Disappointment flickered over his features. She watched his shoulders sag. “I see. You want to sign me as a client to your matchmaking agency. How much?”

Giddiness swept through her. His doubtful, accusing stare confirmed his sharp intelligence. This was going to be fun. “Ah, you think I’m a hustler, don’t you? Think I want to take a huge deposit, promise you the world, and walk away, right?”

“It did cross my mind.”

“I’d be disappointed in you if it didn’t. I think I can help you. My main role in Kinnections is to take the clients and give them the tools to meet and connect with the opposite sex. People have issues. The world is hard, especially meeting new people. Sometimes, people need to learn to get past some of their social barriers in order to present themselves at their best.”

An unruly snort burst from his lips. “Oh, I see. You want me to lie and pretend I’m someone else in order to get the girl. That’ll never work.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s a mirage. I can’t change who I am at the core. I don’t want to.”

“Neither do I. Look, if you don’t get a chance for a woman to see who you really are, you’re never going to find the woman of your dreams. I’m not going to change the person you are—I have no need to. But I will work on some simple surface things in order for you to have more opportunities. First impressions are critical. I’m talking about a bit of polish. A little refining in social conversation. Make sense?”

He scratched his head. The shaggy hair parted, then fell back around his face like a curtain. “What’s in this for you?”

“Job satisfaction. If I succeed, maybe more business for Kinnections. And an opportunity to help. That’s it.”

“How much?”

“One thousand is the initial sign-up fee. It includes counseling, makeovers, and two dates.”

“And if I agree?”

She sensed surrender, but it needed to be on her terms. He was a project that would take up all her time and energy. “If you agree, I’ll find your match. But you’ll have to put yourself completely in my hands.”

“How long is the contract?”

“One year. Of course, if you don’t see results or aren’t satisfied, you can leave anytime less your initial deposit. It’s all explained in the contract.”

“How do we begin?”

She whipped out her cell phone. “Give me your email and I’ll send over the contract with some other information. As soon as you’ve made your decision, let me know. We’ll schedule the initial consultation and take it from there.”

He recited his email. Her nails clicked as she typed it in her phone.

“Why me?”

She looked up. His raw question hit her gut, and emotion rushed out. Wasn’t it hard enough to go out there, again and again, and fail? To believe there really is someone just for you? This man, in his botched clothes and oversize glasses and orange skin, wanted to believe. He was her greatest test yet and would confirm her belief in happy-ever-afters.

At least, for some people.

Her voice vibrated with determination. “Because I believe there’s someone perfect for everyone. And I want to help you find her.”

He stared at her for a long time, probing her face in utter stillness. Then he nodded. “Okay.”

“Look over the contract. If you agree to the terms, call me, and I’ll get you in this week for a formal consultation. I’m looking forward to working with you.” She took the last gulp of coffee and reached for her purse to throw money down.

His hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. “I got it.”

His grip was snug. She expected soft, damp hands, but they were firm and deliciously warm. She drew back quickly. “Thanks. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

She slid out of the booth and walked out of the diner. Her step was light as she made her way to her car, and the brisk March wind seemed full of possibilities.

three

KENNEDY LOOKED UP as her two friends and business partners rushed into her office. “What’s up? Did the quarterly profit statements come in?”

Kate looked about to burst with excitement. “Better.”

“Did Arilyn finally sleep with the FedEx guy?”

Arilyn shook her strawberry hip-length hair in mock seriousness. “His package is much smaller than that of the man I’m currently seeing, thank you very much.”

Kennedy laughed. “Spill.”

Kate clapped her hands together. “Jane and Tim are getting married!”

Kennedy jumped from the chair and shared in a screaming group hug. Jane was a client of Kinnections who’d struggled to meet the right man. They all had worked with her to increase her confidence, tweak her appearance, and find her a match. Of course, when Jane’s older brother, Slade, threatened to expose the company as a fraud in an effort to protect his sister, Kate took him on as a client, ready to prove the agency’s validity.

She did. And they fell in love with each other in the process, and were now engaged to be married. Now that his sister was also happy, it only made the upcoming wedding that much sweeter. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Kate, the main owner and founder of Kinnections, possessed a special “touch” that allowed her to sense when a true soul connection existed between two people—her unique ability had allowed her to truly believe that Slade was the right one and had helped to set up Jane and Tim as well.

Ken paused in the middle of the hug. “Can we use this in our advertising? It’s brilliant. Brother and sister matched by Kinnections—double wedding. Get your match on!”

Kate and Arilyn looked at her. Then shook their heads. “No way. This celebration is private,” Kate said. “Of course, it’ll go into the statistics, which means two more weddings. We’re coming close to stellar numbers now, so that should make you happy.”

Ken stuck out her bottom lip. The pout always worked with men. They told her it was sexy and irresistible. “I won’t use names. We’d be missing out on a fortune and the chance to blow that ridiculous Bravo show away. Who needs a millionaire when you can find love with the boy next door?”

Arilyn gave a delicate snort. “Not gonna happen. And you may need another move. The sulky-lip thing is way overdone. Maybe bite it? That’s in all the erotic romance novels.”

Ken rolled her eyes. “I’m not a cliché, A, and it hasn’t failed me yet. Oh, fine, forget the advertising. I’m still thrilled for you and Jane.”

Kate grinned. “Girls’ night out? Mugs?”

“Absolutely. How about Friday night? Tear Genevieve away from her man, and we’ll make it a celebration. I can’t believe we have three engagements in our group.” An odd emotion clawed at her gut, but she smothered it. She wasn’t interested in marriage anyway. She bored quickly, and as far as she could tell, no man would be able to tie her down. But her friends deserved every ounce of happiness, and damned if she wasn’t going to support them.

“Done.” Kate took in Kennedy’s no-nonsense black Chanel suit. “Do you have a client?”

A twinge of excitement coursed through her. “Yes, he should be here soon. This one’s a true challenge. I’m taking him on.”

Kate cocked her head. “Hmm, you haven’t worked with a new client in a while, especially a male. Is he hot?”

She grinned. “Nope. He’s a wreck. Isn’t it great?”

Arilyn sighed. She was the resident counselor and computer programmer for Kinnections. “I’ll clear my schedule.”

“I’m going to recruit all of you for this one.”

“What’s he like?”

Kennedy almost bounced up and down with sheer excitement. “Three words. My. Fair. Lady.”

Kate gasped. “No way!”

Even Arilyn looked a bit buzzed instead of meditative. “How bad? Like guttersnipe bad?”

“Yes. Picture this. Nerd heaven. Big bulky glasses. Shaggy dog hair. Walmart clothes. And orange skin from a botched self-tanner.”

Kate seemed to calculate the items on the list with glee. “Appearance only?”

“Much worse. He told Bernadette at the speed-dating event that she was nearing thirty and her eggs were getting old. Then asked her on a date.”

Arilyn winced. “Poor Bernadette. Did she cry?”

“Almost, but I saved the whole thing. Took Mr. Geek to the diner to whip his ass, then discovered he had no clue what was going on. He wants to find a wife and has no idea how to do it. I absolutely had to have him.”

“What are you going to do first?” Kate asked. “Hair, right? A good haircut fixes everything.”

Arilyn shook her head. “Can’t do a thing if his skin is orange. Are we talking peach tinted?”

The bell on the door tinkled. They all turned and looked.

Ned stood in the doorway. He wore his lab coat, baggy tweed pants, and his trusty pocket protector. His shoes looked almost orthopedic, with a thick sole. He’d also done something strange with his hair. Instead of hanging in his face, he’d slicked back the edges with a pound of hair gel until he was sporting a kind of half-assed psycho Mohawk. She wondered if a category five hurricane could move a strand.

“Hey.” He paused, waiting for them to speak, but it took them a minute to get over the hairstyle. “I’m Ned.”

Kate broke the dead silence and launched into hostess mode. “Welcome to Kinnections, Ned. We’re so happy to have you here. I’m Kate, Kennedy’s partner.”

Arilyn shook her head and came out of her trance. “I’m Arilyn; I do the therapy and computer programming. It’s nice to meet you.”

His hand went to check on his hair, which of course hadn’t budged an inch. “Thanks.”

Kennedy cleared her throat. “New hairstyle?”

He gave a half grin. “Yeah, you said it looked disheveled, so I figured I’d neaten it up. Do you like it?”