Kate spoke up first. “I hope you’re enjoying your journey here at Kinnections. Kennedy is a master at transforming clients and building confidence.”

“Yes. She also would’ve been quite helpful torturing prisoners of war to make them speak.”

Kennedy puffed up with sheer pride at Nate’s backhanded compliment.

“Are you experiencing any difficulty in your path to true love?” Arilyn asked. “I can always book a session with you to help overcome any barriers.”

“No, thank you. After a cracked-up Japanese warrior ripped up my body, a cranky gay man attacked me with scissors, and I got my ass handed to me by a Zumba session, I think I’m good. What’s on today’s agenda?”

Kate laughed. Kennedy shook her head. “Don’t be so dramatic, it all worked out fine. We’re going to do role-play. It seems that one of your limitations is social conversation.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“We’re going to run through some simple first meets with different outcomes so you get more used to handling various women and topics of conversation.”

“And to think I gave up a prostate exam for this.”

“Why don’t we warm up with a round of speed questions?”

Kate clapped. “I love that game. Like Jeopardy but better.”

Nate cocked his head and considered. She bet he assumed he’d be good at the speed round since he was probably the trivia king. She smothered a laugh. He’d realize quickly how different this was.

“What’s involved?”

“We throw out scenarios and you give us a quick answer. It’s to build up your reflex ability to approach situations in the proper way without overthinking. Let’s get you set up with a drink first.”

“Darth Maultini, please.”

They stopped and stared. “A what?”

He shot them a suffering expression. “One ounce sweet vermouth, one ounce vodka, one ounce whiskey, two ounces pomegranate cherry, and two lemon wedges cut up and spread around the glass.”

Kennedy’s mouth dropped open. “You have got to be kidding me. How about a beer?”

Kate giggled. “No, I remember it. Got it covered. Star Wars junkie, huh?”

“A bit.”

Kate ordered the drink while Kennedy fished out the contraption from her tote bag. “Now, we’ll just slide this on you and get started.”

“What the hell is that?”

Kennedy widened her eyes in the innocent doe look men died for. “A simple gadget that will be able to read your responses and catalog electrical sensors to correct behavior.”

Nate took a step back as if she’d confronted him with a python. “It’s a collar. A dog collar.”

Arilyn spoke in her soothing, melodic voice that usually hypnotized her prey. “No, of course it’s not a dog collar. Think of it as a band with a mini computer installed in order to sense bodily reactions and categorize behavior.”

He pushed a hand through his hair and let out a half laugh. “Oh, you both are good. Brilliant, as a matter of fact. It’s an electric dog collar. Put whatever spin you want on it. I’m not putting that thing on.”

Kate slid his whacked-out martini drink across the bar. “The path to true love is never easy. You don’t strike me as a quitter, Nate. And you may not have enjoyed what Kennedy threw at you, but take a few minutes and really think. Have the steps you completed worked? Do you feel better about yourself? Do you feel you grew as a person and are closer to finding your soul-mate?”

Kennedy shared a look with her friends. God, they were amazing together. Each of their assets and energy melded to cocoon their target to push them to goal. They waited. He stood perfectly still, studying them, thinking out every step, and then gauged the weapon she still held. Several minutes ticked by.

“Fine.”

She didn’t hesitate. Kennedy slid the slim leather collar around his neck, closed the clasp, and tugged his shirt up so most of it was covered. The controller was hidden in her tote for the moment. No reason to freak him out more or warn him of what was about to happen. The element of surprise was key, and if she explained too much, he’d walk out without a backward glance.

“Now what?” he asked.

“Relax, we’ll start easy. I’ll begin. Do I look fat in these pants?”

He blanched and choked on his drink. “Those types of questions? Are you kidding me? You’re setting me up for failure.”

Kate clucked her tongue. “Nate, that was the easiest one on the planet. Just say no. No, you don’t look fat. No, your makeup’s perfect. No, those shoes look great. No, it’s my fault, not yours. Get it?”

He finished choking, wiped his mouth, and dragged in a breath. Kennedy almost felt sorry for him, but it was necessary in order to get him to the next level. Her finger stroked the button hidden in her tote. “Ready?”

“Yeah. I got this.”

Kennedy threw out the questions in rapid succession. “Do I look fat in these pants?”

“No.”

“Do you want me to pick up the tab this time?”

“No.”

“Are you gay?”

“No.”

“Are you just looking for a one-night stand?”

“No.”

“Do you have any issues I need to be concerned about?”

“No.”

“Do you find me attractive?”

“Yes.”

She grinned and gave him a thumbs-up signal. He let out the breath he’d been holding, took another sip, and relaxed his shoulders. “Nice warm-up. Now let’s beef it up. Kate, go ahead.”

“I’m your hot waitress. I just came up to the table and took your order. Give me your best line.”

“Make sure you come check on me often. I haven’t seen such a beautiful face in a long time. You inspire me to be a better man.”

Kennedy barely managed not to gag on that line.

So she pressed the button.

Nate jerked and shot off the bar stool. The electrical buzz hit his skin, and she imagined little tingles of energy rippling down his body, causing enough pain to force him to focus. His fingers drifted up to his neck, and he whipped around. His gaze narrowed.

“What was that?” he hissed. “That hurt!”

“Honestly, Nate, that was one of the worst lines I’ve ever heard.”

“Quite cheesy,” Kate agreed.

“You electrocuted me.” He stated the words with sheer amazement.

She waved a hand in the air. “It’s just a little behavior correction technique. A slight tingle to remind you when you go off track.”

“You’re all crazy. What type of agency is this?”

Arilyn clucked softly. “We’re so sorry, Nate, but this really is for the best. Now, why don’t we try again?”

He stared at each of them, trying to comprehend how three deadly females had just given him the equivalent of an electric shock, yet somehow managed to look completely innocent. “You don’t want to give up when it’s just gotten interesting, do you?” Kennedy asked.

He touched the collar and narrowed his gaze. “My brother just used that line last night and the woman loved it. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Kate gave an irritated sigh. “She’s the exception. Women hate that stuff. Is your brother Brad Pitt? Or maybe she knows him casually and it was a joke?”

Nate rubbed his head. “Not Pitt. He got her to laugh.”

“Forget what Connor does and says. You need a different approach or you’ll get slaughtered.”

“Fine. Let’s do this again.”

They shared a glance. Kennedy nodded. Kate picked the reins back up.

“Picture your first date. She leans in after the meal and asks what’s next on the menu. What do you say back?”

He blinked. “Dessert.”

She hit the button.

He twitched and cursed viciously under his breath. “What?”

“That sounded like you wanted to take her to bed. Not cool.”

“I meant just dessert, for God’s sake, not sex.”

“Sounded a bit creepy to me. Your response should have been, whatever you like. She was really asking about the next step with you, not the menu.”

“That’s stupid! Why would she use a food connotation?”

Kennedy shrugged. “Women are deep.”

Arilyn jumped in. “Clear your mind and picture an unyielding canvas of white.”

Pure male irritation radiated from him, but he sat back down and glared at Kate. “Again.”

Kate shifted on the bar stool. “Two women are talking to you together. You’re attracted to one friend and not the other. What do you do?”

“Address the woman I like and ask for her number.”

She hit the button.

He slapped at his neck. “What the hell did I do wrong now?”

Arilyn gave him a sad look. “Never, ever ask for a woman’s number in front of her friend. It must be done privately. You set yourself up for extreme embarrassment if the one you asked out doesn’t like you but the other one does, and then the one you like feels bad for her friend and the other one hates you, so it’s a lose-lose situation.”

“I’m going home.”

Nate began to unbuckle the collar. Kennedy dove over and grabbed his hands. “I know it’s confusing, but we just wanted to give you some general scenarios. The real role-play is much more important.”

“What type of role-play?”

“Kate will be the first one up. She’ll pretend to be a stranger at the bar, and you approach her. Conversation will go from there, and we’ll be able to analyze how you interact.”

He gave a disgusted sigh but stopped trying to tug off the collar. “Is she gonna judge me on my first pick-up line? I suck at that.”

“No, just say hello, she won’t be hostile. This exercise is about the flow of good conversation, not approach. If there’s one thing I teach as the cardinal rule for first meets, it’s this. Say hello, give your name, and ask how she is. Simple. Not rocket science.”