He had been on track of her for days. She was an elusive target. His mission had sounded simple like all the others. Matter of fact the boss had been pretty off hand about the whole thing to begin with.
"Look...this is your next objective. She was burned on Valentines Day three years ago. Her lover took her out to dinner then broke up with her. He had already found another woman. She was devastated. Usual target. This is her likely mate. I would suggest shooting him first...then shoot her. It will be a piece of cake."
The boss had sounded so matter-of-fact about this case. "A piece of cake" still resounded in his head. The male had been difficult. It had taken four days before he had the perfect clear shot with nobody around to witness it. Even then he had almost been caught shooting the guy.
Loading his arrow with the potion he waited. She should be coming along pretty soon now. She always walked this way after work. Nobody was around...everything was going his way for once.
Suddenly, he saw her. She was walking briskly down the sidewalk. On the wrong side of the street. Cupid knew that time was running out. He had to get her tonight or possibly not at all. His boss would be furious if he failed.
Flying carefully across the street he got behind her. Aiming quickly he hesitated a second then released the arrow. It flew unerringly directly to her. Stopping her walk she looked around.
"Hello? Is someone there?"
Nobody answered her call. Cupid congratulated himself. He had completed his mission. The arrows had gone true. This couple would soon be together. He was so proud as he left to go back and report to the boss.
If he had stuck around for a bit he would have seen his arrow falling to the ground. Unspent. It had tangled in her coat and never penetrated her. A complete miss!
Jim was new in town. He had been working hard for months now and felt he needed a break. He felt a strange compulsion to go to a certain restaurant this night. It was on the other side of town. Way out of his way, but he felt a need to go there.
Since his breakup with his former girlfriend a couple of years ago he had thrown himself into his work. He now was far from where he had been. Financially and emotionally, his concentrated efforts had paid off leaving him able to retire at the ripe old age of thirty-five.
Lately though, Jim had felt...empty. Like he was missing something, a vague feeling of want. He had shrugged it off, since he had everything he could think of and more. But still that feeling persisted. The dreams he had were bothering him too. A certain woman dominated them. Haunted him.
Entering the restaurant he chose a table and sat down. It was a small and cozy little place. One that made him think of a time long ago. When he had been in love and wanting a certain someone to share his life with him. She had shocked him in her refusal of his marriage proposal.
"Jim, surely you are joking. You don't expect me to marry you. You do not meet my requirements. As a lover I could ask for no better, but your job, your finances, and your apartment. They lack what I expect to have and where I want to be."
With that she had gotten up and walked out of his life. He had been on his knee in the restaurant and she had almost knocked him over as she got up. Looking around in embarrassment he saw some of the other people there looking at him with pity.
He had left that place that night with his heart torn and bleeding. Anger soon overcame his shock. He vowed to never place his heart in another's hands ever again. It had been a tonic for his work life. But his private life was one of drudgery and boredom.
Sitting down to eat he saw her come in. His interest in her surprised him. Why would he be interested so much in that particular woman? He didn't know her, never seen her before. Still...something about her made his heart quicken. Her hair, the way it cascaded down her back, her eyes sparkling in the light. He found himself staring at her in wonder.
She glanced at him for a second as she sat down. He suddenly realized that she was looking at him with that look women have for men who stare rudely. He felt so foolish. He must have looked like an idiot, or a woman-hungry male. Cheeks burning in self-ridicule, he forced his eyes to stay on the menu for what seemed like hours.
As he ate he kept stealing glances in her direction. Her poise was one of form and beauty. She looked like she belonged in a fashion magazine, yet had a down-to-earth kind of look about her too. She also looked very familiar for some reason.
He felt his heart racing. He was upset with himself. He was no schoolboy, to be getting a crush on a girl he didn't even know. What was wrong with him? He had never had these feelings before. What was it about her that made him feel so strange?
He saw that she kept looking his way. When the waiter came to her table she spoke quietly for a minute then looked away as the waiter straightened and then headed over to his table.
"The lady would like it if you would not look at her like you have been. It is upsetting her, sir. Can I find you another table, perhaps over there, near the front?"
Stunned, Jim just sat there a moment. Never had a person asked for him to be moved away before. He was incredulous.
"No, that will not be necessary. I was just leaving. Thank you anyway."
"Sir, please understand. The lady comes here quite often. You evidently were staring at her enough to bother her. I am sorry. I acted in her behalf since she is so obviously a lady and a known customer of our eatery."
"I am not so sure about the 'lady' part. I will just leave. I wouldn't want to be where I was not welcomed."
Saying those last words a bit loudly, Jim stood and grabbed his coat from the adjoining chair. He turned, and as he started to walk away he nodded at her. She looked up at him with a bit of a fear in her eyes. Fear laced with a firestorm of anger.
'How dare he!' She thought. 'Staring at me like I was a piece of meat. Then to infer that I was not a lady!'
Deep down Kathryn knew that he hadn't been looking at her like a piece of meat. She had even been a bit intrigued by his interest. It had been so long since she had allowed herself to think about any man. He had been quite good-looking. Tall, with dark hair and startling blue eyes.
Blushing, she paid attention to her meal for the moment. She was trying to gather her thoughts when the waiter came up.
"Would you like anything else Miss?"
"Oh no, thank you. I hope that I didn't cause you trouble with that man."
"No, it was not a problem at all. He did seem to be a good sort of fellow, but he shouldn't have been staring at you like he was. Even I noticed it. Shameful, just shameful."
