Page 19 of Daddy Cupid
“You hate making love matches, it’s why you’re my assistant.”
“But you love making love matches. I thought this might cheer you up,” she says, and how in the world can I say no to that? She wants to do something she knows I like, even though she hates it—this is definitely the real deal.
“Holy shit. Can I shoot one? Love would never let me touch her bow and arrow,” Gloom says, and Ladybird just hands her bow right over to him.
“How many arrows have you even shot off with that thing?” I joke and Ladybird rolls her eyes.
“It might be a little rusty, but it still works.”
“What do I do?” Gloom asks, looking at Ladybird who just shakes her head.
“Here,” I say, clearing my throat and stepping behind Gloom, adjusting his arms and fingers until they are in place. “You want to make sure your aim is true. This isn’t a toy, it’s a serious love tool,” I tell him.
“Yes, daddy,“ he jokes, pushing his ass further against me.
I scoff, while Ladybird covers her mouth with her hand, trying but failing to suppress a giggle.
“How do you know who to shoot?” Gloom asks, and I’m nearly on top of him at this point. My face is next to his, one hand on his hip and the other on his elbow.
“You’re not a cupid, so you might not be able to feel the love connection. But there are physical tells too. Are they both smiling? Facing each other? Are they physically touching?”
Gloom takes a moment, showing respect for the process. It makes me feel more endeared to him as he scans the crowded streets in the French Quarter. His gaze stills as he sees a woman standing on a curb. The man is on the street as they talk under a streetlamp. Her smile is wide, and the man is leaning in, showing his interest.
He can’t feel their connection the way I can, but even as a reaper, he could clearly see they were a match.
“How about them?”
“They probably don’t need it, but a little extra nudge never hurt nobody,” I say.
“Which one do I hit?”
“Definitely the guy,” Ladybird says while perched on a wrought-iron fence.
I glance up at her and she gives me a knowing smile as I help Gloom line up his shot. I’m impressed as he pulls back the bow and the arrow whistles in the air, before hitting the man right in the ass.
“I did it,” Gloom says excitedly, handing Ladybird her bow and arrow back.
“You keep it for the night,” she suggests.
“Seriously?”
“Never once in my very short career as a matchmaking cupid did I get that excited over making a match. You have fun with it tonight.”
“Maybe I could take you soul collecting sometime?”
Ladybird grins wildly. “I think I’d like that. But for now, we have love matches to make, and hopefully a dash of voyeurism. That’s really the only good part of the gig, anyway.”
“Really, the only good part?” I ask as we walk down the street together.
“I much prefer being your assistant.”
“Because you think he’s hot? Because that would be enough reason for me,” Gloom asks and my cheeks heat.
Ladybird slips her hand in mine on the left and Gloom does the same on the right. I do my best to keep my cool, but despite how terrible today has been, I feel truly cared for at this moment. It’s a feeling I’ve been searching for endlessly.
“His looks were a perk, that’s for sure. But mostly I like bossing people around and being mean to idiot cupids who think they can take advantage.”
I squeeze her hand, and she leans a little closer into me. I like how both of them are tall, yet neither of them hit my shoulder.
