AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s not a big deal. He’ll like her. She’s beautiful.” This woman is unreal. The number of insults she has slung should be enough for me to tell her to take this job and shove it. But then she pulls out her ace card. “I’ll give you a pay increase. And you never have to come to the office again. No monthly check-in meetings or emergency visits. I’ll hire another tech for that. You just focus on keeping the website and the matchmaking program functional.”
So, this is what desperation sounds like. A pay increase and reduced responsibilities. Brad Cooper might be a douche, but he is a connected one. Rebecca knows that one bad review from him and Forever Love is forever gone.
“Fine. I’ll stay. But if he so much as touches me—” I let the threat hang in the air. Some things don’t need to be said.
Sighing, I let Rebecca continue to lead me to my table. It’s only one night, and it’s not like I had an actual chance with Mark, anyway. Even if I did, he’s a temptation I can’t give in to. My job is on the line.
4
Mark
Amber was right. This is bullshit. A certified grade-A scam. The decorations are gaudy and excessive. The owners of Howie’s are going to be cleaning up hearts for months. I know it’s a celebration of love, but do hearts really need to be on every surface? Amber and Tyler did our office, both huge fans of holidays. It’s within the spirit of the day but tasteful, with colors ranging from gold to blush pink. Here, there’s nothing but pink on pink. I’m nauseous just looking at it.
Then there’s my date. There is no way Forever Love matched me with this woman. The same woman who did my intake interview. The same woman who tried to give me her number… on my hand… in her tacky red-orange lipstick. Doesn’t that place have rules against employees hitting on their clients?
Her perfume is suffocating me, the scent reminiscent of a sickly sweet alcoholic drink. Her make-up is so thick I’m pretty sure it was chiseled on, along with her tacky outfit. And her voice… good God, she sounds like the Wicked Witch. Unfortunately for me, she loves to talk. Mainly about herself. I half listen as she prattles on about her gym membership and the ladies at her golf club.
Amber was also right about something else—Sarah. Meeting her is the only bright side to this whole debacle. Thank goodness her table happens to be close to mine, so at least I have something pretty to look at while I ignore the woman next to me. Harsh, I know, but Tiffany is a piece of work. She keeps “accidentally” bumping her legs into mine, batting her impossibly long eyelashes while doing it. And I’m positive she’s drunk. She is on what has to be her fifth shot that I’ve seen, and we’ve only been together for roughly an hour.
Sarah doesn’t seem to be any better off. The guy she’s with is a textbook example of a middle-aged man who hasn’t grown past his college years. He gives off what Amber would call, “bro vibes.” He’s wearing jeans and a retro band shirt like the kids do these days. The only difference is he probably actually heard them play.
I don’t like him one bit. Lack of style aside, he has beady little eyes that leer at Sarah like she’s a piece of meat, focused mainly on her chest. I’m this close to stabbing him with my fork if he doesn’t look up. Sarah and all of her assets are mine.
Love at first sight is something you read in books or see in the movies, not something that happens in real life. At least that’s what I used to think before I locked eyes with my future wife, Sarah.
She looked so nervous when we were standing in line, hugging her arms while swaying side to side. I don’t think she even knew she was doing it. I figured a little light banter would ease her nervousness, but what I didn’t count on was drowning in her soft brown eyes and being mesmerized by her pouty, gloss-tinted lips. Sarah’s body is a work of art, a tight, sexy little frame packed with curves in all the right places, all wrapped up in a pair of black leggings I wanted to peel off her. I couldn’t stop staring at her, as desire flooded my veins, causing my body to harden.
I scrambled for something to say to her. Something that would have conveyed what I was experiencing at that moment, but I was at a loss for words. Then she gave me the perfect opening. “We match,” she said. Hell yeah, we do and I wasn’t talking about the outfits, even though she was. Although it was amusing how we wore the same color combination. Like those couples you see in social media posts.
In direct contrast to my current date, Sarah has the sweetest, purest voice I’ve ever heard. A voice that sweet shouldn’t cause such a visceral reaction in my body, but it sure as hell did.
Sarah could feel it too, the connection between us. It was evident in the way her eyes sparkled when they met mine, the deepening of their blue depths when I told her I hope we do—and I meant it. The way she unintentionally declared she’d chosen me to be by her side.
As disappointing as it was to discover that we weren’t a match in Forever Love’s eyes, I took the news in stride, knowing somehow I’d see her again, even if I had to bribe the owner of the service for her number.
Nausea hits me as Tiffany leans in, filling the air with her foul-smelling perfume. The music is so loud here that getting close is the only way I can hear her—not that I need or want to. “So, were you pleasantly surprised to see me here? I understand why you didn’t take my number at the office… too formal,” Tiffany says, scrunching her beaklike nose. “Here we can let our hair down and… really get to know one another without business getting in the way.”
She runs a long pink-tipped fingernail down my arm and for the umpteenth time, I’m cursing these small round tables. No matter where I sit, I’m within arm’s length and I don’t want this harpy touching me.
“More shocked. Doesn’t your company have rules concerning dating your clients? I’m surprised you would even be considered as a potential match—for anyone.”
Tiffany’s brow furrows as she lets out a huff of annoyance, fully understanding my maybe not-so-subtle dig. Dial it back, Mark. You don’t have to be an ass just because you don’t like her.
“Well, here we are, so there must not be a rule. My boss does know I’m here.” Tiffany smiles, but it doesn’t quite meet her cold eyes. I do believe the shine is starting to wear off me. Which is good. I don’t want to shine for anyone but Sarah.
Speaking of… I glance back at my future. Sarah’s date still isn’t paying any attention to her, his mouth moving a mile a minute while she looks miserable, head down, focused on the still full plate in front of her. Dinner was served earlier. Dry steak and subpar sides. Exactly what I expected from Howie’s Beef ‘n’ More. My plate is only half-eaten.
As I continue to stare, I take note of everything. How tendrils of Sarah’s brown hair have escaped her messy bun, framing her beautiful face. I watch how the tips brush against her high cheekbones with every slight shake of her head. I’m also close enough to see that she’s struggling. Beads of sweat dot her forehead and her chest is moving up and down—almost heaving.
That’s the only thing her bastard of a date notices, ogling her breasts as they bounce with each unsteady breath Sarah takes. I’m ashamed to admit their movements cause my pants to tighten, but unlike him, I plan on figuring out why she’s so upset instead of sitting back and enjoying the show.
Too late, I’m not the only one who notices what’s going on south of my belt. “Wow. Is that all for me?” Tiffany growls in my ear. I’m sure she meant to purr, but with a voice like hers, a growl is all you get. She reaches out to do God knows what to me, but I stop her just in time, rising from my seat.
“No, it’s not. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t touch me. This whole experience has been unpleasant and highly unprofessional. I told you back in your office that I wasn’t interested and nothing you can say or do will change that. Please cancel my account with your business and have a good tonight.”
“Wait, where are you going?” Tiffany hollers, chasing behind me. I don’t answer. She’ll find out soon enough. We’re causing a scene and I just want to grab my woman and get the heck out of here.
When I reach Sarah’s table, her head immediately pops up. She smiles but her eyes look so lost, pleading to be anywhere but here.
