Page 1 of Friends With Benefits

Chapter One

“What did you say?” Mitch stared across the table at his best friend.

“I want to get married.”

“That’s what I thought you said.” He couldn’t resist a smirk. “Is that a proposal?”

Kerri rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. As if I’d want to marry you.”

Mitch studied her. The breeze lifted the layers of her silky black hair and stirred the basket of colorful flowers hanging beside them on the patio at Amigos Bar and Grill where they sat having a happy hour Friday drink.

Mitch grinned, taking no offense at her comment. After all, marriage was so far down on his list of “Things To Do Before I Die” it was…well, it wasn’t even on there.

“You want to get married,” he repeated and lifted his Corona to his lips. What the hell was this about?

“Yes,” she said. “And I want you to help me find a husband.”

Mitch choked on his beer. “Huh?”

Kerri leaned forward. “I want you to help me find a husband,” she repeated earnestly.

“You’ve got to be kidding.” Was she insane?

She shook her head. “I’m serious. I’m almost thirty. I need to do this now.”

She tipped that stubborn little chin and gazed at him with wide crystal blue eyes. Ah, Christ. It was the puppy dog eyes. He dragged his gaze away from her and focused on the beer bottle clasped in his hands.

He snorted and took another swig of beer. “Big deal. Thirty isn’t old.”

She smiled. “Says you, old man.”

So he was a year older than she was. Neither of them was old, not by a long shot.

“I want kids,” she said. “You know I’ve always wanted a big family. Turning thirty makes me realize I better get on with it.”

He shook his head. Jesus, shewasserious about this.

“You’re my best friend. You should be able to find the right guy for me.”

“No way.” He shook his head, leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. The bright California sun warmed his face as he took himself out of the shade of the umbrella above their table.

“Why not?” Her lips pushed out into a near-pout and he frowned.

“You can’t be serious. That’s crazy.”

“Why? I’m still single and I haven’t had a date in months. I’ve been too busy with my business to date. And it’s hard to meet guys, you know.”

“Uh, no, I don’t know.”

She gave him that look she always gave him when he ticked her off—chin tipped down, head tilted, lips pursed—and he couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m just asking for a little help.” Her mouth relaxed and she held his gaze, wide-eyed, all but batting those long black lashes at him. He sighed.

“Kerri, I can’t help you with that.”

“Why not?” She continued to fix her clear blue eyes on him and he started to sweat. He tugged at the collar of his white shirt, although he’d already undone the top button and rolled up the sleeves. His tie hung loosely around his neck.

“Well, first of all, you know my feelings about marriage. I don’t believe in it, so why the hell would I help you find someone to marry? It would just be asking for trouble.”

---