Drew glanced around at the people at the church picnic and wondered once again why he was here. This was his third Sunday at church and the first time he attended regularly since his mother's funeral.

Raised to be there every Sunday morning, he'd stopped attending after her death. Two family members dying so close together, it just wasn't fair. Then again, like he told his clients, life wasn't always fair.

Walking up behind her, the smell of a delicate flowery scent came to him as he breathed in her aroma. How could a woman who smelled so soft and appeared so feminine wield a hammer better than most men? When he looked at her, she was certainly not what he expected.

"Good morning," he said.

Chloe whirled around, her eyes narrowing at him. "Morning."

They had barely spoken since the day she told him he would be a waste of her time. And he understood her reasoning, but that didn't mean he wanted to stop pursuing her. For some reason, he longed to spend more time with her and thus why he returned to church.

"Wow, three Sundays in a row," she said. "What's bringing you back?"

The question bothered him. The first time had been after their Cupid dance, looking for her, and now, he was here again. But he would never tell her he felt drawn to her. Not yet anyway.

"The place to be on Sunday morning," he responded. "Besides this picnic is the best eating in town.”

A light spring dress seemed to shimmer on her when she moved and it was a contrast from her jeans with the tool belt around her waist. This woman was such a dichotomy that intrigued him more than she should.

She shook her head at him as they walked through the food line, filling their plates.

"How's the house coming along?"

"Yesterday, the electrician redid the wiring, which I told you had to be done. Tube wiring is too dangerous and no insurance company in the world would insure you," she said. "Tomorrow the plumber will be out to replace old iron pipes and test the pressure."

Leaning in, she whispered, "Don't get any of Mrs. Burns homemade pickles. You've been warned."

"Thanks," he said, "for the heads up."

With his plate full, he followed her to a table. "Don't you sit with the other young people?"

"Oh no," she said. "Four of the men sitting at that table are exes and considered a dead zone."

A chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Is that why I feel like I'm being watched, with even a few whispers thrown in?"

"Just part of hanging with the PK kid."

How difficult it must have been to grow up, being scrutinized by the congregation and every time you got in trouble your world knew. Always being held as an example of how a child is supposed to behave.

"From the curves you carefully concealed beneath that dress, I don't think you're a child anymore," he said as a blush spread across her cheeks. That clingy scrap of silk made him want to act boldly. As he gazed at her lips, he remembered their touch, even her taste.

"Here is not the place to discuss my curves," she said in a low whisper.

"Maybe not, but you see, I know things about you these other randy bucks don't," he said, teasing her. The last time they were together, she'd been the one to make him uncomfortable and now he was enjoying his payback.

"What do you mean randy bucks?"

"Oh, come on, Chloe, you're beautiful, you're intelligent, you're fun, and these men are crazy for not dating you," he said, wondering why one of them had not snatched her up.

"Because I'm the preacher's kid, my personality should be wild and reckless with no regard to authority? Especially church rule?" she said.

"Strange, I haven't seen this side of you. Have you been holding back on me? This Chloe sounds like the type of woman I take out," he said.

A sarcastic laugh escaped her. "That's the problem. I'm me, not some stereotype everyone expects. Including the boring men sitting at that table. Some wanted the crazy PK kid, some wanted a religious church lady to keep them in line, and some just put me to sleep.

“Why is it so hard to find an interesting man? Someone who you can talk to about anything, who is more of a friend, and then becomes your lover."

"Maybe your expectations are too high? Most men are only interested in the physical side of things."

"Too bad," she said. "After the sexual side cools down, then all that's left is the friendship."

Drew frowned. None of his relationships lasted very long. Once the attraction cooled, he was gone. Quickly, he grew bored, like a child with an attention span of about thirty seconds. It sounded like Chloe had the same problem – she, too, became easily disinterested.

"Drew," a woman screamed. Sara Green ran to him and hugged him, pulling his face between her ample breasts. "I heard you were back in town."

"Long time," he said awkwardly, sitting at the table with Chloe while Sara gave him a head lock to her chest. "Been back for almost a month now."

As soon as she released him, he pulled back. "Drew, you bad boy. Call me and we'll get together and have some fun."

Oh yeah, he understood exactly what this girl had in mind. A tempting morsel that in the past he would’ve jumped at. But not now.

Sidestepping her invitation, he felt like he was walking on glass. "Great to see you, Sara."

Smiling at him like she wanted to pounce on him, she finally seemed to get the hint and walked away.

"Awkward," Chloe said. "Nothing like witnessing a booty call in action."

Holding up his hands. "There will be no response on my end," he said, knowing the old Drew would have been tempted to run after her, but he refused, determined to make a new start in his home town.

"I've never been so carefree with the opposite sex the way you are." Her blue eyes studied him and not in a good way. "You obviously feel comfortable in your own skin and don't mind sharing it."

Why the hell did he continue to hang with this woman? Why did she have the ability to make him aware of his shortcomings, yet, he enjoyed the challenge she represented. In fact, gazing at her, he speculated on how to respond without incriminating himself. All he could do was stare at her full lips and wish he could taste them once again.

"What's wrong with feeling good in my own skin? Do I think I'm handsome? You bet. Do I think I'm a man women want? Yes, it's been proven time and again. What's bad about that?"

Sapphire blue eyes flashed at him. "Nothing, but I don't want what everyone else has sampled."

That right there was the reason why he made the decision to slow things down a bit. There were only so many one-night stands a person could experience before they realized they were meaningless. That hour spent in a stranger’s arms still left him lonely.

That brief moment of pleasure didn't leave him satisfied, but created a craving for something more. So, he slept with the next woman hoping to find that missing element. Hoping this time his loneliness would be satiated. This time, he would find a woman who wasn't as shallow as rainwater running down the street.

Why did Chloe seem to make him think about his weaknesses?

"Okay, Miss Prim and Proper Virgin, if you knew me before, you'd realize I'm no longer quite the gigolo. Since moving to Cupid, there has not been a single one-night stand, a steady girlfriend or even a date. These last couple of months, I concentrated on setting up my business, buying my grandmother's house and starting the remodeling. All thoughts of women were put on hold."

The glare she gave him let him know she didn't like what he called her. "Well, Mr. Gigolo, I'm proud of you not continuing your philandering ways. You'll live longer."

With a chuckle, he wanted to hear her response. "Why is that?"

"One day you'll find a woman who has a husband or boyfriend who didn't appreciate the fact you partook of their woman. Remember, Texas is a gun-toting state. All you have to do is turn on the TV and see it all the time on the news. Jealous boyfriend shoots man. Jealous husband shoots boyfriend. Jealous woman kills man."

"Well, thanks for being concerned about my safety."

Her brows rose and she gave him a look more derisive than accepting. "Always looking out for you."

"And I rescued you from the sheriff."

"We'll always have the Cupid dance," she said.

The urge to kiss her all but overwhelmed him, but he only sat there, his memory replaying how much he enjoyed kissing her. What was it he was missing? Why was he so attracted to Chloe?

The man, the lawyer, who dated beautiful models, actresses and a few rich socialites, no longer wanted that kind of woman. What had happened to him that now a blue-eyed temptress sat across from him and all he could think about was her innocence.

After their kiss, she seemed more remote and withdrawn while he wanted to experience more and she refused to even give them a chance.

* * *

Chloe strolled around the picnic grounds, saying hello to many of the parishioners, especially the elderly. It wasn't that she disliked being her father's daughter and remembering her duties to the people of their church, in many ways she enjoyed the fellowship. The helping of one another.

In every congregation, there were always one or two who found fault with whatever she did. Those few made her want to toss aside all her teachings, but instead, she took a deep breath and responded kindly to them.

Over the years, she learned to keep her real thoughts to herself. Only occasionally she let them slip, especially with the troublemakers like Judy Holloway.

"Mrs. McCloskey how are you today? You look so bright in that floral shirt. It makes your eyes shine."

The older woman sat in a chair and smiled up at Chloe and took her by the hand, giving it a squeeze. The lady lived across the street from her and guarded her like a hawk.

"Thank you. Why are you talking to that Lawrence boy? That one's a hellion. It's rumored he slept with half of the girls in his high school graduating class. There's no telling how many women he's been with since he left home."

The woman always had the worst to say about everyone. It kept her questioning what she said about Chloe behind her back.

"Now, Mrs. McCloskey, he's been attending church. Whatever he's done in his past or present is none of our business. Right now, I'm working with him to refinish his grandmother's house. That old grand home is going to be beautiful once again."

The lady perked up and sat a little straighter.

"He bought Mildred's house? I knew his grandmother, God bless her soul. She was a nice woman who use to watch me and my brother when my mother was working the fields."

This was intriguing news.

"Mildred was my favorite sitter and I loved when she babysat us. His mother was a wildcat just like him." The old lady leaned in close like a confidant. "She met her husband, running naked around the Cupid statue. The one they're trying to get removed."

A chill went up Chloe's spine and she turned to see Drew walking toward her. The information slammed into her, overwhelming her with ramifications for her and Drew.

"That's interesting."

Glancing around to make certain no one could hear her, she whispered, "Stay away from that young man. A pretty girl like you can find a better man than that hound dog."

"That would be hard since we're working together," Chloe said. "I'll keep my eye on him."

"Be careful. A man like that has hands as fast as lightning. Your clothes will be off before you can object. Make sure someone is with you at all times."

"I'm not afraid of him because he would never hurt me," Chloe defended Drew. After all, the night they danced around the statue, he had the perfect opportunity to take advantage of her and he'd only kissed her to shut her up. Though, she would never tell Mrs. McCloskey.

"You're such an innocent woman and you don't need the trouble a man like him can bring. My nephew Charles Montfort III will be here next Sunday. I'll introduce you two. You should sit with us."

"Maybe," Chloe replied not wanting to confirm or deny. Then the memory of meeting her nephew once before and how she found him so boring and dull, she almost went to sleep during a church dinner. A real date would probably leave her comatose.

"In the meantime, stay away from that Lawrence boy."

"Thanks for the advice," Chloe said, feeling the urge to get away quickly from the exasperating smug woman. Did she not realize she was actually driving Chloe straight into his arms?

Chloe walked away, ready to escape the picnic and the well wishers, the women who wanted to protect her, the do-gooders and even the disbelievers. Needing time away from the people of her father's church.

"Where you going?" Drew called.

"Home. I've reached my people limit," she said quietly.

With a laugh, he took her hand. "Can I walk you home?"

"Sure, as long as you don't talk to me about who I should be dating. The bitchy side of me would breakout since I can't take much more before I lose it."

A chuckle came from him. "Mrs. McCloskey?"

"Oh yes," she said as they began to leave the park. "You're not her favorite person. Though in all fairness, she has someone all picked out for me."

"Who is it? I'll kill him," he said in a mocking voice.

Gazing at him she smiled. "Oh, you, a lawyer would go to prison for me."

Warmth filled her and she realized she liked this casual, teasing Drew way more than the pretentious attorney. Then again, sometimes she felt like Drew could be a chameleon changing into who he needed to become for that social setting.

"No penal institution. Remember, as an attorney, I've been inside a prison before, and frankly, I'll write a hundred boring wills to keep from going back. No, I would convince him of all the reasons he doesn't want you as a girlfriend."

"Mr. attorney tell me why he doesn't want me for a girlfriend?" she asked, curious to what Drew would come up with.

"No one knows, but she has a shopping addiction. Her credit cards are maxed out. Seriously, man, the woman wields her power tools in a manner you never want to experience."

Chloe laughed out loud. "Oh my, if he believes that then he wouldn't be worth my time. Obviously, I'm not a shopper since my main clothes are jeans and a T-shirt."

They walked along the sidewalk, the cool Texas spring breeze blowing her hair. Soon summer would arrive, and with it, the heat. For now, it was a beautiful day to talk beneath the trees and enjoy the sunshine.

"Mrs. McCloskey said she knew your mother and grandmother."

"Really. Mom was active in town, especially when we were in school. How did she know my grandmother?"

"She loved your grandmother, said she use to babysit her while her parents worked in the field."

Chloe longed to tell him about his mother bumping into his father as they danced around the statue. But she didn't have any evidence and she knew he would want proof.

"Your mother died not long after your father," she said. "My own mother had passed away three years earlier, and I remember your mother's service."

With a nod he said, "After dad's illness, I wanted to come home from college and help Jim run the ranch, be nearer to mom in case she needed me. Jim and Mom ganged up on me and said no. Finish my dream, become a lawyer, they said. Mother was determined all her children would graduate with a diploma. Only Jim didn't finish. When Dad became too weak to take care of things, Jim came home to take over the ranch operations."

As they walked down the street, a bird chirped, singing its song of bliss. Drew grew quiet and she could sense the sadness in him at the mention of his mother.

A shadow crossed his face. With a sigh, he said, "I should have been here when Mom died. We never had the chance to say goodbye."

"Sometimes we don't get what we want," she said, realizing how much his mother's death still hurt him. Pain reflected in his gaze and on his face and she had the most incredible urge to stop and hold him. But they continued walking.

"True, but I didn't want her to die alone. Dad’s illness was lingering, but mother’s stroke took her immediately. When Dad died we were all by his side. We should have been with Mom, as well. One day she was fine, and the next, she was gone," he said, kicking a rock with his shoe, sending it clattering down the sidewalk. "What about your mother?"

"My mom left me when I was in my teens. Since that time, every woman in church has claimed me as their poor orphan child."

While the ladies all had good intentions, they could never replace her own mother. Several years went by before she learned to let go of the anger at her mother leaving.

He chuckled. "I can see that."

Just like the women in the congregation thought she needed mothering, could Drew be looking for the loving embrace of his mother? In his own way, were his one-night stands an unconscious pursuit for the missing part of his life? A way to satisfy a void left from his mother's death? She had to ask him. She had to know.

"Did you ever consider your constant search for a woman is possibly your need to fill the hole after your mother died?"

The look on his face went from stunned to shock before he looked at her with disdain. His body tensed and he appeared almost affronted.

"You think I have mother issues? Should I call you Therapist Chloe now? Are you psychoanalyzing me to find out how I tick?"

Gazing at her, his eyes darkened and she cringed, not wanting to make him mad, but knowing she touched a sensitive nerve. Dealing with the death of her mother at a young age, she sought professional help to learn why she felt so much rage.

"No, but I saw this doctor on a talk show and he mentioned that sometimes when a parent dies and leaves behind children, we go searching for that feeling they gave us. That man helped me to understand why I was so angry at my mother for deserting me. Though, she had no choice, I was still hurt she left me behind when I still needed her."

Walking along in silence they reached her house. Finally, he turned to her. "Women are available to me. So, I partook of what they offered, though, part of me says we were both taking what we wanted. Having multiple sexual partners has nothing to do with my mother dying."

The attorney did not like to be surprised with emotions he never considered. At this point, he wasn't ready to accept that his pursuit for intimacy with women who were not right for him was his way of handling the loss of his mom. And he could be right. "Good to know. So, why haven't you found an everlasting love then?"

"Maybe, I didn't want one. Maybe I was enjoying the moment. Maybe I just wanted to have great sex."

Tilting her head, she stared at him. "You should enjoy the moment. Your mother and dad's moments ended way too soon. Just like my mother and dad's moments were interrupted by death. No one knows how long we have and I want to spend as much time as possible with the man I'm supposed to be with."

Not really wanting to hear his response, she turned and waved at him as she walked up the sidewalk to her cute little cottage. Drew Lawrence had never gotten over the death of his mother. Probably, in some irrational way, blamed himself for her passing.

She wished there was a way she could help him through such emotional pain. She’d think of something in the end.

* * *

Later that night, curiosity got the best of Chloe. She'd spent the afternoon paying bills, preparing for the next week, and suddenly she couldn't stand it any longer. She had to know who the diary belonged to. The book lay on her desk, like a beacon calling out to her. Picking it up, she sank down in her favorite chair and pressed the clasp.

The book opened and she read the first couple of pages. The story of a young woman poured from the paper and she laughed at the antics of being a teenager in the early seventies. The same drama, the same angst of her own early years were revealed through the eyes of a mysterious girl. The same parental fights and how her mother wanted her to wear her skirts longer.

Quickly, she came to understand and even liked the girl. She was a sweet person who couldn't wait to start her life. Her plans to attend college doused when she learned there was no money.

Chloe read until she came to a passage close to the end:

Dear Diary,

Last night my friends persuaded me to try the Cupid dance. So, while they waited in the car, I stripped off my clothes and ran in my birthday suit around the Cupid statue. Scared out of my wits, I couldn't believe who I bumped into dancing naked around the statue.

Now according to the legend, he and I are true loves and yet, he is the biggest flirt, the most popular boy in school, the one known for dating a different girl every night. Why would I marry a man like him? Though he is awfully cute and he was sweet to me and promised me this would be our secret.

Then the man asked me to go out with him the next night. I'm going to find out if there is anything between us or another dead end. Regardless, I've decided to go to Fort Worth, get a job and go to school at night. Time to face reality - grow up and become an adult.

James Lawrence would not be part of my life.

Chloe realized whose diary this belonged to. Mary Beth Lawrence, Drew’s mother.

Nerves trickled down her spine, sending a shiver rippling through her. Drew's parents had run into one another around the Cupid statue just like Drew and Chloe.

Could this mean she and Drew really were meant for each other, meeting the same exact way?

* * *

Drew had rented a temporary office until his new place was refurbished, not knowing how long it would take to remodel his grandmother's house. The plans Chloe had drawn up and then revised to his specifications were perfect or so he believed. Only time would tell if they would work with the house.

The bell above his door tinkled and he glanced up as Chloe's father, Reverend Kilian, walked in the door.

"Hello," Drew said, standing and greeting him as a twinge of uneasiness scurried down his spine. At the very first meeting, the man made it clear he didn't care for Drew. His reputation preceding him.

The man shook his hand and then sank down in a chair. "First off, I want to say welcome back to Cupid and I'm glad you're attending church, again."

Drew waited. Why did he get the feeling a big but was about to be slammed down on him? One that probably would end with - stop seeing my daughter.

Putting his pen down and closing his laptop on the details of a case he was currently working, Drew gave him his undivided attention.

"Thank you," he said still not warm and fuzzy about her father being in his office. The man obviously had something on his mind.

"You've been hanging around quite a bit with Chloe," he said, gazing at him the way a father did when he didn't approve.

"Yes, I hired her to refurbish my grandmother's old house."

"Oh, the Perkins homestead," he said.

"Yes, sir." As a lawyer, he'd learned years ago, it was better to let the client confirm what they wanted and needed. So, he sat back and studied the older man, noticing the lines around his eyes and the way his hair had turned silver since Drew was in high school.

"Chloe's mother died when she was a teenager. A father can never take the place of a girl's mother. The ladies in the church have taken her under their wing, but sometimes I think she gets tired of their meddling, as she calls it. This morning, my phone rang with two of the women objecting to her being with you. Are the two of you seeing each other romantically?"

Drew smiled. Part of him wanted to say yes, just to piss the old man off. That wouldn't be good for Chloe. "Like I said, sir, we're working on my project together."

The man frowned and Drew wondered why would he seemed disappointed. Shouldn't he be relieved he wasn't pursuing Chloe?

"Do you like my daughter?"

A trickle of nerves gathered in his stomach and he hesitated, considering how truthful he should be. But again, he didn't want to lie either.

"I enjoy Chloe's company very much. She's a beautiful, intelligent woman."

That brought a smile to the preacher's face. "Chloe is so much like my Margaret. When I look at her I get teary eyed," he said softly, then he straightened and stared Drew in the eye. "I'm no different from any father. You want your children to be happy. To find someone to walk through life with that has her best interest at heart. To love and care for her."

The reverend lifted his hands and made a steeple with the fingers almost as if he were praying, while he stared at Drew. "Since you came home, you appear a more mature person than you were as a kid coming home from college. I've yet to witness or hear of any wild escapades. Maybe the playboy has finally decided to settle down."

With a shrug, Drew smiled, neither confirming or denying. "At this point in my life, I’m trying to build a practice."

A moment of silence ensued with Chloe's father carefully regarding him.

"Call me old fashioned, but I need to find a man for my daughter. Someone who makes her happy. You're not the first man I’ve approached, and the others Chloe rejected. But with you, I see her smiling and laughing and she seems to brighten around you. I'm looking for her a husband."

That was news. Why hadn't he noticed her reaction to him? She always seemed so confident, so sure of what she wanted and not willing to budge on her morals. Which was probably a good thing. Yet, there was the problem that he didn't want a ring and a vow.

Why was her father involved in his daughter's dating life?

"We've moved past the time of fathers choosing their daughter’s husbands. Why are you trying to marry her off?"

Again, the man paused as if he didn't want to confide in Drew.

"My wish for my daughter is to see her happily married and settled before I die. Sadly, my time is limited. Doc says I have six months without chemotherapy and twelve with the drugs."

The reverend shrugged. "The Lord says it's my time and I'm prepared to meet my maker. I want Chloe either engaged or married before I'm called home. The thought of her alone is terrifying."

Drew's chest clenched. How would Chloe react to losing her last remaining parent. The memory of hugging his mother that last time - when neither of them had known it would be goodbye - overwhelmed him. Oh, how he wished he could go back to that day and tell her how much he loved and appreciated her.

"Have you told Chloe?"

"No, and I'm not going to until I can't put it off any longer. My life needs to remain as normal as possible for as long as possible. My daughter should not be under pressure to find someone just to make me happy."

In some ways, Drew could understand. He was attracted to Chloe, but he didn't plan on finding forever after. "I'm honored you think I'm a worthy enough man for your daughter."

"Oh, son, don't misunderstand me. I didn't say that. If I had my way, she'd be going out with some boy from our congregation, but she's not interested in them. With you she appears different."

All the eloquent words on the tip of Drew's tongue suddenly ripped away. All his reasons for not accepting the man's offer drifted away like ashes in the wind.

"You're not my first choice, but I think you might be Chloe's choice."

Again, he battled his conscious. "What if I'm not the marrying kind?"

"Are you interested in her? If so, I want to know now and then I'll back off and let God do his work. If not, please back away. It's a dying man's desire to see his daughter at least happy with someone, if not you, I'll continue the search."

The thought of her father looking for someone else for Chloe sent a jealous spiral coiling like a snake inside Drew. He didn't want another man dating her. Yet, Drew didn't want to marry her, but he didn't want anyone else to have her either. It just didn't seem right.

Sometimes even when you knew your feelings weren't logical, they were still your emotions. And he didn't want anyone else to take Chloe out.

With sudden insight, he realized he wanted to date her.

Since arriving in town, he wanted to explore the attraction between the two of them. Quickly, she put him in his place, telling him if he wasn't looking for forever after, then not to waste her time.

Was he wasting her time? Was he wasting the precious time her father had left? Confusion roiled in his gut and he didn't know the answer, but selfishly longed to find out.

"At this point, I'm not going to promise you I will marry your daughter. I'll agree to ask her out. We'll see where this connection between us goes, but it wouldn't be fair of me to tell you I'll marry her. I'm not certain about marriage and only Chloe can make the decision even if I did ask her."

The older man smiled. "That's all I want. You'll make the attempt and God will take it from there."

Somehow Drew didn't think God had time to take off from worldly affairs to lend a hand in their dating, but if it made the reverend feel better, that was fine.

"Let me just say, I will haunt you if you take advantage of my daughter in any way. No premarital sex unless you want me making your life miserable from beyond the grave."

Well, that was certainly a nasty threat. Now, he only hoped Chloe never discovered he agreed to date her because of her father. For the first time, he could understand why she became so angry at the involvement of people from the congregation in her life, even when they were trying to watch over her.

Though her father's intentions were well intended, still, Chloe would think of this conversation as interfering. And it was.

"Are you going to tell Chloe about your illness?"

"As I said, not until I have to," he said. "When she learns about the cancer, her life will change, and I want to hold off as long as I can."

The old man was protecting his daughter, but she needed to know. "Don't wait too long."

"At the right time, I'll tell her," he responded.

"Let this meeting be our secret," Drew said, knowing she would be furious if she learned they had discussed him and her dating or that he knew about her father's sickness before she did.

"Agreed."