"Hey." He paused, waiting for them to speak, but it took them a minute to get over the hairstyle. "I'm Ned."
Kate broke the dead silence and launched into hostess mode. "Welcome to Kinnections, Ned. We're so happy to have you here. I'm Kate, Kennedy's partner."
Arilyn shook her head and came out of her trance. "I'm Arilyn; I do the therapy and computer programming. It's nice to meet you."
His hand went to check on his hair, which of course hadn't budged an inch. "Thanks."
Kennedy cleared her throat. "New hairstyle?"
He gave a half grin. "Yeah, you said it looked disheveled, so I figured I'd neaten it up. Do you like it?"
She shared a look with her friends. "No. But we'll fix it."
Kate kept a smile pasted on her face and whispered under her breath. "The hair should be first."
Arilyn leaned into the tight circle. "Are you kidding me? He's completely orange. You have to take him to Ming."
Kate shuddered. "God, are you sure? Is he that far gone? He may never come back if we sic Ming on him."
Kennedy sighed. "We have no choice, the pigment is completely discolored."
Arilyn took a sniff. "What's that smell? I feel like I stepped into an ocean and drowned."
Kennedy lowered her voice. "Last time it was the woodsy pine. He has no idea how much cologne to use."
"Hello? I'm standing right here. I can hear everything you're saying, even if you think you're whispering," Ned said, sounding a little peeved.
Arilyn clucked her tongue. "We apologize, Ned. We have your best interests at heart."
Kate nodded. "Kennedy will take great care of you, and we'll be here if you need anything."
"Let's go into the consulting room," she said. "See you later, guys."
They said an enthusiastic good-bye, and she led Ned into the purple room. Her files, contract, and notes were already on the small table clad in a neat leather binder. The purple, soft-cushioned chairs set off a thick carpet, deep wood accents, and watercolors on the cream walls. A unique rock garden trickled out a stream of water and gently bubbled, a soothing background for sharing dreams and desires. The room was designed to inspire openness and trust, a complete feng shui heaven created by Arilyn, whose love for yoga, meditation, and all mystical universe stuff helped balance out Kate's hard-core workaholic ways and Kennedy's own drive to command a room socially and increase their clientele.
She motioned for him to sit. "Why don't you get comfortable? I went over your initial questionnaire, but my first step is to have a confidential chat so I can get an idea of the ideal women to match you with. Then we'll decide what works best."
"No more speed dating."
She grinned. "I agree. But we have tons of options." He settled against the purple cushions. "I got you a bottle of water. Would you like coffee or tea instead?"
"No, water's fine, thanks."
She crossed her legs and glanced at his papers. "Why don't we start with your job? You have an impressive resume. NASA?"
"Worked there for a number of years. Then transferred into the private sector. Sector Space X is a new company targeting the niche market of spacecraft for the civilian. I'm currently studying advanced propulsion."
"What makes the rocket go off, right?"
"Correct. Of course, the new Vortex engine uses gel-propellant, which is quite fascinating, but I'm currently analyzing a more efficient yet controversial method."
Kennedy wanted to ask more details about his work, but that wasn't the focus of the meeting. She'd always been interested by mechanics, though she had no talent for it herself. The moment she looked at how something worked, it broke. Still, there was something kind of sexy about a man who figured stuff out, and she needed to reveal more of that up front to keep a woman hooked. She made another note.
"You have a perfect body. Do you work out often?"
Her pen stilled. "Did you just comment on my body?"
Ned frowned. "No offense. I just wanted to give you a compliment."
The flattering aspect of the remark was lost amid its complete rudeness. She leaned forward and shot him a warning look. "Rule number one: there will be no questions, statements, or verbal thoughts expressed about any part of a woman's body. Understood?"
"Why?"
"Women are extremely conscious of being objectified. Most of us have self-esteem issues and don't need to be reminded of our weaknesses."
He shoved his fingers in his hair, but they got caught in the gel from hell. "Dammit, that's what Cosmopolitan said! I followed it to the letter, and a woman at the speed-dating event said women love getting remarks about their bodies. Said she didn't work out at the gym just so I could comment on her smile."
She smothered a sigh. Poor thing. Mixed social signals could blast a man to pieces, especially someone like this guy. "Cosmopolitan is correct. That woman is a rarity."
"I don't know. My brother says women love when men focus on their bodies. Says if you compliment their breasts, ass, or mouth, it's a sure sign of scoring."
Kennedy stiffened as the memories poured in. Huddling by the lockers, afraid to go into the hallway where he was waiting for her. The laughs and shoves and insults of "fat girl" that echoed in her ears long into the night. Her breasts had been larger than most because of her weight, and those dirty stares and grabby hands still held the power to nauseate her. She sternly reminded herself that that was all in the past, breathed in, and refocused. This man genuinely had no clue about how to talk to women, and this was where the real work started. She bet no one had ever bothered to take the time to try to educate him.
"Your brother is wrong, Ned. Very wrong. The best way to make a woman happy is to compliment her intelligence. Her sense of humor. The sparkle in her eyes or the sweetness of her smile. The kindness of a gesture. We want to be valued beyond the physical, and then we feel safe enough to open up."
He seemed to watch her with a burning focus that radiated through the thick lenses of his glasses and pierced her soul. An image of Clark Kent skittered in her vision. Geeky, clumsy, socially awkward, but underneath, hotness galore. And she could do it; she sensed a wealth of appeal behind his veneer that she ached to unearth. But none of it would occur if he were stuck on how women needed to be treated and didn't want to change. She waited for his answer and sensed it was a turning point.
"I understand. That makes sense. That's what the consensus of magazines stated."
"Magazines?"
"Yes. When I decided it was time to get serious about a relationship, I studied every cultural aspect to get an idea of what women wanted and expected from a man."
Her eyes widened. "So, you read Cosmopolitan. What else?"
He ticked them off on his fingers. "Marie Claire, Self, Glamour, Oprah, and Men's Health. I read all the articles and took the surveys. That's why I'm so frustrated. I keep getting different reactions that just don't follow the format."
Damn, had she ever met a man who tried so hard in his hunt for a wife? Her heart softened. She had to give him credit. He may be a hot mess, but he had the right intentions. "That's what I'm here for. I'll help you figure it out. Let's talk about your family. Is your brother married?"
"Oh, no, he's not interested in settling down. Says there are too many women out there to restrict himself."
Uh-oh. An older brother giving bad advice was a nightmare. "I see. Are you two close?"
"Yes, we live together now. He raised me when our mother took off. Dad was too overwrought to deal with us, so my brother took over." She noticed he told the facts calmly, as if giving a PowerPoint presentation. A twinge tightened her chest. She bet his brilliance had always set him apart from the crowd, and a supportive, loving mother could have helped.
"I'm sorry."
His shoulders lifted. "No need. We turned out fine. Could've been a lot worse."
He meant it. Many men either buried the past or used it as a crutch to explain away bad behavior. Ned accepted his circumstances and moved on. Admiration
cut through her. Yes, he possessed character. She could work with that.
"How about past relationships?"
He shrugged. "Not many to talk about. I graduated early, got recruited by NASA, and worked nonstop for a number of years. Went out a bit here and there but rarely got past the third date or so. Most women were bored by my career once they discovered I wasn't an astronaut. Now that I'm back in New York, it took me a while to get settled. I moved in with my brother and delved into a new project, so I haven't had the chance to meet someone yet."
She struggled with the urge to ask him about his sexual past, then scratched it off the list. Too personal for now. She doubted he was a virgin, but it sounded as if his bedroom antics had been . . . limited.
"I'm not a virgin."
Kennedy couldn't remember the last time she had blushed, and swore this wouldn't be the first. "I didn't ask."
His lips twisted in a self-deprecating smile. "I heard your thoughts loud enough. I've had sexual experiences. They just usually lead to a parting of ways because of our lifestyle differences. If I felt lacking in that department, I'd find a way to fix it."
Her nerves tingled. Odd to hear a man talk so honestly about sex in a way that wasn't defensive. She bet he'd be open to all sorts of suggestions with one simple focus: a woman's pleasure. Like he attacked his job and his life, the bedroom would only be another obstacle he wanted to overcome. She scribbled on her notepad and cleared her throat.
"Understood. Let's talk a bit about women. I made note of your survey answers. You don't seem to have many strict requirements. Are you open to ethnicity? Age? Backgrounds? What type of woman do you imagine sharing your future with?"
"Anyone."
Kennedy stared at him. She'd counseled hundreds of men, and there was always a list. A type. Someone to avoid at all costs. "You're willing to date anyone? There must be a few qualities you want in your wife."
He picked at his nails, seemed to catch himself, and rested them on the arms of the chair. "Of course. I can waste our time giving you an inventory of qualities that each person dreams of in a soul-mate. Generosity, humor, attractiveness, intelligence, sexual chemistry. They won't mean a thing until I meet her, though, will they? If I love her, I'm willing to compromise. I want to share my life and have a family. So my true answer remains. I am open to anyone. I just need to find her."
Odd, the way he communicated made perfect sense. There would never be any guessing with this man, and no games. Direct, honest, unflinching. She just needed to find him a female who owned the same type of qualities, or one who was the complete opposite. Either he'd get along best with similar types, or he'd need the balance of contradiction.
Definitely a mixer. Targeted, maybe four to five women of all types, a melting pot he'd be able to delve into. But it wouldn't work until she made some major changes on the outside.
Ken smiled. "I think that was a great answer."
"Then why does that expression on your face make me nervous?"
She laughed. "I told you I'm not looking to change who you are, but I need to tweak the surface. For the next two weeks, I'll be attached to your side. Other than work, we'll be spending evenings together, and weekends. When I feel you're ready, I'll schedule the first mixer. Is that agreeable?"
The unibrow lowered. "What are you going to do to me?"
Her palms literally itched, a sure sign of success. She lowered her voice.
"Everything."
NED ALMOST JERKED IN his seat from that husky, sexy spill of voice. Like velvet and gravel mixed together. The word drilled in his brain over and over, bringing up an array of delicious images.
Yep. She was a definite distraction.
He pegged her for a major flirt, but he didn't think she realized what she'd just done to him. Probably looked at him more like an amoeba in her scientific experiment. Her black pencil skirt emphasized the toned muscles in her legs, which were a deep golden brown. The snug jacket cut over the natural fullness of her breasts and lifted them up like a present. Today, she wore a glittery silver ankle bracelet with tiny charm things. As she shook her leg, they tinkled and brought attention to the strappy platform sandals no woman should be wearing in the cool March weather. A natural sultriness radiated around her figure, and though she obviously knew how to use it, Ned figured that most of the time she had no clue how insanely attractive she was. Something seemed to hold her back, as if she hid a big secret at her core. Would be interesting to explore those limits and see inside. But that wouldn't happen in his lifetime.
She was already looking back down at her papers. Dismissed, without a thought what that husky voice could do to a man. "Let's talk about your hobbies outside of work. I see you golf."
She uttered that word with pure disdain. He itched to show her the excitement of the subtlety and mental challenge of the sport, but obviously, she was more of a baseball or football fan. "Yes. I golf."
Her gaze probed under the cotton fabric of his lab coat to get an idea of his biceps. He may not have a killer body, but he wasn't soft. He ate healthy, golfed, and did regular crunches to keep his abdomen tight. Irritation bristled. What would it feel like to be a man she lusted after? Those gorgeous eyes reminded him of a sleek, strong lioness, pure gold shot with a touch of amber. Fogged with desire, he bet they'd get soft and sleepy. Maybe she bit and sucked her lower lip, which had a natural pout. She was probably trained to know exactly how to elicit a man's response, down to the last detail. She was so out of his league, it was like Butch Harmon versus Happy Gilmore. Ned shifted in his chair and tried to refocus. Golf.
"Golf is good. Anything else?"
He pulled back his shoulders. "Books."
She scribbled something. "Reading is a definite plus. What were the last three books you read?"
"The Kama Sutra. The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty. Fifty Shades of Grey."
The pen stilled. Her mouth opened, and her tongue slid over her lower lip. Ah yes, he'd finally elicited a feminine reaction. He tamped the flood of satisfaction. She was his matchmaker, intent on finding him his soul-mate. No reason to muddy the waters by crushing on her like a schoolboy. Still, he enjoyed the dilation of her pupils as she processed his statement. "Interesting. More research?"
"Yes. Research." Once he got a woman into bed, he intended to keep her there. Part of his study to understand women included a range of erotic novels and how-to manuals to guarantee perfect sexual stamina and performance.
She regained her composure and clasped her hands together, index fingers touching. Her nails were dark purple today. An intricate silver ring flashed in the light. He wondered if she had a lover. He wondered if she had many.
"I'd like to change your name to Nate."
He waited a beat. "My name is Nathaniel. My nickname is Ned."
She seemed to choose her words carefully. "Ned evokes a certain image. Think of this as a reinvention. Since your birth name is so beautiful, I think we should go back to Nate as a nickname."
Ned analyzed her statement. He'd always preferred his real name, but the kids in school hadn't let him use it. They loved to torture him, calling him "Ned the Nerd." He never thought of taking back his birth name after high school and claiming it for his own. He nodded. "A good idea. Nate it is."
She smiled. Her front tooth was slightly crooked, which only made her even more appealing and emphasized her hot pink lips. She was so very . . . colorful. "Wonderful. I think that wraps up most of my questions, so I can begin working on some initial matches. I'd like to start tomorrow evening at six. Meet me at the following address." She handed over a business card. It held an address, phone number, and the word MING.
"Who's Ming?"
"A miracle worker. I know you have a demanding work schedule, but I'll need you to have open availability after work for the next two weeks."
Could he do this? Put himself in the hands of a stranger and trust her to find him happiness?
Yes. He hadn't come this far to quit now. If he kept his focus, it
would all be worth it.
"Okay."
Her smile grew, and he admitted he'd do just about anything to see it again. She was a definite witch, with her apparent power to spellbind him with a single gesture or facial expression. "Great. Trust me, and I'll take you all the way."
The innuendo almost made him groan. But he refused to go down on the first round. He dropped his voice and pretended to be in control.
"I'm looking forward to it, Kennedy."
He caught a flare of unease in her eyes, before smoothing back to her polished social director demeanor. But Nate suspected there was a lot more to her beneath her surface. And he wanted to find out just what those layers held. Maybe he'd even show this beautiful woman a lot more than she ever suspected.
Maybe.
He stood. "I'll see you tomorrow at six." He left without looking back, wondering how it would all turn out.
four
NATE EYED THE bright red door with suspicion, but his eager guide for the evening gave him no time to think. Just pushed him through until he popped into an empty waiting room. The lights were dim, and there was only one large counter set up. No magazines, no water, no snacks. When he'd first heard he was going to a spa, he figured a little pampering couldn't be so bad. Images of hot towels, long fragrant massages, and a beautiful woman rubbing his feet flickered in his head. But this was a dump.
Located on the edge of Verily, hidden up a steep hill, there seemed to be neither foot traffic nor pedestrians. Just a broken-down building with a bright red door. Elizabeth Arden it was not. How did this place get clients?
Kennedy motioned for him to take a seat as she walked up to the desk. The woman frowned at her instead of giving her a welcoming smile and launched into a tirade in heavily accented Chinese. Kennedy listened, nodded a lot, and basically seemed to try to suck up to her. What type of establishment was this? If this was the type of business Kinnections patronized, he may have made a terrible mistake.
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