Tamed by You (17 page)

Be strong. Be Sophie
. She lifted her chin. "It's only to both of our benefits, darling. No one was harmed by it, and it helped both our careers."

"There's just one problem with that, Sophie." He set his cup in the sink with a wince-inducing
clack
. "That night wasn't about our careers. It was about us."

To have him label them as an
us
was as sweet to her ears as it was surprising. "Us?"

"Us. You and me at an intimate dinner. Given who we are, do you think I'd take you out on a whim? And if it were business, I'd never have kissed you."

Did that mean he regretted kissing her? She swallowed, trying to think of how to play this. "I'll make it up to you—"

"You can't, Sophie. You violated a trust." He crossed his arms and glared at her. "You showed me that you care more about your career than me. Why would I sign up for that?"

She couldn't answer that. She shook her head, at a loss.

"The thing is, I thought you'd changed. You relaxed and let that bitchy façade you hide behind fall. I thought—I thought—" He rubbed his neck as though it were tight.

She pushed down the rising panic and reached out to him. "I
have
changed."

He stepped back. "No, you haven't. I was an idiot to think that a person like you would change. You're too selfish."

Reeling back, she caught hold of the counter to steady herself. A slap would have been less painful. Was that really how he saw her?

Except he was right. She'd always had to be selfish to achieve what she wanted and now it was a habit. But it didn't have to be.

Not that he'd believe that, or even be open to it, based on his closed-off expression.

Not sure what to do, she fell into the old pattern that had always served her well: She shrugged on her Sophie Martineau persona in all her haughty glory. "If that's all you see, you don't deserve me."

"If that's the only way you're going to act, you don't deserve you either."

She blinked, hearing the regret in his voice—and the finality. "Wait," she said hoarsely. "Can't—"

"Don't worry, Sophie." He picked up his coat and briefcase. "I won't kick you out. You can stay here as long as you like. I'm going out of town for a few weeks."

Stunned, she gaped at him. Like she cared about staying here. What good was it without him?

Unable to say anything, she whirled around and ran out of the house, into the street. She turned left and walked blindly down the sidewalk. What did it matter where she went? She just needed to get away.

She needed to stay ahead of the pain.

She rubbed her chest, surprised at the sting. First Julie, then Tony.

It was her fault.

Hugging herself, she stumbled down the next street. A neon sign caught her attention, and she slowed as she read
Matchmaker
.

Peeking inside, it looked like what she'd imagine a fortune-teller's shop to look like, all gold and ornate. Inside, an older woman in a Chanel knock-off suit sat ladylike, with a laptop balanced on her thighs.

The woman looked pale but capable and motherly, exactly the opposite of what Sophie's mother had been. On impulse she walked in.

The matchmaker sized her up in one sweeping gaze.

Sophie lifted her chin. "Do you know who I am?"

"Anyone would recognize your lovely face, Ms. Martineau. I'm Venus Jones." She stood up and extended her hand to shake. "Please sit down and tell me how I can help you."

She wondered if the woman knew voodoo, if she could make a gris-gris to help her get Tony back. Or, better yet, if she could make Tony realize what a mistake he'd made.

An idea struck—a bad one. But before she could censor herself, she said, "I want to find my match."

"You came to the right place." Venus took a pad and pen from the table in front of her. "I'll just ask you a few questions to get to know your preferences."

The front door opened and a chiseled manly face with messy dark hair poked in. In a deep voice that matched his chin, he said, "Is Valentine in?"

"She's not," Venus said suspiciously. "Who should I say stopped by?"

"Ethan Hunter."

Hunter. How apt. He looked like he could handle himself. He was the kind of manly guy even someone like Tony would be jealous about.

After every bad idea she'd acted on lately, she knew she should slow down and consider the ramifications here.

Except there were none, because Tony wouldn't change his mind. He was gone, and doing this would make her feel infinitely better. Maybe.

The matchmaker's gaze narrowed and her face flushed. Sophie swore that she heard the woman curse under her breath, but she must have been wrong because Venus smiled sweetly and said, "Valentine is out. Shall I tell her you stopped by?"

"Yes, please." The man nodded at them and left.

Sophie turned to Venus. "I want him."

Chapter Nineteen

"You'll never guess who came into the office today, Valentine."

Valentine looked up from the dinner she'd been picking at, not because she was curious but because of her mother's strangely intent tone. "Who?" she asked suspiciously.

"Sophie Martineau."
Her mother
glanced up from cutting her chicken.
"You know who that
i
s, don't you?"

Of course she knew who that was.
Sophie Martineau was one of the world's most beautiful women
.
She pushed the food her mom had made around her plate. She hadn't seen—or kissed—Ethan all day. She was going through withdrawal. "Is she filming in San Francisco?"

"I have no idea. We only talked about what sort of match she'd like to make."

"Wait a minute." She stopped rearranging the food on her plate and focused. "
The
Sophie Martineau wants us to fix her up with someone?"

"Not just someone," her mother said. "She wants to find her true love."

"So she came to us?"

"Why wouldn't she?"
Venus frowned.
"I may have just sealed your future, and you're being difficult. Where's your enthusiasm, Valentine?"

For some reason she couldn't make herself be feign enthusiasm about a future she wasn't excited about.

Maybe she should tell her mom now that she didn't want to be a matchmaker any longer. Since her app had been live, it'd been kicking ass. She’d already made more in two weeks of sales than she had all last year. Her mom would have to get excited about that, right?

What was she thinking? Did she want to kill her mom on the spot?

"Think of what it'd mean to find a match for Sophie Martineau," Venus continued. "It'd be a spike for business, and we'd have an instant spokesperson. Having her as a client is a coup."

"Hmm," Valentine muttered noncommittally. Sophie Martineau would probably be a pain in the neck. "Do we have very many men in the database who'd suit her? The San Francisco database tends to run younger."

"Age isn't important, Valentine. It's a meeting of minds and hearts."

She was sick of hearts and love.

"And I've already found the perfect person for her."

Valentine stilled at her mother's overly offhand tone. "Who?"

"Ethan Hunter."

Her fork clattered onto the plate. "
What?
"

Venus didn't even try to misunderstand the situation. "I told you he's not right for you. You need to give up this foolish attachment you have for him. You want him to be happy, don't you?"

"Yes," she said unequivocally. In
her
arms, not some other woman's.

"He'll be very happy with Sophie." Her mother dabbed her mouth with a napkin and set it on the table, folded neatly. The only evidence of agitation was the subtle shaking of her hands. "She and I had a long talk, and she's a lovely woman. Any man would be lucky to have her affection."

And her millions.

Valentine winced at her mean-spirited thought. "I'm sure she's great, Mom, but—"

"There are no buts." Venus's lips pinched. "This is why we have rules, Valentine. If you get personally involved with the clients, you won't be able to see what's best for them. Ethan Hunter won't thank you for being selfish if it means losing the love of his life."

She
wanted to be the love of his life. "Mom, you don't—"

"I promised your grandmother before she died that I'd see this business flourish the way it did when she ran it." Venus leaned forward, flushed. "I'm not going to let this opportunity pass by because you have a crush on someone who isn’t appropriate for you."

"Maybe he's perfect for me," she said softly unable to help herself.

"I've been a matchmaker longer than you. I think I know what I'm talking about. I want you to be happy more than I want anything else. Ethan Hunter will only bring you heartache. Be honest. Is he the sort of man you envisioned yourself with?"

No, he wasn't. He was way sexier, way more handsome—way more everything. A knot of doubt formed in her chest. She reached up to massage it with her fingers but it wouldn't ease. "That's not the point, Mom," she said, hearing the uncertainty in her own voice.

"Of course it is. He may be content to play with you now, but one day he'll grow bored and want to move along." Her mother's genuine concern seeped through. "Someone like Sophie is more geared to handle him."

She wanted to deny it but she could picture Ethan walking down the red carpet with Sophie Martineau, and she hated it. She crossed her arms, trying to banish the image, but it was firmly in her head.

"Trust me, honey," her mother said. "You're from different worlds. I Googled him. He used to be a prizefighter. He dated supermodels and women just like Sophie Martineau."

Ouch. She rubbed at the pain in her chest. Maybe her mom's condition was catching.

"I just want you to be happy, and I don't think Ethan is the right man to insure that." Venus became pale suddenly. She closed her eyes, hand on her chest.

"Mom?" Her heart stuttered each time her mom got like this.

"I'm okay. I just need to breathe."

Unsure what to do, she stood and hovered by her mom's elbow. "Do you want to go lie down?"

"Yes."

She helped her mom to the bedroom, carefully tucking her in the way Venus used to with her when she was sick. She stared down at her mom, biting her lip. Maybe she should call the doctor. "Mom, just consider doing that test the doctor wanted to run. I know you believe in Fate, but Fate's what you make of it. As matchmakers, even we help Fate along."

There was silence, and for a second she thought her mom was going to relent. But then Venus said, "I'm just tired, Valentine. Go finish your dinner. I'll be fine."

She hated that word.

Her mom grabbed her hand as she started to leave. "Promise me you won't see him, Valentine. I don't think I could bear to see you brokenhearted by him."

"But—"

"He'll break your heart," her mother insisted, starting to hyperventilate. She rubbed her chest, as though physically trying to encourage it to beat.

"Okay, Mom," Valentine agreed quickly. "Just relax, okay?"

"I'll rest now."

She waited until her mom feel asleep. Pressing a kiss to her mom's forehead, she backed out and softly closed the door.

What had she agreed to?

Regardless, she couldn't continue with Ethan—not until her mother was better. Meaning she had to tell Ethan she couldn't see him.

Something in her died at the thought, but she couldn't bear distressing her mother more. She needed to end their affair before something regretful happened to her mother.

She put on a coat and slipped outside, closing the door soundlessly so she didn't disturb her mom.

Outside, she caught sight of her reflection in a window. Her mom was right—Ethan deserved more than the dowdy person in the proper suit staring back at her.

Just another reason to stop seeing him.

Trudging to his apartment, she called up to his place and waited for him to buzz her in.

He waited for her in his doorway, the happiness in his eyes so painful to see that she had to avert her eyes. "Hi," she managed tightly.

He lifted her chin so her eyes met his. "What's wrong?"

She swallowed her sadness and regret. "You have to go out with Sophie Martineau."

"Who?" He shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

"We found a match for you," she managed to say.

"You're the match for me."

She died a little more on the inside. "No, she's better for you. Trust me."

"Who decided this? Your mom?"

"That's not the point."

"It's very accurately the point." He lowered his face to fill her vision, so she had no choice but to look at him. "Your mother doesn't know what I need. But I do, and you do, too."

She shook her head. "I don't know anything."

"You know how to kiss me and how to make me laugh. You know when I need a kick in the pants and what to say to lift me up. You inspire me." He touched her face. "You're beautiful and smart. You're kind and giving. I only want you."

She wanted so desperately to believe him, but doubt had settled in her heart and she couldn't dislodge it. "But for how long?"

"Forever."

Her nose tingled with the threat of tears. She blinked her eyes, trying to stay strong, even though her heart was breaking. "You can't promise that. You don't know. What if you grow tired of me?"

"I could ask you the same question." He frowned at her. "I'm going to talk with your mother."

"
No
." She grabbed his arm. "That isn't a good idea."

"It seems like an excellent idea. Someone needs to tell her to butt out of your life. Have you told her about your app?"

"I'm doing this of my own volition. She's not making me do anything."

Ethan let go of her and took a step back. "Is this what you really want?"

It killed her to say it, but she whispered, "Yes."

He glared at her
for what seemed like forever before he finally said,
"You actually want me to go out with
this other woman
?"