Was that really too much to ask?
That night Kate called her stepmom, Sherryl, and set things up with the matchmaker.
Kate was a full-time employee at the discount furniture, and she couldn’t afford to take a day off to meet with the matchmaker. So it would have to wait, unfortunately, as she tried to make her way through the money-hungry world.
She spent a lot of time with her manager, Phil, who gave her thinly veiled compliments and made her uncomfortable with his weak attempts at flirting. Kate wasn’t someone who would just take crap from men, but Phil was her manager, and she really needed the job.
If he ever made a move on her, Kate would recall her self-defense class and give him a swift chop to the larynx, but for the time being, she had to ignore his creepy statements and focus on helping customers.
He asked her about her date as they opened up on a busy, rainy Saturday morning. “You need to find yourself a nice guy,” Phil said, counting up the change at the register the night before. “Maybe they are closer than you think.”
Phil was a middle-aged man with a bozo haircut who flashed her a toothy grin that said perhaps he thought looked charming. She gave him her usual half-hearted smile, then disappeared as a new customer walked in and was eyeing a vintage chandelier. She was thankful because she didn’t have the patience to put up with his bullshit that day.
Kate walked toward a small woman with silver hair in a classic bob. She could see her profile as she delicately fingered the glass chain that connected to the device. Even from a distance, Kate could tell that she was an elegant woman, one who appeared in control at all times, giving off a vibe of confidence that Kate herself longed to adopt.
“Can I help you with anything today?”
The woman spun around slowly and spoke with a soft tone that instantly made Kate feel calm, like incense. “You must be Kate,” she said, smiling small. “My name is Gerri Wilder. I’m the matchmaker.”
She held out her hand, and with an intrigued surprise, Kate took it. Her shake was firm and assertive, which Kate really liked.
“Oh,” Kate replied. “I wasn’t expecting you to show up here. I’m sorry I haven’t had time to set up a meeting yet.”
The handshake released, and Gerri waved her hand back and forth, replying with a voice that Kate found to be very hypnotic.
“That’s no problem, dear,” she said. “That’s why I came to you. Walk with me, and we’ll chat.”
They began to move around the store side-by-side, with Phil glancing up every now and then to check up on them. Kate kept her hands in the pocket of her jeans, feeling self-conscious and nervous for a reason she didn’t quite understand.
“So tell me what kind of partner you’re looking for,” Gerri said, pretending to glance at a vintage armoire.
Kate sighed. “I honestly just want someone who puts in an effort for me, who makes a point of showing me that they care in ways beyond words. Words can be very empty.”
Gerri nodded in agreement. “That sounds reasonable to me,” she said.
“I’ve thought so, but no luck so far.”
Gerri stopped around a fake-diamond-encrusted coffee table and faced Kate directly. “And how do you feel about shifters?”
Kate raised her brows. “Shifters?”
“Yes.”
Kate shrugged, unsure how to reply. “I mean … I’ve heard of them. I’ve never dated any. I think I could be open-minded enough to give it a try.”
Gerri’s gray eyes glimmered in the dim of the store.
“I have matched many humans with shifters, and things have worked out swimmingly. But I will warn you that shifters can be very intense, protective, and very alpha. But also very sexy and loyal to those they love.”
Kate was enjoying Gerri’s frankness, but she still wasn’t entirely ready for her next question. “How important is sex for you?”
Kate unconsciously gulped, looking away in an attempt to hide her bashfulness. “I mean, it's pretty important,” she responded. “I like having really good, consistent sex. It can change my mood entirely.”
Gerri grinned in agreement, then continued around the store. “I know I can help you, Kate,” she said, gazing off around the room. “You have to believe in yourself first, though. I can set you two up, but it’s you who has to open up.”
Kate started to wonder if her stepmom had said anything to the mysterious woman about her, but she also had the feeling that Gerri had a method of intuiting things on her own.
“Do you think you can do that?” Gerri asked.