A Valentine’s Book Coupling

By Trinity Blacio

Two Paranormal Valentine’s Day Novellas!

The Cupid Crush by Lia Violet

Librarian Lucy’s teen volunteer group does not want anything red or pink with cute sayings to celebrate love, and she is in total agreement. At their Un-Valentine party, they crush candy hearts with a hammer even while making cards and nice decorations for the Cupid's Dance veteran fundraiser.

Mack is helping remodel the local VFW hall after a fire before a big Valentine’s Day fundraiser, but this is the busy season for him and his Cupid shifter siblings. When he goes to the library to ask for help for the veterans’ event, Mack is surprised to find that even Cupid can be struck by the arrow.

Cupid Hits the Local VFW by Trinity Blacio

Red Riding had heard it all. At 58, been married with kids and was now widowed. She wasn’t done with life, but she also wanted to make a difference. However, the little weasel at the Volunteer agency’s sick sense of humor really pissed her off, sending her into the local Wolf VFW to help organize a Cupid’s Dance for a bunch of Veteran Wolves.

General Zack Danger had done his duty to his country for over 20 years, trying to forget his mate that had been killed so long ago. Their kids were all grown now, so he spent most of his time at the club, trying to help others after stepping down as Alpha of the pack, now Alpha for the VFW-Wolves International.

What he wasn’t expecting was the gorgeous redhead stepping into the club setting off every protective bone in his body when the other wolves started to sniff around her. His wolf was bound and determined to mate with the curvy woman.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riverdale Avenue Books
• Release date: Feb 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781626015494

Trinity Blacio

Trinity Blacio is an established romance writer of best-selling Running in Fear series, as well as a number of dark fantasy, erotic romance, erotic horror and ménage titles. She is the mother of two children and lives in Ohio. Her work can be found at Freya’s Bower and Ravenous Romance, as well as the work of her alter-egos Maria Moonstar and Selene Noreen.

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A Valentine’s Book Coupling: ©Lia Violet and Trinity Blacio 2020

The Cupid Crush by Lia Violet

Cupid Hits the Local VFW by Trinity Blacio

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

For more information contact:

Riverdale Avenue Books

5676 Riverdale Avenue

Riverdale, NY 10471

www.riverdaleavebooks.com

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Cover by Scott Carpenter

Digital ISBN: 9781626015494

First Edition, February 2020

The Cupid Crush

by Lia Violet

Chapter One:

Lucy

Are those cupids made out of black paper? Lucy asked the teen in front of her.

It was the Teen Advisory Board New Year party at the Ville de Cougar Main Library, and the teens were working on the decorations for the veteran hospital fundraiser to be held in February at the local VFW hall.

I can add red glitter glue. Brie said. Brie was incredibly artistic, and often taught anime drawing workshops for the younger kids at the library, but she did like black. She wore black everything, including lipstick.

Lucy smiled. Perfect. She moved on to look at the neon hearts Jaden was cutting apart on jagged lines.

Do you like my broken hearts, Lucy? He asked.

Ah, sure, Lucy said. But couldn’t we have a few whole ones, too?

Lucy grabbed the marker away from Wendy at the next table who was about to finish writing a slogan on a conversation heart that started with Kiss My—

Okay, everyone, listen up. Lucy said, waving the purple marker. I’m sensing a very non-Valentine’s theme here. I’m pretty sure the Veterans are looking forward to a pleasant party, with red and pink decorations.

Boring. Jaden muttered.

Could we have a party with our decorations? Wendy asked.

If you can keep them G-rated, Lucy said. Put traditional Valentine’s Day decorations for the VFW here on this table. Put the other decorations, for our Un-Valentine’s party over here on the other table.

Sweet. Matt, one of the smartest and most obnoxious teens in the group, said. What can we do at an Un-Valentine’s Party? Can I make a dart board with my ex-girlfriend’s photo?

No. Lucy said quickly. But we could make a big jagged heart and use Nerf bullets. No pictures on it.

They shrugged.

I just looked up un-Valentine parties, Brie said, holding up her phone. Can we smash candy hearts with a hammer?

* * *

As she was cleaning up the pizza boxes and art supplies after the meeting, Lucy saw Tim, her supervisor, step into the teen programming room.

You have a nice big group coming to those meetings, Lucy. Good job. He said, looking at the table of Un-Valentine’s decorations. Uh, do I want to know what those are for? Is that a—

Um, they want to have an un-Valentine’s party, she said, cutting him off from asking what the unusual purple decoration was on top. They made these nice decorations for the VFW fundraiser.

Very nice, he said, looking at the pile of traditional hearts and cupids. I wanted to tell you that I was able to find money for the 3-D printer for the Teen Center. But I need a favor from you.

* * *

An hour later, Lucy finished adding lipstick in the mirror of the first floor bathroom. She was never looking her best after a teen program, and she was going to change before heading to the Date with a Book event she was helping run that night. But now she had no time.

She walked back out to the lobby, which was busy with photographers and models for the Mayor’s calendar fundraiser. Lucy knew how important the project was to Mayor Natalie, who used to run the library system, but Lucy hadn’t volunteered any of the times she’d been asked to model in the calendar.

She froze as she saw a gorgeous shirtless fireman holding Alesha from the children’s department in his arms, his muscles glistening under the foyer lights. After the cameras took their picture, Alesha was smiling and talking with the big man, who seemed perfectly comfortable with all his delicious dark skin on display.

Are you Lucy? Lucy turned to see the Mayor herself in front of her.

Yes. I think I’m supposed to fill in for the October picture?

You’re perfect. Thanks for doing this. The Mayor, who was shadowed by her bodyguard, pointed over to a corner of the lobby, where a few hay bales were stacked.

I thought I would be behind something? Lucy asked. She knew that some of the models posed nude for the previous calendar, with books covering private areas.

We have book themed blankets we are featuring. People can buy those too. How would you feel about posing with those two?

Lucy looked over at the two shirtless firefighters moving towards the hay bales.

* * *

Mack

Rafe, did you say you modeled? Mack stared at his brother. Are you competing with Nic here?

Mack had five siblings. His oldest sister Nicolette was a professional model and actress since she was in her teens.

I don’t think my career is in danger of being overshadowed, Nic said wryly.

Knock it off. I had to be in that fundraising calendar. The Chief made me. I even had to dress as a cupid. Rafe said quietly, shrugging into his coat.

Did they pose you like those two? His sister Linda asked, gesturing over to the corner, where two shirtless firefighters held a woman in a blanket between them amid bales of hay.

That girl doesn’t look like she has clothes on under that blanket. And we’re in the middle of the library! Mack’s sister Lisa, Linda’s twin, said.

The rest of the siblings erupted in laughter. Did you have to wear the usual diaper thing people think Cupid wears? Lisa asked.

No. Rafe said. Hey, Mack, take a picture, why don’t you?

Mack was watching the girl with the firefighters. She looks familiar.

Nic looked at her. She’s cute. You should talk to her.

She looks busy, Mack watched the woman talk and laugh with the two firefighters, then pose with them, each of them kissing her cheeks.

This part of the library was supposed to be closed until after school, but it looks like they are running late. Why are you guys even here? Rafe asked, putting his bow and arrow away.

They are having a singles book mixer tonight. Nic said.

"I can see you