Cupid Scores: (Western Historical Small Town Contemporary Romance) Read online

  Cupid Scores

  Return to Cupid, Texas #2

  Sylvia McDaniel

  Virtual Bookseller

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 1

  Cupid, Texas

  Reunions sucked. Meghan Scott downed her second glass of wine. What was the point in glamorizing the past when her memories of the supposed fun years were filled with teenage drama. Tonight was her adult entertainment and tomorrow night she had to chaperone seventy-five horny teenager with her ex high school nemesis, Max Vandenberg. Where she would try to keep randy students from making the same mistake she made with the high school football superstar.

  "Valentine's Day. Today is the cheating snake's wedding day," Taylor Braxton said, flipping her blonde hair back."I'd like to propose a toast to his new wife. May she never find him in her bed with someone else, like I found her in mine."

  The three women clinked glasses together. Meghan admitted Taylor experienced her own traumatic life event. Finding your fiance having sex with a female officer would be enough to send many people into the cuckoo zone.

  "Maybe it was for the best. After all, lawmen are known for being serial cheaters," Meghan said. She tossed her long auburn curls over her shoulder out of her face.

  Kelsey, leaned in close."Well, if you hadn't found him locked in the arms of another woman, you wouldn't have come back to Cupid."

  "True," Taylor agreed.

  "I can't believe we're all here together again. Just like the old days when we were young and naive and so vulnerable. Now, we're all grown up and--"

  "Still single," Meghan said with a sigh. For years she'd been trying to find a man who made her heart race, her blood pulse out of control and her breathing labored like Max could. No one even came close. Several times the opportunity to settle had been tempting, but then she thought hell no. Max wasn't anyone special.

  He had been her first and somewhere out in the world, there must be another man who could make her feel the way Max did. He couldn't be the only one. So far no luck in finding that special man.

  "Yep, no eligible man on my radar," Kelsey admitted. "Who would want to date a woman with three pain in the ass brothers watching over her?"

  "I don't want a man. I'm giving up. I'm going to remain single the rest of my life," Taylor announced.

  Meghan didn't believe her. Taylor had always been the quitter. Things got tough and she bolted.

  "Oh yeah, that's the life I want," Meghan replied, sarcasm dripping in her tone. "Always the third wheel when you're around couples. Every holiday your relatives asking if there is something wrong with you or have you tried online dating. Blind dates with your next-door neighbor's son, who is so kind that he still lives with his mother." She shivered. "No, thanks."

  "Or your brothers' glancing at every man you bring home like he's a terrorist, and should they learn he's sleeping with their sister, he would wake up six feet under." Kelsey giggled. "They don't know, but I lost my virginity the first semester of college during pledge week."

  Now that was Kelsey. Always living on the edge and hiding things from her overbearing family. Secretly, Meghan felt a little jealous of Kelsey. She had the brothers Meghan always wanted, but her parents refused to provide. Two nuclear scientists working at a nearby secret lab, Meghan was the result of antibiotics killing her mother's birth control. The outcome, two career minded professionals who never planned for children, let alone a precocious child like Meghan.

  "Ohh...with someone you cared about?" Taylor asked.

  She sighed. "Not really. We were two virgins who wanted to rid ourselves of the stigma. A fumbling, truly awful, awkward experience. After that horrible first time, I concentrated on my studies and not on men."

  "What about you, Taylor? When did you lose your virginity?" Meghan asked.

  "Prom night," she said, shaking her head. "Billy Ray Smith."

  "Oh my gosh, he's married and living one town over."

  "Thank God. He was mistake number one. I was young and foolish."

  Meghan laughed, thinking of the night she and Max succumbed to the passion building between them. Out under the stars after he led their football team to the state championship. They'd celebrated not realizing the consequences of that night would haunt them."Well, we certainly know who popped my cherry. Max Vandenberg, football superstar jerk."

  The three women sighed. Kelsey shifted uneasily in her chair. "We thought we were going to change the world."

  Taylor snickered. "I think the world changed us."

  Thank goodness she was no longer the wimpy, sappy high school girl. Don't expect her to take second place to anything or anyone. Maybe that's why no man had stuck around for any length of time.

  Meghan giggled. "Remember that silly superstition from high school?"

  "Which one? There were several," Kelsey said. "I especially liked the one where the football boys had to put a pair of girl's panties on the top of the goal post if they wanted a winning season."

  Max led his football brothers on that little escapade.

  "While the drill team practiced in our uniforms, all our undies were stolen from the girls' gym. I remember going commando, like, yesterday." Taylor chuckled.

  Kelsey turned toward her. "Max Vandenberg was the panty thief. Did you hear that he played professional football for the Dallas Cowboys for a while?"

  "Until he got hurt. Now he's back." Meghan shook her head thinking of the muscular dark haired man whose blue eyes twinkled with mischief."Right back here under my nose - the big jerk. He's coaching at my school."

  Asking her out repeatedly while she tried so valiantly to ignore him. He torpedoed that bridge a long time ago. Hell would freeze over before she went out with him again.

  "Why does it seem like many of our classmates left and eventually returned."

  "Yes, Ryan Jones is back. My brother told me he's sheriff now," Kelsey said, drinking another glass of vino. "He was my ex. So two exes back in town and another one's married and lives nearby."

  "I don't consider Billy Ray an ex."

  The linebacker on the football team, Billy Ray had been a sweet talking con man who held the record for tackles both on and off the field. Romantic tackles that is. Taylor was lucky not to have him as an ex.

  "Wonder how many girls fell for that Cupid superstition? Did you guys ever do that one?" Taylor asked.

  "Oh no," Meghan said. "I didn't like getting undressed in gym class."

  The idea of running around nude in front of a bunch of females never appealed to Meghan. And wearing the regulated gym outfit was a joke. One size does not fit all comfortably.

  "Oh no," Kelsey echoed. "If my brothers caught me dancing naked around the statue in the town square, I would have been sealed away in a nunnery until my female parts shriveled. What about you?"

  "No," Taylor said looking at the two women sitting at the table. She poured the last of the second bottle of wine.

  She was up to something. Meghan remembered that look and it got her into a lot of trouble.

  "You remember when all the cheerleaders did the naked Cupid dance, all hoping to find their true love. How did the magic work out for them?" Kelsey said with a laugh.

  Taylor shook her head. "I remember. The football team showed up unexpectedly with cameras in hand and when the squad returned to school they faced sus
pension."

  Meghan had been on the backup squad and for over a month they had to cover the events because the girls could not cheer. But in the end the Cupid dance worked to their advantage.

  "Don't feel too badly for them. They're all married. In fact, most of them have babies. If the superstition is true, it worked very well for them. What the hell is wrong with us?" Disgust dripped from Meghan's voice.

  Unlike her scientist parents, Meghan longed for her own family. Children, grandparents, brothers and sisters and big holiday gatherings. As an only child with a few family member's the holidays seemed blah. Meghan wanted the American dream with all the trimmings.

  Taylor threw her hands up. "I'm not looking to get married. Right now, my focus is my parents' restaurant. I don't need a man."

  Turning in her chair, Meghan looked at Kelsey. "What about you? Do you want to marry?"

  Kelsey leaned on her hands. "Yes, I would like to find a man, but my brothers run them off faster than a deer during hunting season. So I'll be working on the boutique I'm preparing to open for business. One year is all I have to make a profit. Or I'll be moving back to the city. What about you, Meghan?"

  More than a husband, she wanted a family. The husband was becoming less and less important. The plan was simple. Get her Phd in science, a good job and then a sperm donor. No need for a man by her side. She tossed back her hair and stared them straight in the eye. "I'm twenty-five years old. I'm ready. My ovaries are beginning to shrivel like a prune. Bring on the right man and I'll race him to the altar."

  Taylor shook her head at the two of them, giggling. "Then let's do it."

  Frowns appeared on Kelsey's face and Meghan felt confused as they stared at her. "What?"

  Taylor checked her watch. "It worked for all those other women. Why not us? The superstition says at midnight anyone chanting and dancing naked around the fountain will soon meet their true love. I've never believed in the notion, but hey, I'm game. We've got thirty minutes. Let's go kick some Cupid butt and see if that superstition is real or not."

  "You want me to take off my clothes and dance in front of you and everyone else in town, chanting some silly verse?" Meghan said her voice rising.

  That was the most ridiculous thing Meghan ever heard. Sure frivolous high school girls did this, but grown women with everything to lose went home and slept off the alcohol they'd consumed. But then again, what if it worked?

  Her logical brain told her it was nonsense, but she'd done everything right and so far she didn't have a man. Not even a steady boyfriend.

  "Oh, most people will be asleep and I've seen you au naturel before. I'll be too busy dancing to notice you and your jiggling tatas."

  Laughing, Kelsey gazed at Taylor. "And you think this is going to work."

  "We're late bloomers. Everyone else did this in high school. We never had the courage, but now we're older, some of us desperate. Let's do it."

  Kelsey lifted her glass and drained the alcohol. "I'm in. What about you, Meghan?"

  In high school, these two girls had pushed her into more illogical stupid situations. Almost seven years later the brainless crap was beginning again. But when was the last time she took a chance? When had she had fun?

  "Oh, it's starting again. During high school, you girls could get me into more trouble. You're back in town less than twenty-four hours and already you're plotting mischief."

  "Oh, come on, it'll be fun," Taylor said, downing the last of her drink and signaling the waitress.

  "The temperature outside is colder than a well digger...and we're getting naked," Meghan whined. "Tonight, other women are being wined and dined and we're going to dance without our clothes, in the town square? Something is wrong with this picture."

  "Think of the thrill. The tales you can tell your children," Taylor said.

  "Daring." Kelsey grabbed her purse. "I haven't done anything like this since college. I'm just drunk enough my logical, rational side is being held hostage by my fun side."

  "Are you in?" Taylor asked.

  Meghan completely agreed with Kelsey. Her science brain who thought this was the most ridiculous idea was tied with alcohol, while the fun brain said go for it.

  With a sigh Meghan finished her wine. "I don't want to be the only old maid. Of course, I'm in."

  Taylor was giggling hard when they left the bar, the three of them laughing as they all but dragged Meghan down the street. Why was it the moment they walked out the door her logical, rational brain had begun to warn her of everything that could go wrong? Everything from kidnapping to rape to arrest.

  All in search of the elusive forever love. What was she doing?

  "I could be fired if we're caught," Meghan said. "Public nudity is not exactly the proper behavior for the school librarian. My contract says something about a moral issue."

  Kelsey handed her the bottle of wine they'd managed to sneak out of the bar. "Take a swig, Meghan, it will give your courage a boost. Besides, we're not going to get caught. We're not stupid teenagers."

  Oh, her courage needed more than alcohol. It needed a silencer to take care of that logical voice in her head that kept saying she was a complete idiot for taking this chance.

  "No, we're stupid adults," Taylor said smiling."Five minutes until midnight. Hurry, girls."

  Squealing, they ran the final two blocks to the fountain. They arrived, huffing and puffing, and stopped to stare at the sculptured God of Love.

  "Dancing around this statue is going to help us find the man of our dreams?" Kelsey questioned. "Whoever made up this shit is sitting back somewhere laughing at how many fools stripped off their clothes and danced in the moonlight."

  "In the middle of freaking winter," Meghan added thinking her logical mother would scold her and say her emotions had gotten in the way of her logic. And she'd be right.

  She giggled at the thought.

  Taylor took a deep breath and pulled her shoulders back. "Come on, girls, we're doing this. We're going to prove this is either the biggest farce in town, or it's going to work for my friends. Just not for me."

  All the doubts returned with a vengeance and her stomach started to flutter.

  "I hope this is worth it," Meghan said as she began to remove her clothing. First she took off the things that showed very little skin. She glanced around to make certain she wasn't the only one stripping.

  "Will it look funny if I leave my boots on?" Kelsey asked.

  "Naked. You have to be naked according to the superstition," Taylor said, yanking off her footwear, the cold stones hard against her feet.

  "As soon as the church bell strikes midnight, we're going to dance around the statue for one minute. Then I'm putting my clothes on and walking home," Meghan said, shivering in the buff. "You girls are going to be the death of me yet. If I come down sick--"

  "We'll have a hot looking guy deliver you a box of Kleenex and chicken soup."

  Kelsey started laughing. "Look, girls, I got a boob job while I was in college. Aren't they nice?"

  She held up her tits for all to see and Meghan turned away groaning. "What am I doing?"

  "I'm not looking at your breasts," Taylor said, giggling as she removed her bra.

  "Hurry, midnight is almost here," Meghan said, her words slurring from the alcohol. Taking a deep breath she tried to calm her nerves. They were here, they had undressed. Time to get it on. "Let's do this and put our clothes back on before we catch pneumonia."

  "We better get some action from this," Kelsey replied, jumping up and down on the sidewalk, nude.

  "And not legal action," Taylor said with a giggle.

  Meghan folded her jeans and sweater neatly and placed them on a bench. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's do this."

  Passing the bottle of wine one more time, laughing and chuckling and hoping the alcohol would give them some much needed warmth, Meghan avoided looking at her friends. She didn't want the image of their beautiful, naked bodies burned on her brain.

  "We're being so naughty," Megha
n said, giggling drunkenly. If she lived to see the dawn, Cupid could kiss her sweet cheeks. "Never again."

  "Oh, come on, next week we're taking you skinny dipping at the lake," Kelsey said.

  "Not during the winter, we're not," Taylor replied.

  The church bells started to chime. With a scream, they laughed and began to run and dance, giggling hysterically as the three of them ran around the God of love.

  Her logical brain was screaming hysterically that she needed a psychiatrist, while her fun side said enjoy this moment, this will never happen again.

  "Oh, Cupid statue find us our true love," they chanted as they danced nude around the fountain in the town square, laughing at the absurdness of what they were doing.

  "Nuts," Meghan said. "All this is going to do is give us frostbite on our girly bits."

  Headlights turned onto the street and they glanced at each other, their eyes wide. Shrieking, their hands trying to cover their female parts, they ran but their clothes were on the other side of the fountain.

  "Oh no," Meghan said panic gripping her.

  Red beacons flashed on top of the car. Her logical brain began to scream run and she wondered if this is what happened when the cave man saw a lion.

  "Run, girls," Taylor yelled. "Run, it's the sheriff. Everyone split up, he can't arrest us all."

  Meghan ran like a lion was chasing her and her life depended on how fast she could get away. And in a way it did. The school board would not understand why she'd been arrested naked.

  Meghan's heart pounded within her chest, her breath coming out like frosted crystals in the night air as her bare feet slapped the pavement. Panic rose inside her and she promised herself a good cry when she reached safety.

  She didn't know whether to circle back and try to find her purse and clothes or keep going. She was freezing as she ran butt naked down Main Street, glancing over her shoulder every few minutes.

  "For someone with a Mensa IQ, you're not very smart," she scolded herself out loud.

  Amazing how quickly you sobered up when faced with life and death consequences. If she didn't have frostbite from this little escapade, it would be a miracle. Her keys, her wallet, everything was in the park.