by Fiona Riley
“Stop frowning at your phone. She’s working—you’re coming off as pathetic,” Andrew teased from her doorway.
“Shut up, ass.” She scowled, tossing her phone aside.
“So, you change your mind yet?” He waved something back and forth in front of her. “Because the courier just dropped by with the feature and the cover looks amazing.”
“It’s here?”
“Yup.” A devilish smile spread over his lips. “But…”
“But, what?”
“But you can’t see it until you agree to go out with me tonight—drinks, dancing the whole shebang.”
She groaned. “No can do, stud. Tonight is Shelly’s mixer.”
“Oh yeah, right, that. Okay, this weekend, then, there will be celebrating.”
“Sure, let me just double-check with Lucinda to make sure we don’t have any plans.”
“No, Samantha, just because you’re all wifed up doesn’t mean you’re allowed to get old on me.” He scoffed and glared at her. “She’s more than welcome to join us, but it’s on. We are going out.”
She looked at her phone once more. “Okay. Fine. But you’re paying.”
“Great! Because I was planning on writing it off as a work expense anyway.”
“Get over here and show me already.”
He scurried across the room, perching himself on her desk as he handed her the copy of the Improper Bostonian magazine. The picture on the front was great. The title read, “Boston’s Most Eligible Matchmakers,” and it showed her and Andrew with their backs to each other, leaning against each other and smiling. They looked perfect, if she did say so herself.
“The write-up is hilarious. He did a good job catching our sarcasm and charisma.” He smiled and clapped his hands together. “This is big, Sam.”
She scanned the article, laughing at the dynamic between her and Andrew that the writer caught so vividly on the page. Shots from the photo shoot and little background pieces on both of them lined the pages of the interview. She loved the way he ended the article, encouraging people to let professionals find them love in this wild world, her eyes settling on the last two lines.
Andrew noticed and asked. “Yeah. Do you even remember saying that?”
“Um, sort of.”
“I remember thinking, well, that’s off script. But it was adorable and so honest, I’m glad he added it.”
Samantha read the lines again. This was definitely going to get a few calls sent to voice mail over the weekend. She had to decide what to tell them when the inevitable questions came rolling in.
“So…before you float away on cloud nine, we need to talk about Alec Frost.” Andrew took the magazine from her hands and placed it on the desk.
She closed the folders and laptop in front of her, shuffling some head shots aside. “What’s to talk about? I was pretty clear before—”
“I know. I just want to make sure we’re on the same page before I make the call.”
It was good to reevaluate their prior discussion with clear heads, but her feelings were the same. “Cut him loose. The last incident that Logan uncovered is plenty of evidence that his temper is a liability and affecting our ability to match him. I’ll take the financial loss, let’s just unload the bastard and move on.”
“What then?”
“Make sure legal is ready for any Claudette Frost backlash that may result and make sure we keep PR in the loop. That’s all we can do.”
“I’ll be glad to have him off the client list, to be honest.” Andrew frowned and crossed his legs. “He’s always felt like a ticking time bomb.”
“Yeah, I hear ya,” Samantha agreed as she stood to pack up her belongings. “Oh, I forgot to ask, you’re coming by the studio later, right? I want to make sure we have plenty of distractions available.”
“You want someone else there to help the night run smoothly so you can gawk over your girlfriend, you mean?” Andrew winked.
She felt the blush heat her face and swept a loose hair behind her ear. “Shut up, Andrew. Just be there on time.” Samantha pulled on her coat and grabbed Shelly’s file. She wanted to make sure everything was all set before Shelly arrived, so she was meeting Lucinda early to prep the space and fill her in on the protocol of the evening. She smiled as she stepped into the elevator; she had been looking forward to this all week.
*
Samantha was greeted with a soft melody playing over the speakers when she arrived at the studio. It was pristine as always, but Samantha noted that Lucinda had strung white holiday lights around the windows and doorway, illuminating the room in a warm glow. There were a few tables set up around the edge of the studio, decorated with plain white cloths and candles. The caterer and a bartender would be by in a while to finalize the setup. Shelly only needed one successful evening, so she could realize her anxiety was manageable and she could meet someone without spilling her drink on her.
Samantha took off her jacket and pulled out Shelly’s folder as she sat on the bench in the corner. Tonight there were five women coming to meet Shelly. She had also arranged for some couples to attend, along with a few of Andrew’s friends, so that everyone had someone to pair off with while Shelly spent time with each of her prospective mates. Samantha had been pleased to see that Connie and Nathan Lundstein were confirmed for tonight. Lucinda had beamed when Samantha mentioned they might come. She spent a little time telling Samantha that Connie was an excellent dancer and could help facilitate an easy flow for the evening. Samantha settled back into her seat, letting the weight of the day slowly drip off, as Lucinda wandered into the room from her office. She looked tired and her mouth was in a frown as she rubbed the bridge of her nose, lost in thought.
Samantha stood and walked toward Lucinda, hoping to wipe some of that fatigue from her face.
Lucinda lit up when she saw Samantha, sweeping her into a tight hug, “Mm, I missed you, baby.” She placed soft kisses along Samantha’s neck as she nuzzled close.
Samantha kissed Lucinda’s cheek. “Everything okay?”
Lucinda nodded and pressed a firm kiss to Samantha’s lips. “I love you, you know that?”
Samantha repeated the sentiment softly as she kissed Lucinda back. Lucinda let out a long sigh and Samantha enveloped her in a tighter embrace, pressing her cheek to Samantha’s shoulder.
“I had a long day.” Lucinda paused. “I had to let one of my staff go and will have to pull double time at the office over the next few days to do a little damage control. Considering how busy things have been lately, investing more time at the office is the last thing I want to do.”
Samantha stopped the light kisses she had been placing along the column of Lucinda’s neck. So much had happened in the past few weeks, it didn’t seem fair to have to lose any more time with her. She couldn’t hide the disappointment if she tried.
“I know, I’m sorry. The timing literally could not be worse.” Lucinda looked apologetic.
Samantha bit her lip before nodding. She got it, she really did. Being a business owner meant that more weekends than not she had to work and Lucinda’s new position meant she would have to put in some extra hours to keep the ship sailing smoothly. Her career was as important to her as Samantha’s was to herself. Deciding this was as good a segue as any, she proposed an idea that had come to her on the ride here.
“Hey, Luce,” she said, “do you think maybe we could get away sometime soon?”
Lucinda’s eyes shone as she raised an eyebrow. “Like a vacation? Together?”
Samantha looked down with a shrug. “I mean, yeah, maybe even a weekend away if you don’t have the time for a trip or something, just, you know—”
Soft lips pressed against her mouth silencing her rambling as Lucinda traced her tongue lightly along Samantha’s top lip, asking for admittance. Samantha sighed contentedly and opened her mouth, deepening the kiss.
Lucinda wrapped her into a tight embrace, her hands caressing Samantha’s back before settling at her hips and pulling t
hem closer together. “I would love to, let’s make some plans.”
And just like that the stress of the day faded between them as Lucinda swept her toward the back office to greet her more appropriately before the caterers came.
*
Samantha was perched on Lucinda’s desk with her legs wrapped around her when the studio door chimed. At the sound, Lucinda withdrew her tongue and abandoned the flushed skin of Samantha’s chest, pulling Samantha’s shirt back into place. Her hands settled along Samantha’s ribs, her thumbs rubbing gently over the erect nipples under the silk. Samantha groaned and pulled Lucinda’s mouth back to hers for a hard kiss before slapping her fingers away from her chest and pushing Lucinda back a bit.
“God. You need to be less fantastic at that, or we need fewer interruptions,” Samantha said as she released Lucinda from her legs and attempted to button her shirt. A warm chuckle and a soft peck on her cheek were all she got in reply as Lucinda turned to leave the office.
“Wait.”
Lucinda stopped and looked back at Samantha as she shuffled off the desk and back into her heels. Samantha came up to Lucinda and cupped her face. “Stay with me tonight. Even if you have to leave early, stay with me tonight.”
Lucinda pressed a kiss to Samantha’s lips. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Aside from the unfortunate interruption, so far everything was going off without a hitch and Samantha couldn’t be happier. The caterers set up the food and the bartender brought in the cases of wine as people started to arrive. Samantha and Andrew coached the women on what they expected, reminding them to be patient and polite. Lucinda reset the stereo and synced the music to the back speakers. Connie and Nathan had arrived early to help get everyone ready and were laughing and joking with Lucinda at the front when Shelly arrived. The night would begin with Samantha thanking the guests and inviting them to enjoy the refreshments, although she had forbidden Shelly’s potential dates to drink until the end of the night, as per protocol of Perfect Match, Inc.
Lucinda began by pairing people into couples and instructing them on a basic waltz and a few other dances throughout the evening, offering tips along the way and facilitating the partner switch every few songs. She had a fellow dance instructor floating among the groups to help her stay on target.
Halfway through the evening, Andrew cut in with Nathan, and Connie paired off with Samantha, when Lucinda changed the track to a basic ballroom piece. Connie nodded toward Lucinda and coached the boys on their movements as she led Samantha through the steps with ease.
“So, tell me, how’s married life?” Samantha asked with a smile as Connie repositioned her hand on Samantha’s hip.
“It’s great, he’s perfect,” she replied dreamily looking over at Andrew and Nathan trying not to step on each other’s feet.
“Good. I’m glad.” Samantha’s chest swelled with pride. She loved these two together—they were adorable.
“What about you?” Connie winked at Samantha. “How are things going with you and Lucy?”
Samantha wasn’t surprised that Connie knew, but the acknowledgment by someone close to Lucinda made her stomach flutter with excitement. “Um, good. Great, actually.”
Connie beamed and broke position to embrace Samantha. “Good. I’m so glad. You two are such a great-looking pair.” She pulled Samantha back into position before twirling her on the spot, Samantha’s eyes catching Lucinda’s briefly across the room. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lucy this happy.”
Samantha smiled and looked over at Lucinda who was counting beats to Shelly and a volunteer firefighter—prospective mate number three—adjusting Shelly’s hand and her date’s occasionally. “You know, she talks about how much she loves you all the time.” She spoke softly to Connie, a reverence in her voice. “I saw that picture of you two together when you were younger…she adores you.”
Now it was Connie’s turn to blush, her eyes suddenly very clear as she slowed their movements. “Wait, the one on her dresser? You’ve been to her house?”
“Yeah, a few times. Why? Is that weird?”
“No, no, it’s good. I mean, Lucy doesn’t take girls back to the house, it’s like a thing. God, let me think, the last woman I saw there was…probably Grace. That was forever ago. I was just out of high school…” She trailed off, lost in thought.
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.” Connie nodded, “Lucy must really like you for her to bring you home.” She smiled genially before a hand slid along her back, interrupting her.
“I do,” Lucinda supplied from behind her ear, her eyes locked on Samantha’s as she spoke softly. “I love her.”
Samantha blushed as Connie released her, spinning to hug Lucinda. “Luce! I’m so excited for you!”
“Sh, Connie. Focus. We have a class to run here. Go help the boys before Nathan ruins Andrew’s expensive alligator shoes.” Lucinda shuttled a bouncing Connie away before stepping into her spot, her hand sliding easily into Samantha’s as the music continued.
“You do, huh?” Samantha smiled as Lucinda rested her hand along her lower back, guiding her into a gentle dip.
“Mm-hmm. And now Connie knows, so it’s official.” Lucinda held Samantha in the dip for a moment before pulling her back up and into position, their bodies closer than the other dancers on the floor as Lucinda pressed her hips into Samantha’s.
“Where have you been all my life?” Samantha asked, sounding half-joking, half-serious.
“Waiting for you.” Lucinda felt her chest glow as she slowed their dancing to a stop with the end of the music. She had been waiting. Waiting to meet someone she would want to spend every moment with, someone who made her feel complete. She was sure, in this moment, that Samantha Monteiro was that person.
“I really want to kiss you right now, but then it would get a little heated and I would scandalize everyone here. So I’m not going to, but know that I want to.” Samantha laced her fingers into Lucinda’s briefly before they both had to go back to their duties. She leaned in close before parting from Lucinda and said, “Thank you for waiting.”
Lucinda thought the night had gone smoothly. Shelly managed to step on only a few feet and got over her nervous stutter halfway through the first dance. Lucinda stayed close to her, cueing her until she was more confident. She floated away but stayed near in case she needed her. She didn’t. She was perfect. By the end of the night she had danced with all her potential dates, and with Samantha, Connie, and Lucinda. She even took Andrew for a quick spin. It was the most carefree and comfortable Lucinda had seen Shelly. She had really embraced the dance training. Samantha set up a couple of second dates with two of the girls Shelly seemed to connect with the best: Sasha, a firefighter, and Abby, an accountant. Now all they had to do was wait and see how she did without their supervision.
After the studio cleared, Lucinda followed Samantha to her apartment, thinking about the night’s successes. Connie knew about Samantha now, and it was nice to know someone else could be happy for her. Connie was more than her sister—she was her best friend, a role previously shared with Dominic.
Oh, Dominic. God, this was awful without him. She wanted to call him and tell him all about the raven-haired beauty who kept her up at night, running through her dreams. She wanted to tell him that she finally felt complete, that Samantha made her want a million tomorrows. She wanted to introduce them, watch Dominic charm Samantha and flirt with her shamelessly just because he could. She wanted him to make his famous red sauce and speak Italian to her, introducing Samantha to the family like she had been. She wanted him to dance with her, so Samantha could experience the way he made everything feel weightless and free. She wanted him to hug her close and tell her he approved. She wanted Dominic to give her the confirmation that her heart already knew—Samantha was everything she had ever wanted. But it felt wrong to have it without him too.
*
Samantha waited in the lobby for L
ucinda to walk through the large glass doors and join her on the elevator ride to her apartment. She smiled as Lucinda joked with Mario and ran her hand affectionately along his arm. She loved how seamlessly Lucinda had fit into her life. She was perfect. Lucinda flashed her a bright smile and linked arms with her as they stepped into the elevator. Samantha rested her head on Lucinda’s shoulder, watching the numbers flick by the higher they climbed.
“So, what did you think? Success?” Lucinda asked.
“Mm,” she hummed happily. “Major success.”
“Good.” Lucinda wrapped her arms around Samantha. “I’m glad.”
“Thank you.”
“For what, baby?”
She shrugged and snuggled closer. “For everything.”
The elevator pinged on Samantha’s floor and she stepped away from Lucinda long enough to walk to her door. She was tired, but happy. It had been a long day.
Samantha opened the door, kicking off her shoes and dropping her purse. Lucinda called out that she was heading to the bathroom to wash up a bit. Samantha nodded and bit her lip, watching Lucinda’s retreating form go toward the master bathroom. She poured them each a glass of wine, admiring her view of the Boston Commons and waiting.
Strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a bone-crushing hug before spinning her on the spot. She nearly dropped her glass as Lucinda lifted her up onto the counter and looked deeply into her eyes.
“You. Are. Amazing.” Lucinda’s eyes twinkled as she spoke. Samantha smiled, looping her arms around Lucinda and leaning down to press their lips together.
