Page 9 of Fierce-Dane

“I see the twinkle in your eye,” Diane said. “We know the truth.”

She laughed. “I’ll let you two ladies get back to your pedicure. Enjoy your party this weekend.”

“We will,” Carolyn said.

She moved to the front and was told by Vanessa her next client was there. “Why don’t you send them up now and I’ll be in shortly.”

She was happy when people came early and could keep her on schedule.

And wasn’t being happy what it was all about, as she’d told the Fierce women? How could they not believe that? To her it was and that was all that mattered.

“What do you think about Sloane?”Carolyn asked her sister-in-law when they were walking to her car. Since they lived in the same development they always rode together. Getting pedicures with someone was much more fun in her eyes.

“What about her?” Diane asked. “I think she’s a wonderful person with a dry wit and a great businesswoman.”

“I know that,” she said. “I meant as a match for Dane.”

“Oh,” Diane said, her eyes lighting up. “That might work.”

“It never occurred to me before and might not have if she hadn’t brought up Chloe, her mother and Tiffani being there.”

“She did seem like she was entertained by Tiffani,” Diane said. “Always a plus.”

“We don’t know if she likes kids or not. That is huge for Dane.” She only knew about Dane’s situation through Chloe and it was not as if Chloe talked all that much.

But now that Chloe was married to Royce, and Royce owned part of Kennedy Construction with his father and sister, and Kennedy Construction was partners with their husbands, she felt like it was an open market to find out more about anyone they thought could be good setups.

“We know enough,” Diane said. “He’s single. He and his ex get along and co-parent the kids. He’s a doctor and very good-looking. We know that Chloe has made comments about her mother wanting Dane to find someone else.”

“I’m not talking to Doreen,” she said. “Not about this. She didn’t like that we set up Chloe.”

“She’s thanking us now,” Diane said. “She’s thrilled with another granddaughter and they love Royce.”

“That’s true,” Carolyn said. “Let me think about it. I have to admit they might make a striking couple.”

“We need to work on someone else,” Diane said. “We’ve had Dane on our mind since Chloe’s wedding two months ago. Between him and Zander, I feel as if we are shooting blanks and that isn’t like us.”

“You’ve got a point. We’ve been good at coming up with matches for so many people, but these two are making it difficult.”

“I’ve got an idea for Zander,” Diane said. “I’ve been thinking about this for a bit.”

“Fill me in,” she said. “And why are you just telling me now?”

“I wasn’t sure it’d work. I’m still not sure. The bigger question is how do we get Dane and Sloane to meet each other?” Diane asked.

“Another good question. Guess we need to get our thinking caps on. If anyone can do this, we can.”

3

SENSORY OVERLOAD

Dane walked into the spa a few weeks later and stopped at the front desk. He wasn’t sure what he was doing here, but his mother had given him a gift card for a massage for his birthday.

They’d been at his parents’ house a few weeks ago. He and the kids, Royce, Chloe and Willow. It was nice to have everyone together and celebrate.

Actually, his kids gave him the massage for his birthday, but he knew damn well his mother bought it for them.

Chloe had raved about the place and said he deserved it. He’d get addicted and keep coming back.

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