results and only offer an empty illusion. I surfed the net. Numbers never lie. Most of the marriages they arrange end up in divorce within three to five years.”
Uh-oh. Her tone took on the higher pitch of a woman ready to lose it. “Enough with the statistics! Just because your marriage didn’t work out, and your clients get divorced, doesn’t mean I need to pay by being lonely.”
The pain stirred, but he wrestled it back. Yes, he’d failed his marriage, just as his ex-wife had. But Jane didn’t understand. How could she? He was the one who protected her from a bunch of crappy men who thought they could take advantage of her. The revolving door of brokenhearted individuals barely keeping their sanity was his daily reality. Jane’s sweetness and fragile ego were prime targets of con men, and they’d already been through too many. He had topay the last guy off to walk away. At least the asshole couldn’t claim to be a starving artist anymore and hit up his sister for money.
“I don’t want you to be lonely. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
She sighed and her voice softened. “I’m sorry, Slade, that was a rotten thing for me to say. But I don’t want you to chaperone me. If I get hurt, so be it. At least it will be on my terms. I won’t hurt myself again.”
The image of that night rose up and choked him with emotion. He’d almost lost her. He’d promised himself in that hospital room he wouldn’t let her down again. Jane needed one person to count on, and by God, he’d spent the last years making sure she was protected. “I know. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
He dragged in a breath. Time to spill the truth. “In fact, I was so intrigued with the idea I actually paid them a visit. Decided to sign up myself for the experience.”
His casual tone contradicted his unease. Put himself in the hands of Kate and her female crew? Meet a bunch of women he didn’t know in the pursuit of some type of affair that wouldn’t work out anyway?
Yes. He’d do it for Jane. To keep an eye on her and Kinnections.
Silence hummed over the line. “Are you kidding me? Why would you sign up with a matchmaking agency? You don’t want to settle down!”
“Maybe I do. Maybe I’m looking for a companion to share my life with. If this place is as good as they say, I’ll find someone, too. Hey, we can double date.”
A strangled laugh echoed. “You are so screwed-up. I can’t believe you’d really go through with this. The screening is intense. Are you getting a makeover?”
Hell no.
“We’ll see. Did you get your first date yet?” he asked.
“Soon. Kennedy is taking me to the salon this weekend to freshen up my appearance. Then she gave me some guys to peruse online to get an idea of my taste.”
The meat market atmosphere gave him the chills. Did people really do this shit just to get a date? For God’s sake, why? “Hey, I’d appreciate it if you kept me in the loop. I’m a bit nervous about the whole thing. It’ll help to know what you’re going through, too.”
Suspicion laced Jane’s voice. “Kate will take good care of you.”
An image of Kate on her knees unzipping his pants flashed before him. Sweat prickled his skin. What was wrong with him? “Maybe.”
“When’s your first date?”
“I’m getting a mixer next Friday night.” He drained the beer dry. “Why don’t you come?”
“What? Are you crazy? It’s the first time you’re meeting these women.”
“Who cares? You can find out how Kinnections works,and I can get your opinion. Besides, I never see you anymore, and they’re setting it up in Verily. It’s out of my element. I’ve never seen so many weird pottery shops in my life. How many pots can one person own?”
She gave the familiar snort she had since childhood. “Nothing’s out of your element, Slade. That’s your problem.”
“So, you’ll come?”
“Sorry, I can’t. I’m buried deep in research for my new article and won’t surface for
Uh-oh. Her tone took on the higher pitch of a woman ready to lose it. “Enough with the statistics! Just because your marriage didn’t work out, and your clients get divorced, doesn’t mean I need to pay by being lonely.”
The pain stirred, but he wrestled it back. Yes, he’d failed his marriage, just as his ex-wife had. But Jane didn’t understand. How could she? He was the one who protected her from a bunch of crappy men who thought they could take advantage of her. The revolving door of brokenhearted individuals barely keeping their sanity was his daily reality. Jane’s sweetness and fragile ego were prime targets of con men, and they’d already been through too many. He had topay the last guy off to walk away. At least the asshole couldn’t claim to be a starving artist anymore and hit up his sister for money.
“I don’t want you to be lonely. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
She sighed and her voice softened. “I’m sorry, Slade, that was a rotten thing for me to say. But I don’t want you to chaperone me. If I get hurt, so be it. At least it will be on my terms. I won’t hurt myself again.”
The image of that night rose up and choked him with emotion. He’d almost lost her. He’d promised himself in that hospital room he wouldn’t let her down again. Jane needed one person to count on, and by God, he’d spent the last years making sure she was protected. “I know. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
He dragged in a breath. Time to spill the truth. “In fact, I was so intrigued with the idea I actually paid them a visit. Decided to sign up myself for the experience.”
His casual tone contradicted his unease. Put himself in the hands of Kate and her female crew? Meet a bunch of women he didn’t know in the pursuit of some type of affair that wouldn’t work out anyway?
Yes. He’d do it for Jane. To keep an eye on her and Kinnections.
Silence hummed over the line. “Are you kidding me? Why would you sign up with a matchmaking agency? You don’t want to settle down!”
“Maybe I do. Maybe I’m looking for a companion to share my life with. If this place is as good as they say, I’ll find someone, too. Hey, we can double date.”
A strangled laugh echoed. “You are so screwed-up. I can’t believe you’d really go through with this. The screening is intense. Are you getting a makeover?”
Hell no.
“We’ll see. Did you get your first date yet?” he asked.
“Soon. Kennedy is taking me to the salon this weekend to freshen up my appearance. Then she gave me some guys to peruse online to get an idea of my taste.”
The meat market atmosphere gave him the chills. Did people really do this shit just to get a date? For God’s sake, why? “Hey, I’d appreciate it if you kept me in the loop. I’m a bit nervous about the whole thing. It’ll help to know what you’re going through, too.”
Suspicion laced Jane’s voice. “Kate will take good care of you.”
An image of Kate on her knees unzipping his pants flashed before him. Sweat prickled his skin. What was wrong with him? “Maybe.”
“When’s your first date?”
“I’m getting a mixer next Friday night.” He drained the beer dry. “Why don’t you come?”
“What? Are you crazy? It’s the first time you’re meeting these women.”
“Who cares? You can find out how Kinnections works,and I can get your opinion. Besides, I never see you anymore, and they’re setting it up in Verily. It’s out of my element. I’ve never seen so many weird pottery shops in my life. How many pots can one person own?”
She gave the familiar snort she had since childhood. “Nothing’s out of your element, Slade. That’s your problem.”
“So, you’ll come?”
“Sorry, I can’t. I’m buried deep in research for my new article and won’t surface for
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