Cupid's Mistake Read Online Free PDF Page B

grab it with both hands. If a
dating service with a ridiculous name like Cupid's Cavalry could help him along
that road—as Sally insisted it would—he'd give it a shot.
    Cupid's Cavalry to the rescue. Maybe.
    Taking a sip of iced tea, Ben scanned the busy bistro.
Despite the white-linen tablecloths and cut-crystal candle holders, the place
had a relaxed feel. Nice, but not too elegant, a good vibe for a first date. If
only restaurants in general would learn to accommodate men of his size better,
he thought, shifting on the tiny seat again. He felt like a character out of
the fairytales he used to read to Sally's kids when they were babies—Papa
Bear trying to fit into Baby Bear's chair.
    Since he didn't know what his 'Cupid's Connection' looked
like, he'd left his name at the front. She was late, but he didn't mind being
there first. It gave him time to settle in, get his thoughts in line, get
comfortable. He used to be good at small talk. Dating couldn't have changed
that much since the last time he'd tried it, and it was only lunch. An hour at
the most, then he'd be free.
    If Sally was home when he got back, maybe they'd start
house-hunting this afternoon.
    Musing, Ben rubbed his hand over his naked face again. His
computer skills were rusty, having mostly involved the random email to let
Sally know he was still alive while on his journey, sent whenever he'd traveled
through a town big enough to have an internet café. But he was eager for his
own space, so he'd spent a little time Googling real-estate listings over the
past few days. Nothing had jumped out at him yet, but. . .
    The woman came in like a whirlwind, rustling the thick green
leaves of multiple potted and hanging plants near the front door of the restaurant.
Chattering to the maître d' and
unwinding a long, bright scarf from around her neck with one hand, she texted
speedily with the other, hardly looking at the screen.
    That hair. Wild copper curls cascaded almost to her waist,
shot through with strands of pure gold. He knew her instantly, even before she
turned around. The meaning of Sally's smirky grin as she'd sent his mystery
date's email confirmation suddenly became clear.
    Tall, slim, impossibly sexy in painted-on black jeans and
high-heeled boots, she hustled toward his table, her head now bent over the
cell phone in her hand, a slight frown marring her perfect complexion. She
caught the edge of her full bottom lip between brilliantly white teeth, and he
cursed the unwelcome bump in his pulse.
    It was Sally's neighbor from New Year's Eve. The Princess.
    Great.
     
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
     
    Allison navigated the tables without looking up from her
phone, sacrificing her usual flair for making an entrance in the interest of
closing out her business for the day. She hated running behind.
    "I'm so sorry I'm late—" double-damned
Orange County traffic "—just
give me one moment."
    Depositing her coat, scarf and handbag on the chair next to
the one she dropped herself into, and finishing up a strongly-worded text to
the baker bitch, Allison tossed the phone into her bag, turned emphatically off . She didn't want even a silent vibration
interrupting what promised to be a pleasant lunch with a handsome man.
    "Whew!" she said, giving her hair a quick fluff.
"There."
    Turning on her most brilliant smile, she finally looked up.
And found herself skewered by a pair of the most intensely-green eyes she'd
ever seen. Her breath stopped mid-inhale. The only thought in her head was,
"Well, damn it, I'm not ready for you," even as her heart sighed,
" There you are," as though the
man sitting across from her was the critical missing piece in the puzzle of her
life.
    Which was just ridiculous. There was nothing missing from
her life. Nothing. But. . .
    Oh, boy.
    The man had half-risen out of his seat, as though he'd
intended to pull her chair out for her but hadn't gotten the chance. Wow, he
was huge. Had she read that in his profile? She dated a lot of tall
men—she