“Companion catcher,” Emma said.
“It doesn’t need a catchy name,” Kate said, exasperated already.
“Fine,” Lizzie said. “We were just trying to help. You probably call it the spousal search.”
She frowned. Thatwaswhat she was calling it. “What’s wrong with that?”
They all laughed, including Kate. “Idoappreciate the alliteration,” she said with a smile. She couldn’t get mad at them. They meant well. It wasn’t their fault she had to resort to an organized plot to find a man.
Thirty minutes later, they were halfway through a pan of lasagna and a couple of bottles of wine. She’d been so wrapped up in the conversations that she’d nearly forgotten Adam was stopping by. The knock at the door reminded her, and she grabbed the contract and sprinted to the door with a pen. He looked as handsome as ever, standing in the doorway wearing cargo shorts and another T-shirt with too-small armholes.
“Hey, come on in,” she whispered. “You can sign right here on this entry table.”
“Why are you whispering?” he said in a normal voice. Of course, her father, who had the hearing of a bat, heard that.
“Katie? Is someone at the door? Invite them in, for heaven’s sake,” he hollered from the kitchen.
“You don’t have to come in if you don’t want to,” Kate said, desperately willing him not to want to. “I’m sure you have somewhere to be.”
“I’d love to come in, thanks.” He slid past her without signing anything.
“Fantastic,” she said to the empty hallway.
They entered the dining room together, where everyone sat, eating, drinking, and talking. The room went silent.
“Hey, guys. This is Adam. He’s a client and just stopped by to sign some papers and will then be leaving.”
“Pish posh,” her mother said. “He’ll join us for dinner. Won’t you, Adam?”
“What, are we British now?” Lizzie mumbled.
“I’d love to. Something smells mighty fine,” Adam said.
“A man,” blurted her father. “Finally. Come sit here by me. Maybe the two of us can fend off all this estrogen together. I usually have a buddy or two come by, but even they’ve abandoned me lately. Everyone, scootch.”
Emma picked up her plate and moved to Kate’s other side, leaving a spot for Adam between Edward and Kate.
“Oh, I don’t want to put anyone out,” Adam said. “I can sit anywhere.”
“Nonsense” her father said. “This way, you’ll be next to Katie too.”
Kate grabbed Adam’s arm and whispered, “You don’t have to do this. As an only child, I’m not sure life has prepared you for dinner with my family.”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” he said.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she muttered, taking her seat next to him.
“So, Adam, we were just talking about Luna’s arbitrary peeing habit. What’s your take?” Lizzie asked with a wicked smile.
Kate put her head on the table and began slowly banging it up and down. Adam laughed and started dishing up lasagna that had been passed his way.
***
After the initial shock, Adam started to enjoy himself. He had to work hard to keep up with all the conversations and quick topic changes, but he thought he was doing all right, until they started speaking another language.
“He was chocolate, and I’m over it. I’m in the mood for something fruity now. Maybe boysenberry?” Lizzie was responding to a question about someone she was dating.
Adam looked at Kate with a raised eyebrow, silently asking what that meant.