The Perfect Christmas - Debbie Macomber [14]
Lifting her hand to her brow she saluted him smartly. “Aye, aye, sir.”
Her gesture failed to amuse him, but he did relax somewhat. “Now that we’ve squared away that portion of our discussion, it’s time to finalize the paperwork.”
“All right. Oh—do I get to ask three things of you—small, easy-to-perform tasks?”
He sent her a withering look.
“Obviously I don’t,” she said under her breath.
“Let’s make this clear,” he said with exaggerated patience. “You’re the one who sought me out. You came to me because of your desire for a husband and a family. I don’t advertise. I didn’t ask you to step into this office. You came of your own free will.”
“I did,” she concurred.
“Then we play this by my rules.”
She resisted rolling her eyes for fear he’d demand she leave. “Rules,” she repeated softly. “Is this a game to you?”
“No, this is life, yours and John’s. He’s a good man who wants the same things you do.”
“Okay, I accept your rules.”
“Thank you.”
“Can I at least see his photograph?”
“No. You will meet when it’s time. There will be no information exchanged before that official meeting.”
Cassie didn’t like it, but she didn’t have any alternative. She nodded.
Simon opened a side drawer and withdrew a contract. “I advise you to have your attorney look this over before you sign it. This is a standard contract, stating what you can expect for your thirty thousand dollars.”
“What if John and I don’t gel? If we aren’t a good fit?”
“That occasionally happens and it’s a fair question. Your money will be refunded to both of you in full.”
“In that case, will you introduce me to another potential mate?”
“No.”
“No. No?”
“This is a one-shot deal.”
“One-shot?” That sounded risky.
“If I offered choices, my clients would be wondering who else might be available. When I pick a mate for you, it’s the best match I can find, someone I believe will complement your strengths, share your values and fulfill your desires—within reasonable parameters.”
“And your success rate is?”
“High. I don’t accept a client unless I’m confident I have the right person for him or her. It’s as simple as that.”
Cassie stared down at the contract. She’d feel better if she liked Simon more. The man was rude, arrogant and short-tempered.
It was as if he’d read her thoughts. “You don’t need to like me, Cassie,” he said. “In fact, it’s preferable that you don’t.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really,” he returned. “The last thing I want or need is for a client to fall in love with me. It only complicates matters, and I don’t like unnecessary complications. Understood?”
“Now who’s dreaming?”
A smile came and went. A smile that charmed her despite everything he’d said and done.
Chapter 5
Simon says: Maybe money can’t buy love—but it can get you practically everything else.
On the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving, which she’d spent with Angie and her family, Cassie headed for Southcenter Mall. This was the venue for her first task and she was eager to prove herself to Simon, obviously a curmudgeon. Spending four hours soliciting money for charity couldn’t possibly be that difficult.
Since she’d be standing outside, Cassie dressed in wool pants and a hand-knit sweater over her long-sleeved blouse. Between the shirt and sweater, she could barely get her arms inside the sleeves of her coat. She added a hat, gloves and a scarf, dressing for the cold. When she met her one true love, she wanted to make sure she didn’t have a runny nose and a sore throat.
Cassie showed up at the mall at the required time and met the other charity bell ringers. Standing with her colleagues, she glanced around. Some were being paid and frankly she thought they looked kind of shifty. Others, like her, were volunteers.
“Smile and greet everyone,” the leader instructed. “Be friendly even if someone walks past you.”
Filled with enthusiasm, Cassie could hardly wait to be assigned her post.
“Make eye contact