Read Online Operation Soulmate by Diane Hall - Free Book Online Page A

girlfriends at home who made them. Yes, even in this day and age, I know, it’s horrible. Embrace it, and steer clear. All decent, self-respecting, single guys with normal appetites will have left the building within five minutes of the lunchtime announcement. Be gone before they leave.”
    They both listened, entranced, but Brogan wasn't completely satisfied. “But what about if a guy wants to ask you to go out to lunch with him and you’ve already left the building???”       Ben grimaced slightly.
         “Do not go to lunch with a man you’ve just met at a seminar, in a seminar lunch-break. At lunch, you’ll talk about the seminar and the seminar principles and the great things you’re learning at the seminar. And although he'll think you very clever, and very nice, in his mind you will forever be, ‘the woman I had lunch with at that seminar.’ It will never go any further than that. Seminar-talk is like romance kryptonite. Keep your feminine mystique. Keep the mystery alive and try to remember, a daytime date is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship. A seminar lunch will catapult you swiftly and firmly into the female-friend-zone.”
         “Wow,” said Brogan, “You’ve totally blown my mind already and we haven’t even started yet...”
          “Okay,” He said, looking at a somewhat dazed Geraldine. She couldn’t believe this was Ben. He was so ...different when he was working....So... in charge...and impassioned!
          “Gerry, you need to be with Brogan because no one will approach you if you’re with me. However, you’re going to need to break away from her every now and again to make yourself even more approachable. Guys find it a lot easier to approach one woman than a group...even a ‘group’, of two. Okay, let’s establish some hand signals.” He put his hands together and then pulled them apart quickly. “If you see me do that it means: it’s time to separate, an interesting prospect wants to approach you.”
         “Okay,” Gerry nodded her agreement. This was actually going to be quite fun. Hideously contrived, but fun, nevertheless.
         “Wow!!” Brogan shook her head in amazement, clearly mesmerised and hardly daring to take her eyes off Ben.
         “Okay, let’s keep the rest simple: thumbs up means that’s potentially a good guy. Thumbs down - steer clear. Timeout means we need to reconvene to discuss something in the foyer, all three of us.” He said, looking pointedly at Brogan, who was already intoxicated by the slow trickle of well-turned out, evolved-looking, love-guru types.
         “Is that clear?”
         “Oh, yeah, yeah, sure hon,” She said distractedly.
          “Brogan” said Geraldine, looking slightly concerned now.
         “Yeah, no, I get it darlin’ I might be looking the other way, but I’m still listening, don’t worry. Timeout sign means we all go outside to chat about stuff.”
          “It’s one of the reasons you’re here Brogan. Sure, have some fun. You two go for a completely different kind of guy anyway, but remember why we’re here. This is really important. If guys see me chatting to just you, privately, Gerry, they could get the wrong idea. Okay, are we all clear?” They both nodded in agreement.
           “Okay, I’ll be across the room looking out for body language, discarded wives or girlfriends and general bad ...or great, behaviour. Just try to check everything out with me. Okay?”
         “Okay,” said Brogan.
          “Now mix, mingle and don’t get trapped with a bad prospect. The registration can take anything up to 45 minutes. Enjoy it. Don’t waste time; there are only two tea breaks, morning and afternoon. That's prime time right there.”
          Geraldine had just pinned on her delegates badge and had barely taken her first sip of coffee, when she felt someone’s eyes burning into her from across the room. It was Ben. He stared