Courting Innocence. Kimberly Dean
you for finally telling me.’ Erin lifted an eyebrow, but let the question go. Jason and Sienna had met at a charity function before Sienna had started working at Luxxor. But this was interesting…
She set the card beside her plate.
Sienna held out her hand. ‘I’ll take that.’
Uh uh. No way. ‘I’d like to keep it.’
‘I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to hand out my business cards to anyone but clients.’
So she wasn’t high-end enough? Erin cocked her head, ready to argue, but it obviously wasn’t a question that Sienna would be open to. She’d have to find someone else who’d be willing to give her more information. For that, she needed Luxxor’s phone number.
She lifted her chin stubbornly. ‘I’m your roommate. I need to know how to get in touch with you.’
‘You have my cellphone.’
‘But what if you drop it or it loses power? What if you get sick and need me to call into work for you?’
‘Jason has the number.’
‘Well, now I do, too.’ Erin deliberately took another bite of her waffle. Sienna stiffened, but Jason squeezed her hand, and the subject was dropped.
Yet Erin’s gaze kept going to the card as they finished their breakfast. Luxxor Limited. Her mind was awhirl, and, surprisingly, not over her cancelled wedding. She’d wanted to move on. Had the opportunity just fallen into her lap?
Did she have the guts?
When the meal was over, she helped clean up, but the first thing she did was take the card to her bedroom and hide it away. Sienna might not like the idea, but the more Erin thought about it, the more she liked it. A matchmaker might be exactly what she needed.
She was determined to do things differently this time. She wanted to stir things up and meet new people. Try new things. Broaden her outlook. Obviously, she needed help understanding men.
And who better than a relationship expert to tell her why her former fiancé had found her so boring?
Understated yet affluent. An address in downtown DC, too. This was reassuring. Real estate in this part of town was inhabited by only the upper echelon of law firms and political action committees. If Luxxor Limited was rubbing shoulders with these types, they were doing very well. This was a sign they knew their business. Impressive.
Their business of matchmaking.
Erin curled her hair around her finger. She’d never thought she’d be using a service like this, but it had come to her attention at precisely the right time. Online dating sites or the bars weren’t her thing. Besides, she wasn’t really looking for romance; she was looking for insight. One-on-one advice from someone impartial was the only way to get that.
And that’s why she was visiting during a time she knew Sienna was out.
Dropping her hand from her hair, she took a deep breath and summoned the poise she’d been taught but never quite mastered. She’d called the 1-800 number on the Luxxor business card first thing on Monday morning and had talked to the nicest woman. Rielle had been polite, but frustratingly vague and non-committal until Erin had mentioned Sienna’s name. Then everything had changed – as if it had been a password or something.
The intrigue was thrilling.
Now, she was finally about to embark on a new adventure. On her own. Sienna and Jason were having a late lunch with Sienna’s parents. Erin’s plan was to slip into Luxxor, find out if they were a good fit and then slink away before her best friend put the kibosh on what she was doing.
Because Sienna would find out. Erin had no misconceptions about that.
She scowled. She knew exactly how her friend would react. She’d say it was ‘too soon’ or that she was ‘on the rebound’. And the capper, ‘Why not let one of our friends set you up?’
Why? Because she was tired of others taking care of her. She needed to take charge. Break the chains. Fly, be free.
Yeah, all those things.
She stopped in front of the office number she’d been given. Luxxor Limited was spelled out in gilded letters on a heavy oak door. She rubbed her lips together. This was it. She could turn away now or move on with her life.
Fight or flight.
She entered without hesitation. She wanted to be a fighter.
The office was plush and sophisticated, decorated in burgundies and greys. It gave off a professional yet comfortable vibe. This wasn’t some sleazy set-up. Sienna wouldn’t work here if it was. So why was her friend so hush-hush about the place?
‘Hello, are you Erin?’ the woman behind the desk asked.
Her friendliness took away any lingering doubts Erin might have had. ‘Yes, are you Rielle?’
‘I am.’ The pretty woman stood and rounded her desk to shake Erin’s hand. ‘You’re Sienna’s friend.’
‘And roommate. Well, until Jason convinces her to move in with him.’
Rielle laughed. ‘We both know he won’t give up on that.’
No, the man was like a bulldozer when he wanted something. ‘I just hope I’m not the one holding her back.’
‘Sienna makes her own decisions. It’s what makes those two so fun to watch.’
‘Yes, it is.’ Erin grinned. She liked this woman.
‘Can I get you anything? Something to drink? A snack? We have fresh fruit and power bars.’
‘I’m fine,’ Erin said, although she’d picked over her lunch. Too many thoughts had been bouncing around inside her head. How would Luxxor treat her? Would they understand what she wanted? How personal would the questions be? What kind of man would they set her up with?
And what would he expect out of her?
‘Nina is looking forward to talking with you.’ Rielle picked up her phone. ‘I’ll let her know you’re here.’
Erin took a seat. She was the only person in the waiting area, which she was thankful for. Discretion was important to her, too. If her family found out about her plans, they’d nip them in the bud before she’d even be able to try. They were so protective, it could be suffocating, and her broken engagement had made it even worse.
But she wasn’t going to think about that today.
Instead, she picked up the latest issue of Elle Décor and flipped through the pages. It wasn’t more than a minute before a graceful woman appeared from the suite of offices behind Rielle’s desk. She wore a colour-blocked top with a black pencil skirt and sky-high heels.
‘Hello, Erin. I’m Nina Lockwood.’ She held out her hand and took Erin’s in a firm grip. ‘Welcome to Luxxor.’
‘Thank you for having me.’ The company CEO was flawless, with ash-blonde hair that fell model-perfect. Yet it was the glint in her eyes that made Erin take notice. This was one smart cookie. She exuded self-confidence, but, even more than that, power.
‘Please, follow me to my office so we can talk.’
Erin couldn’t help but copy the set of the woman’s chin and the way she walked as she followed in her wake. She’d grown up being taught manners and proper behaviour, but the way Nina held herself had nothing to do with seeking approval. She demanded respect.
She also had good taste.
Her office was impeccable. The blues