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"How do you sleep at night?" Finally. Her muscles tightened, and Slade circled his prey for the kill shot. "You're selling something that doesn't exist. Do you take responsibility for the broken relationships and hearts you created along the way? Is there a disclaimer clause for divorces that occur from your matches? Do you like taking a lonely woman's hard-earned savings while she keeps pouring money into a search that never gives her what she wants?"
The blond half rose from the chair, fists clenched, anger pouring from her figure in choppy waves. Triumph coursed at finally breaking the hard shell of pretense. Get someone angry, push their buttons, and you get the truth. Tricks of the trade. Slade waited for the long tirade with a bite of enjoyment he rarely experienced out of the courtroom.
Those luscious lips opened. Then shut. She dragged in a deep breath, closed her eyes, and seemed to do some type of meditative thing. When she opened them, she seemed calmer. Her hypnotic voice sang in his ears and promised him earthly and heavenly delights. God, what sounds did she make during sex? Moans? Husky whispers? Screams?
What the hell was that thought?
"You're good. You almost got me to lose it, but I'm working on my anger management skills, so I win this round. I'm very sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
A touch of gentleness lit her eyes. "For what happened to you. You were obviously hurt by a partner. Man or woman?"
Slade yanked his hands up and broke his position. "You think I'm gay?"
She clucked her tongue. "No need to be embarrassed. We match all kinds of sexual interests at Kinnections."
His breath choked him. "I'm not gay! And stop poking around in my head--I'm a master and know all about manipulation games. No wonder my sister fell for this charade."
She frowned. "Sister?"
"Jane Montgomery. She signed up with your agency last week. I'm sure you remember her."
The hot blonde tapped her finger against her lips. Slade noted the lack of stylish nail polish in favor of clear. A definite contradiction to her American cheerleader looks. "Of course. We're very excited about working with Jane."
"And she will no longer be working with you. I came here to tell you personally to shred her file and do not contact her again."
She had the audacity to look puzzled. "Why would you do that? We've already spent some time going over her wants and needs, and she's enthusiastic about starting to date."
Obviously this woman needed therapy. Or reality counseling. He spoke slowly, as if talking with one of his dim-witted clients strung out on too much extramarital sex. "Jane is sensitive and quite emotional. You may have a misguided idea of helping, but you will shatter her self-confidence, and I won't allow that. She's had a hard time in the past. If you continue to see her as a client, you will destroy her."
The woman crossed her legs like she had all the time in the world and was contemplating what to order for lunch. Slade noted the sleek black pantsuit, tuxedo jacket, and stylish low-heeled boots. No nonsense, but chic comfort. The silver hoops flirted with her hair, and the silver cuff bracelet gleamed. He wondered what type of underwear she preferred, and then sliced off the thought as cleanly as with a surgeon's scalpel. Holy crap, he needed to get laid. It had been way too long.
"You seem quite protective. But I'm sorry I'll have to decline your request. Again, our client information is confidential, and I think we can help Jane here. I do appreciate your concern and promise to go slowly and carefully with her dating experiences."
Slade clamped down hard on his impulse to circle around the desk and tell her just how dangerous screwing with his sister's head would be. Instead, he turned on his inner switch and fell back into business. Cold, clinical, and dependable. He'd tried to be nice. Now, he'd get what he wanted the hard way.
"I think you misunderstood. I'm not asking you. I'm telling. You will shred Jane's file, inform her you will not be able to help, and never contact her again."
Fury shimmered from her figure. "Make me."
Again, surprise hooked him on the chin. Huh? Make her? Was he trapped in a bad Western? He lowered his voice to a silky drawl. "I can, you know. Make you. My sister has had enough heartbreak in her life, and I'm not going to allow you to deceive her with a mirage. If you don't willingly cut off her account, I'll draw up a legal suit to sue. I'll publicly drag out all your secrets and make sure you're buried so deep in papers, Kinnections will be bankrupt by the end of the year."
He ignored the pang of guilt for stooping to threats, but he needed to protect his sister at all costs. Slade watched the stream of emotions flicker over her face. Anger. Frustration. Fear. Resolve. Good. At least he'd walk away from this encounter and this woman who disturbed him and get on with his life.
"Ah, shit, you're a lawyer."
She spat out the word like it was dirty, but he was immune to the standard reaction. "Correct."
"A divorce lawyer, no less. No wonder you're screwed-up."
How had she known? He stiffened and adjusted his suit jacket. "Now, will you agree to my proposal?"
She tilted her head and studied him. Used to being on the opposite end, he tried not to squirm and held her bright blue gaze. "No."
He blinked. "Huh?"
"I don't negotiate with terrorists, Mr. Montgomery. This includes bullying divorce lawyers who think they're God. I'm not stupid. I have a team of my own lawyers who will match every paper for your paper. Sure, you may get us some bad publicity, but all PR is good for business. There's another issue you haven't considered: Jane's wishes. I don't think she'll forgive you for overstepping your brotherly boundaries and telling her what she can and can't do. She may be a bit shy, but she's not a pushover. How do you think she'll react when I tell her the truth about this little meeting?"
The tables tipped, curved, and readjusted. She was much feistier than she looked, and damned if she wasn't right. Jane already kept him at a distance, determined to show him she'd make it on her own. This may break the final, fragile bonds holding them together. Slade recalculated his loss-to-profit ratio and thought quickly. There had to be another way to help his sister without alienating her and keep his eye on Kinnections to make sure they didn't screw up. The idea took root, and though he searched for any other options, Slade realized he was truly screwed. There was only one way left, and it was a wooded, thorny path he wished he didn't have to travel.
"It seems we have reached an impasse, Ms.--"
"Seymour."
"But you must understand I don't intend to walk away until I know Jane is safe."
Her features softened. "I didn't get in this business to hurt people, Mr. Montgomery. I came here to help them. Hopefully, to put them on the path of love and happiness. Unfortunately, if one opens up to love, it can mean heartbreak. But it won't be because we didn't do our best and try."
His lips tightened. "Lofty ambitions don't make screwing with people's heads acceptable. There's only one way I'll be able to test your theory and your business model."
"What's that?"
"Sign me up as a client."
She jerked back. Satisfaction coursed through him. Finally. He was back in control, just the way he liked it. "Excuse me? That's impossible."
"No, it's not. If you can find me love, you win. I'll back off and be your biggest advocate. Hell, I'll use your agency to help my own clients, and Kinnections will explode."
She lifted her hands in the air in supplication, then let them drop back down to her thighs. "Our clients need to be open and willing to find their soul mate. There's a lengthy process, and you'd fight us every step of the way. It'd never work."
"I can try." A sense of calm settled over him. "I've dated endlessly and can never seem to find the woman meant for me. If she's out there, I'd like to find her."
"Why?"
He considered her challenge. "I'd like to have children one day," he said slowly. "A companion. A friend to grow old with. Who wouldn't? I don't believe it's out there, but I'm willing to let you prove me wrong. If you think you can handle it."
She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, and for the first time since he walked in, she looked completely scattered. About time. "You'd need to go through relationship counseling. Have intensive interviews and screenings with me. Be willing to engage in social events. This is ridiculous, Mr. Montgomery. And I have no time to waste."
"Neither do I." He locked his gaze on hers and refused to release her. "Take it or leave it. If you don't, I'll know you're a scam artist and I won't care about Jane's reaction. I refuse to let her get hurt so that you can put money in your pocket. If you do take me on, and I see the value in this matchmaking agency, it's a win-win for both of us. I'll help you grow your client list and tell everyone I know. What do we have to lose?"
"How about my sanity and sense of humor?" she grumbled.
"Funny, I figured you'd lost those a while ago."
She glared at him with suspicion, as if suddenly wondering if he had a real sense of humor. Slade wondered why he was enjoying this conversation so much. He was getting tired of being around two types of women: angry and bitter or needy and clingy. Hell, his work had become his full-time lover, and wasn't that sad in the prime of his life? Of course, he didn't expect Kinnections to work, but maybe he'd get out of his rut and mend his relationship with Jane. If they both were going through the process, he'd be able to keep a close eye on her. Yes, this was definitely a win-win.
