come out naturally, instead of the swoony thing her head was doing.
“Got any plans over Christmas break?”
Was he asking because he wanted some of her time, or because he was being friendly? Fortunately, the answer was the same either way. “Nothing specific. Catching up on some reading, seeing what else comes along.”
He scooted closer, breath hot against her cheek. “Does that mean you could maybe make time for me?”
Once upon a time she’d interpreted this kind of behavior from him as meaning something. Thought he liked her. It hadn’t taken her long to figure out he was this forward with most women who didn’t slap him for it. That still didn’t stop her body from reacting to his touch, though. Bad idea. Stupid, bad idea. But her racing pulse knew what she wanted to say. Her, “Probably,” came out more breathlessly than she intended.
“Because Gordon’s got me on call for the next seven days. And I’m supposed to meet Stacey’s family, and I can’t be hauling my phone around.”
Ella swallowed a growl as her creeping excitement vanished. “Sonja.”
“What?”
“I thought your girlfriend’s name was Sonja.”
“Oh, yeah.” He laughed and stepped away. “Nah. We’re over. I met Stacey during one of the user meetings.”
“You’re dating a focus group participant?” So much for unbiased feedback. Ella’s irritation grew.
“Yeah, I guess. So can you cover for me, please? I’ll owe you forever.”
She swallowed her sigh. It wasn’t like she was doing anything else, and being on call didn’t necessarily mean working, just the possibility. “Sure.”
“You’re the best, Ella.” He kissed her on the cheek before almost sprinting toward a car waiting for him by the front entrance.
She watched in the fading light as he hopped into the waiting—was that a Mercedes?—by the front doors, and shared a longer, much less chaste kiss with the driver.
Ella shook her head and turned toward the back parking lot. She was such an idiot. But she would have told anyone yes, not just him. Her colleagues had people to spend their holiday with. It would be selfish of her to take that from them.
Her spirits lifted as she stepped into the cool evening. A bite in the air promised snow, and the crisp night filled her lungs with a wonderful scent when she breathed deep. Yeah, being on call wasn’t a big deal.
The parking lights dotted the asphalt as she made her way toward her car at the back of the lot, marking each row.
“Excuse me, miss?” For the second time in as many minutes, a male voice interrupted her thoughts. He wasn’t talking to her though—she didn’t know that voice. She kept walking.
Her short journey stopped when someone stepped in her path. Her breath caught in her throat as she found herself staring into the most gorgeous blue eyes she’d ever seen.
“I think you dropped a glove.” He held something out.
“I—what?” It took focus to draw her attention from his face. Ashton had a kind of bad-boy sexy going on, but this guy was just…wow. Short, dark hair, a build that she wanted to run her fingers over solely to see if he was as firm as he looked, and that smile. It made her insides melt.
He handed her the fingerless glove. “I think you dropped this.”
Right. She was probably staring. At least she wasn’t drooling. She forced herself to return his friendly expression, and shook her head. “Thanks, but it’s not mine.” She held up two gloved hands.
“Oh. I was sure…” His eyes never left her face. “Are you all right?”
The nature of the question caught her more off-guard than the sudden change in subject. “I think so.” What did she look like to make him asked that? And even if the loneliness pinging in her heart was more than a temporary longing, it wasn’t like she was going to unload on this stranger.
“If you’re sure.” He shoved the glove in his jacket pocket. Brown leather, and the way it hung off his shoulders taunted her. She wanted to step closer, and inhale the heady scent of leather and soap. “There’s something sad in your eyes.” He pulled his gaze away for the first time since he’d stopped her. “Don’t get me wrong. They’re beautiful, but it’s a shame to see someone as pretty as you looking down.”
Heat flooded her cheeks, despite the cold. A random stranger was complimenting her in the middle of an almost deserted parking lot. It was flattering, but a little creepy. Then why didn’t she feel more nervous? Her looming alone time must be screwing with her thoughts. “I’m fine. I hope you find the glove’s owner.”
“Of course.” He stepped aside immediately. Relief tinged with disappointment flooded her.
“Have a good night,” she said as she passed him. The bizarre conversation didn’t stop her from inhaling one last time as her shoulder brushed his.
“Wait.” His request halted her. “I know this is going to sound odd.”
Because the entire exchange up to this point had been normal? She turned her head and realized his face was closer than she’d expected. Her heart hammered in her chest. All he had to do was tilt in, and they’d be kissing. Or if she rose on her toes… What
was wrong with her? She waited for him to continue, not trusting herself to speak.
“There’s a little café across the street. They serve sandwiches and such for the next couple of hours.”
“I know the place.” She stopped there on the way home from work a lot when she didn’t feel like cooking for one.
“I’m heading over there for dinner. I know you said nothing’s wrong, but if you want to talk… I’ll have a table in the back and you’re welcome to join me.”
Her laugh came out more nervously than she intended. The whole setup should make her skin crawl. Strange man, deserted parking lot, extra friendly. Why was she hesitating to walk away? “Thanks for the offer, but I’m good.”
He shrugged. “Have a good night, then.”
By the time Ella sank into her car, he was gone. That was odd. She turned the engine and tossed the hatchback into gear. Why was she thinking about taking him up on his offer? No, bad idea. Ashton was proof that the hottest guys tended to know exactly how attractive they were. This stranger probably expected her to pick up the tab or something.
She navigated toward the exit, and turned her car in the opposite direction of the café.
Chapter Two
The restaurant was almost empty, giving Josh a clear view of the door from his seat near the back of the small dining area. Normally with an assignment, right about now he’d be counting seconds until she—or he—appeared in the entrance. Making a wager with himself. Seeing how long it took the person to change their mind and join him.
This woman—Ella, according to her docket—was different. It wasn’t just that her full lips made his skin tingle and his blood roar. There was something about the way she held herself that made her difficult to read. And that was as enticing as anything.
Not that he was there to be drawn into a relationship. He pushed the reminder to the forefront of his mind. As a cupid—someone who had died too young, been brought back, and given a second chance at life in exchange for helping people—his job was to cheer up his assignments. Show them the bright side of life, and make sure they left the meeting feeling better.
Except he wasn’t even sure this woman needed that. She radiated a confidence that hid most of the sadness in her face. Maybe hid any sorrow at all. Was he supposed to be waiting for someone else right now?
But no. They, the people who gave him his jobs, didn’t make mistakes like that.
The chime of the front door rolled through the room, and he pushed his attention back to the entrance. Ten minutes. She’d shown up after all. A grin threatened to split his face, and he reined the unexpected joy back in. Approaching strangers in parking lots was bad enough, he didn’t need to scare her off with a toothy smile.
The corner of her mouth twitched when she met his gaze across the room, and after exchanging a few words with the hostess, she made her way toward him.
The sway of her hips kicked his pulse up a notch, and the way her tongue trailed over her lips when she licked them nervously heated his blood. She wasn’t the first attractive assignment he’d had, but she was the first he couldn’t take his eyes off.
He was on his feet and pulling out a chair before she reached the table. “I’m glad you changed your mind.” The words were scripted, but a flicker of joy flared inside when he realized how much he meant them.
After a moment’s hesitation, she slid into the seat, as if she wasn’t sure what to do with a gesture like that. “Me too.” She shook her head, as if trying to scatter something loose inside. “I mean, I needed dinner anyway.”
Hesitation, uncertainty. He could handle that. Making her feel at ease was part of his training. He took his chair again, while he studied her. All the thoughts in his head vanished when she tucked a strand of blonde behind her ear, and looked up at him through her eyelashes. The flush of pink on her cheeks from the cold, the way her bottom lip caught between her teeth, it wreaked havoc on his thoughts.
He mentally grasped for reason. “Then lucky me that you chose my table. I’m Josh by the way.” He extended his hand.
“Ella.” She nestled her palm in his, and a new spark of want raced through him. The desire to pull her close, claim those full lips, taste her until neither she nor he could breathe. He tucked most of the reaction away, but his pulse still thrummed under her touch.
She pulled away far too soon for his liking, intertwined her fingers, and rested her hands on the edge of the table. “Don’t take this the wrong way, I’m sure you’re a really nice guy, but I’m not sure why I’m here. I don’t usually do things like this.”
He could do this. It was the kind of response he was prepared for. “Like have dinner?”
A tiny laugh floated past her list. Easy and casual, despite her stiff posture. “With strangers. When no one else is really around.”
He nodded at the hostess, and the waiter. “You know the place and the staff. Does that help?”
“Apparently. I’m here, right?” She fiddled with her fork, first turning it over, then nudging it closer to the knife, before finally returning it its original position. “What about you? Do you do this a lot?”
The honest answer would be yes, and for some reason, it took all of his willpower not to say exactly that. He knew better. It didn’t matter how much he hated deception, the smart response was never going to be, “Sure. I spend a large part of my life seeking out strangers who need a smile and doing what I can to help them. I love doing it, and it’s only fair I offer that in exchange for being brought back to life by some unknown force.” Yeah, that wasn’t such a great response.
Besides, he didn’t want her to think she fell into the same category as anyone else. The waiter interrupted before he had a chance to think of an honest answer that wouldn’t give too much away.
They placed their orders, and her eyes grew wide when he said he’d get the bill.
The moment the waiter was out of earshot, she leaned in, voice low. “I can’t let you do that. I appreciate the offer, but I can pay for my own meal.”
“I don’t question that. But…” How was he going to get her to open up? The answer flowed to his tongue before he could process the words. “When was the last time you let someone do something for you?”
Her lips drew into a thin line, and she sat up straighter. Wow, that was a bad way to phrase that. He hadn’t meant to be accusatory. When she spoke, sadness lined her voice. “It’s not something that comes up a lot. Or ever, really.”
With any new assignment, he was only given very basic information. If there were a tragedy in the person’s life for instance, or some other event that could trigger a negative response. But for the most part, knowing too much made the meeting less natural. There had been hardly anything about Ella, though. A few notes about being a top performer at work, that she was single, and living miles from her family.
“It should be.” He risked reaching across the table and lightly grasping her fingertips. The same shock as before raced through him, accompanied by an irrational glee when she didn’t pull away. “You deserve to be spoiled. Let me do that.”
“How do you know that?” she asked. “I might be a raging bitch.” She ducked her head. “Sorry.”
“I’m good at reading people.” He traced his thumb over the back of her knuckles.
This time bitterness slipped into her laugh. “Okay, sure. Then what do you read from me?”
“You’re kind, you’re generous, and people take advantage of you too often.” That hadn’t been in her docket. But none of that was hard to guess after talking to her even for the short amount of time she’d been there. “And something’s got you down tonight.”
She flipped her fork over a few more times, and a pause stretched between them. Finally she said, “Nothing I can’t handle.”
There was that sadness again. Heavier this time. More obvious. It dragged up an instinct to protect her and beat back anything that caused her that kind of melancholy. “I’m not saying you can’t. But sometimes it helps to talk.”
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“No, it really doesn’t. Especially not to someone I don’t know.”
“You’re not talking to the people you do know, right?” He prodded. “I promise I don’t make judgments. I’m offering a sympathetic ear, with no expectations.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, gaze finally meeting his. The longing in her eyes stole his breath, and made his chest ache. When she spoke, her voice was low and raw. “It’s nothing big, really. I just get a little lonely this time of year. It’s not that I need someone to complete me, or anything like that. But sometimes going home to an empty apartment gets to be too much. Even my friends are telling me I need to get la—”
Pink flooded her cheeks and she ducked her head. “Telling me I need to get out more. You know, do… stuff.”
His brain latched onto the slip, and taunted him with it. The almost-confession triggered an avalanche of ideas in Josh’s head. Images of scooting her back on the hood of his car. Pushing between her legs. Tangling his fingers in that long hair and tugging hard.
It took all of his restraint to keep his voice steady, despite the nagging ache growing below his waist. “I was serious when I said no judgments. I’m here to listen.” And volunteer to help you out if you’re interested. Wrong direction to let his thoughts wander.
First of all, he’d never see her again after tonight. Cupids weren’t new best friends, or dates, their job was to help cheer an assignment up. Second, it was one of the very basic rules. This kind of companionship sometimes led to a connection, which was why the cupid guidelines stated very clearly that sleeping with an assignment could cost a person their second chance.
She peeked up at him again. “Why?”
He backpedaled through the mire of lust, searching for root for her question. “Why would I listen?”
She nodded.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Chapter Three
Operation: Winter Cupid Page 1