The Wolf's Unlikely Mate

Chapter 4: Her New Client

Rose was taken aback for a moment then recovered. She was a professional and it shouldn't matter what the man looked like. She would take him on as a client. She could push away her lustful thoughts and get down to business. “Okay. I have a few questions."

“I'm sure you do."

Rose glanced at her phone to check the time, but she didn't have any appointments this morning. Her assistant would open the office since Rose had told her she had a meeting. “Right now?"

“No time like the present."

Rose was a little put off that this man was taking charge, but she would eventually get the upper hand. This was her business and she knew what to do. “Let me get my briefcase from the car so I can take some notes."

He reached a beefy hand across the table. “Give me your keys, I'll get it."

She eyed his hand. It had calluses on it and that made him even more attractive. He was a laborer of some kind. That made sense since he wore work boots and had faded jeans. She could guess his brand of beer. His demeanor spoke of someone used to being in charge, so she'd bet he owned his own company. “No, I'll do it."

His hand gripped his mug again. “Just saving you a trip."

She wasn't sure she liked him being overbearing. She might not take him on as a client. “I'm perfectly capable of walking to my own car."

Maybe this was why he couldn't find a wife. She had had other men who were knuckle-draggers want her services, but she hadn't taken them on as clients. His attitude made him less attractive, but he still had a lot in that bank because he was incredibly hot.

Women probably stopped and stared at him when he walked by just like she and Jill did. Retrieving her laptop bag, she put the strap over her shoulder. She could do this and if she didn't think she could, she would tell him so. That would mean their encounters in the coffee shop, her haven from the craziness of the day, would be awkward. She had a firm rule not to take on a client if she didn't think she could match them.

Then again, she liked a challenge. If she could soften his rough edges, she might find him someone. It would be a feather in her cap.

He was still sitting in the same position when she returned. He held onto the mug with both hands while he rested his forearms on his thighs. It didn't look comfortable, but it was his body. She pulled out her tablet and opened a note to write down his answers.

“How did you hear about me?" Rose asked.

“You're a matchmaker. I guess I overheard some of your conversation with Jill," Cade said.

“Have you interviewed other matchmakers?"

He shook his head. “No. You'll do."

That was a resounding indictment of her skills, but she still wasn't sold on him being her client. “Do you have any questions for me before we begin?"

He looked up at the ceiling for a moment. She watched him and he seemed to be sniffing the air. This guy was getting less attractive by the minute.

“Not that I can think of. I just need someone to find me a wife. You're in that business."

“Yes, I am. I can give you a brochure that talks about the company when we're done. I'm the fifth generation of matchmakers in my family."

He nodded as if he understood what that truly meant. “Good."

“Okay, let's get started. I need to know some things about you," Rose said.

“Okay."

“I'll need you to look into your soul and truly know what you want for this to work," Rose said.

“I see."

He leaned back in the chair finally and Rose tucked one leg underneath her to rest her tablet on it so she could take notes. “What kind of marriage do you see yourself having? Are you the head of the household or will it be a partnership?"

“Partnership. I need someone who can support me in what I do and that I can support in what they do."

That was a great answer she thought as she wrote that down. Maybe he wasn't so much of a Neanderthal as she originally thought. He could just be nervous. “Do you want kids?"

“Yes."

There was no hesitation there. Nice. He wanted kids. “I'm going to ask some deeply personal questions now."

His gaze never left her, and she got the impression he was seeing right to her soul. That could be unnerving or sweet; she wasn't sure yet.

“You can ask me what you need. I only want one wife ever so this is important to me, Rose."

She nodded and launched into some questions she'd gleaned from a personality test. He never flinched and as far as she could tell he answered them honestly. He kept doing that nose-in-the-air thing, but she tried to ignore it. She could smooth out those weird edges in a later consultation. This was just the initial one, but she'd already decided that there was something charming about Cade.

Cleaned up a little, the women would be crawling all over him. When she was done with the personality test, she had a few more questions.

“When was your last relationship?"

“Nine months ago, but it wasn't serious."

“Why did it end?"

He shrugged. “We both go bored."

“Would she say that?"

“Yes, I think so," he said, looking as if he were recalling some conversation he had in the past.

“Why a wife now?"

That seemed to stump him which wasn't a good sign. Was there some external pressure to find a wife? She understood that after her conversation with her father this morning.

“It's time. I'm in a good place in my life and I can devote time to romancing someone."

For some reason that sent a thrill through Rose's body. She'd never had this reaction to a client, and she would have to make sure she didn't take action based on her emotions. This would be strictly business just like any other client.

She turned off her tablet and held out her hand. “You have yourself a matchmaker."