Courting Innocence

by Kimberly Dean

  Sienna covered her face with her hand, while Jason fought not to laugh.

  ‘It’s a…’ he started to say.

  Sienna grabbed his wrist. His gaze locked with hers, and he turned his hand over to take hers.

  ‘Matchmaking service,’ he finished. His thumb moved over the back of Sienna’s hand in a gentle caress.

  Erin put down her fork and sat back in her chair. She looked at the card again. ‘Matchmaking?’

  ‘Of a sort,’ her roommate replied. She fiddled with her unused knife. ‘It’s very exclusive, catering to high-end clientele.’

  Erin ran her finger over the crisp edge of the stylish card. Matchmaking…Take charge. Be aggressive. Go for the gusto. She didn’t know what was running faster, her pulse or her thoughts.

  ‘You can’t say anything to anyone,’ Sienna begged. ‘Not even your parents or your brother.’

  Why would she say anything to them? This was information she needed. She wanted to break out of the norm and try new things. This was certainly new. ‘It’s that confidential?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I won’t tell a soul.’

  Sienna’s shoulders relaxed. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Thank you for finally telling me.’ Erin lifted an eyebrow, but let the question go. Jason and Sienna had met at a charity function before Sienna had started working at Luxxor. But this was interesting…

  She set the card beside her plate.

  Sienna held out her hand. ‘I’ll take that.’

  Uh uh. No way. ‘I’d like to keep it.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to hand out my business cards to anyone but clients.’

  So she wasn’t high-end enough? Erin cocked her head, ready to argue, but it obviously wasn’t a question that Sienna would be open to. She’d have to find someone else who’d be willing to give her more information. For that, she needed Luxxor’s phone number.

  She lifted her chin stubbornly. ‘I’m your roommate. I need to know how to get in touch with you.’

  ‘You have my cellphone.’

  ‘But what if you drop it or it loses power? What if you get sick and need me to call into work for you?’

  ‘Jason has the number.’

  ‘Well, now I do, too.’ Erin deliberately took another bite of her waffle. Sienna stiffened, but Jason squeezed her hand, and the subject was dropped.

  Yet Erin’s gaze kept going to the card as they finished their breakfast. Luxxor Limited. Her mind was awhirl, and, surprisingly, not over her cancelled wedding. She’d wanted to move on. Had the opportunity just fallen into her lap?

  Did she have the guts?

  When the meal was over, she helped clean up, but the first thing she did was take the card to her bedroom and hide it away. Sienna might not like the idea, but the more Erin thought about it, the more she liked it. A matchmaker might be exactly what she needed.

  She was determined to do things differently this time. She wanted to stir things up and meet new people. Try new things. Broaden her outlook. Obviously, she needed help understanding men.

  And who better than a relationship expert to tell her why her former fiancé had found her so boring?

  Chapter Two

  Understated yet affluent. An address in downtown DC, too. This was reassuring. Real estate in this part of town was inhabited by only the upper echelon of law firms and political action committees. If Luxxor Limited was rubbing shoulders with these types, they were doing very well. This was a sign they knew their business. Impressive.

  Their business of matchmaking.

  Erin curled her hair around her finger. She’d never thought she’d be using a service like this, but it had come to her attention at precisely the right time. Online dating sites or the bars weren’t her thing. Besides, she wasn’t really looking for romance; she was looking for insight. One-on-one advice from someone impartial was the only way to get that.

  And that’s why she was visiting during a time she knew Sienna was out.

  Dropping her hand from her hair, she took a deep breath and summoned the poise she’d been taught but never quite mastered. She’d called the 1-800 number on the Luxxor business card first thing on Monday morning and had talked to the nicest woman. Rielle had been polite, but frustratingly vague and non-committal until Erin had mentioned Sienna’s name. Then everything had changed – as if it had been a password or something.

  The intrigue was thrilling.

  Now, she was finally about to embark on a new adventure. On her own. Sienna and Jason were having a late lunch with Sienna’s parents. Erin’s plan was to slip into Luxxor, find out if they were a good fit and then slink away before her best friend put the kibosh on what she was doing.

  Because Sienna would find out. Erin had no misconceptions about that.

  She scowled. She knew exactly how her friend would react. She’d say it was ‘too soon’ or that she was ‘on the rebound’. And the capper, ‘Why not let one of our friends set you up?’

  Why? Because she was tired of others taking care of her. She needed to take charge. Break the chains. Fly, be free.

  Yeah, all those things.

  She stopped in front of the office number she’d been given. Luxxor Limited was spelled out in gilded letters on a heavy oak door. She rubbed her lips together. This was it. She could turn away now or move on with her life.

  Fight or flight.

  She entered without hesitation. She wanted to be a fighter.

  The office was plush and sophisticated, decorated in burgundies and greys. It gave off a professional yet comfortable vibe. This wasn’t some sleazy set-up. Sienna wouldn’t work here if it was. So why was her friend so hush-hush about the place?

  ‘Hello, are you Erin?’ the woman behind the desk asked.

  Her friendliness took away any lingering doubts Erin might have had. ‘Yes, are you Rielle?’

  ‘I am.’ The pretty woman stood and rounded her desk to shake Erin’s hand. ‘You’re Sienna’s friend.’

  ‘And roommate. Well, until Jason convinces her to move in with him.’

  Rielle laughed. ‘We both know he won’t give up on that.’

  No, the man was like a bulldozer when he wanted something. ‘I just hope I’m not the one holding her back.’

  ‘Sienna makes her own decisions. It’s what makes those two so fun to watch.’

  ‘Yes, it is.’ Erin grinned. She liked this woman.

  ‘Can I get you anything? Something to drink? A snack? We have fresh fruit and power bars.’

  ‘I’m fine,’ Erin said, although she’d picked over her lunch. Too many thoughts had been bouncing around inside her head. How would Luxxor treat her? Would they understand what she wanted? How personal would the questions be? What kind of man would they set her up with?

  And what would he expect out of her?

  ‘Nina is looking forward to talking with you.’ Rielle picked up her phone. ‘I’ll let her know you’re here.’

  Erin took a seat. She was the only person in the waiting area, which she was thankful for. Discretion was important to her, too. If her family found out about her plans, they’d nip them in the bud before she’d even be able to try. They were so protective, it could be suffocating, and her broken engagement had made it even worse.

  But she wasn’t going to think about that today.

  Instead, she picked up the latest issue of Elle Décor and flipped through the pages. It wasn’t more than a minute before a graceful woman appeared from the suite of offices behind Rielle’s desk. She wore a colour-blocked top with a black pencil skirt and sky-high heels.

  ‘Hello, Erin. I’m Nina Lockwood.’ She held out her hand and took Erin’s in a firm grip. ‘Welcome to Luxxor.’

  ‘Thank you for having me.’ The company CEO was flawless, with ash-blonde hair that fell model-perfect. Yet it was the glint in her eyes that made Erin take notice. This was one smart cookie. She exuded self-confidence, but, even more than that, power.

  ‘Please, follow me to my office
so we can talk.’

  Erin couldn’t help but copy the set of the woman’s chin and the way she walked as she followed in her wake. She’d grown up being taught manners and proper behaviour, but the way Nina held herself had nothing to do with seeking approval. She demanded respect.

  She also had good taste.

  Her office was impeccable. The blues and greys were sharp but soothing. And somehow personal. Erin started for the chair in front of the massive oak desk, but Nina directed her to the sofa and chair in a seating area off to the side.

  ‘Let’s be comfortable.’

  Erin relaxed into a cushy easy chair and crossed her legs. She’d dressed for the appointment in a simple cap-sleeved J. Crew dress. It felt appropriate for the professional and classy atmosphere of the office, yet she was sure she’d seen the older woman in a very different environment. ‘You’re the one who was with Sienna at the hockey game.’

  Nina nodded, but rolled her eyes. ‘I am. What a mess.’

  That was putting it lightly. Sienna’s old boyfriend had made a scene outside the owner’s box seats at a Capitals game, and Jason had introduced the man to his fist. Unfortunately, the whole thing had been caught on nearly a dozen television news cameras.

  ‘There’s still a detective poking around into that, trying to decide if charges are warranted.’ Nina touched the pulse on her throat. ‘Has he talked with you yet?’

  ‘No. I wasn’t there.’

  Nina dropped her hand and smoothed a throw pillow. ‘But you were there for Sienna when I took her home. I want to thank you for that. She needed someone to be with her.’

  ‘You got her out of there.’

  Nina smiled. ‘Well, then we both did our jobs as her friends.’

  Erin smiled. She liked Nina, too. A lot. She could see why Sienna wanted to work here.

  ‘Now, let’s talk about you,’ Nina said. ‘I have to admit, I was surprised when you called for an appointment. Did Sienna recommend you?’

  Erin gave a sheepish smile. ‘I found her business card, and Jason told me that Luxxor is a matchmaking company. I took things from there.’

  ‘Yes, matchmaking…’ Nina crossed her long legs. ‘About that…We offer a specific kind of service, and we cater to very high-end clientele.’

  ‘I understand.’ And Erin truly did. In DC, it didn’t always matter how much money you had – although it took a lot to even get you into the game. Almost more cachet came from connections and how far back they could be traced. If qualifications were needed, she had them. ‘My father is a well-known lobbyist, and my mother is very visible on the DC social scene. I grew up here.’

  ‘Foster…’ Nina’s brow furrowed. ‘Your father is Harmon Foster?’

  ‘And my mother is Marilyn, most notably from the Daughters of the American Colonists.’

  ‘They are movers and shakers.’

  Erin nodded. ‘So I’m told.’

  ‘You’re not into politics?’

  ‘Can’t stand them.’

  Nina smiled. ‘You’re in the wrong town for that.’

  Erin sighed. ‘I know.’

  ‘Well, with your background, you can understand our need for privacy.’ Nina sat at ease, but her eye contact was fierce. ‘Our business model isn’t the norm. We work on an invitation-only policy, and you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.’

  ‘That’s perfect for me. This is something I want to do for me. Nobody else needs to know.’

  Especially not her family. Her brother, Dustin, would have a cow if he found out.

  ‘You’re younger than most of our clients,’ Nina observed.

  ‘Does that matter?’

  ‘Only in that our services come at a premium.’

  Again, code. Money wasn’t an issue, but Erin had some requirements of her own. ‘I’m willing to pay, as long as I’m assured that your services match what I’m looking for.’

  The sun shifted just enough then so that the rays cut through a vase on Nina’s desk. It sent a shaft of blue across the grey carpeting, pointing right at the company CEO. Blue symbolised confidence and reliability. Responsibility. It was a very good sign.

  ‘And just what is that? We specialise in short-term…engagements.’ Nina frowned. ‘I’m sorry, that was a very poor choice of words. I understand that you recently broke up with your fiancé.’

  Erin’s shoulders slumped. Did everyone know? Was it stamped on her forehead? ‘You’ve talked with Sienna.’

  ‘You used her name as a reference. We vet all clients.’

  And Sienna had put her through? Erin cocked her head. She was new to all this independent stuff, but it was rewarding to have people respect her plans and ideas.

  ‘She’s worried about you,’ Nina confessed.

  ‘She doesn’t have to be.’

  ‘It’s only been a month since your breakup. Are you sure you want…whatever it is that you want?’

  ‘I’m positive. I want to meet new people and get your advice. I want to explore what it’s like to spend time with people with different personalities and interests. I want to understand men better.’ The words came out in a rush, and Erin threw up her hands. ‘I want to date. It’s not as if I’m planning on diving into their beds and having wild sex.’

  Nina paused. A corner of her mouth quirked, but then she gave a brief shake of her head. ‘My advice?’

  ‘Yes.’ That was the true reason why she was here. Reading the signs was the hard part. ‘I want someone to help me figure things out.’

  ‘Figure what things out?’

  Everything. Erin toyed with the fringe on the pillow at her side. She could go home now and be safe and protected or she could trust in her gut.

  ‘I need to know what about me is boring.’

  ‘Boring?’ Nina said, her voice jumping.

  ‘It’s why my fiancé broke up with me.’

  ‘Oh, honey.’ The older woman pushed back her hair and looked to the ceiling. When her attention focused again, there was a different kind of energy about it. She seemed less aloof and more involved. When she spoke, her words were crisp. ‘Men say some really stupid things. I find you charming.’

  ‘There must be something,’ Erin insisted. ‘I thought Marty and I were compatible. We’d been together since we were teenagers. Maybe things weren’t exciting, but I thought we were good together.’

  Nina settled her hand over Erin’s knee. ‘Don’t change yourself. Ever. Not for a man.’

  The soothing blues and greys were no longer doing their trick. The tension and impatience finally broke through. Erin stood up and wandered about the room. ‘I want to change for me. I want to grow. I need to grow.’

  She trailed her finger along the edge of a shelf that held various blue glass figurines. ‘I’ve always let other people take care of me, not because I couldn’t do things on my own, but because I know I rouse everyone’s protective instincts. Look at me.’

  She held out her arms. ‘I’m petite, I’m cute and I’m blonde.’

  ‘You’re beautiful. Stunning, if you want me to be frank.’

  ‘I’ve had one boyfriend in my entire life.’

  ‘Not for lack of others trying, I’m sure.’

  Erin wasn’t. She folded her arms around her waist and ventured closer to the panoramic window behind Nina’s desk. DC was awash in the colours of autumn. The capital was the ‘City of Trees’. With a height limit on city buildings, she could see splashes of red, orange and yellows up and down every block. ‘There was one guy I really liked before Marty and I began going steady, but he didn’t return my feelings. Not to mention, my brother chased him away.’

  She turned back toward the middle of the room. ‘I lived with my parents until I moved in with Marty. This is the first time in my life I’ve had my own place. Even then, I still have Sienna as a safety net.’

  ‘That’s not necessarily a bad thing.’

  ‘I want to stand on my own.’ Erin looked at the woman seated across from her, so confident and
powerful. ‘Can you understand that?’

  ‘Better than you know.’ Surprisingly, Nina didn’t look sorry for her or condescending at all.

  ‘I got complacent, but I want to try new things now. I can’t go back to my old habits. I want to meet new people.’ Erin wrapped both hands around the back of the chair in which she’d been sitting. ‘I want to date a different type of man.’

  Nina folded her hands together and draped them across her knee. ‘Is sexual exploration part of this self-analysis?’

  Erin’s face heated. After being around Jason and Sienna, it better be. There was so much she’d been missing in that part of her life. ‘Maybe?’

  Nina’s look was steady. ‘What we talk about doesn’t leave this room, not even to Sienna. I’ll tell her what she needs to know to do her job, but you can share things with me in confidence.’

  Erin sat again, but stayed perched on the chair’s edge. ‘Marty was my one-and-only there, too.’

  ‘Luxxor’s contracts prohibit sexual contact.’

  The weight inside Erin’s chest dropped. The pressure had just eased. Right? That’s what it was. ‘That’s probably best.’

  ‘Unless physical contact is acceptable to both parties.’

  The weight bounced back, shortening her breaths.

  ‘Brushes of one body against another, a gentle caress of a hand against the small of a back, an impulsive kiss…’ Nina said, offering examples.

  For incidental contact, it sounded awfully sexy.

  Nina sat back against the cushions and rolled her ankle lazily. ‘Can I ask why you don’t just start dating again?’

  Because just talking about being intimate with other men unsettled her? Excited her. Erin slid back into the chair and smoothed her skirt.

  All of which pointed to one very good reason. ‘Things were wrong before, and I didn’t see it. I was hoping…is that not part of the service you provide? To help me understand what to look for in a match? Or explain what I’m doing wrong? Could we talk about how the dates go so I can get feedback?’

  ‘Can’t you do that with Sienna?’

  ‘Not any more.’ She used to, but with things going so well for her roommate and Jason, it was embarrassing that her own love life was in the dust. Erin let out a breath that stirred her hair. ‘I was hoping to work with a professional.’