Jennifer Probst - Searching for Perfect

Nate wondered why he kept mentally cataloging her assets like an online dating site.

“Thanks again for dinner,” she said softly. “I had a wonderful time. It’s been a while since I’ve been comfortable with a man. I feel like you really understand and respect me.”

“I do. It was nice.”

“I know it’s a bit soon, but I wanted to ask if you’d accompany me to a charity ball next weekend. My father does a lot of research work, like you, and it’s taking place at the Museum of Natural History. Are you interested?”

The idea of formal clothes, stilted conversation, and an endless evening of dried-up crab cakes drifted past his vision. But this was what he wanted, right? Real stuff. Parties and social events with a date was part of the package. “Sure. Sounds fun.”

She lit up and scooted an inch closer. “It will be now.” She touched his arm. “I’m very glad we met.”

“Me, too.”

She tilted her head up. Her lips were very nice, full and defined, with just a touch of lipstick. Even her scent was subtle, a hint of lavender drifting from her skin. “Do you want some coffee?” he asked.

A smile touched her lips. “Not now, Nate. Kiss me.”

Oh. Duh. He’d missed that one completely. Kennedy would’ve zapped him good. He pushed his thoughts away and complied. His lips fit comfortably over hers. This time, she opened her mouth and invited more. All the books he had studied, erotic novels he’d dutifully read, and Cosmo magazine surveys and articles he’d pored over came down to this. Time to pull out the big guns.

He took the offer and slid his tongue in her mouth. Her hands rested on his shoulders and she kissed him back. She was an excellent kisser, the strokes of her tongue matching his, the pressure of her lips not too hard and not too soft, and her fingers somehow managed to massage his skin lightly without digging in. He kissed her for a while, then slowly eased back.

She smiled up at him. “Let’s go to the bedroom.”

What?

He stared at her. Wasn’t this too soon? Four dates wasn’t enough for sex, right? Wait a minute, who cared? An attractive, intelligent, single woman who liked him wanted to have sex. Damn, it had been way too long since he heard those words. This was awesome.

“Do you think it’s appropriate to sleep together on the fourth date?”

She blinked. Her smile disappeared. “What do you mean?”

“Well, when I signed the contract with Kinnections, they told me no sex until the relationship is completely solidified and we decided to be exclusive.”

Sue gave a half laugh and patted his shoulder. “I think that’s exactly what we’re moving toward. And I won’t tell Kinnections if you won’t.” She winked.

“I’m not sure I’m ready to commit completely on the fourth date. Won’t you be limiting your options?”

Irritation flashed in her brown eyes. “No. But it seems like you’re telling me you’d rather wait to see if someone better comes along.”

Oops. Definitely a double zap. “No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I’d hate for us to breach our contracts.”

“I don’t care about the contract, Nate. What’s the real problem here? Are you not attracted to me?”

Sweat prickled on his forehead. He fought the urge to wipe it off. “I’m extremely attracted to you. You’re beautiful.”

She sighed. “Good. I don’t think we need to talk about this anymore, do you?”

“No.”

“Let’s go to the bedroom.”

Shit. What was wrong with him? Sure, he’d experienced a bit of a tingle at the kiss, but mostly his dick was flat as a pancake, and this type of pressure definitely wasn’t helping things down there. Maybe the fifth date would be more of the pop he needed. Maybe—

She screamed.

He jumped off the couch, ready to beg her forgiveness, and noticed her pointing to the front window. “There’s someone out there!”

Nate peered out the window. His brother’s face pressed against the glass, displaying a huge grin.

Thank God.

He opened the door and pulled him across the threshold. “Connor! Man, what a surprise! Welcome, welcome, come on in.”

His brother looked awestruck at the enthusiastic greeting. Sue stiffened on the couch and forced a polite smile as she stood. Connor smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, didn’t know you were on a date. Figured I’d pick you up for a beer since Jerry bailed on me. Hope your mojo isn’t messed up.” He turned toward Sue with a friendly leer that most women actually found appealing. “Nice to meet you. I’m Nate’s older brother, Connor.”

She offered her hand, which Connor took and pumped heartily. “Nice to meet you. What a pleasant surprise.”

Her face said it was anything but pleasant, but she was a lady to the core. Nate wondered why he was so frickin’ relieved that his brother had just interrupted his one opportunity to get laid. Maybe he did need to talk to Arilyn. “Hey, nice place. A little girly but doable. So, darlin’, how did you two meet? At that crazy matchmaking place?”

“Er, correct.”

“May have to sign myself up if it means I’ll meet a hottie like you.” Connor strolled through the rooms, grabbed a Sam Adams from the refrigerator, and popped it open. Nate noticed his date studied the construction boots, worn jeans, and T-shirt. His brother’s muscles were evident, and his shaggy blond hair gave him a bit of a rocker look that never had him lacking for dates, but Sue crinkled her nose just a bit like she smelled something bad.

And in that moment, Nate didn’t like her anymore.

“Did Nate tell you he works on rockets? That he came from NASA? This is one together dude.”

“Yes, he is. And what do you do, Connor?”

“I’m in construction. Know that new court building in Westchester County? I headed up the crew.”

“Very nice. It’s lovely to see two brothers so . . . close.”

Connor laughed and squeezed his shoulder. “Taught him everything he knows, darlin’. If you know what I mean.” He gave a good-natured wink.

Sue dropped her mouth in horror.

Nate smothered a groan and said good-bye to the possibility of any close encounter of the sexual kind. “Sue, why don’t I walk you out?”

The direct approach wasn’t a good idea. The room dropped a few degrees under her chilly stare. “Of course. I don’t want to interrupt your family time. I’ll speak with you tomorrow?”

“Yes, I’ll call you.”

“Fine. Nice to meet you, Connor.”

“You too, babe.”

Her shoulders stiffened as she walked out. He closed the door behind him and faced his brother. Connor took another slug at his beer, wiped his mouth, and grinned. “You get any?”

Nate couldn’t help it. He laughed. His brother was a walking, talking chauvinistic cliché and would never change. What the hell. Blood was blood, and anyone who judged that quickly was someone he didn’t want to sleep with. Connor’s heart was pure gold.

“Nah, I got none.”

Connor paused. “Sorry, man. Did I screw it up for you?”

Nate shook his head. “Nope. Let’s go to Mugs. I think you’ll like it.”

They grinned at each other and left.

KENNEDY CROSSED HER legs and watched her date’s gaze snag on the short hemline of her skirt. Good. Her body was back in working order and all systems were ready to go. Tonight, she may decide to have sex.

A reward for skipping carbs all week.

She’d dressed carefully, knowing a fine line lay between elegantly sexy versus cheap and available. The black skirt may be short and snug, but the fire-engine red Donna Karan blouse she paired with it had bell sleeves and a demure neckline. The red heels were all “come and get me if you dare.” The peekaboo game was a classic, and she always won.

Always.

Derek slid her another drink across the bar. A real estate mogul, he’d already taken a few phone calls and clearly knew how to work a room. He wore his hair cropped close to the scalp, sported a three-figure custom suit, and looked at her now with hungry blue eyes. His sharklike instinct and good looks kept her amused, and she was even hopeful a longer conversation would prove they had common ground to work with.

“So, how’s your marriage quota doing?” He sipped his martini and gave her an amused look. “Making money?”

She bared her teeth. Any potshots at the career she adored would never be tolerated. “How’s the housing bubble treating you, babe?”

He laughed. “I like a challenge.” His eyes gleamed. “Don’t you?”

“Always. That’s why I buck the odds every day. Finding love in this era and going head to head with divorce statistics reminds me to be brave.”

“An interesting theory. Still not sure why you wanted to settle in Verily. You’re missing out on the excitement and big bucks of Manhattan.”

She swung her foot in rhythm to the blare of rock music. “I like the small-town atmosphere. And we do better with our niche here.”

“Make sure you call me when you’re ready to upgrade your residence. Your gorgeousness deserves a penthouse on the Upper East Side. Not a rundown cottage on the Hudson.”

She tried to concentrate on his compliment rather than on the slight put-down about her choices. It didn’t work. “You barely got through the door. Who are you to judge?”

Derek leaned in. His nostrils flared slightly. “I intend on seeing a lot more than the front porch. Unless you’d like a tour of my new place? There’s a hot tub you’d love.”

“Presumptuous, are we?”

He took another sip. “No, just grown up. I haven’t met a woman who’s intrigued me this much in a while. We’d make a great team.”

Yes. They matched each other quite well. Derek seemed like a male version of her. Career oriented and direct, he obviously lived in the fast lane and loved beautiful things. He’d told her most of the night how much she pleased him—without making her feel objectified. His charm was potent.

He was very different from Nate.

As if her thoughts conjured him up, Nate walked into Mugs with a large man at his side. What was he doing? Didn’t he have a date with Sue tonight? She watched him slide into a booth and imagined him ordering a Darth Maultini. Then needing to explain exactly how to create the cocktail. Ah, that was definitely his brother. Taller and larger, he wore casual clothes, had longish hair, but his sharp, angular features pegged him as family.

Derek’s laugh jerked back her attention. “Any other woman I know would’ve jumped on my remark. You’re gonna make me work for it, aren’t you, babe?”

She tossed him a smile. “As Thomas Paine said, ‘What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.’ ”

“I surrender. A rocking body and a brain. I’m yours.”

She waited for the prickle of happiness she always experienced when she was able to enchant a man. The perfect foreplay banter usually got her body lit up and ready to go. Instead, her tummy remained steady and her nipples flat. One of her main issues was always the thrill of ensnaring male attention. She’d done the therapy and knew it came from her past of consistently chasing after approval from the opposite sex. When she lost the weight, it was as if she’d dropped into a candy store, and overindulging was an easy way to forget about her other problems. Beautiful men and physical pleasure. Did anything get better than that?

But tonight she just wasn’t in the mood.

Her gaze flickered back to the booth. The drinks had arrived, and they sat with their heads bent together in conversation. Nate threw back his head and laughed. Connor grinned.

“Kennedy?”

She jumped. “Yeah?”

“I have to take this call, it’ll be a few minutes. Forgive me?”

“Of course. I’ll wait here.”

He walked out of Mugs with the phone held to his ear, already barking instructions to his assistant or partner. Well, it was ridiculous not to go over and say hello. Introduce herself to Connor. It would only take a moment.

She grabbed her drink, slid off the stool, and marched to their table.

“Hey.”

Nate looked up. Pleasure shone in his gaze as he took in her appearance, but it was more than a compliment. He seemed to look to the very inside of who she was, beyond the physical form she was so proud of. “Hey.”

“I thought you had a date with Sue.”

“We did. Are you here with the girls?” he asked.

“No, on a date.”

His lips tightened. “Oh. That’s nice. This is my brother, Connor. Connor, meet Kennedy from Kinnections. My matchmaker.”