by I. T. Lucas
What if he’d put down in his questionnaire that he was open to anything?
She hadn’t thought of that loophole after he’d explained that the software would only pick commonalities and discard anything that didn’t match.
What if this had been an elaborate setup to find out what her secret fantasies were about?
18
Gabriel
Gabriel paced up and down the corridor, waiting for Brenna to come out of the virtual room. Twice already his hand had hovered over the knob, but he’d stopped himself from entering.
Unlike him, she was new to this, and after an intense fantasy like the one they’d shared, surfacing into reality must be difficult. She needed time, and he needed patience, which had never been his strong suit.
Damn, he didn’t remember ever feeling so anxious, not even when he’d exited the taxi at the reunion and had seen her standing there and gawking at him.
How was she going to react to what they’d shared?
Would she be embarrassed?
Turned on?
He hoped it was the second one.
Finally, when the door opened and Brenna stepped out, she blushed. “Gabriel.” She was avoiding his eyes. “Have you been waiting long for me?”
He took her elbow. “Not long.” He lied. “Let’s go into my office.”
Still not looking at his face, she nodded.
Gabriel had to admit that this was awkward, especially since all he wanted to do was to pick her up, kiss her, and continue what they’d started in the fantasy.
He was still horny as hell, and she was just as sexy as she’d been in the virtual world.
Scratch that. She was even more alluring in reality. In fact, both were fascinating, each in her own way. Rena was a demure librarian with an artistic talent, and Brenna was a confident doctor who made YouTube videos for kids.
But who was she on the inside?
Probably a mixture of the two, and he couldn’t wait to experience both facets of her.
If she’d let him.
As she’d warned, Brenna might be so embarrassed about what had happened between them in the fantasy world that she might refuse to see him ever again.
The thought made his heart ache as if a vice had clamped around it. He couldn’t have her walk out of his life. After having her in his arms, making love to her, watching her on YouTube was not going to cut it.
“Scotch?” he asked as he closed the office door behind them.
Brenna shook her head. “Do you have anything else? I can’t drink that.”
“I have water bottles.”
Way to go with the planning. He should’ve asked Barbara to get something Brenna would like.
“I’ll take one.”
Deciding to forgo the Scotch even though he was dying for a drink, he pulled two water bottles out of his drawer.
Handing her a bottle, he motioned to the leather couch. “Would you care to join me?”
For a moment, Brenna’s eyes darted between the two guests chairs and the sofa, but his girl wasn’t a coward.
With a stifled sigh, she sat next to him, but not close enough. “This is awkward,” she said as she opened the bottle. “Where do we go from here?”
“To the county clerk’s office to pull a marriage license?”
She chuckled. “Funny, Gabriel.”
“I’m not joking. I’ve been in love with you since junior year, and now I also know that we are perfectly matched sexually. Why wait? I’ve already waited long enough. I know that you’re not in love with me, not yet anyway, but I promise to do everything I can to make you happy.”
Gabriel hadn’t planned on proposing, or even admitting to loving her for so long. It had just come out. But now that he’d fessed up to it, he wasn’t sorry that he had.
The only thing that had stopped him from pursuing Brenna before was fear of rejection.
That was no longer the case.
Her eyes peeled wide, Brenna just stared at him. “You’ve loved me since junior year? That’s insane, Gabriel. I think that as a boy you were infatuated with me and mistook it for love. But you are all grown up now. I’m sure you’ve gone through several lovers, which means that you couldn’t have possibly loved me for all those years.”
“I didn’t. I had mostly done hookups, and even that not too frequently because I’ve always worked my ass off.”
She shook her head. “We had a great time in the virtual world. But that was a fantasy.”
Reaching with his arm, he wrapped it around her middle and pulled her closer to him. “That’s better.”
When she didn’t try to pull away, he kissed the top of her head. “Do you want to know what I do when I need to relax?”
“What?”
“I watch your YouTube videos. I watch them over and over again. Sometimes I put them on a loop and fall asleep to the sound of your voice.”
Brenna looked up at him. “That’s kind of creepy.” Thankfully, she’d said it with a smile.
“I know. And if I’m already confessing, I also have to admit to following you on social media.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because you didn’t know I existed in high school, and I was afraid you would say no. Watching you from afar kept the dream alive.”
“Oh, Gabriel.” She cupped his cheek. “I would’ve said yes. In high school, I didn’t date anyone because my entire life was about getting into a top college. But I noticed you. I felt you looking at me and wondered why you never had the nerve to approach me. You were such a high-achiever and so confident in everything else.”
He chuckled. “I was also six foot three and weighed only one hundred and forty-two pounds. And my face was covered in pimples. You, on the other hand, were the prettiest girl in the grade, the best student, and the nicest. All the guys were in love with you.”
Blushing, she waved a dismissive hand. “They were not.”
“Yes, they were. But screw them. You are here with me, sitting in my office after sharing an incredible fantasy with me. I win.”
Brenna laughed. “You were always so competitive. But that was one of the things I liked about you.”
“Oh yeah? What else did you like about me?”
“Your quick mind, your intense, intelligent eyes, your broad shoulders. I always knew you would become handsome. And you did.”
“Music to my ears.”
Lowering her chin, Brenna pulled on the bottom of her blouse. “I also have a confession to make. The only reason I went to that reunion was in the hopes of meeting you there. I was so curious to find out what you’ve done with yourself.” She smiled under her breath. “And also to see if I was right about how handsome you were as a man.”
“And?”
“I wasn’t disappointed.”
Epilogue
Six months later.
“That’s it? I was sure you’d be gone for hours.” Gabriel eyed the single store bag Brenna had returned home with.
Tomorrow was the big day, but since she hated shopping, Brenna had waited until the last moment to buy a dress for the occasion.
His tux, on the other hand, had been hanging in the closet for months. But that was because Gabriel believed in assuming the win in order to bring it about.
His Brenna was afraid to jinx it.
“Do you want to see what I got?” She dangled the bag in front of his face.
“Isn’t it considered bad luck? He took it from her and pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss. “I thought you were superstitious about things like that.”
She smiled. “I am. But I weighed the possible dangers and decided that it would be better if you saw it first. I don’t want to spend all of tomorrow evening with you trying to hide me behind your back.”
It had happened only once, and Brenna was never going to forgive him for that. “I was saving lives, woman. As a doctor, you should appreciate my dedication to the sanctity of life. All those guys drooling over your cleavage would have ended
in the morgue.”
Most of Brenna’s outfits were practical rather than sexy, which suited Gabriel just fine, and he particularly loved her doctor’s coat, which was a shapeless sack and hid all her beautiful curves.
But the dress she’d chosen to wear for Barbara’s retirement party had bordered on scandalous. At first glance, it had looked modest, even old fashioned, with its seventies wraparound style, below the knee length, and a modest neckline. But during the evening the damn wrap had kept parting, revealing way too much of her shapely thighs, and the same had been happening on top. Her lacy red bra had kept peeking out as well.
In a party full of mostly male, nerdy programmers, who had never had a girlfriend, that dress had meant trouble.
“That’s why I want you to see this one first.” Brenna took his hand and pulled him behind her to their bedroom. “Sit.” She motioned to the bed.
Doing as she asked, Gabriel reached for her hand and brought her to stand between his spread thighs. “Am I getting a striptease?” He cupped her bottom, a cheek in each hand.
Her breath hitched. “If I strip, I’ll never get to model the dress for you. You can take it off me after you see it.”
“I can live with that.” He let her go. “Just don’t take too long.”
“I won’t.” She grabbed the bag from the bed and rushed into their walk-in closet.
They’d bought the house four months ago, but since neither had time for decorating, it still looked a little stark. Once Perfect Match opened for business, Gabriel wouldn’t be as busy, and hopefully, money would start coming in instead of leaking out, so he could afford to hire an interior designer. William had recommended a cousin of his, claiming that Ingrid was the best, and he’d also mentioned something about her giving them a discount.
As the closet door opened and Brenna walked out, Gabriel clutched at his heart. “You look stunning, baby.”
She smiled and turned in a circle. “Not too revealing?”
The dress was several inches above the knee and had a conservative rounded neckline. But that was in the front. In the back, it plunged almost all the way to her perfect bottom, which meant that Brenna was planning on going to their official opening celebration party braless.
Rubbing a hand over his jaw, he groaned. “I’m damned if I do, and I’m damned if I don’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going to have a rough time at the party.”
Her hands on her hips, Brenna leaned toward him, so they were nose to nose. “Not any rougher than I’m going to have it. You, Mr. Barnes, are hot, especially in that tuxedo. And all the ladies are going to drool over you. I’m going to have to stick to you like glue.”
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he lifted her onto his lap. “That would make me very happy, Mrs. Barnes.”
Brenna shook her head. “Doctor Brenna Hutchinson Barnes.”
“I stand corrected.”
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Ready for the next Perfect Match?
PERFECT MATCH 2: KING’S CHOSEN
is coming up next
When Lisa’s nutty friends get her a gift certificate to Perfect Match Virtual Fantasy Studios, she has no intentions of using it. But since the only to get a refund is if no partner can be found for her, she makes sure to request a fantasy so girly and over the top that no sane guy will pick it up.
Except, someone does.
(read the enclosed excerpt)
Curious about the mystery investor?
Read DARK STRANGER THE DREAM
Book 1 in the Children of the Gods Series
Since the dawn of human civilization, two warring factions of immortals—the descendants of the gods of old—have been secretly shaping its destiny. Leading the clandestine battle from his luxurious Los Angeles high-rise, Kian is surrounded by his clan, yet alone. Descending from a single goddess, clan members are forbidden to each other. And as the only other immortals are their hated enemies, Kian and his kin have been long resigned to a lonely existence of fleeting trysts with human partners. That is, until his sister makes a game-changing discovery—a mortal seeress who she believes is a dormant carrier of their genes. Ever the realist, Kian is skeptical and refuses Amanda's plea to attempt Syssi's activation. But when his enemies learn of the Dormant's existence, he's forced to rush her to the safety of his keep. Inexorably drawn to Syssi, Kian wrestles with his conscience as he is tempted to explore her budding interest in the darker shades of sensuality.
Perfect Match 2: King’s Chosen
excerpt
Lisa eyed the large blue envelope. “Thank you. You guys are the best."
If it was a gift certificate, which it probably was, Lisa hoped it was to a department store. Getting older meant that it was time to start taking better care of her skin, and good moisturizers were pricey.
"You're welcome.” Bridget thrust it into Lisa’s hands. “Now open it already.”
The gleam in Bridget's eyes didn’t bode well for something as mundane as a department store gift card.
Unfortunately, her besties weren’t into practical gifts.
What had they gotten her? A gift certificate to an adult toy store? A ticket to a male strip show?
Ann lifted her Margarita in a salute. “A quarter of a century is a milestone birthday, and we decided to splurge on something special for you." She waggled her brows.
"Thanks a lot. Way to make me feel ancient.”
Ann shrugged. “It’s just a number.”
Turning the envelope around, Lisa searched for clues. If it was something embarrassing, she would just stick it in her purse and open it when she got home.
Charlotte, who was bristling with excitement, waved an impatient hand. "Open it already."
“Do I have to?”
“Absolutely.”
At least it wasn’t a box or a gift bag. That precluded something like the vibrator they had gotten Linda for her birthday. But if it was a gift certificate for a private male striptease like the one they'd gotten Rachel, she was just going to thank them, put it away, and forget about it. It was a waste, but gifting it to someone else was out of the question.
Lisa wasn’t as nuts as her friends. They were the best, but they constantly pushed her limits. To be frank, though, she needed that.
The seven of them had started the birthday tradition in college. Everyone would pitch in for the gift, and the idea that got most votes won. Obviously, Lisa's never had. According to her friends, her ideas were no fun.
That's what happened when an accounting major shared an apartment with a bunch of art and theater majors. Practical had never been part of their vocabulary, and every little thing led to a drama. Nevertheless, she wouldn’t have traded any of them for someone else, and not only because they made her seem less boring by association.
Sharon, Rachel, and Bridget had moved out of their shared rental house years ago, but Lisa, Charlotte, Ann, and Linda were still there. The only difference was that each had her own room now. With the insane cost of housing in Santa Monica, moving out of a rent-controlled house would have been foolish, and for once her financial acumen had not been ignored.
New rents had doubled over the last seven years.
Taking a deep breath, Lisa tore the envelope open and pulled out a cream-colored card. The title "Perfect Match" was embossed on one side, and there was a web address and an access code on the other. That was it. No instructions, no brochure to explain what the heck it was. Nothing.
Except, the name said it all.
"Do you guys really think that I'm so desperate that I need a matchmaking service?"
True, she hadn't had a boyfriend in forever, but it wasn't as if she was sitting home alone, eating ice cream and watching the d
umb box.
Not every day, anyway.
Lisa had been on plenty of dates. The problem was that all of those guys had been meh, and her impressive list of first dates had translated into a very few seconds and almost no thirds.
Perhaps the problem was that most of those dates had been arranged by her well-meaning friends, and it was quite obvious that Lisa didn’t share their taste in guys.
Ann giggled. "It's not that kind of matchmaking service."
"What is it then?"
From across the table, Charlotte smirked. "They promise to find you a perfect sexual match and then arrange a virtual hookup.”
Horrified, Lisa glanced around the busy restaurant, but it didn’t seem as if anyone had heard Charlotte’s explanation. "Keep it down. And are you guys nuts? You know me better than that. I don't do hookups."
Her friend leaned closer and whispered. Loudly. "Yeah, and that's what so great about this service. A virtual hookup is not the same as a real one. None of your many prudish objections apply. You can’t catch a disease, there is no morning-after walk of shame, and you don’t even have to wax.”
True. Except, having sex with a stranger, even virtually, wasn't Lisa's thing. She wanted romance, she wanted intimacy, and she wanted love.
Was that too much to ask for?
Charlotte kept going. "It's new. They've been beta-testing it for over a year and only opened it officially a couple of months ago, but there is a waiting list already. I put your name down as soon as I heard about it. It's perfect for you."
Lisa shook her head. Out of all the crazy ideas her friends had come up with, that one took the gold medal. "Please explain how it works, and what am I supposed to do with it. I'm not saying I will, but just out of curiosity."
Bridget crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't you dare waste it. We spent a fortune on this, and it's nonrefundable. Not unless you go through it and then claim you were unhappy with it and ask for your money back. There is a satisfaction guaranteed clause.”
