Match Me if You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Read Free Book Online

an overview of her profession. She was good-humored, sharp, and sexy. God, was she sexy. He’d way underestimated Annabelle Granger’s matchmaking skills. Just as he began to relax into the conversation, however, Annabelle glanced at her watch and rose. “Time’s up,” she announced, in a chipper voice that set his teeth on edge.
    The sexy psychologist came to her feet with a smile. “It’s been lovely meeting you, Heath.”
    “My pleasure.” Since he was the one who’d set the time limit, he concealed his irritation. He’d never expected a goofball like Annabelle to produce a stunner like this first time up at bat. Gwen gave Annabelle a quick hug, smiled at him again, and made her way out of the restaurant. Annabelle settled back into her chair, took a sip from her green phantom, then dug into her tote, this one turquoise blue with sequined palm trees. Seconds later, he was gazing at a contract identical to the one she’d left on his desk yesterday.
    “I guarantee a minimum of two introductions a month.” A springy lock of red gold hair fell over her forehead. “I charge t-ten thousand dollars for six months.” He didn’t miss either the stammer or the high color rising in those chipmunk cheeks. Tinker Bell was going for the gusto. “Normally, the fee would include a session with an image consultant, but…” Her gaze took in his haircut, touched up every two weeks at eighty bucks a pop, his black Versace dress shirt, and pale gray Joseph Abboud slacks. “I, uh, think we can dispense with that.”
    Damn right they could. Heath had crap taste when it came to clothes, but image was everything in his profession, and just because he didn’t give a damn what he wore didn’t mean his clients felt the same way. A very gay, very discriminating wardrobe consultant purchased everything Heath wore, and he’d forbidden Heath to match up any shirts, pants, or ties that weren’t already coordinated on the charts hanging in his closet.
    “Ten thousand is steep for someone with no track record,” he said.
    “Like you, I believe in charging what I’m worth.” Her eyes hung up on his mouth.
    He suppressed a smile. Tinker Bell needed to practice her poker face. “I’ve already paid through the nose for my contract with Portia Powers.”
    The small cupid’s bow at the center of her top lip grew a little pale, but she had game. “And how many women has she introduced you to like Gwen?”
    She had him there, and this time he didn’t hide his smile. Instead, he picked up the contract and started to read. The ten thousand dollars was a bluff, nothing more than wishful thinking on her part. Still, there was Gwen Phelps. He scanned the two pages. He could lowball her, but how far did he want to go? The art of the deal required that everybody come out feeling like a winner. Otherwise, resentment got in the way of performance.
    He pulled out his Mont Blanc and began making modifications, scratching through a clause here and there, amending another, adding one of his own. Finally, he slid the papers back to her. “Five thousand up front. I only fork over the balance if you’ve found the right woman.”
    The flecks of gold in her brown eyes flashed like the glitter embedded in a kid’s yo-yo. “That’s unacceptable. You’re practically asking me to work for free.”
    “Five thousand dollars isn’t exactly chicken feed. You have no track record with someone like me.”
    “And yet I brought you Gwen.”
    “How do I know she’s not all you’ve got? There’s a big difference between talking a good game and playing one.” He flicked his thumb toward the contract. “The ball’s yours.”
    She snatched up the pages and glowered as she scanned the changes he’d made, but finally she signed, as he’d known she would. He did the same, then kicked back in his chair and studied her. “Hand over Gwen Phelps’s phone number. I’ll set up the next date myself.”
    She tugged on her bottom lip, revealing small, white