Page 7 of Indiscreet

“A bit more detailed than I expected,” I admitted.

He tilted his head. “You expected something else?”

“No, not really. I only heard about The Agency yesterday,” I said. “From my friend.”

The skin around his eyes crinkled. “Must have been some friend. It’s rare we allow a meeting so quickly. Perhaps I should explain what we are first. At its core, The Agency is a matchmaking service. Some come for relationships, lifestyle changes, fantasies, revelations, revitalizations,” he said. “What about you?”

I nervously ran my hands down my arms before returning them to my lap. “I was hoping to meet someone new—a date perhaps.”

“A new friend-lover?” he asked.

I nodded. “I’d say a new friend-lover is close to what I’m looking for. I’m not looking to marry again. I’m only recently divorced.”

He nodded. “You don’t have to answer that definitively now. Your answers today will help us populate the mixer with matches suitable for you.”

“That must take time,” I said. “No one mentioned the cost of this service.”

“If you received a card, someone has paid the fee on your behalf,” he explained.

I shook my head. “No, a friend gave me hers.”

He picked up a pad and barely glanced down at the screen. “There is nothing outstanding, no need to worry. Now, do you have any other questions?”

I shrugged. “I don’t right now, but I may have some later. This all seems well organized, but besides the health check and psych screening, I don’t see how your company is different than any of the other matchmaking companies out there.”

“The Agency is different—better,” he replied. “We haven’t had any disappointed clients.”

I raised my brows, doubtful. There was no way you could please everyone, but why argue?

He closed my file and gestured toward the door.

“That’s it?” I asked.

“Yes. The questionnaire and exam will tell us everything we need to know. You’ll hear from us soon.”

I shook his hand and left. The veil of mystery hadn’t been lifted, and I was still curious about how The Agency would match me and just what I’d gotten myself into.

***

I returned home and unpacked a few boxes before giving up and driving over to the local gym for some cardio and toning. I hadn’t been for a while and found that I was exhausted after the first twenty minutes. I pressed on for the full fifty minutes I had planned. Afterward, I rewarded myself with a small latte at the café next door. The whole time, I kept wondering about my experience at The Agency. How long would it take for them to process my information? Who had paid the fee for me? Liz? With the car, complete physical, and lab work, it went beyond what I’d consider a reasonable holiday gift. It made me uneasy. I planned to discuss it with Liz and cover the cost of whatever fees she had paid for my membership.

When I arrived home, there was a floral delivery van parked out front. I raised my brows. Christmas gift from a friend?

Pulling into the driveway, I was met by a delivery man on my porch. Once I got the door open, I cleared off a space on the table and he came in with twenty-four long-stem white roses in a crystal vase with a Tiffany’s bow. He refused the tip and handed me an elaborately crafted embossed card. In it was a gift certificate for a full-day treatment at Spa Noir along with a beautiful invitation.

You’re invited to a private party tomorrow night at

Westbrook Estate on Mercer Island

A limousine will pick you up at 9:00 p.m.

Dress: Formal

RSVP if you are not available

Please present invitation as admittance

I stared down at the invitation and frowned. Tomorrow? That was a bit too quick for me. It left little time for introspection. I’d have to decide now whether to attend, not to mention get my hair done and shop for something to wear. I wasn’t sure what to do and thought advice from Liz would settle whatever nerves I had. She answered on the second ring and I told her about the invitation and the fee having been paid. “Is this a Christmas gift?”

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