The woman crossed her legs like she had all the time in the world and was contemplating what to order for lunch. Slade noted the sleek black pantsuit, tuxedo jacket, and stylish low-heeled boots. No nonsense, but chic comfort. The silver hoops flirted with her hair, and the silver cuff bracelet gleamed. He wondered what type of underwear she preferred, and then sliced off the thought as cleanly as with a surgeon’s scalpel. Holy crap, he needed to get laid. It had been way too long.

“You seem quite protective. But I’m sorry I’ll have to decline your request. Again, our client information is confidential, and I think we can help Jane here. I do appreciate your concern and promise to go slowly and carefully with her dating experiences.”

Slade clamped down hard on his impulse to circle around the desk and tell her just how dangerous screwing with his sister’s head would be. Instead, he turned on his inner switch and fell back into business. Cold, clinical, and dependable. He’d tried to be nice. Now, he’d get what he wanted the hard way.

“I think you misunderstood. I’m not asking you. I’m telling. You will shred Jane’s file, inform her you will not be able to help, and never contact her again.”

Fury shimmered from her figure. “Make me.”

Again, surprise hooked him on the chin. Huh? Make her? Was he trapped in a bad Western? He lowered his voice to a silky drawl. “I can, you know. Make you. My sister has had enough heartbreak in her life, and I’m not going to allow you to deceive her with a mirage. If you don’t willingly cut off her account, I’ll draw up a legal suit to sue. I’ll publicly drag out all your secrets and make sure you’re buried so deep in papers, Kinnections will be bankrupt by the end of the year.”

He ignored the pang of guilt for stooping to threats, but he needed to protect his sister at all costs. Slade watched the stream of emotions flicker over her face. Anger. Frustration. Fear. Resolve. Good. At least he’d walk away from this encounter and this woman who disturbed him and get on with his life.

“Ah, shit, you’re a lawyer.”

She spat out the word like it was dirty, but he was immune to the standard reaction. “Correct.”

“A divorce lawyer, no less. No wonder you’re screwed-up.”

How had she known? He stiffened and adjusted his suit jacket. “Now, will you agree to my proposal?”

She tilted her head and studied him. Used to being on the opposite end, he tried not to squirm and held her bright blue gaze. “No.”

He blinked. “Huh?”

“I don’t negotiate with terrorists, Mr. Montgomery. This includes bullying divorce lawyers who think they’re God. I’m not stupid. I have a team of my own lawyers who will match every paper for your paper. Sure, you may get us some bad publicity, but all PR is good for business. There’s another issue you haven’t considered: Jane’s wishes. I don’t think she’ll forgive you for overstepping your brotherly boundaries and telling her what she can and can’t do. She may be a bit shy, but she’s not a pushover. How do you think she’ll react when I tell her the truth about this little meeting?”

The tables tipped, curved, and readjusted. She was much feistier than she looked, and damned if she wasn’t right. Jane already kept him at a distance, determined to show him she’d make it on her own. This may break the final, fragile bonds holding them together. Slade recalculated his loss-to-profit ratio and thought quickly. There had to be another way to help his sister without alienating her and keep his eye on Kinnections to make sure they didn’t screw up. The idea took root, and though he searched for any other options, Slade realized he was truly screwed. There was only one way left, and it was a wooded, thorny path he wished he didn’t have to travel.

“It seems we have reached an impasse, Ms.—”

“Seymour.”

“But you must understand I don’t intend to walk away until I know Jane is safe.”

Her features softened. “I didn’t get in this business to hurt people, Mr. Montgomery. I came here to help them. Hopefully, to put them on the path of love and happiness. Unfortunately, if one opens up to love, it can mean heartbreak. But it won’t be because we didn’t do our best and try.”

His lips tightened. “Lofty ambitions don’t make screwing with people’s heads acceptable. There’s only one way I’ll be able to test your theory and your business model.”

“What’s that?”

“Sign me up as a client.”

She jerked back. Satisfaction coursed through him. Finally. He was back in control, just the way he liked it. “Excuse me? That’s impossible.”

“No, it’s not. If you can find me love, you win. I’ll back off and be your biggest advocate. Hell, I’ll use your agency to help my own clients, and Kinnections will explode.”

She lifted her hands in the air in supplication, then let them drop back down to her thighs. “Our clients need to be open and willing to find their soul mate. There’s a lengthy process, and you’d fight us every step of the way. It’d never work.”

“I can try.” A sense of calm settled over him. “I’ve dated endlessly and can never seem to find the woman meant for me. If she’s out there, I’d like to find her.”

“Why?”

He considered her challenge. “I’d like to have children one day,” he said slowly. “A companion. A friend to grow old with. Who wouldn’t? I don’t believe it’s out there, but I’m willing to let you prove me wrong. If you think you can handle it.”

She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, and for the first time since he walked in, she looked completely scattered. About time. “You’d need to go through relationship counseling. Have intensive interviews and screenings with me. Be willing to engage in social events. This is ridiculous, Mr. Montgomery. And I have no time to waste.”

“Neither do I.” He locked his gaze on hers and refused to release her. “Take it or leave it. If you don’t, I’ll know you’re a scam artist and I won’t care about Jane’s reaction. I refuse to let her get hurt so that you can put money in your pocket. If you do take me on, and I see the value in this matchmaking agency, it’s a win-win for both of us. I’ll help you grow your client list and tell everyone I know. What do we have to lose?”

“How about my sanity and sense of humor?” she grumbled.

“Funny, I figured you’d lost those a while ago.”

She glared at him with suspicion, as if suddenly wondering if he had a real sense of humor. Slade wondered why he was enjoying this conversation so much. He was getting tired of being around two types of women: angry and bitter or needy and clingy. Hell, his work had become his full-time lover, and wasn’t that sad in the prime of his life? Of course, he didn’t expect Kinnections to work, but maybe he’d get out of his rut and mend his relationship with Jane. If they both were going through the process, he’d be able to keep a close eye on her. Yes, this was definitely a win-win.

“You’ll need to fill out paperwork and pay the fee.”

He raised a brow. “Of course, Miss Seymour. I didn’t expect anything less.”

“Kate.” Her name spilled reluctantly from her sulky lips. “My name is Kate.”

It suited her. Strong, classy, and full of punch. Simplicity on the outside and complexity on the inside. He reined in the poetic thought, half humiliated at his ridiculousness, and cleared his throat. “Slade. I’ll be looking forward to working with you.”

She fumbled with the stack of papers and shoved them into an envelope. Wrote a few things down on her pad. Then handed it to him. “Fill these out and get them back by the end of the week. I’ll need to schedule you a session for a one-on-one with me by next week.”

“How much is the initial fee?”

“One thousand dollars. All fees are clearly stated in the contract.” Her tone came out slightly mocking. “I’m sure you’ll study the clauses carefully and inform me if there’s a problem.”

He took the envelope and wondered briefly why she didn’t want to shake his hand. Then shook off the thought. Whatever. He needed to get out of here.

“I’ll be in touch. Good-bye, Kate.”

The roll of her name on his tongue was sweet and spicy hot. He hurried out the door without a glance back and wondered if he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life.


KATE UNCLENCHED HER FINGERS and let out a breath. The aftereffects of all that male energy still swarmed around her. What had she agreed to? The man was completely critical of the process, ornery, and had the potential for lethal charm known to good lawyers. She couldn’t believe that Jane came from the same pool of genes, though her brother’s protective instincts toward family gave him extra points.

“Now that one is gonna be a challenge.” The husky purr drifted toward her ears. Her close friend and co-owner of Kinnections, Kennedy Ashe, strolled on her four-inch heels without a wobble, her smart pink plaid business suit screaming elegant perfection. She tapped a matching pink nail against bow-curved lips, her eyes dancing with humor. “The fun I can have with him. You did good, Kate. I sensed the violence within, but you never broke. Arilyn would be so proud. Are those meditation techniques to control your temper working?”

Kate grabbed her bottle and began to fill it from the cooler. “Funny. Don’t mention I never watched the DVD; you’ll hurt her feelings. My instincts screamed for me to turn him down, but I don’t want to risk a lawsuit.”

“Smart. We just broke a hefty profit, so let’s not screw it up. And the man is a drool-worthy specimen. Our female clients will be clamoring to secure an introduction.”

She pressed the button and watched the icy stream trickle into the jug. “I know. We’re right on target, it takes about three years for a business to solidify and begin making money. Of course, all the PR and ten weddings helped. Those are solid percentages in this industry.”