The Fated Bond

Cooperation

[Violet’s POV]

The next day, I wake up as usual and go through my routine of showering, changing, and making myself decent for the day and then head to my fragrance shop, where I was due in for work. As I move about my day there is only one thing that I can think about, and that is calling Lance and telling him that I’m willing to take a chance on his matchmaking business even though everything in me screams not to do it after having my heart broken so recently. However, just the thought of my mother attempting to set me up terrifies me, and that alone spurs me to pull out the business card that I have carried to work with me and my cell phone when I arrive at my shop early.

“Here goes,” I say, dialing the number and then pressing connect. “Here goes nothing.”

Swallowing, I bring my phone to my ear and then wait while the phone rings once, twice, three times, and I immediately wonder if I was falling into some horrible trick that Lance planned for me, but before I can lose my determination and hang up, I hear the sound of the other line connecting, and then a low chuckle reaches me.

“You called pretty quickly.”

Shivering, I try to ignore the way Lance’s low, cool voice sounds so close to my ear while reminding myself that he is supposed to be the one setting me up and not the one that I’m being set up with.

“How did you know it was me?”

It’s a silly question, as I remember that I gave him my number before we left each other the night before, but it is all that I can think of.

“Would you like me to pretend that you’re someone else? Is that your thing?” He asks easily, responding to my ridiculous exclamations so effortlessly. “I don’t mind, and I won’t judge since everyone has their kinks.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” I blurt, my cheeks flushing. “That isn’t what I was trying to do at all; I’m just…nervous.” I finish lamely. “I explained it before; I’m not very good when it comes to dating. You saw what happens when I get rejected, but my mother is hounding me about getting married and is even insisting that I bring a boyfriend home for her birthday in a couple of weeks. I’m kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I could really use some help and find someone to bring home.”

“Then you’ve called the right man.” Lance says, and I can almost see him smiling. “Are you free to meet up so that we can discuss things further today?”

“I work till three, but after that I’m free.” I respond as the bell above the door of the shop jingles and Allison and Molly walk in chatting excitedly. “Will that work?”

“Morning, boss!” Allison calls as I wave at them. “You’re here early.”

“Sounds like you’re busy,” Lance chuckles, being completely considerate even though I was the one to call him out of the blue. “I’ll let you go, but today after three works perfectly for me.”

“Then I’ll see you then.” I smile as Molly hops up on the counter in front of me. “Have a good day.”

Hanging up, I fix my gaze on my worker as she eyes me curiously, a look of pure joy in her eyes as if she is catching me in something scandalous.

“Was that the boyfriend?” She asks as I head to my office so I can start running through inventory. “Do you have a hot date after work today? If you’d like, Ally and I can man the shop so that you can leave early and…”

“No date,” I tell her, taking a seat at my desk. “No boyfriend.”

“What?” She gasps, fixing me with her wide-eyed gaze. “What do you mean that you don’t have a boyfriend? What about that guy that you were recently dating? I thought things were going well.”

“Molly,” I sigh, my head beginning to hurt. “Shouldn’t you be focusing on stocking our latest fragrances? Don’t forget I ran that ad on the web. We should have lots of customers today, so get out there and get things going.”

“Aw, come on, boss.” She whines, though she begins to head out of my shop. “I just wanted to see that you’re doing okay, especially after the other creep.”

“Worry about yourself.” I tell her, smiling. “I’ll be fine even if I don’t have anybody since I’m already old, but you’re young and have so many years ahead of you. Now get going.”

Huffing adorably, Molly gives me one more look before disappearing, so I can begin to wonder if I made the right decision in agreeing to work with Lance to find a man to take home to my family. And by the time the shop opens and the expected crowd swarms in to buy the latest fragrances we’ve gotten in, I don’t have time to second-guess or chicken out before the promised time arrives, and I find myself standing in front of what looks to be a bookstore with a large sign above the door that says Match Made in Heaven.

Frowning, I look at the window and the sign and then the window again, wondering why in the world he has the place looking like books are its main priority instead of the matchmaking business that Lance told me he was running.

While this question lingers in my head, the door in front of me opens and Lance appears with a broad smile that calms me immediately.

“Welcome!” He grins, holding open the door and stepping inside so he can usher me in. “You’re right on time.”

“Y-yeah,” I murmur, stepping inside and taking in the desk where a woman who seems to be in her forties sits flipping through a magazine. Just beyond that are shelves filled with books that people browse happily. Everything about the place screams bookstore, so why…

“Don’t think too hard on it.” Lance chuckles, beginning to lead me toward a single door to the right of the room. “I work from within this bookstore since it’s cheaper on my pockets.”

“Is that so?”

I guess it made sense, especially if he didn’t charge much for his services, but it was still a little unnerving knowing that he worked behind the scenes and I was heading into a random room with a random man that I met at a wedding.

“Come on in,” he says, leading me into what must be his office given the desk and the comfy seats within. “Take a seat.”

Nodding, I do as instructed while he does the same, and once he is situated in front of me, he leans forward and fixes that icy blue gaze on me.

“Now,” he grins, eyeing me like I’m the most important person in the world to him. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what it is you’re looking for in a man, and I’ll find the one that matches your desires perfectly.”