Free The Random Acts of Cupid (Christian Romance) by Amanda Tru Page B

it had been lit with an electric charge. She couldn’t read the emotions she found in Ryan’s gaze. Was he teasing?
    She didn’t understand him. One minute he was throwing stones at her character the next he was actually . . . flirting with her?
    Elise tried to find her voice. But it was as if she suddenly couldn’t remember how to speak. Ryan was returning her gaze with an assessing look himself, as if he was trying to gauge her response to his words.
    Before Elise could wade through her emotions to make sense of anything, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Stella had just walked by their table. With a surge of excitement, Elise saw that the elderly lady was heading directly toward George. Seeing the direction of her attention, Ryan turned to watch Stella’s progress as well.
    Looking around the diner, Elise had to work to control her laughter as she realized she and Ryan weren’t the only spectators. As Stella neared George, it seemed as if all sounds and movement in the diner paused. Waitresses stopped in their duties, customers silenced their conversations, and Elise was sure she could see Amber and the cook peeping through the slats in the door to the kitchen.
    George turned to Stella, sliding off the barstool and standing to his feet as she shyly approached him. Everyone in the diner seemed to be collectively holding their breath.
    Straining her ears in the sudden quiet, Elise could hear Stella speak. “It seems rather silly that we’re both dining alone. Won’t you bring your plate over and join me, George?”
    “Stella, I’d be delighted. The only thing more enjoyable than good food is good company.”
    With matching smiles that bordered on giddiness, they returned together to Stella’s table. While they normally should have noticed being the center of attention, they were so absorbed in each other that they seemed oblivious to everything around them.
    “Congratulations, Cupid,” Ryan whispered beside her. “It looks like you just made another successful match.”
    “I hope so,” Elise replied. “George and Stella deserve to be happy. But only time will tell.”
    “Won’t they find out about the set up? Won’t Stella try to thank George and the whole thing unravel?”
    “No, Stella won’t mention it. She knows George wished to remain anonymous. She’s a classy lady. She won’t draw attention to what she perceives as him being a gentleman. If she does happen to mention it at some point, they won’t be upset by it. They’d probably even get a kick out of the kids at the diner trying to set them up. Believe me, they’ve both been waiting for this day. They’ll seize this opportunity and be grateful for however means it was delivered.”
    Ryan still didn’t look fully convinced, but Elise had a hard time regretting anything about what had just happened. George and Stella were happy, and that was what mattered to her.
    Amber soon appeared with separate checks for their meals, as requested, and two decadent-looking hot fudge brownie sundaes.
    “These are on the house and come with a big ‘Thank you,’ from the entire staff,” she announced with a big smile.
    “I should be the one thanking you and Susie,” Elise replied.
    “We were only too happy to help out. Now that you’ve made Valentine’s Day special for George and Stella, along with the entire diner, I hope you two can make yours special as well.” With a wink, Amber was gone.
    “Why do I get the feeling you may just have created a bunch of monsters?” Ryan asked dryly. “Amber and Susie might have liked their task a little too much. I’m not sure Seattle can handle more than one Cupid. What am I saying? I’ve watched you all day, and I’m still not sure Seattle can handle even one Cupid. You were serious when you said Valentine’s Day was a busy Day for you. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
    “Oh, we’re not done yet.”
    “What do you mean?” he asked suspiciously.
    “We have one more stop