“To find Mr. Right.” She smiled brightly. The answer came as quickly as she’d rehearsed. “Isn’t that why everyone comes here?”
“You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who needs my services. We serve three categories of women. The shy ones who have a hard time meeting someone. The kind that is tired of falling for the wrong men, and the ones looking for a rebound without putting in the effort of finding a match for themselves. You don’t fit into one of those boxes. So let’s be honest here. I can’t help you unless I know what I’m up against. Why is ityoucan’t find Mr. Right?”
His arrogance floated around the room in a cloud of haze much like the pot hazein her college apartment when her friends came over to have a good time. She hadn’t inhaled then, but she would now. He had a right to be arrogant. She didn’t fit neatly into any of his bland brown boxes as he’d suggested because she was a 100 percent fraud, much like the politicians running for office.
Make something up.Chloe’s voice echoed in Grace’s head, reminding her why she’d come. What would be the one reason that would push Mr. Arrogance’s buttons? “He doesn’t exist.”
Stew on that. Grace rose from her chair, walked over to his window, and pointed down to the street below at people walking by. “I’ve met my share of men. Some were nice, cordial, and some even made me feel special, but I want more than that. I want something that I haven’t found on my own. Something that I’ve searched long and hard for.” She glanced at him to find he’d risen from his seat. “The kind of man I want simply doesn’t exist.”
“What was missing?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he moved to stand beside her.
“The pitter-patter of my heart when he enters the room. Butterflies doing somersaults in my stomach. The heat from his gaze. The longing for his touch. I crave desire, love, and honesty.”
Even now her body trembled just saying the words out loud as though it was therapeutic. Heat scoured her cheeks. One look at her and he’d believe her words. She’d meant them. “Do you have anyone in your databank that would fit my needs?”
She was good.He’d give her that. But he knew her game. It was a challenge. Giving him a list of qualities that he’d never be able to fill. What she didn’t know about was the private investigation that went into each applicant. He was aware that she was beautiful and smart and her best friend was his competition. Heck, he even knew how she liked her coffee. What she was asking for was chemistry and not something he could find in one of his client's profiles. Time to make her squirm. Turnabout was fair play, after all.
“Do you have anything against sex?”
She turned to look at him and smiled. “I like sex just fine.”
“If we take you as a client, you’ll be asked to abstain on your dates for the time being.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” She turned and crossed her arms beneath her breasts, pushing them up in the little sheer camisole she was wearing. That wasa classic move, much like the way she’d seductively crossed her legs. He kept his gaze on hers, ignoring the baser need to check her rack. “I don’t need a man’s touch to find release.”
She’d said the comment with barely a blush. What he wouldn’t do to see exactly what it would take to make her turn the color of a rip tomato.
“What about bondage? Anything we should know? There’s no sense on pairing you with a vanilla lover if you’re more the experimental type. We like to nail our matches right out of the gate. We make them last that way.”
Her mouth parted before she quickly snapped it shut and licked her lips. The idea intrigued her. He could read it in her eyes.
“I’d like to think I’m pretty adventurous in bed. I’ll try anything once.”
Damn her. He’d expected her to gawk and get flustered. Yet she held his gaze, challenging him to produce someone who would fit the bill.
“Tall, dark hair, successful. Secure enough within himself to date an attractive, successful woman. Good in bed, passionate, romantic, muscular body, and smart. He’d have to be able to keep up with you. Does that about describe the type of guy you’re looking for?”
“You left out adventurous and open-minded. He’d have to be able to put up with my career choice.”
He moistened his lips as he took in the desire shining in her eyes. That was exactly what she wanted. No wonder no man had given her what she needed. They’d never taken the time to read her eyes. They told him everything without her even opening her red kissable lips.
“And if I find you a guy who fits every one of those aspects, you’ll agree to the three-date clause in your contract?”
“Are you saying you can find me someone?”
“I’m saying I’ll try my best but only after I really get to know you, can I know what type of guy is going to make you tick.”
“I thought we just went over that.”
“We did. But I need the big picture of how you are around men that are interested in you. Your body language, the attitude you give off, everything if I’m going to findMr. Rightand not justMr. Right now.” He sat back down in his chair, pulled out her file, and flipped it open. “We need a week of your time. Can you take time off?”
“A full week?”
“Yes.” He signed his name on the contract, turned it to face her, and held out his pen. “An entire week should giveus more of an idea of who you are and what type of man would make you happy.”
Hesitation flickered in her eyes.
“Those are my terms.”
She slipped the pen out of his hand and nibbled her bottom lip between her teeth as she signed. Tossing the pen onto his desk, she picked up her purse and headed for the door. “You’ve got one full week to get me figured out.”
“I’ll send the limo to pick you up at seven. Pack a bag with a few casual outfits and a nice dress or two.”
“Wait.” She spun around. “You didn’t say anything about leaving town.”
“There’s no need to worry, Ms. Thornton. You’ll be accompanying me, so you’ll be completely safe and never in a compromising situation.”
“I’m spending the week with you? That doesn’t seem very professional. Are you sure you aren’t using your dating company for your own hook-ups?” She teased.
“Do I look like a man that needs to use my company to find women? You’re asking me to perform the impossible. I have to go out of town, and I’d like to get started with you right away. I have a feeling I’ve got my work cut out for me. A week with me is small in comparison to the potential prize. Don’t you agree?”
