a week.”
“Lunch this weekend, then? I’ll give you the rundown on my experience.”
“Sure. I’ll take you to Mugs, they have great burgers.”
“Fine. I’ll see you at one on Saturday.”
They exchanged good-byes and he terminated the call.
He was in perfect position now. Jane wouldn’t be suspicious, and he’d be able to watch her and monitor the company.
He hit the remote on the chair and eased back another inch, trying to concentrate on Milton’s speech regarding the moving of his desk, squirrels, and his precious red stapler. What made a woman decide to start a matchmaking business on her own? Was she just a savvy businesswoman looking to make a buck on a good sale? Or did it run much deeper? Her probing questions stirred a nest of emotions he had no interest in exploring.
The knowledge of love wasn’t enough, would never beenough. There was pleasure, and enjoying the moment, and respect. Sometimes there was even friendship.
But not love. At least not long-term.
He thought about Kate and her own personal confession. The words rang in his mind like a mantra.
No man has ever wanted me enough to propose.
Her raw honesty touched something deep inside him. A part that ached to soothe the hurt and prove her wrong.
Yeah, a matchmaker and a divorce lawyer. That’s got success written all over it.
His lips twisted into a smile. Probably the universe punishing him for his sudden craving to seduce her. Hell, he knew why he’d gotten into his career. To help guide the heartbreak and messiness of America’s favorite pastime: screwing the ones they loved. He helped a few people and made a ton of money. Sure, he wasn’t respected, and when he told people his career, they looked as if they’d gotten a piece of gum stuck on their sole. But who cared? No way was he messing up everything by chasing after a love do-gooder.
He was happy.
Life was perfect.
“ROBERT, I’M HOME!”
The scramble of feet on the ground filled her with a quiet joy. Her roommate, companion, and best friend appeared around the corner and headed straight for her.
Kate dropped to her knees and waited. His nonworking back legs didn’t slow him down a bit as he scooted over the floor and stopped right before her. She touched her forehead to his smooth fur. The gentle lick to her face was the only sign of deep affection her dignified dog allowed himself to express. She petted his back and checked his bladder. Almost full. Another hour and the poor thing would’ve had a problem. “Sorry, baby, I was late. Stayed to eat with the girls. Let’s go.”
Kate reached for the scooter beside the door and hooked it up with an expert ease that made her proud of how far they’d come. Together. She ignored the leash and led him outside to the perfect patch of grass meant for him. The whip of the frosty air caused her to shiver, but Robert twitched his nose, took a deep doggy breath, and ran.
She laughed at his outright joy and freedom, the wheels of the cart spinning rapidly as he raced over the lawn to his favorite tree, and began to do laps round and round the gnarled trunk. A deep sense of peace settled over her. Her bungalow-type home might be small, and her yard less than half an acre, but she’d managed to create a home and a family she loved on her own terms.
Robert did his business with perfect restraint, hiding in his own private alcove. When she’d first met him, he’d been run over by a car and lifeless. She found him at the side of the road, a mangle of dead limbs and a hollow look in his eyes. Kate rushed him to the vet and was immediatelyadvised to put him to sleep. No shelter would take him. No owner would want him. He was a pit bull—the worst dog for adoption. Surgery was possible but expensive. Better to let him go in a cold world that had no time for imperfect humans, let alone dogs.
She agreed and went in to say good-bye, to at least allow him to slip to the other side with a friend beside him. He must have been in
“Lunch this weekend, then? I’ll give you the rundown on my experience.”
“Sure. I’ll take you to Mugs, they have great burgers.”
“Fine. I’ll see you at one on Saturday.”
They exchanged good-byes and he terminated the call.
He was in perfect position now. Jane wouldn’t be suspicious, and he’d be able to watch her and monitor the company.
He hit the remote on the chair and eased back another inch, trying to concentrate on Milton’s speech regarding the moving of his desk, squirrels, and his precious red stapler. What made a woman decide to start a matchmaking business on her own? Was she just a savvy businesswoman looking to make a buck on a good sale? Or did it run much deeper? Her probing questions stirred a nest of emotions he had no interest in exploring.
The knowledge of love wasn’t enough, would never beenough. There was pleasure, and enjoying the moment, and respect. Sometimes there was even friendship.
But not love. At least not long-term.
He thought about Kate and her own personal confession. The words rang in his mind like a mantra.
No man has ever wanted me enough to propose.
Her raw honesty touched something deep inside him. A part that ached to soothe the hurt and prove her wrong.
Yeah, a matchmaker and a divorce lawyer. That’s got success written all over it.
His lips twisted into a smile. Probably the universe punishing him for his sudden craving to seduce her. Hell, he knew why he’d gotten into his career. To help guide the heartbreak and messiness of America’s favorite pastime: screwing the ones they loved. He helped a few people and made a ton of money. Sure, he wasn’t respected, and when he told people his career, they looked as if they’d gotten a piece of gum stuck on their sole. But who cared? No way was he messing up everything by chasing after a love do-gooder.
He was happy.
Life was perfect.
“ROBERT, I’M HOME!”
The scramble of feet on the ground filled her with a quiet joy. Her roommate, companion, and best friend appeared around the corner and headed straight for her.
Kate dropped to her knees and waited. His nonworking back legs didn’t slow him down a bit as he scooted over the floor and stopped right before her. She touched her forehead to his smooth fur. The gentle lick to her face was the only sign of deep affection her dignified dog allowed himself to express. She petted his back and checked his bladder. Almost full. Another hour and the poor thing would’ve had a problem. “Sorry, baby, I was late. Stayed to eat with the girls. Let’s go.”
Kate reached for the scooter beside the door and hooked it up with an expert ease that made her proud of how far they’d come. Together. She ignored the leash and led him outside to the perfect patch of grass meant for him. The whip of the frosty air caused her to shiver, but Robert twitched his nose, took a deep doggy breath, and ran.
She laughed at his outright joy and freedom, the wheels of the cart spinning rapidly as he raced over the lawn to his favorite tree, and began to do laps round and round the gnarled trunk. A deep sense of peace settled over her. Her bungalow-type home might be small, and her yard less than half an acre, but she’d managed to create a home and a family she loved on her own terms.
Robert did his business with perfect restraint, hiding in his own private alcove. When she’d first met him, he’d been run over by a car and lifeless. She found him at the side of the road, a mangle of dead limbs and a hollow look in his eyes. Kate rushed him to the vet and was immediatelyadvised to put him to sleep. No shelter would take him. No owner would want him. He was a pit bull—the worst dog for adoption. Surgery was possible but expensive. Better to let him go in a cold world that had no time for imperfect humans, let alone dogs.
She agreed and went in to say good-bye, to at least allow him to slip to the other side with a friend beside him. He must have been in
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