Page 7 of Bride By Committee

“You want the specifics?”

“I’d love the specifics.” Anything to keep her mind off the walls that periodically snuck up on her, threatening to steal away the hard-won vestiges of her control.

“I consult with major corporations about economic growth and market trends.”

She took a moment to digest that. “You tell people how and where to spend their money.”

“Yes.”

“Are you good at it?”

“Yes.”

“Very good, I’ll bet,” she guessed shrewdly. It was a tendency of meticulous individuals.

“So I’ve been told.”

“I have a confession to make. You and I have similar jobs.”

She’d caught him by surprise with that one. “We do?”

“Well…” Madison forced herself to be as accurate as possible. “My consulting is on a much smaller scale than yours. And I do a lot more than give economic advice. Although the advising part does seem to take up an inordinate amount of my time.”

“And are you good at it?”

She didn’t see any point in being modest. “Yes.”

“Very good, I’ll bet.”

Madison grinned. “I’m a natural. Or, so I’ve been told. Of course, it helps that I’m practical. Idon’t allow emotion to affect my judgment.”

“And who do you work for?”

“Oh, I’m an independent consultant, too. But instead of consulting for corporations, Ideal strictly with Sunflowers.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sunflowers. That’s our family name on my mother’s side. I’m an Adams. That’s where I inherited my practical streak—from my dad’s family. They’re all bankers and accountants and lawyers. Idon’t have much contact with them.” She hurried over that part, unwilling to go into painful detail. “The Sunflowers have always been my main concern.”

“And what do Sunflowers do?”

“They’re not as easy to pigeonhole as my father’s relatives. They’re…” She shrugged. “They’re whatever they want to be. You could say a whim doesn’t exist that hasn’t attracted a Sunflower.”

“I see.”

“Don’t misunderstand,” she hastened to add. “They’re wonderful. Loving. Generous. Fun. Amusing.”

“But not practical.”

“Not even a little.” She smiled fondly, her affection echoed in her voice. “It’s their worst failing.”

“A failing you make up for?”

“I compensate, Isuppose.”

“Overcompensate?”

She took instant exception to the question. “Most certainly not.”

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