Page 6 of His Perfect Woman

As I said the words, I couldn’t believe what I was doing. It was torture to see and be around her while being unable to have her as anything more than a friend. But she was addictive like that, which is how we got so close in the first place. One lunch was all it took for me to get hooked again. Not only that, but she really was killer at her job, and if anyone could help me, it was her.

She laughed and shook her head. “The only thing that’s going to help you now is to find a wife, like you said. But that’s the one thing I can’t help you with.”

As if I needed that reminder. I groaned to myself. “That takes time, even if it is some kind of arrangement for public appearances. I’m not going to tie myself, my image, my family, my company...to just anyone. And time?” I stabbed my fork in the air. “That’s something you could help me buy from the media.”

She found this all to be incredibly hilarious, but I could see the wheels turning in her brain as she considered it. “A matchmaker who can’t find a match.”

“I don’t do the matchmaking. My app does. And anyway, that’s real clever. Did you steal that from the latest tweets about me?”

“You have to admit how ironic it is. No wonder people are blowing it so out of proportion. It’s funny, and people are always looking for any excuse to dog on love. Makes them feel better about being single.”

“Speaking from personal experience?” I quipped.

“I could ask you the same thing.” She took a sip of her water. “Have you thought about just paying someone?”

“Yes, in fact. That’s what I’m doing here. Offering to pay you to help me fix this thing.”

“That’s not what I meant.” She narrowed her eyes at me.

“I know what you meant, but you haven’t answered me. Come on. You were so insistent about us catching up. This would give us plenty of opportunities to do that.”

“Part-time consulting. No more than six months,” she decided after a moment. “I don’t expect it to take that long. You’re rich and hot. You’d have girls lined up around the city if you held auditions to find a wife. But, until you figure out how to go about it, I can help tame the social media beasts.”

I felt a rush of relief and dread. Relief that I knew Victoria would sweep in and calm everyone down while I found a more permanent solution. Dread because while doing that, she would send my libido into overdrive every step of the way.

3

Victoria

Lucas emerged from his dressing room in our backstage holding area. I was impressed by how good he looked when he really put in an effort. He always looked like a powerful businessman, even when he was just in workout clothes or sweats. Even as a teen, he’d somehow had that air about him—like it was in his blood.

But in his Armani suit with his hair perfectly styled, all while advertizing the most charming side of his persona, he was a knockout. I could see him breezing right up to that podium and slaying them.

“You look good,” I told him, straightening his tie just a smidge.

He grinned down at me. “I’ll look even better up there with you by my side.”

“You’ve been prepped on everything?” I asked, hating the lack of control. I hadn’t officially done anything as his PR consultant yet. His usual people scheduled the press conference to discuss the company’s upcoming three-year anniversary, and I was just along to learn the ropes of how they liked to do things and get a more personal, up-close look at the company.

But as I stood inches away from Lucas, with him towering over me in his commandeering way, it felt a little too up close and personal. I took several steps back and cleared my throat.

“Shall we?” He waved his hand towards the entrance to the stage.

“After you.”

He gave his collar a sharp tug and set off with me filing in behind him. Cameras started snapping off left and right as he stepped behind the podium. I took my position a foot behind and to the side of him as he approached the mic.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman.” He flashed that perfect smile of his that could make any woman, or man for that matter, swoon. The deep purr of his voice, rich like honey, demanded the attention of everyone in the room. “Thank you for coming today. My family and I launched Heartstring nearly three years ago with one purpose in mind...love. To help millions of lonely people worldwide find their soul mates.”

I kept my smile carefully contained while he spoke. Lucas Meadows didn’t give a shit about love and I doubted his siblings did either. They started Heartstring to save themselves from the financial shambles their father had left them in so unexpectedly. I didn’t hold it against them; they’d managed the whole ordeal better than most would.

But the problem was that if I was thinking those things...so were the reporters. I scanned the room, noting their sour, scrutinous faces. Like lions just waiting for him to stop talking so they could pounce. If I had written his speech or had a chance to prep the crowd, I could have orchestrated everything in order to avoid this very dilemma.

Lucas continued without skipping a beat, but I could tell the energy of the room was not what he was used to. Further into his address, it started to wear on his tone. His confidence wavered and he started to sound more and more dejected. He wasn’t used to playing a crowd that was anything short of head over heels for him.

“And all of this is why we are looking forward to celebrating our three-year anniversary with you in just a few weeks. You’ll all receive your personal invitations to our big soirée as you leave today.” He nodded to the ushers waiting near the exits with stacks of envelopes in their hands.

It was a classy touch, but I doubted it would do anything to save Lucas from the impending trainwreck. I could tell by the look in their eyes—just waiting for their chance to tear him apart—that it would take more than a signed paper invite to butter them up.

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