KENNEDY SIPPED HER tea and leaned back in the seat. “I still think my ‘happy ever after’ ending is a tad better than yours. After all, you just got recliners.”

Kate rolled her eyes and poked her in the upper arm. “Heated, leather, massaging recliners. Golf course endings are like airports. Overrated.”

Kennedy gave her famous pout. “What do you think, Arilyn? Whose is better?”

Arilyn sighed and finished doctoring her tea. “Both are beautiful, and quite satisfying. Now stop acting like children and try this scone thing. It’s outrageous.”

Arilyn broke off three pieces and Kennedy nibbled with enthusiasm. Eating was a wonderful thing, and she was beginning to embrace it a bit more easily. The melty sensation in her chest was becoming more familiar. At first, she thought it was a wonderful kind of indigestion. Kate had finally set her straight.

It was happiness.

“Well, at least Kinnections is booming,” Kate said. “The clients are pouring in. Do you think it was that story leaked to the city paper? I wonder who could’ve done something like that after it was discussed and agreed we’d keep our personal lives private?”

Kennedy focused on chewing. It wasn’t polite to answer with a mouth full.

Arilyn shook her head in disapproval. “We know it was you, Ken. That damn sharklike marketing gene of yours is gonna kill us.”

“Where’s Slade when I need a defense lawyer? I plead the fifth. And I didn’t notice you crying me a river when our list shot up after the story broke.”

“Fine. Then you won’t mind if we film a video of your own relationship journey, right? That will get us tons of exposure.”

“I can’t. If mine is publicized, people will begin to think we’re a matchmaking agency that steals the clients for ourselves. Could be bad PR.”

“She has an answer for everything,” Arilyn said.

“We can always say it was the love spell,” Kate joked.

Kennedy and Arilyn shared a glance. “I forgot about that. Kind of hard to track, though. Gen was already engaged, and you have the touch.”

“Do you remember the qualities you requested? Does Nate have them?” Arilyn asked.

Kennedy sputtered a laugh. “No one would have all the traits you dream about. Plus I was drunk. I doubt . . .” she trailed off, her mind sifting through the list. “Huh. That’s weird.”

Kate got a funny look on her face and placed her tea down on the table. “What?”

“Nate hits every one of my dream requirements. Even the ones I thought weren’t possible to achieve.”

Arilyn looked nervous. “We shouldn’t have done the spell. I knew it. We opened up a portal or something.”

Kennedy shook her head. “Listen, don’t get spooked. So, the list was right. Doesn’t mean the love spell works. Tell you what, A, if you find the man with all the traits you requested, then we know for sure it’s valid. There’s no way you’re not gonna settle with a man who wears organic cotton, doesn’t eat meat, owns dogs, teaches yoga, and practices tantra in the bedroom.”

Arilyn looked away. “You don’t know what I put on my list,” she said quietly.

Kate raised a brow. “True. You gonna tell us?”

“No.”

Kennedy laughed. “Thought not.”

The red door slowly opened, and the tiny Japanese woman exited. Her gleaming white robe was tied with a bright scarlet sash. Her bare feet floated over the bamboo floors as she walked toward them, a tiny smile resting on her lips. Kennedy couldn’t help the slight tremble of both anticipation and nervousness before a session with Ming.

As Nate well knew.

Her lover trailed behind Ming in a dazed cloud of peace and relaxation. His skin was damp, and he smelled deliciously of citrus and soap. His gaze scanned the room and locked on hers.

Nate smiled. “Hey.”

Her heart squeezed with emotion. “Hey, baby. Good session?”

“Not sure right now.”

Ming gave a delighted cackle and gently pushed Nate toward her. “He good boy. Much better this time.”

Kennedy snuggled into his arms, warm and snug and safe. “This my woman,” he slurred.

Kate laughed. “He’s punch-drunk, Ken. Gotta love a man who can’t hold his muscles through a Ming session.”

Ming reached out a hand and pointed to Kate. “You next.”

Kate bit her lip. “Umm, can Arilyn go first?”

“No. You get married soon, no? You need cleansing.”

Kate shuddered and slowly stood up. “Okay. I think.”

Ming’s sharp gaze swung to Arilyn. “You drink more tea and wait. You have man?”

Arilyn nodded. “Yes, I have a man.”

Ming frowned and jumped up and down in temper. “Your man no good for you. I feel this. You need to refresh aura for right man.”

Arilyn’s mouth dropped open. “No, I don’t! I’m—happy.”

“You lie. I speak with you later.” Kennedy buried her face in Nate’s robe and tried hard not to laugh. Ming was a massage therapist, healer, and psychic, and no one ever knew what type of session they’d have. Her humor was short-lived when Ming focused all that concentration on her. “You marry this man?”

“Not yet. One day. Right now, we’re happy the way things are.”

Nate tugged at a wayward curl. “Yes, we’re getting married. As soon as I convince her,” he said with an amused grin. They had decided to move in together and had settled into a happy routine, inviting Connor to join in on their eclectic family and encouraging him to pursue school.

Ming nodded, pleased. “She hard case, but you strong. You don’t give up.”

His face softened. “I never will,” he whispered.

The man said the damndest things. She knew they were both right. She’d break down and say yes, but not for a while. It was too much fun to let life take her in this direction, enjoying every second of the incredible gift of Nathan Ellison Raymond Dunkle.

Ming turned to Kate. “We go now.”

Her friend gave a desperate look back and stepped into the hallway. “Bye, guys. Wish me luck.”

The door closed.

Arilyn shook her head. “I’m happy,” she insisted. “Ming is wrong.”

“I believe you, babe. No worries. It’ll all work out in the end.” She looked up at the man she loved and smiled.

“It’ll all be . . . perfect.”