Cupid's Treasure - Mystery of the Golden Arrow Read Online Free PDF Page B

with a slight smile.
    “There’s a smile,” Jonathan said and watched as she pushed her glasses up on her nose and fidgeted nervously with her sweater. “You are in a safe place, Amber, and we are aware of the threat.” At her doubtful look, he added, “We can handle it.” He watched as she chewed on her bottom lip. “Trust me.”
    She knew he was an even bigger threat to her senses, but she was tired, needed to clean up, and get some rest. She looked up at him, remembering him standing in front of her as the arrows hit him and fell away harmlessly. Well, except the last one. Despite his protest that it hadn’t happened, she knew what she had seen . . . perhaps she could believe him to be invincible for just a moment.
    Jonathan went from being serious to lighthearted banter once again. “Get ready for the welcoming committee.” He got out and came around the other side. “Hey, Chiquita,” Jonathan said when he opened the passenger side door to the ladies who had come out to greet her. “This is Gloria.” He introduced her to the yellow haired woman approaching. “You’ll love her.”
    “Oh, sweetheart,” Gloria said as she came forward. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve got your room ready and fresh towels set out in the shower. We’ll have you feeling better in no time.”
    “And this is her daughter, Jessie,” he said as the younger one came around her mother to her other side.
    “Hello.” Jessie smiled. “Welcome.”
    “Thank you.” Amber smiled back shyly. She wasn’t used to so many people fussing over her. She also wasn’t prepared for what the waves of compassion made her feel. Amber adjusted her glasses and sniffed, trying to fight back the tears that threatened. She didn’t normally cry. . . . It is just the stress of the day.
    “That’s okay, sweetheart,” Gloria said, hugging her to her quickly. “Let’s just get you inside.”
    As Amber walked up the stairs, yet another woman appeared on the porch next to the gentleman who was with the other one’s daughter. Amber thought it was all getting a little confusing as she looked at the woman who looked exactly like the one with yellow hair, only this one had bright red. She did a double take.
    “And this is Ms. Katie,” Jonathan said. “They are twins.”
    “ Ciao , darlin’. Let’s get you inside and into some warm bubbles.” Katie grinned.
    “And this fine gentleman is Jacques,” Jonathan said as the thirty year old man chuckled and smiled.
    “A pleasure to meet you,” he said.
    Amber immediately recognized his voice from the earlier call that Jonathan had made. Though why he would call this young man Grandpa was beyond her.
    “I also have a pot of homemade chicken soup if anyone is hungry,” Jessie said.
    “Now you’re talking my language!” Jonathan said. “Where is Harold?”
    “He’s in the attic, dear,” Gloria said.
    Jonathan looked at Amber. “I’ll leave you in these women’s capable hands and catch up with you later.” He smiled. “Are you okay?”
    It was the umpteenth time he’d asked it, but this time she nodded.
    “Good,” Jonathan said. “You look a little overwhelmed, but that’s to be expected I think.” He winked as he tapped his finger on her nose before leaving.
    Amber was not only dumbfounded by her feelings for him, dazed by her day, overwhelmed by the new faces, but also stunned that, in this moment, it didn’t even matter. She wanted the comfort the friendship offered, if only for the night. She’d denied it for so long. . . . Would it be so very wrong of her to want to feel loved and not so alone if just for the next half hour even? “A bath sounds very good.”
    ~*~
    Jonathan climbed the ladder to the attic and wondered what had hit him. A ton of bricks out of nowhere couldn’t have been more surprising. “Harold, are you up here?” he called out.
    “Over here,” an older gentleman wearing a lab coat answered from the corner where a blue test tube was glowing,