Page 19 of Relentless Pursuit

Julian leaned against the bar,taking in the Friday night vibe. Lots of smiling customers, drinking, eating, conversing. The way he and Blake had envisioned the club when they came up with the idea. The business was growing. Through the years, they had matched many couples who were now vested in marriages and life partnerships. Even those, like Julian, who had no interest in finding love still came back every few months looking for companionship. Sapphire had become more than they had imagined.

Blake joined him at the bar. “Business is booming tonight. This has been our highest month ever. I think with the approaching holiday season, people are looking for that someone special.”

“It’s always nice to have someone to take to holiday parties and family gatherings.” Speaking of which, he was going to have to come up with a date to meet Jack and Caroline to celebrate her pregnancy. He dreaded the idea of going over applications.

“Now that you’ve done the right thing and cut Kayla loose, are you ready to get back in the game? I have two possible matches for you.”

“You can forward them to me, but I’m not sure if I’m interested right now.” He couldn’t seem to get a certain spunky brunette out of his head. He’d found his thoughts wandering to her all week. Their dinner had been spectacular. If there was ever a match for him, she would be it. Why had he pushed her away? Because she may have been everything he’d ever dreamed of in a woman, but there was no way he could ever be what she truly needed. He wasn’t wired that way.

“If you change your mind, I’ll lift the hold on your account and put you back in action.”

“Thanks.” He glanced at the dining area by the window just as Kayla took a seat in the U-shaped booth. She wasn’t alone. “What the hell?”

Blake followed his cousin’s gaze. “Oh.”

“Fucking oh?” Julian squared his shoulders in her direction, fists balled at his sides. “What is she doing here?”

“Hanging out?”

“Why?”

“It’s a club.”

“Blake.” How the hell had his cousin let this happen?

“You said she wasn’t a good match for you, but you didn’t say she couldn’t be matched with anyone else.”

“That part was supposed to be understood.”

“She still wants to be matched.” Blake moved to stand in front of Julian. “I was going to talk to you about it. I could find her someone more suitable. Less dominant. Someone who wants a relationship.”

“No.”

“I can’t discriminate against her because you have a hard-on for her and don’t know what to do about it.”

“So you set her up with…” Julian looked over his cousin’s shoulder. “Who the hell is that anyway?”

“I haven’t set her up with anyone. That’s what I wanted to discuss with you. This is a club, and sometimes people are attracted to one another and hook-ups happen all on their own. That’s what happens when you put lonely people in a room.”

Not on my watch.

“That’s Vince Sloan.” Blake pulled up Vince’s profile on his phone and handed it to Julian. “He’s twenty-nine, works on Wall Street, attended Wharton Business School in Philadelphia. His family owns two golf courses in Connecticut. He’s not bad.”

“He sounds great, but what does he want?”

“Long term, but he has requested a submissive. Click on the other information.”

He did as Blake requested. It turned out Vince had formal training in the BDSM lifestyle. He’d mentored under one of the city’s top underground Doms in an extremely prestigious dungeon.

“Kayla can’t handle him.” Julian didn’t need to know any more. “She’s not a trained submissive. You would never match her with him. He’ll be far too demanding.”

“More demanding that you?”

“We’re not discussing me.”

“He’s not looking for a trained sub. He wants a girlfriend who likes to dabble. Kind of like you, only less demanding.”

“When have I ever requested a girlfriend?” He didn’t do girlfriends. They were too complicated, and he was too busy.

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