course, but most people mean well. That’s a myth, by the way, that—”
“What about sexual predators? How do you protect your clients from the ones who don’t have criminal records?”
Ice water began to trickle down her back. The reporter who’d moseyed in so casually, pretending he had just a few quick questions was now digging at her, his clear eyes sharp as shards of blue glass.
“I interview each person, as I said. We, of course, advise caution during the first few dates—meet in a public place, make sure a friend knows where you are, don’t share full names. Good sense precautions. We’ve had no problems, Seth.”
“Not so far.” He made a note. “I read that three-fourths of dating services fold in a year. How are your finances?”
“Excuse me?” The ice trickle became a stream rushing along her veins. She didn’t want to talk about the money troubles or the lawsuit or any of the glitches Kylie was helping her with.
“Is this story vital, like your secretary said, because you’re in debt?”
She fought for calm. “We need an unusually high number of clients because of our very customized service. A positive story in your magazine will spread the word.”
“So, you’re short on clients?”
“We’re growing.”
“But not fast enough?” His eyes honed in, tracking her, a predator ready to pounce on any weakness.
“What are you getting at, Seth? Am I on trial here?”
He smiled, attempting to disarm her. “Sorry. I wouldn’t be a good reporter if I didn’t mix it up a little. Throw a few hardballs in with the soft tosses. Consider me the voice of a skeptical client. Convince me.”
“I’m doing my best.” What was he after here anyway?
“Look, you seem sincere, Jane, but desperate people are easy prey for the unscrupulous. I see it all the time.”
“My clients aren’t desperate, Seth. They are attractive, intelligent, successful men and women who want to save time and heartache in their search for a mate.”
But hunting for a wife would be a desperate act for Seth, she could tell. She’d bet he had a conformity score in the basement and a low need for affection. He was the kind of guy who felt trapped if you asked him what time he’d be over for dinner.
In other words, her kind of guy.
Highly sexed, though, and she didn’t need a Mate Check score to tell her that. She felt it in her being.
When the sex was new, he would want her every minute. That’s how Liam had been. And Jason, who said he burned for her. Burned. Pretty romantic for a firefighter. Derrick wrote her poetry. It was all incredibly seductive. Except the minute she gave in and fell in love, they couldn’t get away fast enough. Liam to Peru for his thesis. Jason to fight fires in Alaska and Derrick…any other city where they could use a bass player.
“What about you, Jane? Are you single?” He tilted his head at a friendly angle, abruptly changing tacks.
“Currently, yes.” She’d prepared an answer to the obvious question of why, if she knew so much about relationships, she wasn’t in one. “Right now my focus is on growing Personal Touch. When I’m ready, I’ll use my Mate Check system to connect with someone who’s right for me.”
“Makes sense. Sure.” His gaze settled on her face for a moment with electric interest. Who would be right for you? She could feel him wonder that. And how would it be? Sparks snapped and popped. Oh, dear.
“Can I show you anything more?” she breathed.
“Show me…?” Seth broke the gaze, cleared his throat, as if he hadn’t intended to reveal his reaction. “I think I’ve got what I need.” He pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “Thanks.”
She stood and they shook. Such a warm hand. Warmer than he allowed his eyes to get. “Can I at least take you on a tour? Show you the video room, run a Close-Up or two?”
“I’ll call if I have more questions.”
Which he wouldn’t, she could tell. “You will contact the clients in my
“What about sexual predators? How do you protect your clients from the ones who don’t have criminal records?”
Ice water began to trickle down her back. The reporter who’d moseyed in so casually, pretending he had just a few quick questions was now digging at her, his clear eyes sharp as shards of blue glass.
“I interview each person, as I said. We, of course, advise caution during the first few dates—meet in a public place, make sure a friend knows where you are, don’t share full names. Good sense precautions. We’ve had no problems, Seth.”
“Not so far.” He made a note. “I read that three-fourths of dating services fold in a year. How are your finances?”
“Excuse me?” The ice trickle became a stream rushing along her veins. She didn’t want to talk about the money troubles or the lawsuit or any of the glitches Kylie was helping her with.
“Is this story vital, like your secretary said, because you’re in debt?”
She fought for calm. “We need an unusually high number of clients because of our very customized service. A positive story in your magazine will spread the word.”
“So, you’re short on clients?”
“We’re growing.”
“But not fast enough?” His eyes honed in, tracking her, a predator ready to pounce on any weakness.
“What are you getting at, Seth? Am I on trial here?”
He smiled, attempting to disarm her. “Sorry. I wouldn’t be a good reporter if I didn’t mix it up a little. Throw a few hardballs in with the soft tosses. Consider me the voice of a skeptical client. Convince me.”
“I’m doing my best.” What was he after here anyway?
“Look, you seem sincere, Jane, but desperate people are easy prey for the unscrupulous. I see it all the time.”
“My clients aren’t desperate, Seth. They are attractive, intelligent, successful men and women who want to save time and heartache in their search for a mate.”
But hunting for a wife would be a desperate act for Seth, she could tell. She’d bet he had a conformity score in the basement and a low need for affection. He was the kind of guy who felt trapped if you asked him what time he’d be over for dinner.
In other words, her kind of guy.
Highly sexed, though, and she didn’t need a Mate Check score to tell her that. She felt it in her being.
When the sex was new, he would want her every minute. That’s how Liam had been. And Jason, who said he burned for her. Burned. Pretty romantic for a firefighter. Derrick wrote her poetry. It was all incredibly seductive. Except the minute she gave in and fell in love, they couldn’t get away fast enough. Liam to Peru for his thesis. Jason to fight fires in Alaska and Derrick…any other city where they could use a bass player.
“What about you, Jane? Are you single?” He tilted his head at a friendly angle, abruptly changing tacks.
“Currently, yes.” She’d prepared an answer to the obvious question of why, if she knew so much about relationships, she wasn’t in one. “Right now my focus is on growing Personal Touch. When I’m ready, I’ll use my Mate Check system to connect with someone who’s right for me.”
“Makes sense. Sure.” His gaze settled on her face for a moment with electric interest. Who would be right for you? She could feel him wonder that. And how would it be? Sparks snapped and popped. Oh, dear.
“Can I show you anything more?” she breathed.
“Show me…?” Seth broke the gaze, cleared his throat, as if he hadn’t intended to reveal his reaction. “I think I’ve got what I need.” He pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “Thanks.”
She stood and they shook. Such a warm hand. Warmer than he allowed his eyes to get. “Can I at least take you on a tour? Show you the video room, run a Close-Up or two?”
“I’ll call if I have more questions.”
Which he wouldn’t, she could tell. “You will contact the clients in my
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