Page 4 of Sly Like a Fox
I touch my forehead without thought.“He was.”
Her mouth drops open.“He hit you?”
I shake my head.“Worse…his wife did, indirectly.”
She gasps.“That sleaze was married?”
I nod.“I discovered that earlier today, when he came over for lunch, and the Mrs.followed him.”
She looks sympathetic.“What a jerk.You’d never date a married man.”
I nod in agreement.“That’s like 101 of Dating, but his wife wasn’t in the mood to hear my side.”I shrug.“It’s okay.Ralph had moist hands anyway.”
Chloe grimaces.“Yuck.I don’t think I could let a guy with moist hands touch me.”
I could for the money Ralph seemed to have, but a wife is a dealbreaker.“Yeah.Anyway, this next guy is definitely not married.His name is Fenton, and he’s a bobcat shifter who works in tech.”I grab two cookies and settle on the couch, which has dried out.The wine stain will be permanent, but it kind of fades into the ugly brown fabric.“I went to a professional matchmaker.”
“A matchmaker?That’s so old-fashioned.I love it.”Chloe joins me, cookie in hand.“Tell me everything.”
I give her the edited version—leaving out the part about specifically targeting wealthy men since she doesn’t know about my aspirations—and focus on Red’s understanding approach and the promising match she made.
“She sounds amazing.It’s so nice when someone actually listens instead of just assuming they know what’s best for you.”Chloe takes a bite of her cookie.“What’s he like?”
“I don’t really know yet.We haven’t met in person.Red said he’s intelligent and specifically wanted someone who could match his mental agility.That’s encouraging.”
She nods.“Very encouraging.Brains are so much better than just looks.”She pauses mid-chew.“I hope he’s cute, too.”
“Red showed me his photo.He’s definitely attractive.”The understatement of the year.Fenton Nielsen looked like he stepped out of a magazine spread about successful young professionals with his dark hair, intense green eyes, and bone structure that suggested good genetics and expensive skincare.
“Where’s he taking you?”I show her the restaurant card, and her eyes widen.“Wow.This place is fancy.Like, really fancy.I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard their appetizers cost more than I make in tips on a good night.”
My stomach clenches.“That expensive?”
“Don’t worry about it.If he or Red suggested this place, he can afford it.Just enjoy yourself.”She studies my face.“You’re nervous.”
“Terrified.”I bite my lip.“This feels different from my usual dates.More important somehow.”
“Because you actually want it to work out?”
The observation hits closer to home than I’m comfortable acknowledging.Most of my recent dates were purely transactional in my mind.Find a rich guy, charm him, and secure my future.Simple, but something about Fenton already feels more complicated.
“Maybe.Red mentioned he’s had some challenging dating experiences, too.It might be nice to meet someone who understands what it’s like to be misjudged.”
She nods enthusiastically.“That’s the foundation of every good relationship.Mutual understanding and respect.”
“Is that your professional opinion, Dr.Martinez?”
She laughs.“That’s my opinion as someone who’s watched you go through a string of jerks who didn’t appreciate how amazing you are.”
Her loyalty touches me.Chloe doesn’t know the full truth about my dating strategy, but she’s been a constant source of support through all my romantic disasters.
“You’re going to knock his socks off,” she says.
“You think so?”
She grins and finishes off her cookie before answering.“I know so.You clean up really well when you’re not stressed about money.”
The comment stings because it’s true.Financial pressure has been affecting every aspect of my life, including how I present myself to the world.Tomorrow night, I get a chance to be the woman I want to be instead of the one I’ve been forced to become.
