She always retorted with “I'm not your sweet.” But the guy remained undeterred and unflagging in his enthusiasm.
Nothing seemed to discourage the guy. He was a cockeyed optimist, if ever there was one. In the end, she simply gave up pretending to be a cold, stand-offish, disagreeable hag whenever he was around.
Damien was a little over the top with his antics, but it was hard not to like the guy. He was funny, warm-hearted and Penelope saw that behind his loud voice and bawdy humor was a sharp intelligence and intuition. People just felt comfortable with him, and although he loved to joke, his jokes were never cruel. His laughter was infectious, and Penelope reluctantly admitted to herself that she kind of looked forward to his visits.
He had even brought his cousin, Reid, to her office one evening and shoved a stack of her agency's pamphlets into Reid's large hands. Reid was happily married, but Damien ordered his cousin to recommend Penelope's dating agency to his neighbors and friends. “Spread the word, Reid. Small business owners should help one another. Reid owns his own plumbing business,” Damien told Penelope. “So if you need a plumber, he's your man.”
Reid had grinned and promised that he would tell all his single friends and clients about her agency. As Reid left, he whispered to Penelope, “My cousin's a busybody, but he's a busybody with the biggest heart. I owe my happiness to him.”
A busybody with the biggest heart. That was a pretty accurate summation of the man, she thought.
Damien had certainly helped her a lot. Her business was thriving because of him.
Reid said he owed his happiness to Damien. To be honest, Penelope in no small measure owed her success to Damien as well.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The phone rang and Penelope answered it immediately. “Good afternoon, Miss Hatfield's Dating Agency.” The words rolled off her tongue with ease.
There was a low chuckle and Penelope gave a long-suffering sigh. It was Damien, again. She knew what was coming. It was his standard taunt.
“So, have you found my match yet?” he asked, not hiding his glee and amusement. “We both know who's my perfect match. But you refuse to set up a date for me.” He tut-tutted and snapped his gum.
Penelope took a long breath. She had looked through the entire database but none of the females seemed a perfect fit for Damien. Or perhaps she was just looking for cracks and flaws that didn't exist. Could it be that subconsciously she didn't want anyone else to be Damien's perfect match?
Clenching her teeth, Penelope said as calmly as she could, “As a matter of fact, I've found your match.”
There was a long silence. Damien didn't even seem to be breathing.
“Hello?” Penelope said. “You still there? Damien?”
“Yeah, I'll here,” he said gruffly.
“I'll have to call her and see if she's happy to meet you,” she lied. “I'll call you right back, okay?”
Damien growled. “Fine,” he snapped, and hung up.
Penelope put the phone down slowly and turned to her computer. Her hands were shaking as she pulled up a profile of one of her female clients.
She had to go through with this. She was a matchmaker, this was what she did. Match her clients, set up dates, give them their happily-ever-afters.
So why did she feel physically ill looking for a match for Damien?
She balled her fists and stared resolutely at her screen. She couldn't let her muddled feelings cloud her professional judgment.
After reading through the client's information and requirements over and over again, she decided that this was the closest match she could find for Damien.
She would set them up on a lovely, romantic date. With a deep, fortifying breath, she picked up the phone and called Scarlett Washington. In a pleasant, professional tone, she informed Scarlett that she had found a potential match for her, and rattled off Damien's statistics like his age and species. Scarlett was human but she seemed unfazed that she would be going on a blind date with a bear shifter.
“Great,” Penelope said, feigning enthusiasm. “I'll make a reservation at Wong's Wok. You just have to be there at seven o'clock this Saturday. I'll be there to introduce the two of you, and then I'll disappear and leave you two to enjoy your date.”
Penelope pulled up Damien's profile and stared at his phone number. Her hand twitched and she stabbed at her phone with more force than necessary.
“Hi Penelope,” Damien answered coolly.
“You'll be meeting your date this Saturday at Wong's Wok,” Penelope blurted out.
“I see.” There was a pause. “Will you be there?”
“Yes. I'll introduce you to your date, and make sure everything is okay. Once you guys are comfortable, I'll leave. The rest is up to you.”
“Mmmm.” He sounded disappointed, or bored.
“Don't stand her up,” she warned.
“What kind of man do you think I am?” he said, and she detected a trace of anger in his voice.
“All right then. The two of you are very compatible. You're the same age, and you even went to the same school. I'm sure you'll enjoy her company immensely.” Penelope scowled. Why did she sound...jealous?
This was ridiculous. Was she hoping that Damien would turn down the date?
“Thank you, Penelope. I look forward to meeting my lovely date. If everything goes well, I'll be sure to invite you to our wedding,” Damien said in a snarky tone.
“See you on Saturday,” she said but the line was already dead.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Damien wore a neatly pressed white shirt and black jeans. He'd even knotted a tie around his neck in a hurry. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his shoes gleamed. He was here on a blind date and he was here to impress a woman. Too bad his date and the woman he wanted to impress weren't one and the same.
Damien realized that Penelope wasn't like any of the other women he'd dated before. She was older, more mature and she wasn't that easily swept off her feet by flattery and scorching kisses. Oh, she liked his kisses, a lot. She had responded with ardor and passion when he kissed her. She wanted him but the stubborn woman refused to let her hormones rule her head.
He had to fight for her. But this battle couldn't be won by brute strength and sweaty sex. He had been inserting himself not so subtly into her life by getting her new clients and dropping by her office with coffee and treats so that she would get used to his presence. But he loved feeding her and pampering her as well. And if he didn't see her or hear her voice for more than a few days, his bear would go stir-crazy.
No woman had ever affected him like that before.
He was in full predator and warrior mode right now.
This was war. He was waging a war for Penelope's heart.
The enemy was formidable and stubborn, but he was never going to give up. He would wear down her defenses and he was going to win her. Slowly, but surely.
His previous tactics had all failed miserably. He would have to change course and put a more drastic scheme into action. It was a tactical gambit, and the outcome was uncertain. If he didn't play his cards right, everything might blow up in his face.
Damien reached Wong's Wok on time and saw Penelope waiting for him outside the restaurant. He stopped in his tracks and forgot to breathe at the sight of her. Penelope was wearing a little black dress which showed off her legs and cleavage to full advantage. She was wearing contact lenses and she'd let her hair down. She was drop dead gorgeous, but he knew that already.
Damien growled low. Every male would be staring at her plunging neckline and getting a hard-on at the sight of those soft, creamy thighs. He had to muscle his possessive instincts down and fight the urge to rush over there and cover her up from head to toe. She wasn't his. Yet.
Damien clenched his jaw and got his bear and libido under control. This was war, remember? He couldn't afford to be rash. Everything had to go according to plan.
Count to ten, deep breaths.
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“Good evening, Penelope,” he managed as he walked up to her. “You look lovely.”
She whirled round. “Oh, hi Damien. T-thank you,” she stuttered and blushed. Her eyes moved down his face and lingered at his mouth. Swallowing hard, she took a shaky breath and gravitated towards him. When she leaned in to adjust his tie, Damien stabbed his claws into his palms to stop himself from grabbing her.
“You look very handsome,” Penelope said, stepping back. “Your date will be impressed.”
“I dress to impress, and I aim to please,” he answered with a wink.
“Oh, here she is!” Penelope looked over his shoulder and waved to a pretty lady in a red dress. The woman came up to them and Penelope greeted her with a hug and an encouraging smile. “Damien, this is Scarlett Washington. Scarlett, this is...”
Damien bowed and raised Scarlett's hand to his lips. Scarlett blinked at him and gasped. “I know you,” she exclaimed suddenly. “You're Damien Ken. Gosh, it really is you! I remember you, Damien, but you don't seem to recognize me.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Damien stared at Scarlett, completely baffled. “I'm sorry, but...” He frowned.
“It's me, Scarlett!” she squealed. “We went to school together. You put a spider in my lunchbox once. Don't you remember?”
Damien blinked twice, his eyes bugging. “Scarlett? Scarlett Washington! Yes, yes I remember!” He burst into laughter. “I used to pull your pigtails. Gosh, you've changed so much. Look at you! You were such a crybaby in school, if I recall correctly.”
She swatted his arm playfully. “And you were such a prankster!”
“I still am,” he grinned.
Damien turned to Penelope, who was staring at them with her smile frozen in place.
“You went to school together. Of course you two know each other,” she whispered with a pained expression.
“Yep!” Scarlett said cheerfully, linking her arm through Damien's. “I haven't seen Damien in a long time though. I went to college and worked in another town for some time. I only just got back to Shadow Point a few months ago. It's great to see you again, Damien. You're such a hunk now!” Scarlett giggled.
Penelope forced air into her lungs and managed to regain her composure. “Your table is waiting,” she said stiffly. “I think you won't need me to break the ice, so I'll leave now. I'm sure you have much to catch up on. Have a lovely evening!” Her voice was too high-pitched as she waved and clattered hurriedly down the restaurant steps.
Damien turned and watched her go. Penelope looked hurt and embarrassed as she left, but Damien dug in his heels and warned his bear to stay put. He was not going after her.
“Patience,” he growled softly.
“What?” Scarlett stopped chattering to peer at him. “Did you say something?”
Damien shook his head and flashed her a charming smile. “Shall we?” He offered her his arm and led her gallantly into the restaurant. The waiter showed them to their table and Damien glanced towards the windows as he pulled out the chair for his date.
He caught his own reflection in the window as he sat down opposite Scarlett and resumed their animated conversation. There was a steely glint in his eye. He was a man on a mission. Failure was not an option.
Damien nodded adamantly to himself. He was on a date.
And he was going to make the most of it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Penelope half-walked, half-ran to the parking lot. She was out of breath and dizzy by the time she reached her car. Her heart was beating too fast and her hands felt cold and clammy. She could hear nothing but the persistent roar in her head. Was she going to have a heart attack?
Gulping, she fished out her car keys from her bag but she didn't unlock her car door. She glared at her car accusingly as if her car were to blame for this galling state of affairs.
Snarling, she took a step towards her car, but she just knew she couldn't drive away.
She couldn't leave. She should, but she couldn't.
Penelope shook her head, annoyed and angry at herself. There was no reason for her to linger. She should leave Damien and Scarlett alone to enjoy each other. Her job here was done. She had made a great match. Damien and Scarlett knew each other as kids. They would have a lot to talk about, and after dinner, Scarlett would probably invite Damien over to her place for a drink, and one thing would lead to another, and they would end up in bed together.
Penelope let out a menacing growl. She wasn't going to let that happen.
The thought of Damien having sex with another woman was unbearable.
She remembered how his lips had felt against hers, how his touch had ignited every nerve in her body. She didn't want him to hold another woman in his arms. She didn't want him to kiss and touch any other woman. Ever.
On the way to the restaurant, she had secretly wished that Damien would find Scarlett unattractive. She had even chosen a sexy black number, hoping that Damien would find her more delectable than his date. Penelope swore at herself. She was such a shitty matchmaker!
Penelope scowled and threw her car keys into her bag. Her mind wasn't working too well, so her hormones were in control at the moment. Which was never a good thing.
Without realizing it, Penelope had stormed right back to the restaurant. She charged mindlessly forward before her brain asserted itself and wrested back some semblance of control.
Skidding to a halt, she staggered to the side of the restaurant and leaned against the wall.
She couldn't let Damien and Scarlett see her.
They would think she was spying on them. Which, of course, she totally was.
“I'm not spying,” she hissed defensively.
To spy on someone means to secretly observe an enemy or a competitor, a prim, pompous voice in her head recited.
“Scarlett is not an enemy or a competitor,” Penelope muttered under her breath.
But she is! Her libido roared in frustration.
“Okay, just a peek,” she said firmly to herself. “Then I'll leave.”
Crouching, she scurried round the restaurant and peered through a side window.
She saw them at once. Damien and Scarlett were seated in the middle of the crowded restaurant. Their food was just arriving, and they were chatting and laughing. They looked like they were having a great time.
Scarlett giggled as she struggled with her chopsticks. Damien immediately leaned forward to hold her hand and position her chopsticks for her. Grinning, Scarlett attempted to pick up a piece of sesame chicken but the morsel slipped and fell back onto the plate.
Penelope's eyes widened and blazed when she saw Damien pick up the bite-sized piece of chicken and pop it into his date's mouth.
The sound of gnashing teeth was growing too loud to ignore, and Penelope saw a few diners turn towards the window as her nails scraped down the window pane.
Shit, she was drawing attention to herself. Quickly, she turned away and ducked her head. She had to leave. Right now.
As she spun away from the window, she was pretty sure she saw a smirk on Damien's face.
He had turned and looked right at her. And smirked.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Damien hid a very satisfied smile as he glanced towards the window again. He'd seen Penelope and she was in a state. Her eyes were blazing with fury and she looked half insane with jealousy.
His plan was working. He felt bad provoking her into a jealous rage, but he was getting the reaction he wanted. Graham was a bear shifter, so he knew that Penelope had some shifter blood in her, even though her animal was dormant and she couldn't shift. Most females with shifter blood in them were almost as possessive about their mates as full shifters. He guessed that Penelope would have the territorial and possessive instincts of a she-bear. He just had to get her mad enough to unleash that ferocious instinct.
He had succeeded. He was sure she couldn't ignore him now.
Penelope might want to ki
ll him, but he could live with that. He just couldn't have her pretending that there was nothing between them. Their intense, fiery attraction and connection was undeniable.
She was his match.
It was fun catching up with Scarlett. She had a lot of interesting, funny stories, and she was a good-looking woman. She was also pretty sharp, and she noticed what he was doing at once.
“Are you using me to make Penelope jealous?” she asked him point-blank.
“Wha—?” He feigned shock and outrage. “What kind of man do you think...”
“Come on, Damien. I know you. I knew you as a kid, and you haven't changed, much.”
Damien laughed and raised his hands in surrender. “You're right. You do know me.” His expression turned solemn when he said, “I'm sorry, Scarlett. I shouldn't have wasted your time. I shouldn't have agreed to this date when...I already know who I want.”
But Scarlett merely shook her head and grinned. “Actually, I'm enjoying myself. I never thought I'd see a woman bring the notorious Damien Ken to his knees.” She raised her teacup and said, “I'm rooting for you, Damien. And this isn't a date. It's just two old friends catching up over dinner.”
They clinked their cups together. “To my partner in crime,” Damien declared.
Scarlett wagged her finger. “No, no, no. I'm not your partner in anything. I'm just an innocent bystander. I'll look and I'll laugh, but I'm not doing your work for you. You get your woman yourself, Damien,” she said sternly.
Damien huffed. “She's a hard nut to crack.”
“Penelope? Why, she's a sweetheart,” Scarlett said, heaping more fried rice onto her plate.
“She's going to kill me when she finds out, you know.”
Dating Agency Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 6) Page 4
