Cupid's Treasure - Mystery of the Golden Arrow by Barbara Ivie Green Read Free Book Online Page A

the other side, but it was hard to tell with Jacques stumbling up the stairs behind him.
    “I have something for you,” Jonathan said.
    “Something?” Jacques snorted in laughter. “You mean hellcat!”
    Jonathan gave him an annoyed glance.
    “What did I say?” Jacques asked as Jessie walked into the foyer and looked up at him.
    “Jonathan,” she said. “What did you do to my husband?”
    “Why, chéri,” Jacques grinned down at his wife, “it is on a need to know basis.”
    “What don’t I need to know?” Jessie asked, using her doctor voice.
    Jonathan rolled his eyes at Jacques as the door to Amber’s room opened a few inches and she peeked out.
    Jonathan turned his attention to the woman who had a turban style towel wrapped around her head, and was wearing a pair of Minnie Mouse pajamas and house shoes. She peered up at him through thick rimmed glasses, and he wondered why the hell his heart flip flopped.
    Spying what he held in his arms, Amber threw the door open with a cry and took her kitty from him. “Kisses,” she whispered hoarsely as she held her close.
    “Kisses?” Jacques asked in disbelief as he leaned on the wall next to Jonathan. “I would think Shredder, Biter, or Destroyer would serve as a better warning, oui? ”
    “I didn’t realize you’d left. I would have gone,” Amber said. “Was she difficult?”
    “Oh, no,” Jonathan said.
    Jacques added, “ Non , that would be the understatement of the year.”
    “Jonathan,” Jessie said as she came down the hall. “Did you take him drinking again? You know he hasn’t had a drop in. . . .” She paused. She’d been about to say two hundred fifty years, but with Amber now looking curiously at her, Jessie ended with, “A while.”
    The kitty in Amber’s arms jumped down and ran directly to Jessie, rubbing herself on her leg.
    “Hello,” Jessie said as she picked up her cat. “What a gorgeous kitty.”
    Jonathan and Jacques both stared in shock.
    “Watch out. She can be feisty,” Jonathan said.
    “She happens to love feisty kitties.” Jacques chuckled as he watched the cat in her arms purr.
    Amber took one look at the luggage that Jacques held and asked, “What happened?”
    “It looks like someone ransacked your motel room before we arrived,” Jonathan answered.
    Amber gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
    Jonathan watched her closely. “I know you’ve had a hell of an evening so far, but if you could tell me anything about this it would help.”
    Amber glanced at the three faces of the people in front of her and knew that telling them would endanger them. She didn’t want to lie, but had to. “I had an old boyfriend that I hoped would never find me.”
    “Was the man tonight your ex?” Jonathan asked.
    At Jonathan’s close scrutiny of her, she nudged her glasses up. “I—don’t think so,” Amber said. “I never actually saw him.”
    “You know you are safe here,” Jonathan said. At her nod he looked away, took the luggage from Jacques, and placed it on the heart shaped bed.
    “Oh, that just breaks my heart to know you’ve been subjected to a stalker,” Jessie said as she walked further into the bedroom. “We’ll make sure he doesn’t get anywhere near you,” she added as she placed the kitty beside it on the red silk coverlet.
    “I—know,” Amber lied again, knowing that not only was she not safe, but neither were they now. She faked a yawn.
    “You must be tired,” Jessie said. “I hope you can get some rest knowing that you are safe here,” she continued as she went back to the door to gather up her own kitty.
    “I will,” Amber said. “Goodnight.”
    There was something about how easy it was for her to accept this that made Jonathan’s ever increasing suspicion of the situation increase. “If you need anything, just call.” He handed her the radio phone that he’d used earlier. “It’s on my station.” He clicked a button. “Just press this if you need me. Got it?”
    “Got