Valentine's Dream: Love Changes EverythingSweet SensationMade in Heaven

by Sandra Kitt

  When the caller didn’t leave a message, Val shook her head. “Probably a wrong number, someone trying to reach the pizza shop before it closes. My business number is 9851. A pizzeria that makes late deliveries is 8951.”

  “Val?”

  She turned to him and was arrested by the quiet intensity and unmistakable masculine appreciation in his eyes.

  “I think I’m going to leave. If I don’t, I’ll end up asking if I can stay.”

  Eric stood, not waiting to hear her answer to his unspoken question. He shrugged into his leather coat. Val met him at the door.

  “May I see you tomorrow? And the next day, and the next, and the following day?”

  Val’s answering smile gave him hope. “And what about the day after that? Or will you have had an overdose of Val?”

  He shook his head and gathered her in his arms. “Not likely. You give me the nourishment I crave.”

  “Hmm,” she purred. “I’ve never been an addiction before.”

  “I told you, you’re my only vice.”

  Eric bent his head and captured her mouth for a leisurely kiss.

  The kiss eventually turned into a fierce hug, the two clinging to each other, drawing warmth and comfort from the other’s arms.

  “May I see you tomorrow and on Val’s day, your birthday?”

  Val’s smile was tender. “That, I believe, is the first time anyone has ever referred to it as my day as opposed to Valentine’s Day the holiday.”

  Eric held her close and waited for her answer.

  “Yes,” she told him. “I’d like to spend tomorrow and then my birthday with you.”

  Eric nodded. “I’m glad. How about we catch a movie tomorrow night? There’s a romantic comedy out that’s gotten rave reviews.”

  “I like shoot-’em-up, action-adventure films.”

  Eric raised an eyebrow at that revelation. “Maybe we’ll compromise and see two.”

  She smiled. “Are you going to guarantee the type of action-adventure we had tonight? Chasing down bad guys, almost getting arrested?”

  Eric gave her rear a playful swat. “My mother always told me to beware of sassy women.”

  Val gave him a liberal dose of sass as she swiveled her full hips in a lazy motion against his. Eric’s eyes narrowed and darkened. He pulled her closer to him. Val felt the proof of his desire.

  His voice was husky when he spoke again. “I’ll pick you up here about six-thirty tomorrow.”

  She nodded and then stepped back a half-pace. But Eric clasped her to him for a hug. They stood together for several minutes just absorbing the tenderness of the moment. Then Eric pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek and let himself out the door.

  Val closed the portal behind him, then leaned against it. Her smile was dreamy and her thoughts were with Eric. Eventually she turned off the television. Staring at the pink roses on the coffee table, she pulled one from the arrangement. She carried it with her to bed and dreamt sweet dreams of Eric Fitzgerald.

  * * *

  The next morning Val got a call from a counselor at A Match Made in Heaven. Her video had a glitch in it and they wanted her to come and have it reshot.

  She thought it odd that they still wanted to have a video on record after introducing her to a perfect match, but Val shrugged the question off and made an appointment to go to the service’s office that afternoon.

  She finished the transcript she’d been working on and hand-delivered it to her client.

  Eric spent the morning ignoring his own work and making plans for an extra-special and ultra-romantic birthday for Val. The fact that her birthday fell on Valentine’s Day made it somewhat easier. But the challenge he gave himself was to ensure that the holiday remained underplayed and Val’s birthday got the greater attention.

  By noon everything was in place. Eric smiled, pleased with his work. The only thing that remained was to buy Val a gift. A two-carat diamond engagement ring proved to be the only thing he could think of. Eric stretched and smiled, then folded his arms behind his head. Last night it would have taken nothing to convince Val to let him stay. They would have made hot, sweet love. But he didn’t want it that way. He wanted Val for not one evening, but every night and every day for the rest of their lives. He’d named his business appropriately, because Val was indeed a match for him who could only have been made and sent from heaven.

  Val was everything he’d ever dreamed of finding in a woman. The other women he’d dated were nice, pretty, some even beautiful, but they never stirred his heart the way Val did. They never quite connected with that still voice inside him that he relied on. A small, wry smile curved his mouth. In truth, he hadn’t spent a lot of time dating. For years now, he’d been completely focused on making his company a success. The hard work had paid off.

  When he really thought about it though, Eric had to concede, he couldn’t even recall the last time he’d had a real date. He went out a lot and did a considerable amount of socializing, but inevitably, just about every occasion was in some way connected with A Match Made in Heaven.

  Val Sanders was his own match. He knew it just like he knew that the sun would rise and set the next day, just like he always knew that when he found the right woman—his life partner—he’d recognize her instantly.

  Dropping his arms, Eric stood and then glanced at his watch. He knew he’d be just in time to catch the lunch hour and last-minute Valentine’s Day shoppers, but he headed out in search of a birthday gift for Val. His first stop was indeed at a jeweler’s.

  Val had a one-thirty appointment in the studio at A Match Made in Heaven. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized it still wasn’t something she wanted to do. Humoring Shelley and Kalinda had been one thing, actually committing to this ludicrous matching system was another—even if she’d met Eric as a result of it. There was no need to remake a video. Eric had obviously already seen the first one.

  The way she figured it, whatever the problem happened to be with her video introduction was in actuality a message from on high telling her to cease and desist with the matchmaking thing. One, she’d already met Eric. And two, if Eric turned out not to be her so-called match made in heaven, she wasn’t so desperate that she needed someone to find dates for her.

  The agency office was just around the corner from the post office. Her mind made up, Val ran a few errands and picked up mail at her post office box. When she finally walked into the matchmaking office, it was to cancel her short affiliation with the service.

  She was surprised to see the reception area just about empty. Compared to the bustling activity on Saturday, the place looked deserted. A man in a sport jacket and slacks filled out a questionnaire on a clipboard and a woman watched the same short introductory video Val and her friends had viewed three days earlier. Val approached the receptionist’s desk. She shook her head and tried to ignore the huge banner draped across the front.

  Val placed her slim leather appointment book on the desktop. “I have a one-thirty appointment but I want to cancel it.”

  The receptionist consulted a roster of information and then pressed a discreet button on her console. “Miss Sanders?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why don’t you have a seat. Someone will be with you in just a moment.”

  “You don’t understand. I don’t need any assistance. I was here Saturday, but this just isn’t my cup of tea. I don’t want to participate.”

  Netanya Gardner came out and greeted Val. “Hi there, Val.”

  “Oh, hello, Ms. Gardner.”

  The receptionist looked at her roster. “Miss Sanders has a one-thirty appointment but she’d like to cancel her membership,” she informed her boss.

  Val noted with an inward roll of her eyes that Netanya Gardner was again decked out in pink. This time the woman’s softly flowing cream-colored palazzo pants set and duster was accentuated with a pale pink blouse. The ruffled lapels of the duster had alternating layers of pink and cream. It was all disgusting, but it was go
rgeous. Netanya pulled it off with a genteel charm. By comparison, Val, who was dressed in blue pinstripe corporate wear with pumps and pearls, felt positively unfeminine.

  Netanya nodded to the receptionist, who turned back to her paperwork. She then led Val to a love seat in the reception area. The two women sat down.

  “I had a good time at the center reception Saturday night,” Netanya said.

  “I did, too. The kids are having a Valentine’s Day party tomorrow afternoon, so that should be fun. Wednesday is one of my days to volunteer at the center.”

  Netanya nodded. “That’s right. I remember you saying that. But what’s this about ceasing your membership with A Match Made in Heaven? You’ve only just started.”

  Val smiled. “Thank you for introducing me to Eric. He’s very nice.” Val waved her hand to encompass the office. “This isn’t for me though. I told you Saturday that my girlfriends signed me up for kicks. I, however, am just not interested.”

  “May I ask why?”

  Netanya watched Val settle back in the sofa to contemplate the question. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Eric approaching the front door.

  “Val, why don’t we continue this in my office.”

  Val looked surprised but nodded her acquiescence and rose. Netanya tried not to panic. It wouldn’t do for Eric to see Val talking to her like this. If she got Val to her private office, it would look as if a friend had stopped by to chat.

  Netanya glanced back at the door as she steered Val down the hall. Eric had been detained, thank goodness, by someone on his way out of the building.

  Netanya hustled Val into her office and then closed her door. Just as she expected, a few minutes later a triple knock sounded and Eric strolled in without waiting for her to respond.

  Netanya looked up, feigning surprise. “Eric, look who’s here? Val stopped by for a few minutes.”

  Eric grinned at Netanya, then smiled down at Val. “Hi, there.”

  “Hi, yourself,” she said.

  Netanya took in the private glances between the two and raised an eyebrow. It appeared that Eric had used the time since Saturday night getting to know Val. Netanya and Eric had not had their usual Monday morning confab because Netanya had been at the Richmond site. So she had not yet heard his impressions about Val. But judging from the way they gazed at each other, things went well.

  “Why don’t I go check on those numbers,” Netanya said.

  “Don’t leave on my account. I need to be getting back to work anyway,” Val said. “I just stopped by. I feel bad about canceling out on you, Netanya, but this—”

  Netanya cut Val off with a wave of her hand. “I told you, don’t worry about it.” Netanya glanced at Eric. “I’m sure you have other plans.”

  Val rose. Netanya watched as Eric wrapped an arm about her waist.

  “I’ll walk you to you car,” he offered.

  Netanya waved as the couple left her office. “Whew. That was close,” she said, sinking into her chair.

  Eric, inordinately pleased at seeing Val, was glad he’d caught her. Tickled with the purchases he’d made, he couldn’t wait to present the gifts to Val. But he had to wait, both to see the light in her eyes tomorrow and to see her later tonight, when they went to the movies. It also pleased him that Val broke an appointment with Netanya, probably some girls’-night-out plans they had, to be with him.

  “I’m glad you stopped by the office,” he told Val as they walked to her car. “You know, addicts have to have their fixes, and I was starting to experience withdrawal symptoms.”

  When Val stopped at her Corsica and turned to face him, a question in her eyes, Eric explained. He lowered his head and took a taste of what he needed.

  “Maybe that’ll be enough to see me through the afternoon,” he said.

  Val smiled. “Let me make sure you have enough.” With that, she kissed him. Greedy, hungry, hot.

  Eric hugged her close. “You’re a sweet addiction, Valentine.”

  He helped her in the car, then closed her door. Val powered the window down. “See you in a few hours.”

  “I’ll be counting the minutes,” Eric said.

  He stood in the parking lot, watching her car. The crisp air finally compelled him to go back inside.

  Eric found Netanya at her desk. He came around her desk, pulled her up, and hugged her. “Netanya, Netanya. Where in the world were you hiding Val?”

  Netanya hugged him back, then watched as Eric went around her desk and plopped in one of the deep, comfortable chairs. “I take it you’re pleased.”

  Eric closed his eyes and shook his head. “That doesn’t even begin to describe it. Val is everything I have ever hoped for and dreamed of in a woman.”

  He reached into his coat pocket and pulled a small jeweler’s box from a bag. He opened the box and showed it to Netanya.

  “Oh, my God! Eric, that’s fabulous. It’s for Val?”

  Eric nodded.

  “Eric, don’t you think you’re moving a bit too fast? I mean, you just met her. You two haven’t really had a chance to get to know each other.”

  “We spent most of the weekend together.”

  A delicately arched eyebrow rose at that comment.

  “Don’t worry. I know she’s one of your friends. I didn’t do anything dishonorable. As a matter of fact, we spent the time laughing, talking, and getting to know each other.”

  “But still, Eric. It’s just been a few days. That,” she said, indicating the jeweler’s box, “is a major commitment. How do you know it’s right?”

  Eric closed the box and tucked it back in the bag. His smile, tender and poignant, spoke volumes. “I know it right here,” he said, placing a hand over his heart. “And I know it right here,” he said, tapping a finger to his head.

  “Speaking of which,” Netanya said, indicating the fading scrape at his temple. “What happened to you?”

  Eric laughed and told Netanya about the incident at the police station and then the arcade.

  “If she still wants to see you after all that, it must be love.”

  “We’re getting together tonight and tomorrow,” he said.

  “Tomorrow’s her birthday, Eric.”

  He smiled. “I know.”

  “She doesn’t care much for Valentine’s Day.”

  “I know.”

  Netanya eyed his devilish grin. “What are you up to?”

  “I’m celebrating Val’s day in a big way this year.”

  “That a fact?”

  “Mmm-hmm. When I’m finished, Val will love the idea of her birthday and Valentine’s Day falling together.”

  Netanya came around the desk and patted Eric on the back. “You just be good to her.”

  Eric nodded. Then he pulled Netanya into his lap. Wrapping his arms about her waist, he kissed her quickly on the lips. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “Thank you for introducing me to Val. For recognizing and understanding through the years my desire to meet a real woman, not just some husband-seeker who comes to us with a desire to wave a magic wand over her, whisper a few incantations and produce Mr. Right. I’ve waited a long time to find Val. It was worth the wait.”

  Netanya disengaged herself from his embrace and stood up. “Eric, the men and women we counsel aren’t all like some of the people you met back when you were an escort. I would have hoped that you understood that after all the years we’ve been doing this. Every woman who walks through our doors isn’t hard up.”

  Eric’s expression remained dubious.

  “As a matter of fact,” Netanya continued, “every one of them isn’t even here willingly. Some come with friends just to see what we’re about.”

  Eric stood up. “We’ve been through this before, Netanya. I don’t have anything against those women. They just aren’t for me. And I’m glad, truly glad, that Val isn’t one of them.”

  Netanya couldn’t meet his eye. She instead turned back to her desk and absently picked up a piece of paper. “What would you do if she were?�
��

  Eric chuckled. “You always like to play what if? Well, as you know, that doesn’t apply in this case, so the question is irrelevant.” He glanced at his watch. “We have an appointment with the producer in about fifteen minutes.”

  Netanya bit her lip and turned back to him. She’d let the issue slide for now. But in actuality, it was out of her hands, and she knew it. Val and Eric’s relationship would work or it wouldn’t. But still she worried as their conversation turned to the upcoming meeting with a television producer interested in a cable-access Match Made in Heaven program.

  * * *

  Later that night Val and Eric sat in the theater, munching popcorn while waiting for the trailers to begin. People filed into the theater and found seats while Eric and Val talked.

  Val had been thinking about the physical differences between herself and Netanya. Val was large but shapely. She knew her legs to be her best feature. Netanya, however—everything about her was coordinated loveliness. Did Eric really prefer that?

  “Netanya is very pretty,” Val observed.

  Eric sat up and looked at her, his expression curious and for a moment puzzled. Then he sat back, thoughtful.

  “I’ve always hated pink because my parents force-fed it to me growing up.”

  Eric relaxed and smiled. Val was talking about clothes. “That’s her trademark. The pink. She’s been wearing pink and combinations thereof just about as long as I’ve known her, and that’s been a while. You should see her closets.”

  Val looked at Eric, her expression curious now. What would he know about her closets? Then she remembered how Eric and Val had huddled together at the reception Saturday night. The looks they’d shared then, and even earlier today at their office, had been tender. The kind only two people who shared a special bond would have.

  “You two are very close,” she said, posing the question as a statement.

  “She means the world to me.”

  Chapter 8

  Val vowed not to ask him, but the question needed asking. Its answer could determine where, if anyplace at all, this romance, or whatever it was, with Eric was headed.