Amanda M Lee [Lee - Cupid in Crisis

One

I t was hot.

Of course, on Moonstone Bay its always hot. Thats what you accept as a default when you decide to make a tropical island your home. Still, it was hot even by Moonstone Bays standards, which was saying something.

I used the back of my arm to brush sweat off my forehead as I gripped a paintbrush and focused on the task at hand. I was supposed to be painting the fence surrounding the Moonstone Bay Cabana Clutch Hotel. No, Ive never understood the name. To me, a clutch is a purse, and the hotel looks nothing like a purse. I suppose thats why I wasnt in charge of naming things. Apparently I lack vision.

Booker, I brought you a fresh pitcher of iced tea, a voice called out.

I looked to the east and fixed the woman walking onto the back patio with a surprised look. June Seaver, the owner of the hotel, is a nice woman Ive known my entire life. She could never be considered stealthy. I pride myself on being aware of my surroundings, so I really must have been lost in thought for her to be able to sneak up on me.

I mean Im not a super spy or anything. I have only one word for a name Booker so I could be a spy if I wanted to. No, seriously. Booker would make a great spy name. Ive often thought that. The only thing I dont like about the idea of being a spy is all the espionage stuff like jumping from planes and risking my life. I would like to be a spy who paints fences. What? Painting calms me.

Thank you, Mrs. Seaver, I sang out in the way I knew she would enjoy. Shes eighty and still feisty, and a big fan of sarcasm. She told me that when I was a kid and she separated me and another boy because wed been fighting. She used our ears to do it, and I remember it hurt, but not enough that I didnt give her a little lip. The kid I was fighting, Galen Blackwood, did the same. She was having none of it, though, and put us both in our places.

Its no wonder we are still loyal to her twenty years later, which is exactly why Im painting a fence in heat and humidity strong enough to choke the life out of a tropical forest.

I cut up lemons and everything, she supplied as she rested the pitcher on a wrought-iron table in the shade. I know how you like things that are sour, which explains your disposition.

Despite myself and the discomfort rolling through me thanks to the oppressive heat, I chuckled. I do like sour things.

Uh-huh. I knew that. She bobbed her head and grabbed two plastic cups from the edge of the table. You want some, dont you?

Actually, that sounds great. I dropped the paintbrush into the tray and trudged over to her. Its even hotter than usual today. I guess I know what its like to live inside a furnace now.

Oh, its not so bad, she chided, handing me a glass of iced tea, which I greedily downed without taking a breath. She arched an eyebrow and waited for me to finish, making a tsking sound when I wiped my mouth with my arm. Give me that, she commanded, and then refilled my glass. That right there is the reason you cant keep a woman.

I scowled as she shot me a knowing look. She was practically daring me to argue with her. On a normal day, I wouldnt have bothered. Given how I felt today the heat and humidity were tag teaming to give me one heckuva migraine I considered taking her on. That would be a mistake, but apparently I couldnt stop myself. Ill have you know that women everywhere throw themselves at me. They cant get enough of me.

Mrs. Seaver didnt look impressed with the pronouncement. Yes, you certainly do attract them, she volunteered after a beat. But you cant keep them. Theres the difference.

What makes you think I want to keep them? I threw myself in one of the chairs and sighed when the air conditioning from the nearby open door blasted me full-on. Now thats what Im talking about.

She chuckled as she poured her own glass of iced tea. Shes slight in stature, but has a voice that can carry over three beaches and shes never shy about making her opinion known. Thats only one of the reasons I adore her. Shes like the grandmother I never had.

Oh, dont get me wrong. I have grandmothers. Two of them. Theyre both still alive. Theyre cranky old birds, and they both hold high stations in the cupid hierarchy. Thats right, Im a cupid. Go ahead and laugh. You wont be the first to find my genetics entertaining. If I didnt hate being a cupid so much, I would join you.

As for my grandmothers, they believe theyre above everyone else. They never once pulled my ear when I was a kid out of fear of touching wax or sweat. In fact, if they had witnessed me fighting with Galen they wouldve encouraged me to kill him. Did I mention theyre lovely women?

Do you think I dont keep track of you even when youre too busy to stop by for a visit? Mrs. Seaver challenged pointedly. Just because you dont have time for me doesnt mean I dont have time for you. I happen to know that youre not dating anyone seriously, because the whole town would be talking if you had finally settled down.

I narrowed my eyes. Youre still aces when it comes to guilt trips, Mrs. Seaver.

I do have a gift, she agreed, grinning. That still doesnt explain why youre not settling down with a nice woman and preparing to raise a family. Youre getting to about that age.

I involuntarily shuddered at the image. I dont think Im geared for domestic life, I offered after a moments contemplation. Im like a tumbleweed. I blow wherever the wind takes me.

Mrs. Seaver rolled her eyes. Youre like a fertilizer plant.

Full of crap?

She grinned and pointed. Youre smarter than you look. You still need a good woman to settle down with. Youll miss out on the best things in life if you dont get yourself together.

Apparently we didnt agree on what constitutes the best things in life. I dont think thats in my future. I chose my words carefully. Some men arent meant to settle down, have kids, and spend most of their lives with one woman. Some men and Im not saying Im definitely one of them, but its starting to look that way like to spread the wealth.

June didnt look impressed with my philosophy. Oh, youre so full of it. She wrinkled her forehead. You want children. I know you do. Ive seen you with the kids at the park. You play soccer with them and even baseball sometimes. You like kids.

I can still like kids without having any.

Its not the same thing. Mrs. Seaver said firmly. If you dont have kids of your own youll regret it.

You sound awfully sure of yourself.

Who knows you best?

That was an interesting question. I didnt have an answer, so I decided to change the subject. I have to find a woman who doesnt annoy me after three hours. That miraculous feat has yet to happen.

What about the Potter girl?

It took me a moment to realize who she was referring to. Hadley? I almost choked at the notion. I would have to deafen myself with Q-tips if I tried to date her. Her last name is Hunter, by the way.