Page 5 of Desire

“It’s nice to meet you both,” I replied, offering my hand to each of them.

“I must say, we were surprised to see your name and made it our business to be here in person for your interview. You’re our last one before we head back home,” he told me.

“Thank you, and I appreciate your efforts to keep this as private as possible.”

“Of course. Let’s head into the conference room and get this interview started. We know you’re a busy man.”

I followed them around a few corners into a conference room. They sat on one side of the table, and I sat on the other. Nathan gave me a water bottle and asked if I needed anything else before we began.

“I’m good with this. Thank you.”

“I’ll get right to it. We already have some matches for you, but we’ll use this interview to make our final decision. Answer each question honestly and in detail. I’m using this laptop to record. Any questions?”

“Not at all.”

He picked up a notebook and pressed a few keys on the laptop.

“What are the most important values you look for in a partner?”

“I have a three-year-old daughter, so she has to be kind and caring. Of course, I want her to be honest, loyal, and trustworthy, especially with my current occupation.”

“Do you have a preference for your partner's education level or career path?”

“Not really. I mean, I’m attracted to a woman’s intelligence, but intelligence doesn’t always come with education.”

“What are two interests or hobbies that you enjoy most?”

“Hobbies and interests? Ha, that’s funny. I don’t have time for many of the things I like. However, if I did, I’d probably read and catch up on all the movies I’ve missed. Maybe go to a cigar lounge and smoke a few.”

“How important are physical attraction and chemistry to you in a relationship?”

“Both are extremely important. If I’m not physically attracted to her, there’s no chance we’ll have chemistry. Without those two things, what are we really doing?”

“Do you want more children? If so, how many more?”

“I’d love for my daughter to have siblings, so I’ll have as many children as my wife wants.”

“How do you feel about dating a woman with a child or children?”

“I’d be a hypocrite if it was a problem. If she has children, I’d prefer they be closer to my daughter’s age so our children could grow up together, but it’s not a requirement.”

There were a lot of questions, and I was glad when the interview was over. However, I was confident they knew enough about me to find the perfect match.

“I think we have everything we need. The next time you hear from us, it will be to let you know we found a match and to tell you your wedding date.”

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”

“So, how was it?” Tammy prodded as soon as I returned to my office.

“It was fine. There were a lot of questions, but I guess it was necessary to match me with someone.”

“I still can’t believe you agreed, but I’m excited.”

When Tammy suggested using Arranged Hearts, I thought she was crazy. However, I had no other ideas to change the public’s perception of me. Getting married was a surefire way to quiet all the chatter about the company I kept after hours. After researching the company, I agreed to go through with it. Tammy was counting on me to agree because she’d already completed the profile and made the interview appointment.

“I can’t either. If I go through with this?—”

“Oh, we’re going, I mean, you’re going through with this,” she corrected.

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