Jennifer Probst - Searching for Someday

“What?”

“Yes. I’ll be setting up an event where you can meet some women. It will be small, extremely tasteful, and discreet. You’ll be able to meet and mingle, and then choose one for your main date. It’s a good introduction and doesn’t waste any of your time. But there will be one rule you need to follow if I have any chance of success. No sex.”

His brows slammed together. “You better be joking.”

Kate tapped her pen in a steady rhythm and met his gaze head-on. “No, Slade, I’m not joking. No sex. You’re caught up in the lust-hormone cycle, and until we break through, you’ll never be open to admitting real feelings. You need to agree to this.”

“Sex is a way we can find out if we’re both compatible. This isn’t Victorian England, for God’s sake!”

She sighed. “I’m not saying no sex ever. You just need to set an initial time period where you don’t engage in physical intimacy. Let’s say, no sex until you’re ready to begin seriously dating. Monogamy. Trust me, if you’re not interested enough to want to have dinner with her for a few weeks, you won’t be able to forge a lasting relationship with her. Sex sometimes confuses things, as you’ve just pointed out. Take it out of the equation, and we balance the playing field.”

He pushed a hand through his hair. “I don’t like this.”

“I understand. But I’m asking you to trust me. I know my job, and I know how to get you what you need. Will you give this a shot?”

“Fine. But if I don’t think it’s worthwhile and helping me, I’m yanking that rule. Got it?”

Kate grinned. “Fair enough. I’ll set up your mixer for next Friday night. Seven. I’d like to hold it here in Verily, if that’s acceptable.”

“Sure, I can check in on my sister. How is she?”

“I can’t discuss her status with you. Just as I won’t tell her about you.”

He cocked his head. “Fine. I see you ask your clients to give you a full year to make a long-term match. Isn’t that a bit long to keep collecting the fee?”

His mild-mannered tone contradicted the judgment in his eyes. Kate reached deep for calm, refusing to lose her center. This man knew how to goad and press buttons she never knew existed. Her smile oozed sugar and syrup. “Funny, I think the exact opposite. An agency that guarantees results in three months for $19.99 would make me quite suspicious. The journey should be fruitful, rich, and full of adventure. What’s a year compared to love for a lifetime?”

He snorted. “What indeed? Just a cache of new clients for me after it blows up.”

Kate crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Hold the cynicism until after the cocktail party, please. You’ll also need to complete a session with Arilyn and Kennedy. Depending on their feedback, we’ll schedule the proper classes for you.”

“What classes? Like sensitivity training? Or How to Give a Woman an Orgasm in Less Than Five Minutes?”

Heat flooded her body as that delicious lower lip tugged upward in a half smile. God, what that mouth could probably accomplish. Her toes curled in her boots, but she held it together. “We’ll discuss their recommendations once they meet you. Let’s say Sunday afternoon? Completing the classes before the first mixer is more beneficial.”

He let out an irritated breath. “Do I have a choice? As long as your colleagues realize I have sensitivity galore and I’ve already mastered class number two.” He paused and drilled her with his gaze. “Many times.”

“G-g-g-good. Then you’ll be ahead of the game. J-j-just be sure you’re open to all suggestions and the journey ahead.”

Damn stutter. This man singed her nerves, and she hated lapsing into her familiar weakness. Kate concentrated on music filling her mind and rolling out of her mouth. A few deep, even breaths, and she regained her center.

He held up a hand in mock defeat. “Fine. I’ll be open to love and let it all flow. Always hated country music and all that sap.”

“You’re not listening to the right kind, darlin’,” she drawled. “Most are about cheating men and kick-ass women. Or don’t you watch Nashville ?”

“I surrender.”

A silly giggle threatened. Damn, he was funny. She loved a droll, sarcastic sense of humor. Too bad he was everything wrong in a man, and she was the exact opposite of what he wanted in a woman. At least it would save her a bunch of heartbreak, because once a woman fell in love with Slade Montgomery, she’d bet it was for a life sentence. Oxytocin, or whatever the hell it was called, be damned. Kate rose to her feet and walked with him toward the door. He shrugged on his jacket, flicked the button closed, and faced her.

“Thanks for the session, Kate Seymour.”

He put out his hand, but she jumped in front of him and rushed out the door. Not yet. She wasn’t ready to touch him and get slammed by any raw, sexy energy she might pick up on. She’d save it for matching him with the right woman.

He followed her and almost bumped into the two assessing females blocking his path.

Arilyn and Kennedy broke into bright, welcoming smiles. Kate knew better. They were stalking him, assessing, and couldn’t wait to get him on their couch. A flare of appreciation lit both her friends’ gazes as they took in his trim physique and gorgeous surfer hair. Kennedy stepped in front of him. “Hi. We wanted to introduce ourselves since you’ll be working with us. I’m Kennedy. I’ll be helping with social events, makeovers, and anything you need to make your experience better. This is Arilyn. She does relationship counseling and is our internet guru. Welcome to Kinnections.”

Slade quirked a brow. Oh yeah, the man was not dumb. He knew they were checking out the fresh meat, and he seemed amused at the concept. “How nice, a welcoming committee. Slade Montgomery.”

“Related to Jane?”

“Her brother. Older brother. How is she doing, by the way?”

Arilyn gave a warm smile and completely ignored Kate’s obvious throat clearing. “Wonderful. We already have her set up with her first date and she seems much more comfortable with herself.”

“Seems a bit quick, doesn’t it? She just enrolled. Doesn’t she need more advice or time to find the right one?”

“We feel she’s ready.”

“When is it?”

Kate stepped in front of him and gave Arilyn a glare. “None of your business. We do not discuss our clients with other clients. Right, ladies?”

Arilyn bit her lip. “Oh, I’m sorry. I just thought since they were family . . .”

Slade flashed a confident smile, all gorgeous white teeth. The top one was slightly crooked and kept him looking more rugged rather than pretty. “My fault, no harm done, Arilyn. It was nice to meet both of you.”

He strolled out of the office. Kennedy leaned way over to watch him disappear. Then slumped against the wall with a hearty sigh. “Damn, he has a fine ass.”

Kate winced. “I swear, if any of our clients heard you speaking like that we’d get sued. We have to be super careful with him. He’s out to prove us to be frauds and thinks we steal money from the innocent and use love as the bait.”

Kennedy whistled. “Interesting. Well, he’s protective of his family, smart, and hot. A perfect trifecta. Why don’t you take him for yourself?”

“I don’t date clients, Ken. You know that. Besides, I’m done with men.”

Her friend clucked her tongue. “Breaking a rule or two won’t hurt anyone if you’re both interested. You’re the one who made that ridiculous law, so you can change it. Maybe you need to mix up your usual boring bread-and-water type with a pizza supreme.”

Kate burst into laughter. Arilyn frowned in disapproval. “Though I do love pizza, I’ll pass. Anyway, we just went over his list, and I’m the opposite of every trait he desires.” She ticked them off. “He prefers brunettes, curvy, conservative background, solid family with no skeletons, master’s degree—oh, and no virgins.”