Part 9 (1/2)
”Oh no.” She backed up. ”I'm fine. I just-”
”Yes, emotional wreck, mourning ex-husband, obsessed with Cupid's killings, and only running on coffee. You've listed a lot of problems, but you've forgot your biggest problem.”
She looked into his eyes. ”What's that?”
”It's been a long time since someone's taken care of Diana.”
”I've always been provided for by Neil.”
Asher might've stared too long at her, and even licked his lips right before he said, ”There are ways that a real man can tell when a woman has not been taken care of properly.”
He closed the distance between them, but didn't alarm her, by taking her into his arms, which he'd craved. ”There are signs.”
He tucked some of her hair behind her ear, just for an excuse to touch her, to feel the silk of her skin for a few seconds. ”It's in the way she walks, the way she moves her lips to speak.”
He bit his own bottom lip. ”It's in her scent.” He inhaled her, and Diana's eyes widened. ”It's in the subtle sound of her voice, the way she looks away. . .”
She frowned. ”Are you trying to say that I need to get laid?”
No, sweet one. You need to be f.u.c.ked, so bad that you walk away from this investigating path. You need some d.i.c.k to keep you busy.
Asher's c.o.c.k grew in his pants. He did a quick check to make sure his jacket would hide it. ”You need to be provided for.”
”By you?”
”There isn't anyone else offering.”
”How do you know?”
Because if anybody else offered to take care of you right now, they would be wearing an arrow in their chest. For now, others can stay away from you, until I've had my fun.
”I know what you're doing, Asher.”
”You do?” Curiosity glazed over his eyes. ”What am I doing?”
”Distracting me.”
”Distracting you from what?”
”From being tired.” She removed her hand and backed up. ”I must apologize, but I have to go. Too much has happened. Goodnight, Asher.” She turned around and walked away.
”Really?”
”Yes, really.” She headed to the balcony door. ”Maybe we can meet for lunch tomorrow.”
”I don't want lunch. I want dinner, now.”
She stopped and glanced at him. ”Stop pouting like a baby. You'll get lunch tomorrow. I'm out of it tonight. I would be worthless for any more conversation.”
”Maybe I'm done with conversation. Perhaps I want something else now.”
”I'm definitely too worthless for that. And I'm a bit offended you think I'd give you what you want after one evening of wining and dining.”
”Fine, Diana. Leave if you must.”
She blew him a half-hearted kiss as if the gesture was only meant as a joke. ”Fine.”
”Additionally, I will be counting lunch as our second date,” he called after her. ”And will be hoping to get to second base at least.”
”You'll be counting by yourself and holding your own b.a.l.l.s and bat at the end of our second meeting, then. Let's try to remember that I'm a widower. It wouldn't be nice to take advantage of me in this emotional state.”
But I will, sweet one, over and over again.
”Wait, Diana.” Asher called out before she opened the balcony's doors. ”You never answered my question.”
She turned. ”What question?”
”Why did you name him Cupid?”
”Oh,” she sighed. ”I figured that would be obvious. He kills with a bow and arrow, and all of his murders deal with some form of broken love.”
And then she walked away, left Asher right there, baffled, and even more intrigued.
Seven.
Diana
Later that evening, Diana returned to her empty home, dressed in that elaborate gown, and exhausted from the whole day.
Asher Bishop.
Cupid.
Neil's murder.
There were too many thoughts circling Diana's brain and she couldn't settle on which of them to focus on. She wanted to think about Cupid and the onslaught of facts she'd learned in the last day, but Asher's blonde hair and blue eyes sliced through everything Cupid-related.
Though she would have to dress up in chic black garments, respectable but still fas.h.i.+onable black heels and stand over her late husband's grave in just a few days, Neil did not occupy the s.p.a.ce in her brain as she thought he would.
It was easy to move him lower on the list.
Diana wished she'd listened to her gut a little earlier. Divorced Neil before he could tarnish the Carson name and bring her down with him. All things considered though, Diana knew she was getting a good deal out of his death. Money, attention, and pity. It looked good for her. Gave others something to focus their attention on, while she investigated Cupid.
Cupid, Cupid, Cupid.