Nate smirked at her. “What would you know about rejection? I can’t imagine a man alive who could reject you.”
A bite of pain seized her. She ignored it. “You didn’t know me ten years ago.”
A gentle finger lifted up her chin. Startled, she gazed into the endless depths of his eyes. “Don’t need to. Bet you were just as beautiful then. You just didn’t know it.”
She ached to step closer and let him hold her. When was the last time a man had comforted her other than for sexual gratification? Instead, she balled her hands into fists and forced a smile. “I’ll contact Sue in the morning and you can set up your date.”
“Okay. I better head out. I promised I’d grab a beer with Connor and I’m already late.” Nate paused. “Thanks for everything. Sue seems like an incredible woman.”
She watched his retreating back and kept the bright smile pasted on her face, the perfect picture of a matchmaker poised on the brink of success. And wondered why her heart didn’t seem in it.
eleven
KENNEDY SAT IN her office and brooded.
Her screen saver flashed in front of her with the cheerful purple and silver logo of Kinnections. A large stack of folders lay to her right, with endless names and possibilities to match. Usually she dove in with gusto, the journey to polish and perfect each client to his or her full potential an endless joy. Instead, she examined her nails and wondered where Nate was taking Sue tonight.
This was their fourth date in only two weeks.
The first was an intimate dinner. Sue raved about Nate. How polite he was. How charming. How funny. How smart.
The second time was golf. Kennedy had called him up and raged when she’d heard the news, but he swore Sue requested to go and it was a Sunday afternoon, so therefore it didn’t count as a real date. Just one of those half-assed outings men threw together to test the waters. She let it go because Sue was excited and had initiated the meet-up.
The third was lunch. He’d taken her by the water, where they’d fed the ducks and feasted on seafood. She’d complimented him on his originality and ability to step up the intimacy without pushing too fast. But date four was a big one. Usually, it turned the tide toward a real relationship or a breakup.
Where would he go tonight? Were they moving toward a physical connection? She was happy for them, really, but she refused to have Nate get his heart broken by moving too fast. The last time he’d shown up for Zumba, she noticed his goatee was perfectly trimmed and shaped. He admitted he went to see Benny on his own, which should have made her ecstatic, but only pissed her off. She felt out of the loop. Tossed aside. Discarded like a used tissue, crumpled up and stuffed in the garbage without so much as a good-bye. He no longer bothered her about joining him Wednesdays for golf or asked her for advice. She guessed Sue was the one who knew everything about him now. And that was a good thing. A great thing.
Really.
She reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a mini liquor bottle stolen from a past hotel. Rum. Nice choice. She uncapped, tilted it back, and took a long swig.
Kate walked in.
Her friend took in the scene before her, kicked the door shut, and dropped in the chair. Then stuck out her hand. “I want the Bailey’s.”
“I don’t know if I have any of them left.”
“Look harder.”
Her fingers closed around it and she tossed it over. Kate sipped it more delicately. “What’s the matter with you?” Ken asked, noticing the harangued look on her friend’s face.
“Dumb-ass client. Wedding stress. Worried about Gen. Robert’s got another bladder infection, but he’s okay, Slade’s staying home with him today. His purple bunny squeaker shredded, and Slade had to run to a ton of pet stores to find the same exact one. The poor thing can’t sleep without it.”
Slade had fallen in love with Kate’s paraplegic rescue dog, Robert, and they had become a true family. “Robert or Slade?”
“Both. No one sleeps if the other is unhappy.”
“Got it.” Kennedy sighed. “You know I’ll help with the wedding. I’ll plan the whole damn thing for you, babe, so no worries.”
“I know, it’s just little annoying stuff, and Gen’s been acting weird.”
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to her but haven’t gotten a chance. Something’s up.”
“She’s blaming it on work and the engagement party, but maybe she took on too much? Moving in with David and changing her whole life so fast? She used to stop by for coffee, but now I never see her. I feel disconnected.”
“We need to pin her down for some alone time. A quiet place. Maybe she’ll open up.”
“Maybe.” Kate took another swig and leaned back in her chair. Her blue eyes gleamed with a strange intensity. “How are you?”
“In a bad mood.”
“Have you eaten?”
“Yogurt and fruit. But I plan to have a wrap at lunch with sweet potato fries. That will make me happy.”
“How’s Nate?”
Kennedy hesitated. “Good. He’s dating Sue.”
“I see. You must be thrilled. Over the moon. Is he happy?”
Annoyance simmered at Kate’s question. “He just met her, so we don’t know what will happen. I’m just not sure she’s right for him.”
“Huh.”
Kennedy leaned over the desk. “What does that tone mean?”
“Nothing. Why don’t you think she’s right for him?”
“I think she’s too rigid and he won’t feel comfortable being himself. We may have worked on his physical appearance and social skills, but he has a unique personality that shouldn’t change just because she doesn’t like it.”
Kate pursed her lips. “Huh.”
“Why do you keep saying that?”
“You seem protective of him. Do you have feelings for Nate?”
Kennedy spluttered on the next sip and fell into a coughing fit. She swiped at her tearing eyes. “Are you crazy? Of course, I don’t have feelings for Nate. He’s my client. I just did a lot of work with him and I don’t want him to backslide.”
“How many times have we discussed this? Our clients will get hurt because love is a painful journey. We can only prepare and lead them in the right direction. He may need to get his heart broken before he finds his soul-mate.”
“Not on my watch,” she muttered.
“I stopped by his new place. He seemed happy and settled in.”
Greed for information stole through her. “Was he surprised to see you?”
“I told him I lived right down the street and let him know I was there if he needed anything.”
“Did he change up the apartment?”
Kate pondered the question. “No, he left the decor the same, but he’s got a lot of books. Golf stuff. Computers. And of course he upgraded the television and sound system because he’s male.”
“Typical. You didn’t see anything feminine, did you? Any hint that he brought Sue home with him? Because that’s against the rules I gave him.”
Kate looked at her oddly. “When was the last time you had a date, Ken?”
She shrugged. “A week. Maybe a few. I think a month now.”
“Do you know why?”
Kennedy glared. “Are you taking Arilyn’s place today? Geez, why are you on my case? I’ve been busy.”
Kate stretched out her legs and crossed her ankles. “Bullshit. I can’t remember the last time you didn’t have a date on the weekend. You get nuts if you don’t have a man chomping at your ass, but it seems you’ve been putting all your energy into Rocket Scientist Man.”