Read Online Love's Call by Jala Summers - Free Book Online Page A

a damned gentleman.

Chapter Nine
     
    “This better not be some nonsense that you’re dragging me to,” Liana told Alyssa as she walked behind her toward a conference room aboard the ship.
     
    “Liana, just come on.  No fussing. You need it and so do I,” she replied.  When they reached the open double doors of the room, Liana noticed a dry erase board on an easel just before the entrance.  Letters written in red ink on the board read, Repairing your Past Dating Problems, Special Guest Speaker: Lisa Woods, Dating Coach and Matchmaker.
     
    Liana turned to give Alyssa a nasty look.  “Are you kidding?  You’re serious?”
     
    “Yes,” Alyssa said, and grabbed Liana’s arm. She knew her friend, and that she’d try to ditch her, so she pulled her into the room before she had a chance to run away. They took a seat in a couple of chairs in the middle of the room.
     
    Liana looked at the flier that she’d found on her chair before sitting down.  It showed a picture of a smiling woman, dressed in a fitted sheath dress.  Underneath her picture, in italic font it read Lisa Woods, Matchmaker and Renowned Dating Coach Expert .
     
     Liana sucked her teeth and waved it at Alyssa.  “Dating coach? Matchmaker?  Is she for real? I didn’t even know those were titles people used in the real world.  I thought that was just a movie thing.”
     
    “No, I’ve heard of dating coaches before.  We’re being open, remember?”
     
    “Yeah, but I already told you what happened last night when I was open with that crazy dude, James.”
     
    “That was a fluke, okay.  So far, everyone else on the cruise has been decent.”
     
    “Yeah, as decent as Lloyd?” Liana asked.  “You obviously don’t need a matchmaker, Ms. Lyssa, not even coming in until six this morning?”
     
    She shot a warning look at Liana, “Don’t go there, now.”
     
    Liana laughed.  She enjoyed teasing her friend, especially since it was so easy to do.
     
    Moments later, a woman with a face identical to the image in the flier entered the room and walked down the center aisle to the front of the room.  Her straight brown hair fell past her shoulders, and her flawless makeup complemented her rich cinnamon skin tone, perfectly. Lisa wore a red, cleavage-revealing blouse with a black pencil skirt that clung to her like a second skin.
     
    Liana had to give it to her.  She sure knew how to work her assets, and really played up the sexy persona. Lisa smiled broadly and greeted the conference attendees.  
    “I want to start off by saying that every single, here on this cruise, and elsewhere, is single because they want to be.”  
     
    Mumbles of protest filled the room, and she smiled, raising her hands to hush them.  She looked as if she knew she’d get that response, and waited for the grumbling to simmer down.  
     
    Liana gave Alyssa a look, and Alyssa shrugged in response. “Just wait,” Alyssa mouthed. Liana was ready to dart out of the conference room.  She was pretty sure that she could find at least a dozen other more productive things to do with her time.
     
    “Now, that one usually gets everyone riled up, but let me finish.  The reality of the situation is that if you find yourself repeating the same problems over and over, then you are married to the baggage of your past.  You eventually get more satisfaction out of reliving the hurts of the past than you do in trying something new, better and different.”
     
    The room quieted down, as Lisa’s statement hit home with the attendees.
     
    “Women, what are the things that you keep doing, that turns a man off?   Do you give off an annoyed vibe? Do you scowl and refuse to smile?”
     
    Liana sighed and just as Lisa stated, “Do you have a problem of rolling your eyes,” she caught herself mid eye-roll, and forced herself to stop.  She grinned, amused that the dating coach seemed to have pinpointed her own habits. She looked around, and wondered if the other