Her mouth dropped open. She was about to tell him what she thought of his little plan when the waiter dropped off their drinks.
She picked up her wine. She had the full glass in her hand. It felt weighty. Wet. Her fingers itched to toss it right into his face. The prick.
She kept her eyes on the glass because she was afraid he would see her tears. She blinked rapidly and took a shallow breath, calming herself. It would not do to let him see she was upset. She didn’t want him to think--how ridiculous it was now--that she had entertained the idea he had wanted her back. No! He must never think that.
She tossed her head back and laughed. “Really? Is that what you want? You took the time to take me for this lovely dinner when all you had to do was make a phone call?”
“Well, I wasn’t sure how you’d take it. I wanted to tell you personally.” He took a large swallow of his martini.
“Most kind of you.” She sipped her wine and carefully set the glass down. “I’m sure I’ll be able to find the right woman for you. This dating service is expensive though. Since we do a background check on everyone, we have to charge enough to cover our costs. Not that you need a background check. I know what kind of man you are.” She looked him dead in the eye. “But you will still have to pay the twenty-five thousand up front.”
“Twenty-five thousand?” He snorted. “That’s ridiculous. Who charges that kind of money?”
“Champagne For Two does. We can afford to, because we intend to be the best. What you get is quality, not quantity.”
“Nobody will pay such an outrageous fee.”
“As a matter of fact, people do. I did my research and believe me, there are matchmaking companies that charge that as a starting fee. Valenti for one, and Janis Spindel is another. She’s been on the Today show, ABC News, and just about every other media known to mankind.”
“Never heard of her.”
“No, you probably wouldn’t, but trust me, she’s real and so are her wealthy clients. She’s based in Manhattan, but she has clients all over the country. Maybe you’ve heard of her book, Get Serious About Getting Married.”
He shook his head. “Not my taste in reading material.”
“No. I forgot. Your reading is limited to magazines like Link and Golf Digest. But I digress. The point is, she’s been in business for fourteen years and has successfully matched up more than seven hundred couples. Champagne hasn’t got a track record yet, so we will have to start smaller and build from there.”
“I still can’t believe anyone in their right mind would pay that much money to meet someone. It’s crazy.” He glanced around the elegant dining room. “Beautiful women are easy to come by.”
“That may be so, but some people are too high profile or too wealthy to take a chance on someone who hasn’t been checked out. Spindel’s clients are mostly men, wealthy and successful, who don’t have a problem finding women, but are looking for a wife.”
“Sounds like bullshit to me.”
She ignored his crudity. “According to an interview in the Miami Herald, she charges a $50,000 retainer and another $50,000 when she finds the right woman.”
“Men gotta be crazy.” Jim rubbed a hand over his mouth. “I can find a girl on my own for the cost of a drink.”
“Then perhaps you should,” she told him. “I can’t charge what she does, of course. Not yet. Still, if she can get that in New York, there’s no reason why I can’t get it here.”
“Good luck. I think you’re going to need it.”
“You’re right. I need luck and the right clients. I want to offer the same thing she does—a sophisticated boutique style service for upscale professional singles.” Christine looked around the room at all the wealthy, well-dressed women, wondering how much they would be willing to pay for the chance to meet someone new if they happened to find themselves single. “She charges a thousand dollars for a consultation fee.”
“I don’t need a consultation any more than I need a background check. So you can afford to cut me a deal.”
“I suppose I could do that.” She buttered a piece of bread that she had no wish to eat, trying to figure out a number he could afford.
“What kind of guarantee would I get?” he asked while she was thinking.
“The same as everyone. I will introduce you to as many women as it takes until you find someone suitable. My aim is to guarantee results. That’s why we can charge a small fortune and be selective.” She put her hand on his. “Don’t worry, Jim. When I meet the right person for you, I’ll let you know. Naturally, she’ll have to agree to meet you.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I should forget about it and find a girl the old-fashioned way.”
“But you want someone special, don’t you? Someone who’ll make Keri jealous?”
“That’s true. And you can guarantee somebody like that?”
“I can and I will.”
“Okay, but it won’t be that easy.”
“Let me worry about that. For you, it’s simple and stress-free.” She sat back, giving him an assessing look. “I can charge you a thousand. It shouldn’t be too hard to find what you’re looking for.”
She was thinking how—personality aside--pretty young things were a dime a dozen, but she didn’t want to go that cheap. “I do take it that you want them young?”
“Of course. Is there any other kind?”
She felt her cheeks color. “Not for the likes of you,” she said sweetly.
His eyes narrowed. “Does this bother you? Tell me if it does and I’ll go elsewhere. Maybe this was a stupid idea after all.”
“Stupid? No, I don’t think it’s stupid.” Selfish, cruel, totally insensitive, were more to the point. “After all, what are friends for?” Oh, she was good at this. No way could he tell that he’d hurt her. No way at all.
Their meals arrived, and she knew she would eat every bite of her lobster. Even if it choked her.
After Christine demolished her two-pound lobster and Jim polished off his Porterhouse steak, he paid the bill and they walked out to the front of the old grand hotel.
She gave the valet her ticket for her Mercedes and looked at Jim. “You need a ride? Where are you staying, by the way?”
“I’m at the Fairfield’s Suites on South Ocean.” He looked embarrassed as he said it. Then he added, “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll hang around a while before I call it a night. It’s a beautiful night, and who knows? Maybe I’ll get lucky.”
Christine cringed. “Yeah, maybe you will. That’ll save you a grand and me the trouble.”
“True, but I like the idea of you finding me someone outstanding. Doesn’t the Donald have a daughter?” He grinned his boyish can’t-help-myself grin that had always weakened her, but now infuriated her.
“Yes, he does. But I think she’ll set her standards a little higher than you.” Christine couldn’t help herself. But really. Where did he get off? What made him think he could have anyone he wanted? He was forty-seven, fit, and still very handsome, but he didn’t have any money of his own. He didn’t even have a job anymore, since he’d quit his job as a golf pro to become Keri’s boy-toy.
It was time he set his sights a great deal lower.
The smile was wiped off his face. “You can be a real pain in the ass, know that?”
Her car arrived in the nick of time. She tossed her ex-husband a glance as she strode to the Mercedes. “When I get your check, I’ll be in touch.”
She gave the valet a five note and slid into the driver’s seat. She checked her lipstick in the mirror and watched Jim go back inside. He was probably heading for the bar, hoping to meet someone who could afford to buy him a drink.
The only feeling she had for him now was sadness. He was truly pathetic.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Christine had spoken to Derek’s work-buddies and interviewed them over the phone. She had set up appointments for the four men to come in and meet with Dr. Weiss, and she felt a little sorry for the guys.
Jay Sullivan arrived at nine Monday morning. He was a pleasant looking man, a little shorter and more wiry than Derek, not as imposing, but definitely someone she thought would make a nice addition to her client list. She was already thinking she could introduce him to Amy or Kelly, who were always looking to meet someone nice.
She was talking to him, making him feel comfortable when Dr. Weiss bustled into the reception area, introduced herself, and started questioning him on his sex life.
“When was the last time you had a sexual relationship?” Dr. Weiss asked.
“Uh, last week.”
“A relationship or just sex?” she asked bluntly.
“Just sex,” he admitted, looking at Christine and blushing.
Christine shrugged as if to say, you’re on your own.
“Last time you had a girlfriend--was it a monogamous relationship? How did you feel about that?” She kept firing questions at him as she led him into her office.
After thirty minutes passed, Christine wondered if Jay might need her to run interference. She could pop her head in, ask if they needed anything.
It might cause Helga’s gray hair to curl, but she owed Jay a break. After all, he was here only as Derek’s friend.
She opened the door to Helga’s office and heard the sound of deep laughter. Jay had his head back and his whole body was rocking with his belly laugh.
“Where did you get this woman?” he asked when he spotted Christine. “She’s a spit-fire, that’s for sure.”
Christine smiled and looked at Helga. She nodded at the doctor with new respect. “Yes, we dragged her out of retirement to come and work for us here. So, everything is going all right?”
“You bet it is. Dr. Weiss is going to find me my dream girl. As a matter of fact, she says she has a niece who makes a perfect Black Forest cake from scratch. Also says the girl will love me.” He winked at the doctor. “She likes a man with muscle.” He flexed his, which made the good doctor chuckle.
“Dr. Weiss?” Christine said. “This is a dating service, and we need to introduce him to other clients.” What was the woman thinking? How could they make money by introducing their first male client under eighty to her niece?
“Yes, I do know that,” Helga answered. “But we don’t have any young women that are suitable. I have done my evaluation and none of them are right. My niece, on the other hand—
“Never mind. I’ve heard enough about your niece,” she said stiffly. “I will let you get back to your interview. Glad you’re getting along.”
Christine backed out, shaking her head. Clearly she didn’t need to worry about Derek’s pal. He was as comfortable with Dr. Weiss as if they were already family.
She returned to her desk and sat down, thinking. It was true that they didn’t have many suitable women, or men for that matter. If the business didn’t get clients soon, there would be no business. The scheduled dinner-dance at the Colony Hotel had better be successful, or they were in big trouble.
The dinner would cost them a bundle, but she expected the reward would justify the expense. She had booked the ballroom and guaranteed two hundred people. According to Jenny, a hundred tickets had been sold, but that left one hundred unsold. That was too many.
She had Nicole busy--placing ads in the local papers and on the radio stations. Surprisingly enough, her daughter was good at what she was doing. Maybe she should have expected Nicole to be good at selling advertising. After all, she had been a successful realtor in LA for a year, and even her job at Hooters gave her the chance to interact with people. Clearly, Nicole was comfortable in negotiation and not intimidated by anyone.
Derek’s other three friends had interviews with Helga throughout the day, and Christine met with three women who had called about the service. Helga fared much better with her interviews than Christine did.
The first young woman was dressed in an extremely short jean skirt with a tie-dyed Jerry Garcia T-shirt, and sported a tattoo of a dolphin on her ankle. Her physical appearance aside, her application revealed that she was diagnosed as bi-polar. And she was the best of the three. The second woman she interviewed had never made it through high school and was now employed as an exotic dancer. The third confessed that she’d been detained once in Bangkok on suspicion of drugs. Needless to say, Helga never saw the women because they didn’t make the second interview.
She had hoped one of them might be suitable for her to introduce to Jim. He’d called already to see if she had found anyone. Guess his drink at the bar Saturday night had not been fruitful. As much as she would like to pair Jim up with someone appalling, she did not want such a person as one of her clients.
She could introduce him to Paige. The woman was young, attractive, and might go for it. But she wouldn’t be doing Paige any favors, and that was not what the business was about.
No, it wouldn’t be fair to a client. The one thing she did insist upon was that each person who signed up must be looking for a long-term relationship, not a new person to date every week. That left Jim out. She would have to find him someone her dating service turned down.
***
Once Anne was reunited with her friends, they spent that day and the next on a whirlwind tour of Venice. The three of them took a Gondola through the narrow canals; they walked for miles down one narrow twisty cobbled stone street after another, and were totally enchanted with the numerous bridges, the countless courtyards and picturesque houses, and common squares where they might be surprised with a shop or two, a bar, sometimes a lovely church. The first evening they dined at one of the outdoor restaurants at St. Marks Square, serenaded by the bitter sweet sound of violins.
The second day, Anne returned to her hotel room after a busy day of sightseeing, and a basket of flowers greeted her. With butterflies doing loops in her stomach, she sat down to read the card from Salvatore.
“My dear Anne. I hope you are enjoying the rest of your tour, and that you remember our brief time together fondly. I have a confession to make. I called Trafalgar Tours and found out your trip ends in Paris. I booked a room at the Hotel Meurice on the rue de Rivoli. I will be staying for five days, and I would very much like for you to join me. We never had a chance to finish our dance. If you do not show up, I want you to know that I had a very memorable and eventful couple of days with you, and will remember you with great warmth.”
It was signed, “Love, Salvatore.”
Anne sighed. She looked up at the ceiling and whispered, “Oh, Charlie, what should I do? What would you have me do? Run home where I belong, or have one last fling while I’m still young enough to enjoy it?”
When she didn’t get an immediate answer, she rose from the bed to smell the fresh flowers. They were such a beautiful bouquet and it had been many years since she’d received flowers. So why did they make her want to cry?
She did want to see Salvatore again. Was it wrong of her to want a little romance and passion in her life? Was she being selfish, or ridiculous? She was only sixty-six years old and she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life alone.
Taking a flower out of the bouquet, she held it against her heart. She had received flowers from this sweet and charming man, and it made her feel very special.
Romance did not wait for anyone, let alone for a woman her age. If she wanted one more chance to feel young and giddy and breathless, and all those other wonderful feelings that only love could bring, the opportunity was now.
There was really nothing to stop her. She knew that Christine had everything covered with the business. Her daughter had hit the ground running and had already implemented all the changes she had envisioned. She would turn the business into a huge success, make heaps of money, and everyone would be better off.
With those thoughts floating through her mind, Anne decided that if would be a terrible shame for her not to spend an extra week in Paris. When would she get another chance? She would ask Helen if she had ever heard of Hotel Meurice.
Helen was the only one of the
three who had been to Europe before. As a school teacher, she had had her summers off and would often take trips abroad. She was the most worldly of them all, the most outgoing, the one who made all the plans.
What would she say when Anne announced she was staying behind and would not be joining them on the flight home? She would probably tell Anne she was a silly old fool. Well, if she was, she was going to enjoy every moment of it.
With Salvatore.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Derek had waited for days for Christine to call, but he hadn’t heard from her since he’d dropped her off at her house after the photo shoot. He hadn’t been able to get their good-bye kiss out of his mind, but apparently it hadn’t had the same impact on her. Obviously, the lady could take it or leave it.
He’d hoped for the former. Funny. Now that he’d decided not to date anyone until he was thoroughly over his wife, he was like a horny teenager, unable to get Christine out of his thoughts. He liked the way she walked, with her long confident stride, the way she laughed—heartily, not a polite, phony chuckle--and he liked the crease she got between her eyes when she was thinking hard about something, and the haughty tilt of her head when she challenged him. But what he liked most about her was her mouth.
God, what a mouth. Lush, full, sexy. It was a sin to have a mouth like that and not use it. He wanted to taste those juicy lips again and again.
Christine might pretend she wasn’t interested, but he’d been alive long enough to know that was not exactly the truth. She wanted him all right. Whether it was for a relationship or simply sex, he couldn’t say, but she was hot for him. He would bet his last dollar on that.
He knew she was still hurting over her idiot husband leaving her for a young, rich divorcee. That would be a real ego bruiser for anyone, but someone as beautiful and smart as Christine shouldn’t have to play second fiddle to anyone. He also had a feeling that when Christine loved, she loved with everything in her. To be discarded like that had probably ripped her apart.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE TRILOGY Page 37