“No,” she said on a disappointed sigh. But like most kids, Lila didn’t stay down for long. “You want to get pizza with us? Daddy doesn’t mind, do you?”
I shook my head before her dad could even answer. “Thank you for the invite, Lila, but I have to get ready for the Pilgrim Explorers.” The next group was made up of thirteen to eighteen year olds, which meant more troubled kids and greater supervision. “Have fun and I’ll see you at our next session. And don’t forget to practice!”
“I won’t,” she promised with enough enthusiasm to fill the whole community center. “Bye-bye Officer Beechum!”
That little girl was a whirlwind, so precocious and inquisitive. It was just too bad her dad was a jerk of the first order.
Chris
“So, how does this work?”
Eva Vargas was probably the most intimidating of the three women who ran Time for Love matchmaking services, and just my luck that she was the one available when I went in for my appointment.
Her sharp gray eyes missed nothing, and I had to resist the urge to squirm when she examined me for a long, pregnant moment. “Why are you here, Chris? What are you looking for?”
“Oh.” I sat up taller and flashed a friendly smile. “I already filled that out. Online.”
“I know that, but I’d like to hear you talk about your goals with Time for Love.”
I couldn’t read Eva, and though I knew she wasn’t trying to trick me, I felt on edge. “I’m looking to find a compatible match.”
Her full lips pulled into a sympathetic smile. “There are no wrong answers, unless you have ulterior motives. Like Oliver.”
We shared a grin at how that particular story had played out. “It ended with a ring, so I’d say it wasn’t so bad.”
“For me no, but what about the other women who were genuinely looking for love?” Dammit, those grey eyes were psychic somehow, I just knew it.
“Okay fine, here’s the deal.” I gave her a quick rundown of my research needs for the new series. “I am interested in dating someone, casually. I need to go through the process so I can understand both sides well enough to write it realistically.”
Eva sat back in her chair and folded her arms, sizing me up. “Is that supposed to be comforting? That you’re researching how or why a man might want to kill the women he meets through a matchmaker?”
I shrugged, because I knew how it sounded. “Yes. I mean the type of women, and what kind of behaviors might trigger a psychopath. Does she only go out with men for free meals? Rich men? Handsome men?” I wasn’t doing myself any favors, I knew that, but I didn’t want to piss off my best friend’s wife-to-be by not being completely transparent. “I need to know if it’s the constant rejection that makes him go crazy, or is it wanting more than he can get?”
“And you can’t just call up a few of Oliver’s readers to get this information?”
“No. I followed a private investigator and a police detective for the Glockman series. Authenticity is key, Eva. Can you help me?”
She nodded slowly, but I wasn’t taking anything for granted. “I could, but what’s in it for TFL or our clients?”
“I can name the matchmaking agency in the series-,”
“No,” she pointed a long red painted nail my way. “Absolutely not.”
“Okay. What do you want?” I would do anything, within reason, to avoid having to go to another matchmaker and enduring this humiliating process a second time.
“I want you to go into this process with an open mind. Give the women you’re matched with, if we find matches for you, a fair chance.”
I shook my head. Anything but that. “I’m willing to date, as long as its casual, but I’m not looking for anything more.”
“More than what, a hookup? This isn’t a dating app, Chris.” She snapped each syllable angrily and I knew I made a misstep.
“I know that, and I’m not trying to offend you.”
“Yet here I am. Offended. Deeply.”
A knock sounded at Eva’s door before I could decide whether to go for charming or honest.
“Oh am I late for…Chris. Mind if I sit in?”
“Not at all.” I motioned for Sophie Worthington to enter because I thought she might be a friendlier face. A more receptive sounding board. Stone was a nice guy and Sophie was a soft woman who wore pastel colored cardigans, she would understand.
“What’d I miss?”
Eva glanced at me while she spoke to Sophie. “Chris wants to sign up for research purposes. He’s writing about a guy who kills the women he meets through a matchmaker. And he refuses to take it seriously. Have I summed it up correctly?”
“A very abbreviated paraphrasing, but that’s about it.” I turned to Sophie with hope burning bright in my eyes, hoping she would, if nothing else, take pity on me.
“Why?” Sophie’s question caught me off guard, but her tone was gentle and inquisitive.
That meant I wasn’t dead in the water. Yet. “Why?”
She nodded and tucked a few stray blond strands behind her ear. “Why are you so against finding the right woman?”
“There is no right woman for me,” I insisted.
Eva tilted her head to the side, a sympathetic almost pitying look on her face. “Still in love with your ex? It can be hard to move on, but you have to try.”
“I’m not still in love with her,” I growled. “We divorced for a good reason and it’s still valid today.” That reason was she hadn’t believed in my dreams of being a writer, and had screwed a richer guy before I made it big.
“Is this all just for show?” Sophie asked softly. “This is Texas, I know, but Pilgrim is very accepting of alternative lifestyles. There’s no reason-,”
“Hold on just a damn minute. I’m not in love with my ex or harboring secret feelings for men, I’m just not interested in dating.”
“Or women,” both women said simultaneously before erupting into a fit of laughter.
“Forget it. This was a bad idea.” I stood and stared at each woman, so different on the outside but deep down, they were the same.
“Agreed,” Eva said easily.
“Not so fast,” Sophie said, a devilish smile on her face. “I think this could be quite interesting.”
“How? He could ruin our reputation, or murder one of our potential partners?” Eva’s sarcasm wasn’t lost on me, and I didn’t mind. I actually found her sharpness kinda funny.
“No one will end up dead, I promise.” I flashed another playful smile that was met with two stony stares.
“Guys like you often fall the hardest,” Sophie said with confidence. “Look at Oliver, and he doesn’t have the baggage of a messy divorce and custody battle.”
“So you understand?”
“Absolutely,” Sophie assured me. “But I don’t agree. We’ll take you on as a client and book dates. You will go on them and be charming and kind and courteous and engaging. You will assess each woman honestly to help us find her the right partner.”
“I can do that.”
“Good. And if you receive a compatibility match over ninety percent, you’ll agree to a second date.” I was wrong, Sophie might dress sweet and demure, but underneath she was a shark. Possibly a barracuda.
“I’m not sure. Isn’t that leading them on?”
“So sure she’ll want a second date with you, are you?” Eva’s dark brows arched, taunting me on purpose.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“You agree or not,” Sophie said, putting me on the spot.
“I agree,” I told her, my voice filled with resignation, because I knew when I was beat.
“Excellent. I’m happy to get front row seats to the show when you fall.” Sophie stood and guided me to a large conference room, talking about a mile a minute about how the process works and what I should expect.
I barely heard any of it, because all I could see was my plan coming together beautifully, which meant my book would soon come together too.
&
nbsp; Read Chris & Tara’s story here
Also by Piper Sullivan
Curvy Girl Dating Agency
Curves for the Single Dad
Tara
Single Dad Chris Jacobs was too hot for my peace of mind.
And he was too much of a jerk for me to lust over.
His hotness was right on par with his jerkiness, neither of which I needed in my life.
So I put as much distance between us as I could.
Until my mind focused on something other than his thick brown waves, and those hazel eyes that were mostly golden.
Anything else.
His Curvy Best Friend: A Friends to Lovers Romance
Curvy Girl’s Secret: A Baby Romance
His Curvy Enemy: An Enemies to Lovers Romance
Small Town Protectors (Tulip Series)
That Hot Night, Book 12: A Firefighter Romance
To Catch A Player, Book 11: A Second Chance Romance
Cold Hearted Love, Book 10: A Sheriff Romance
Hero Boss, Book 9: An Office Romance
Dr's Orders, Book 8: A Single Mom Romance
Mastering Her Curves, Book 7: A Curvy Girl Romance
Kissing My Best Friend, Book 6: A Fake Relationship Romance
Undesired, Book 5: A Best Friend's Brother Romance
Wanting Ms Wrong, Book 4: A Second Chance Baby Romance
Loving My Enemy, Book 3: An Enemies to Lovers Romance
Bad Boy Benefits, Book 2: A Roommate Hero Romance
Hero In My Bed, Book 1: A Roommate Hero Romance
Accidental Hookups
Accidentally Hitched: An Accidental Marriage Romance (Accidental Hookups Book 1)
Accidentally Wed: An Accidental Marriage Romance (Accidental Hookups Book 2)
Accidentally Bound: An Accidental Marriage Romance (Accidental Hookups Book 3)
Accidentally Wifed: An Accidental Marriage Romance (Accidental Hookups Book 4)
Boardroom Games
His Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Boardroom Games Book 1)
Sinful Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Boardroom Games Book 2)
Naughty Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Boardroom Games 3)
Standalones
Stranded: A Mountain Man Romance
Dating the Doctor: A Single Dad Romance
Dr. Daddy Next Door: A Single Dad Romance
Cowboy's Fake Fiancée: A Single Dad & A Virgin Romance
Cowboy's Barmaid: A Small Town Military Romance
Let's Pretend : A Fake Fiancée Romance
I’ll Pretend : A Fake Fiancée Romance
Boxsets & Collections
Misters of Love: A Small Town Protectors Boxset
Misters of Pleasure: A Small Town Protectors Boxset
Daddies & Nannies: A Contemporary Romance Boxset
Cowboys & Bosses: A Contemporary Romance Boxset
Kiss Me, Love Me: An Alpha Male Romance Boxset
Accidentally On Purpose:An Accidental Marriage Boxset
Small Town Misters: A Small Town Protectors Boxset
About the Author
Piper Sullivan is an old school romantic who enjoys reading romantic stories as much as she enjoys writing them.
She spends her time day-dreaming of dashing heroes and the feisty women they love.
Visit Piper’s website www.pipersullivan.com
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Misbehaving Curves: A Boss Romance Page 17