Read Online Sweet on You by Kate Perry - Free Book Online

want to date me."
    "Hypothetically speaking."
    "Then, hypothetically speaking, it couldn't hurt." She pictured him in a black latex suit. He'd look sizzling actually. She picked up her Coke and sipped a little, trying to cool herself off.
    "Good to know." He smiled and said thanks to the guy who brought them their salads. "I'm an accountant."
    She paused with her fork halfway to her mouth. "Brian Benedict, the bookkeeper?"
    He shrugged, seemingly not bothered. "Alliteration always worked for Stan Lee. I like numbers, and being an accountant is more creative than you'd imagine."
    "I guess," she murmured.
    "My clients appreciate me, I make a good living, and since I work for myself I have a fair amount of freedom. Except during tax season." He grinned. "Still, it's not as cool as working with a pastry chef."
    "That's not as cool as it sounds. You think I'm high maintenance. You should see Daniela." Realizing what she said, she quickly amended her statement. "Not that she isn't great. She's very caring, but she's temperamental."
    "Like?" He took a bite of salad and waited for her to explain.
    "Like if you interrupt her when she's working, she flips out. And she's picky about the jobs she takes."
    "That's a good thing though. I'm picky about the clients I take on."
    "But you wouldn't turn down clients who forward your career."
    "I might, if they were a pain in the ass." He pointed at her with his fork. "But Daniela's being stubborn about something that's bothering you."
    "Is it that obvious?"
    "You're like an open comic book." He smiled. "Tell me about it."
    "The Food Network wants her to do another show but she won't even let me tell her the terms." Marley picked at her salad, thinking about it. "She's got something else going on, and it's distracting her from her business, and I can't figure it out."
    "Maybe she met a guy."
    "Daniela?" Marley frowned, trying to picture that. There were always men who wanted her boss. And why not? She was petite and striking and passionate. But Daniela was always disinterested in getting involved beyond a fling every now and then. "I don't know. Whatever it is, I need to figure it out soon."
    "You will," Brian said confidently.
    "Why are you single?" She studied him, trying to puzzle him out. "You're nice, employed, and decent looking."
    "Gee. Thanks." He rolled his eyes.
    "It just seems like you'd be able to find dates without employing a matchmaking service."
    He blushed. "Actually, Valentine and I dated very briefly. We weren't good together, but we stayed great friends. She asked me to do this favor for her."
    Marley stared at him and then started to laugh.
    "What's so funny?"
    She shook her head, trying to catch her breath. "So all those questions she asked me about how many children I wanted were in vain?"
    "Actually, Valentine is good at matching people up. She comes by it naturally. Her mother and grandmother were both matchmakers. She's just awful at pairing herself with anyone." He shook his head. "It defies logic. Lots of guys go out with her too. They become totally devoted to her and are at her beck and call, but none of them fall for her. It's strange and ironic."
    "Do you think there's one right person for everyone? Or do you think there are people who are good enough?"
    "There's not one right person." He faced her, meeting her eyes seriously. "I think we find someone who clicks and then have to work to make it right. When you stop working, it falls apart. Most people are lazy and just want it to be perfect, but a relationship takes effort."
    "So how is it you aren't with someone?"
    "Maybe I'm waiting for Catwoman, just like you're waiting for Batman."
    It wasn't Batman she was waiting for—it was Antonio Rossi. Batman was flawed but, as far as she could tell, Tony was perfect. It made winning him more difficult.
    But not impossible, especially if she got Daniela to agree to the Food Network deal.
    "Is waiting for Catwoman worth it?" she asked Brian on a whim.
    "Hell yes, but then