“What about you?” he countered. “A matchmaker who believes in true love but plans to stay single forever? I believe that’s called an oxymoron.”
“I believe in love and romance for everyone else.” Zara shrugged, her smile fading. “I have a serial-dating habit and poor judgment when it comes to men. The last guy I was with was secretly married and had a kid. Relationships just aren’t for me. My life is already full with family, friends, and theater. I’ve also just started a new job at a law firm, and I need to stay focused so they’ll keep me on as a permanent associate.”
“You’re a lawyer?” He supposed it made sense. There was a certain theatrical element to court, and Zara was outgoing, intelligent, and clearly not afraid to speak her mind.
“I’m with Cruz & Lovitt. We specialize in personal injury.” Zara pulled a stack of cards from her purse and handed one to him before passing them around the table. Jay had never seen a professional card with a tiger on it before, but it suited her.
“I’ll keep it on file.” He tucked the card into his pocket.
“I wanted to be an entertainment lawyer.” She gave a resigned smile. “It didn’t work out. I did give my card to Chad Wandsworth last weekend and he said he liked the tiger. I’m hoping one of his celebrity friends gets seriously injured—purely for professional reasons—and he says, Hey, you should call the tiger firm, and then I’ll have a celebrity client, which is one step closer to my dream.”
“I work with celebrities all the time.” He was having trouble concentrating on his words with her leaning so close. She smelled of honey and cinnamon and the sweet treats his mother used to bring home every Friday from work. “My company provides personal guarding services to foreign dignitaries, billionaires, politicians, sports teams, movie and Broadway stars—”
“Movie and Broadway stars?” Zara grabbed his tie and yanked him forward until they were almost nose to nose. “Names. Give me names. Who have you guarded? A-list? B-list? Anyone from Hamilton?” Her full attention was on him now and it was hard not to get pulled into the depths of her liquid brown eyes.
“Our client list is confidential.”
“Did you work for Lin-Manuel Miranda?” She tipped her head back and gave the kind of groan he’d only ever heard from a woman between the sheets. “What was he like? Tell me. No. Don’t tell me. We’re in public and I can’t be responsible for what might happen if you do.”
His mouth opened but no words came out. He’d convinced himself there was no chemistry between them. But now, with her face only inches away, he was almost overwhelmed with the desire to taste the curve of her lips.
“C’mon, Jay.” She leaned close, the gold flecks in her eyes sparkling, her voice a husky purr that he felt as a throb in his groin. Had he ever met a woman with eyelashes so long? He could swear that every time she blinked, they swept over her cheeks.
“Just one name,” she pleaded. “One itty-bitty little name for me to fantasize about when I’m alone in bed tonight.” She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, slow and sensual. “Or even better, an introduction. I’ll make it worth your while.”
Jay swallowed hard, loosened his collar. Need, tightly controlled, began to unravel. He knew he shouldn’t ask, but the words came out just the same. “What do you mean worth my while?”
“What do you want, Jay?” Her breath whispered against his cheek. “What is your greatest desire? World domination? Ten glamor models in a limo? Your own island? An endless supply of samosas? Six blue silk ties? A perfectly balanced set of accounts? A night of hot sex, no strings attached . . . ?”
His mouth went dry. “Are you offering to sleep with me for an introduction?”
Shock chased horror across her face, putting an instant chill on his desire. “I didn’t mean me.” She gave a hollow laugh. “I’m not that desperate.”
His jaw dropped. Was she serious? “You think only a woman who’s desperate would sleep with me?”
“No,” she said quickly, her lips flattening in a grimace. “I meant I’m not so desperate for a celebrity introduction that I would sleep with someone to get it.” She tilted up her chin. “But I could find someone for you if that’s what it takes . . . whatever the cost.”
He stared at her aghast. “You’re going to hire a hooker?”
“Jay.” She heaved an exasperated sigh and fell back in her chair. “Why do you always think in extremes? I’m a matchmaker. I can find you a match.”
“For a hookup?” His brain was still stuck on “hot sex” and wouldn’t let go.
A slow smile spread across her face. “I can do better than that. I’m going to find your perfect match. It will be my ultimate challenge. I will save you from the time-consuming perils of the dating pool and a life of singles table loneliness, all for the low, low price of a simple celebrity introduction.”
Jay didn’t need a match. He didn’t need a girlfriend or a wife or even a hookup. Work was all consuming. His goal was almost within reach. Loneliness was a small price to pay for success. But he’d made that promise to his mother, and now the woman who had shot him in the ass was offering him a way to fulfill it.
He couldn’t deny she had piqued his curiosity. And it wasn’t just about a match. She had touched something inside him. Something he had buried beneath the darkness that woke him night after night. He could feel when he was with Zara. She had crashed into his life like a hurricane, and after years of feeling numb inside, he was tempted to ride out the storm.
“Hello? Jay? Are you in there?” She rapped his head with her knuckles, and every nerve ending in his body fired at once. “Do we have a deal?”
Even as he hesitated, his betraying mouth was forming the word, “Yes.”
“Yessssss!” She pumped her fist in the air. “This is going to be fun. I know that word isn’t part of your vocabulary but by the time I’m done with you, it will be.”
“That sounds like a threat.” Why had he agreed to this? He didn’t want “fun.” He didn’t even want a match. Maybe she’d put something in his wine.
“It’s a promise.” She bounced in her seat, her enthusiasm almost infectious. “I need to get to know you better so I can find your perfect match. Why not enjoy the time we spend together?”
“Can’t I just fill in a form with my details and you find someone with similar interests?”
With a sigh, Zara shook her head. “Jay. Jay. Jay. My matchmaking inventory consists of people I know. I’m not going to hook up a friend or relative with some random dude I just met at the singles table.”