Ava

by Denise Devine

  “I’ve never even browsed a dating site, much less one that sends you to an exotic location to meet your so-called perfect match,” Ava said, running out of objections. “Where would I go?”

  Lisa held up her palms. “Well, that’s a no-brainer. Isn’t it?”

  “Enchanted Island!” Lisa’s friends responded in a chorus then they burst out laughing.

  Lisa laughed so hard she contracted a pain in her side and had to lean with one palm on the table. “This is perfect,” she said, clutching her side. “I’m due at the end of August. Book your trip for the last week and be with me when the baby is born!”

  The chance to be present when Lisa had her baby sounded tempting, but...

  Maybe a trip some place far away from my problems in Minnesota is the prescription I need to pull myself together and start thinking about my future. Spending quality time with my best friend wouldn’t hurt, either. Maybe I should accept the invitation and spend my week in Enchanted Island when Lisa is due. It sounds like a wonderful place and frankly, my life is so dull…

  But—finding her perfect match in a computer database through an online dating system? The thought made her almost laugh out loud.

  Chapter Two

  Wednesday, September 2nd – Minneapolis, Minnesota

  The Perfect Plan

  Jeffrey Thomas sat in his home office at his computer, waiting apprehensively for his meeting to begin. His boss, Dawson Yates, had hurriedly set it up online, but Jeff had no idea what Dawson wanted to discuss. He’d been with Perfect Match Online Dating and Travel Agency as a Perfect Match Specialist since the company started up one year ago. His basic duties included, but were not limited to, introducing clients to their perfect matches and working with each couple to plan every detail of their “perfect” getaway where they would physically meet for the first time. The company’s main office was located in South Carolina, but since the Specialists performed most of their work online, Dawson had assembled a team of the best people from around the country.

  Suddenly Dawson’s face flashed on the screen—a man in his mid-thirties with short black hair, a golden tan and an unmistakable air of confidence. “Good morning, J. T. How’s the weather up there in Minnesota? Is it snowing yet?”

  “Good morning, Dawson.” Jeff sat up straight, anxious to get through the niceties and tackle the main topic of this meeting. For some reason, Dawson always referred to him as J.T. rather than his actual name. He didn’t mind, but he often wondered if Dawson used initials for all of his other employees, too. “No, it’s actually been pretty nice all week. The leaves are starting to reach their peak of fall color.”

  “We’re hoping to dodge the hurricane blowing through the northern half of Florida right now,” Dawson said. “It’s been downgraded to a tropical storm and it’s veering toward the Atlantic as we speak, but if it builds up steam out there and steers back toward the coast, we could get hit pretty hard.”

  No thanks, Jeff thought. I’ll take a good old-fashioned snowstorm any day over that business.

  “One of the reasons we’re meeting today, Jeff,” Dawson said in a businesslike tone as he changed the subject, “is to talk about some changes taking place in the company.”

  Jeff froze, blindsided by Dawson’s statement. Is he going to fire me? It sounded like an introduction to bad news...

  “Those free memberships we gave out last spring have generated a lot of referrals and positive reviews. Business is growing at a faster rate than I had anticipated,” Dawson continued. “A large percentage of our new business is coming from the Midwest so I’ve decided to set up a regional office in Minneapolis. I’d like you to take the reins of that project and start looking for suitable space to lease. Since you have prior project management experience and your references have nothing but good things to say about you, I’m confident you’ll live up to the task.”

  Jeff blinked, surprised by Dawson’s expansion plans, but excited over the announcement of a regional office. “I’ll be happy to do that,” he said, though his voice sounded preoccupied. His mind was already jumping ahead to contacting a leasing agent, finding a contractor to handle the leasehold improvements, purchasing furniture and equipment...

  “Great, then it’s settled. You’re the project manager and you’ll handle the entire process. We’ll meet once a week online or as often as you need to discuss your progress.”

  “When do you want me to start looking for space? Will I be working alone or will the new office manager be included in the development planning, too?”

  “Well, that depends, J.T. Would you like to ratchet things up another level?”

  “Meaning...”

  Dawson smiled. “You’re my preferred choice for the regional manager position, too. That is, if you want the job.”

  Jeff gave a silent cheer. In less than five minutes, his career had taken a major turn. He hadn’t expected it, but he didn’t need time to think about it, either. “Yes, I do!”

  “All right,” Dawson said. “If the weather holds up, I’m having a retreat this weekend at my home here in South Carolina for my new managers. I know it’s last minute, but I’d like you to attend. You’d be flying in on Thursday night. Are you available?”

  “Absolutely,” Jeff said eagerly. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Good. In the meantime, I have another small job for you. I’d do it myself, but I’m busy putting together all of my materials for the retreat.”

  Something in the way Dawson’s brows furrowed and his voice suddenly dropped an octave gave Jeff pause. “Is this a serious matter?”

  Dawson’s jaw visibly clenched. “It has the potential to be if it’s not handled right.”

  Jeff stared hard at the face on the screen. “Are you asking me to fire someone?”

  Dawson ran his hand through his thick, dark hair, showing a level of anxiety Jeff had never seen before. “In a way, yes, but it’s more delicate than that.”

  For a moment, both sat like statues, absorbing the weight of his words. Dawson broke the silence with a sigh.

  “Okay, so it’s like this—we have a particularly sensitive situation with a client who accepted a complimentary certificate from one of Amy’s friends.” Dawson tapped his pen on the desk, obviously working off tension. “We sent the client to Enchanted Island to meet her match and she rejected him before the week was out. She called me; very upset, claiming I’d mismatched her.” He shook his head. “So I pulled up her list of matches and set her up with the next client on her list. Surprisingly, the guy was able to drop everything and fly down there on a day’s notice.” Dawson drew in a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “It took her less time than that to tell him to take a hike.”

  Jeff winced, knowing what came next, but he had to ask anyway. “So, what do you want me to do?”

  “Because it’s a friend of one of the members of Amy’s book club, this has to be handled face to face. I don’t want to upset Amy over this so I want you to fly to Enchanted Island and personally talk to the woman. Tell her she’s not eligible for any more free matches because the contract has been fulfilled—on our part, anyway. Offer her a complimentary voucher for a vacation somewhere else at a later date. It’s simply a goodwill gesture on our part. We didn’t mismatch her.”

  “If she filled out her profile honestly, there’s no way we could have given her the wrong match either time,” Jeff argued. “Our system has been scientifically proven to be ninety-nine percent effective.”

  Dawson shrugged. “You and I know that, but there’s no reasoning with this woman. She’s convinced it’s our mistake and that’s that. She’s expecting me to get back to her soon, so I’d like you to fly down there right away. Take care of the situation and then come straight to the retreat.”

  That meant he had to call off his plans for tonight. A guy only had a birthday once a year and this year, he’d planned to celebrate turning thirty-five at the ballpark drinking beer and eating pizza with the guys. Normally, it wouldn�
��t have been a problem rescheduling his night out, but it had taken no less than a small miracle to get six tickets to this event. The Minnesota Twins were one game away from clinching the American League Central Division Championship and he’d been looking forward to viewing that game from a lower deck seat at Target Field. Nevertheless, Dawson’s situation was more important and though Jeff hated to cancel his plans, he had plenty of friends who would gladly buy the ticket from him.

  Yesterday, the hurricane had forced the Miami airport to temporarily close, but if it was back into full operation today, he could try to get a red-eye flight to Miami tonight and a hopper flight to Enchanted Island tomorrow morning. Take a day to handle his business and make it to Dawson’s place in South Carolina in time for the retreat.

  But he needed to know one more thing.

  “Who am I meeting with? What’s the woman’s name?”

  “You might remember her profile. Her name is Ava Godfrey. She’s the last client in our beta group to use her complimentary week.”

  His mind went into a tailspin. She was the one? Oh-oh...

  Yeah, he remembered her. He’d seen her profile and her photo a few times in the course of his work. How could he forget that gorgeous redhead? She had long, thick hair and prominent hazel eyes that could mesmerize you if you stared at her picture too long. He never dwelled on client profiles, but in her case, he found it difficult not to stare. Dawson had personally contacted all of the women who’d received complimentary invitations by the book club members, including Ms. Godfrey’s match. Jeff thought he’d forgotten about her, but the moment Dawson mentioned her, his curiosity returned, stronger than ever.

  Fortunately, he didn’t intend to be on Enchanted Island long enough to risk falling under her spell...

  ****

  All went according to plan and by early afternoon the next day, Jeff checked into his room at the Dolphin Bay Resort on Enchanted Island. He changed into shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, had lunch in the Starfish Cafe and went into the lobby, deciding to quit delaying the inevitable. He needed to meet up with Ms. Godfrey and relay Dawson’s instructions.

  The trouble was, he didn’t know where to find her. He’d called both her room and her cell phone and got her voicemail each time. Why would she not be answering her calls? Assuming she was somewhere in the resort complex enjoying the amenities, he set out to find her. He checked everywhere in the hotel, including inquiring with the receptionist at the spa and he’d finally concluded she must be on the beach. That, however, proved to be a daunting prospect in itself. Hundreds of guests clad in tropical beachwear populated the multiple pools, hot tubs and the beaches of Dolphin Bay. He checked out the pools and the pool bars then wandered toward the beach. After about twenty minutes of roaming through countless rows of people sunning themselves on the beach, he concluded he wouldn’t find her and had decided to give up. That’s when he saw her reading a book under an umbrella, lying on a chaise lounge in a sleek, white bathing suit, stretching out her long, shapely legs. Though she wore oversized sunglasses and a floppy, white hat, he had no trouble recognizing key features from her photo—the long, slender neck and those thick, coppery curls framing her rectangular face.

  He strolled toward her, giving himself time to formulate the right words to say. She looked up from her novel and paused, staring straight at him. He didn’t know why, but the closer he came to this beautiful woman, the more his nerves jangled. He stopped at the foot of her chair. “Hello, are you Ava Godfrey?” At her nod, he continued. “I’m Jeff Thomas from The Perfect Match Online Dating and Travel Agency. I’m here to—”

  “I was expecting Dawson Yates,” she said in a smooth, sultry voice and lowered her sunglasses, revealing prominent hazel eyes fringed with long, dark lashes. “He’s the person who set up my matches and the last time I talked to him, he assured me he was personally going to handle this mess. Why did he send you?”

  Most women didn’t rattle him, but something about the fiery look in Ava Godfrey’s eyes threw him off balance, turning him into a bumbling fool. The moment she spoke, sweat began to collect on the back of his neck. Because he’d had to make travel arrangements on the spur of the moment, he hadn’t had time to get a haircut before coming to the island and he was paying for it now. His thick, curly hair collected on the nape of his neck, causing him to heat up at a time when he needed to stay cool and calm. “Don’t worry, Ms. Godfrey, I have the authority on Dawson’s behalf to—”

  “Good, then I assume that means you’re prepared to get physical if necessary.”

  He almost swallowed his tongue. “Wh-what?”

  She removed her sunglasses and slipped them inside her clear, vinyl beach bag. Her beautiful eyes flashed with anger. “Perfect Mismatch Number Two won’t quit stalking me.”

  Chapter Three

  Thursday, September 3rd - Enchanted Island

  The Perfect Storm

  The tall, blond man standing before her in khaki shorts and a blue Tommy Bahama shirt stared at her in disbelief. “Who?”

  “Richard Santorio,” Ava said, fuming. “The second match that Dawson Yates set up for me.” She slid her legs over the side of the chaise and slipped on her sandals. “Some consolation he turned out to be. What are you going to do about him?” Ava stood up, tossing her romance novel into her beach bag. His speechlessness apparently meant he had no idea what she was talking about. “As I explained to Dawson, Richard’s behavior has proved he is definitely not my perfect match, but he won’t take no for an answer.”

  Jeff Thomas’ stunned expression suddenly turned serious, his golden brows furrowing. “Did he threaten you? Is that why you’re not answering your phone?”

  She picked up her flowing white caftan and slipped it on. “No, but he keeps calling me and suddenly shows up when I least expect it, demanding I give him another chance. I put my phone on voicemail and I’ve stayed out of sight because I thought I could handle this matter myself, but I decided today that I wasn’t going to avoid him any longer. If he confronts me again, I’ll turn the matter over to the resort’s security team.”

  “Just call me Jeff,” he said to her as he scanned the crowded beach. “Is he around here now? I don’t see him. If you know where he is, just point him out and I’ll take care of the problem right away.”

  Richard Santorio was a well-built man, but Jeff Thomas stood taller and, judging by his solid, muscular chest and sculpted biceps, could probably hold his own. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, however.

  “No, I don’t see him in this crowd,” she replied, glancing around. “That doesn’t mean he’s not here, though.” She picked up her bag, ready to escape the heat and the bright sun. “To set the record straight, if you’ve come here to play mediator, I will not kiss and make up. I think it would be best if Richard went home and looked for another match.”

  “No, I’m not here to take sides or try to get you two back together. However, because Richard isn’t abiding by the rules of the contract—which states that participants are expressly prohibited from harassing or stalking each other in the event one party terminates the match—I do need to know exactly what is going on.” Jeff took one last look around, presumably searching for anyone who seemed out of place. “Why don’t we get out of this heat and go someplace cooler where we can talk?”

  “All right,” Ava said and fell into step beside him. Hopefully, now she’d get this mess peaceably resolved. “I know of a quiet place where we can do just that and if Richard is presently stalking us, we’ll confront him there when he shows up. Follow me.”

  She led him to a lush, tropical garden situated along the shady side of the resort with tall, overarching palms, chirping birds and colorful, fragrant flowers lining a curved stone path.

  Jeff stopped next to a small, stone bench and motioned her to sit. “Please, tell me what’s going on.”

  “From the beginning or just the part where Richard is concerned?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and leane
d his back against a palm tree as though preparing to be there a while. “Why don’t you begin where the trouble started?”

  H-m-m-m... How about the day Lisa handed me the invitation and insisted I take a chance on finding my perfect match?

  She sat on the bench and set her beach bag next to her. “Perfect Mismatch Number one: Henry Hamilton. Nice guy, handsome, the whole bit, but he was a workaholic who wouldn’t quit looking at his watch. He spent more time staring at his wrist than communicating eye-to-eye with me. He never heard half of what I said. When I finally complained to him, Henry said he needed to check his email.” She raised her hands into the air. “Excuse me? He was in a restaurant overlooking an unforgettable view of the moonlight glowing across the Caribbean with a woman who was supposed to be his perfect match and he couldn’t quit checking his email?” Shaking her head, she slipped off one sandal and let it drop to the ground, smacking the beach sand from the sole of her foot with her hand. “I definitely had a cause for complaint and I said so to Dawson Yates. Dawson apologized and set me up with Perfect Mismatch Number Two: Richard Santorio.” She expelled a deep sigh. “Richard turned out to be even worse than Henry.”

  Jeff’s skeptical frown suggested he regarded her story the self-centered ramblings of a diva. “I can understand one wrong match, but two? Why did you reject Santorio, if I may ask?”

  She pulled off her other sandal and looked up. “He’s too much like my ex-husband.”

  “Dawson matched you to both of the men based on your profiles. According to the information you provided, these men are exactly your type.”

  His insistence on Perfect Match’s perfect system irritated her. “Then maybe I’m attracted to the wrong kind of man.”

  “And what kind is that...”

  “A control freak—” She sprang from the bench, throwing her hands in the air. “Listen, Mr. Perfect Match Specialist, there’s more to finding the right man and falling in love than just comparing data on a form!”