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I protested, but it wasn’t hard enough. I need to put my foot down and rename everything before we open.

“Your cousin is fucking hilarious,” Bauer says before he pops one of the crackers into his mouth. “These aren’t half bad.”

It’s not the rousing review Malvie hoped for, but it’s a launching point. I’ll get her to rework these, too, so our future patrons order them on the regular.

“I kind of liked the Morsel nickname.” William looks me over, taking an extra minute to stare at my face. “Congratulations on the soft launch, Opal.”

“I’m Bauer.” William’s tablemate shoves a hand at me. “William’s brother.”

“I thought you might be,” I say as I place the tray down so I can shake his hand.

I don’t trust myself to balance anything with one hand.

William takes the opportunity to sample one of the crackers, too. “A little shot of balsamic vinegar in the jam would take these to another level.”

I make a mental note of that to pass on to my cousin.

“This place looks and smells wonderful, Opal. Am I right in assuming that Dicey Dip is off the menu?” William asks.

I laugh. “It’s on it, but it’s new and improved.”

“Dicey Dip?” Bauer questions. “Do I need to sign a legal waiver before trying that?”

William joins in my laughter. “Sometimes you need to jump in and let the chips fall where they may.”

“Is that a dip joke, Morsel?” Bauer teases his brother. “Opal was right when she said it’s your move, so make it.”

“I’ll leave you to it,” I say, nodding at the chessboard. “Thanks for coming to the soft launch. I hope I’ll see you both once we officially open.”

Before either responds, I hear Myra calling my name, so I turn and walk away, hoping tonight won’t be the last time I see William Knight.

10

William

Naturally,my brother is the one who benefited the most from our time at the soft launch party for Opal’s game bar on Friday night. That’s because Bauer caught the attention of Hildy Wallner, the creator of the Turquoise Crown board game. She wandered over to our table to share her opinion on what a shitty chess player I am.

She’s right. I’m an expert at a hell of a lot of things, but chess is not one of them.

Bauer dominated the match from his first move. That impressed Hildy so much that she wanted to know everything there was to know about my younger brother. By the time our final game was over, she had convinced him to make time in his already packed schedule for a commission piece that features her profile as the star of it.

My brother is set to take Hildy to his studio in a couple of weeks so he can capture her beauty in a charcoal drawing. He tossed out a price. She upped it by ten percent with the caveat that he promised not to share it with anyone.

Bauer takes his art seriously, and that includes his clients’ privacy. I have no doubt he’ll have her sign a contract that will protect both of their interests.

“Your suit jacket, sir.” Sheila nods at the clear garment bag slung over her forearm. “Roberto removed the odor, and there’s no trace of a stain. It’s as good as new.”

I slide my chair back and stand. My office is one of the few distinct rooms on this floor. The women I work with insisted on having an open area where they could talk all things business. That section of our workspace is decorated in simple gray and blue tones, including a couple of oversized couches, a play area for Sheila and Aleena’s kids, and a small kitchen setup so meals can be prepared if the mood strikes.

In addition to my office, there are two bathrooms, and a nursery at the far end of the corridor. That nursery contains three cribs in case Sheila brings Orson Junior to work with her one day, or Aleena decides she wants her twin daughters close by.

Clients rarely visit this space. I can count on one hand the number of times a client has entered this building since we launched this endeavor. My business is strictly word of mouth. When a man experiences success in the form of a satisfying relationship or, in many instances, a loving marriage, they’re apt to tell their single friends about what I offer.

I don’t take on every man who contacts me, but if I see promise in them, I’ll invest my time in them and their plight to win the heart of a certain woman. They, in turn, invest a sizable amount of money in me.

Our contract is clear. I’ll do what I can to help them become the best version of themselves. If need be, I’ll drop myself into the lives of the women they’re interested in. This allows me to gain valuable insight into what their potential partners like and are looking for in a long-term relationship.

Often, I don’t have to step foot near the woman because there’s already an established relationship at play. In those cases, I work solely with my client to up his game so he truly understands the importance of being the best partner he can be.