He murmured something to Dominique that seemed to take the woman by surprise. Her glacial blue eyes widened, and she stammered, “Of course.”
Within a blink, a smile was once again affixed to Dominique’s face, and she stepped forward. “Astra Falk, I’d like you to meet Rune Ferguson. He’s just signed up with the service and I think the two of you might get along.”
Rune stepped forward and held out a hand, a breach of etiquette among the Valkyrie as the woman was always supposed to initiate a handshake when in mixed company, but Astra ignored it because he was close enough now for her to see the color of his eyes.
They were a pure grey, light and clear around his pupil, but with a darker grey ring on the outside of his iris. And they seemed to glow.
When Astra took his hand, her fingers tingled, but instead of the electricity jumping through her to him, it traveled back up her arm and spread throughout her entire body. It was a strange, exhilarating sensation.
“Nice to meet you, Rune Ferguson,” she said.
Instead of shaking her hand, he merely held it and replied, “Have dinner with me tonight.”
Astra blinked, taken aback by the sudden invitation, but recovered quickly. “I have an engagement this evening.”
“Tomorrow night then.”
His thumb brushed her knuckles, breaking the trance she’d fallen under.
“I’ll meet you for drinks at Dulce at six, and then we’ll see about dinner.”
His mouth quirked. “Tomorrow at six, then.” He released her hand and grabbed a sticky note from the dispenser on top of Veronica’s desk. A pen was suddenly in his hand and a cold chill went up Astra’s spine. She hadn’t seen him reach for it. She watched as he quickly scribbled down his name and phone number. “Please call me if something comes up.”
Astra took the note, looking down at his spiky handwriting for a moment, before lifting her gaze to his and raising an eyebrow. “And how will you get in touch with me if you can’t make it?”
“Oh, I’ll make it.”
Rune looked over at Veronica and Dominique. “Ladies, lovely to meet you.” Then, his piercing grey eyes looked back at her. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
Astra couldn’t help herself—she twisted around to watch him walk toward the door. His stride was long and smooth, and his ass filled out the seat of his jeans in the most fascinating way.
Then, he was gone.
When she turned around, she noticed that both Dominique and Veronica were looking at her with bright eyes. Heat crept into her cheeks.
“Well, that was…unexpected,” Dominique said. “I hadn’t considered him as a match for you, but I have to say, he was obviously very interested.”
That was an understatement.
Rune was the first male to ask her out on a date in years. Before she’d joined Mystical Matchmakers, Astra usually asked a man out if she found him interesting or her sister and mother constantly set her up with “suitable men.”
Nerves fluttered in her belly, another feeling she hadn’t experienced for a very long time.
“Yes, he was.”
Veronica chose that moment to speak up. “Do you still wish to cancel our services?” she asked.
Astra found herself blinking again, unsure of what to say.
Dominique spoke before she could though.
“Oh, no. I’m sorry to hear that you’re planning to leave our services before we’ve found you a match. Is there anything else we can do to help you or perhaps change your mind?”
With the two of them staring at her with their sincere eyes, Astra found herself unable to muster up her earlier frustration.
“No, no, I don’t think I want to cancel my membership any longer.”
“Would you like for me to see about finding you some other matches?” Dominique offered.
