Claud wrapped both hands around the warm mug and sighed with pleasure. Betsy always knew what to do to make him feel better. "How did you know I needed this?"

Betsy smiled as she sat across from him at her small kitchen table. "I've known you for centuries, Claud. As soon as the temperature drops below fifty, you want hot cinnamon tea."

"I don't like cold weather. Unfortunately, February is my busiest month of the year."

"You could move to the Southern Hemisphere. It's warm there in February."

"I've thought about it, believe me." He sipped his tea, enjoying its warmth and spicy flavor as it flowed down his throat. "And I do spend a lot of time in the southern part of the world. But it seems like North Americans need my help more than any other people." Gripping the mug, Claud stared into the dark liquid. "I work so hard to get people together and they don't appreciate each other. So many divorces."

"All you can do is get them together, Claud. It's up to them to stay together."

"I feel like I'm failing, Betsy. You don't have that worry. People are always happy when the Tooth Fairy shows up."

She reached across the table and touched his hand. "What about that couple at the newspaper, the one you got together four months ago? What are their names?"

"You mean Michaela and Jaxon?"

"Yes, that's them. They're still together, aren't they?"

Claud nodded. "They are very much in love."

"There, see? One of your successes."

"Their relationship is young. Right now they're ruled by hormones as well as the heart." He took another sip of his tea. "One of my failures is also there. Bain Duncan. He started at the paper on February first. I helped him and his wife get together six years ago when he first moved to Florida. They've been divorced for three months. Now he is angry and bitter toward women. I don't think I can help him."

"Claudius Derryberry, I do not want to hear that negative attitude from you. You're Cupid. You help people fall in love, especially on Valentine's Day. You do realize that's only five days away."

"Of course I realize it. That day is crazy for me. I pop from one place to the next, from one country to the next, convincing people they're right for each other."

"So you help Bain Duncan find someone new, someone who will love and appreciate him, help him heal from his divorce."

Claud rubbed his chin. He knew Betsy was right, that finding someone for Bain to love would be the right thing to do. And fun. Claud always enjoyed helping someone find love. "Actually, there is a woman at the paper who seems to be interested in him. She works in accounting. She's a lovely young woman."

"There, see? I knew you would figure out what to do."

The more Claud thought about Allyson Briscoe and Bain Duncan together, the more he liked the idea. Yes, he could definitely see the two of them together. They could be as happy as Michaela and Jaxon.

He needed to start working with them right now.

Claud pushed back his chair and stood. "I have to go, Betsy. Thanks for the tea."

"But you haven't finished it. I have Snickerdoodles too."

"No time. I have to get back to the paper. A cupid's work is never done."

* * * * *

Ally leaned on the bookcase and watched Bain walk down the hall. He had the nicest ass she had ever seen. Most men at the paper wore jeans. Not Bain. He wore wool pants that cupped that amazing butt and made her legs weak.

What an incredible male animal. She had no doubt he would be an animal where it counted most...in bed.

She'd give up three months' clothing allowance to find out.

"You're drooling," a feminine voice said behind her.

Ally turned her head to see her friend and co-worker, Michaela Ware. "Hey, Mike."

"I see you're admiring the newest employee again."

"What's not to admire? Intense blue eyes, a body like a Greek god. And that hair! A thick black mane that I would love to bury my fingers in. Isn't he the most gorgeous man you've ever seen?"

"Actually, no. I have Jax, remember?"

Everyone at the paper knew Mike and Jax were a couple and loved each other deeply. Ally was happy for her friend, but also jealous that she didn't have someone who loved her that deeply. She sighed. "That's right, Mike, rub it in. I don't have a hunk to go home to at night. I'm completely alone."

"You could get a cat."

"It's not the same."

Mike giggled and Ally joined her. She had always liked Mike, but their friendship had blossomed after Mike became involved with Jax. Love had definitely made the once shy redhead come out of her shell. Mike was more outgoing now and dressed differently. Her clothes no longer hid her voluptuous figure, but enhanced it.

"Do you want some advice?" Mike asked.

Ally straightened and faced her friend. "Sure."

"Don't give up. If you truly care about him, do not give up."

Easier said than done when Bain barely looked at her, much less spoke to her. He'd been here eight days. Ally would bet he hadn't said more than eight words to her. A word a day didn't lead up to a relationship. "Sometimes a gal has to realize there is no chance of getting what she wants."

Mike cocked her head and made a tsking sound. "I never thought of you as a quitter, Ally."

She couldn't believe Mike would say something like that. "I am not a quitter."

"Then why are you giving up on Bain? Go after him. Make him notice you."

"What am I supposed to do...stick my boobs in his face? What little bit of boobs I have, anyway. You could stick your boobs in his face and he would notice. I wasn't blessed with your...endowment."

"You're a resourceful woman. You'll think of something to get his attention." Mike glanced at her watch. "I gotta go. Jax is taking me to a movie tonight."

"What's playing?"

"It's his turn to pick, so I don't know. He likes to surprise me."

"Have fun."

Jealousy turned into a lump in her throat as she watched her friend walk away. To have that kind of relationship, that kind of love...it was every woman's dream. Ally had never had the loving, caring relationship Mike had with Jax. She'd come close. She had dated Joel for almost a year. When he'd told her over the phone that he had something serious to talk about, she was sure his talk would include a marriage proposal. At twenty-nine, she was ready to settle down with one man and raise a family. Instead, he'd told her he had found someone else... someone he worked with.

Ally couldn't say she'd been crushed. Surprised, yes, but not crushed. Her reaction to Joel's announcement proved she didn't love him as much as she thought she had. If she had truly loved him, she would have cried and screamed and called him every dirty name in the book. Instead, she'd walked him to her front door and wished him a happy life.

Some great love.

She wanted to care enough about a man to cry and scream and call him names. All that emotion had to mean love...the strong, last-forever kind of love she desired. She would celebrate her thirtieth birthday in only four days and she was still waiting for that special man who would steal her heart.

With a sigh, Ally returned to her office. She sat at her desk, idly thumbing the large pile of papers that had to be filed. She hated filing, so always put it off as long as possible. Bain's W-4 caught her eye. Pulling it from the stack, she stared at his bold handwriting. He'd filled out all his paperwork the first day he started. She had made up his employee folder, entered him in the system so a payroll check could be generated, but hadn't filed this form in his folder.

She could accidentally misplace the form so she would have to take him a new one to complete.

Smiling at her brilliance, Ally folded the form and stuffed it in the top drawer of her desk. She pulled a new one from her files and headed for Bain's office.

* * * * *

Bain swiveled his chair so he could look out the window. He saw nothing but the parking lot, but at least he had a window and natural light. His last job in Tampa had included an office about the size of the closet in his apartment.

Living in Texas had never been on his list of things to do. After Lena dropped her little "I want a divorce" bombshell on top of his head, he couldn't get out of town fast enough. He didn't need to hang around and possibly run into her and her new guy...her filthy rich, younger guy who played for the Buccaneers.

He'd never cheer for that football team again.

Bain tapped his pencil on the desktop. He'd had no idea where to go and didn't care as long as he didn't have to see Lena again. A phone call from his cousin in Dallas started Bain thinking about moving to Texas. At least he would have family close by, so he wouldn't be totally alone. On his cousin's recommendation, he had packed up the few belongings he wanted to keep and headed west.

The move before he had an actual job wasn't the smartest thing Bain had ever done, yet it turned out to be for the best. He had found the ad in the Lanville Journal for a reporter. A small newspaper that published once a week meant he would probably never win a Pulitzer prize, but it also meant he could still work at a job he loved. Even if they gave him nothing but dog stories at first, he'd give it his all and do the best job he could.

A soft knock on his door drew his attention away from the window. He turned his chair to see Allyson Briscoe enter his office.

His cock immediately came to attention.

Mentally ordering his randy hormones to behave, he summoned a smile for the beautiful blonde. "Hey, Ally."

"Hi." She came closer and stood less than a foot from his chair. Bain had to look up to see her face. His eyes tried to stop at her breasts, but he ordered them to behave too. "I need you to fill out a W-4 for me please."

She laid the form on his desk. Now no more than six inches from her, he detected the light floral scent of her cologne. Or maybe the scent came from her hair. The blonde mane of curls fell over her shoulders and halfway down her back. He'd love to bunch his hands in it while he kissed her.

Clearing his throat, Bain rolled his chair a few inches away from her. "I've already filled out one."

"I know, but I can't find it. I put off filing as long as possible and it was in a stack on my desk. I also pulled some old papers to shred. I guess I put your form in the shred pile instead of the filing pile."

An honest mistake, one anyone could have made. "No problem. I'll take care of it and drop it by your office."

"I don't mind waiting." She turned and leaned against the desk, her palms resting on the surface behind her. The new position emphasized her breasts in the gray sweater she wore. The size of apples, they would fill his hands perfectly.

It had been seven months since he'd had sex. Before Lena found her boy toy, sex had been often and lusty. Bain missed feeling a woman next to him during the night, reaching out and touching her skin. He'd had his single days. A taste of marriage, being one with a woman, let him know that's what he wanted. He wanted to share his life with someone.

Someday.

Feeling attraction for a lovely woman was normal, but attraction could lead to something stronger. Bain wasn't ready for that. His heart hadn't completely healed from the trampling it took from Lena. Getting involved with a woman was at the bottom of his priorities.

His cock didn't like his decision at all.

Bain scrawled his signature and handed the form to Ally. "There you go."

She smiled. "Thanks. Sorry I made you fill it out twice."

"No problem." Go! Get out of here before I touch that gorgeous hair.

Her gaze moved over his face, his shoulders, his chest. It dipped briefly to his lap before she looked into his eyes. "There's a place close by--O'Sullivan's. It's small and quaint and looks like an English pub. The drinks are wonderful and the fish and chips are to die for. Will you go with me?"

Yes, yes! his hormones shouted.

Bain had stopped listening to his hormones a long time ago. He had no doubt an evening with Ally would be wonderful. She was intelligent and attractive. A mean of fish and chips didn't mean an instant relationship. Still, he couldn't take the chance of falling for her.

"I...have other plans for tonight." The lie stuck on his tongue and made his mouth taste horrible. He hated lying, especially when Ally didn't deserve it.

Disappointment filled her eyes. "Oh. Of course. I know this is short notice. Maybe another time?"

"Yeah, sure."

She stared into his eyes for another moment, almost as if she were trying to read his mind. That could be embarrassing since he was imagining her naked on his desk while he feasted on her pussy. It had been much too long since he'd run his tongue over a woman's slick flesh.

"Well, I guess I'll see you Monday," Ally said, dragging him back to reality. "Have a nice weekend."

"You too."

Bain watched her leave his office, admiring the gentle sway of her hips in her black slacks. She had a great ass--full and round so a man could grip it while he pounded into her pussy.

You had your chance and blew it, his hormones reminded him.

True, but for now he'd have to make do with fantasies and his own hand. A heart had to heal before it could be given to someone else. Bain's heart had a long way to go before it was fully recovered.

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