Page 31

Prologue

If Madison James had to plan the perfect Monday night, she would be on the couch with a tequila sunrise in her hand, watching a romantic movie. She would order Pad Thai from the local spot down the street, turn off her phone, and cuddle with her favorite pillow in her pajamas while someone met their soulmate on the screen.

This was not a perfect Monday night.

This night, as Shakira screamed in her ear that her hips didn’t lie, Maddie made her way through the dancing crowd to the bar, wishing her own hips were a little slimmer. Then she wouldn’t be colliding with so many strange bodies. It smelled of sunscreen, fruity drinks, and sweat – the unmistakable scent of every bar on the Santa Monica Pier – and Maddie wished she still had last week’s cold. At least then her sense of smell wouldn’t be so keen. Besides, she would have had an excuse for not coming.

Nothing against this particular bar. She actually liked the Sunny Umbrella. It was less than 50 feet from her dating agency, so if she went out for a drink, it was there. Simply put, Maddie was too damn tired and just wanted a mandatory appointment with her couch and then her bed, not her sister. Besides, she never went out on weekdays. Because –

“What are you doing here? You always say going to a bar during the week is a single person’s frustrated cry for help. Besides, only rich people and students can afford the luxury, since every other sensible person has to go to bed early.”

Yes, exactly because of those reasons. “Hey, Tara,” she said with a smile, nodding to the waitress who was squeezing in behind the bar. “Can I have a tequila sunrise and a new pair of eardrums? You guys have the music way too loud.”

Tara laughed and ducked behind the bar so that only her afro was visible for a few seconds. She reappeared with a cocktail glass in her hand. “Oh, Maddie. You’re twenty-eight but sound like my grandma.”

“Why, does she like drinking tequila sunrises, too?” Maddie retorted innocently.

Tara snorted. “No, but she likes to wreck the ceiling with her cane when the boys in the apartment above her turn up the volume too loud.”

Well, that wouldn’t happen to Maddie. She lived on the top floor. “Your grandmother sounds like a great person. I’d like to meet her,” she replied cheerfully.

“I’m sure you would. So, are you here just to complain about our music? Or are you searching for a Prince Charming for yourself for once, instead of for everyone else?”

God, no. She was so much better at matchmaking for other people. “I’m not here for love today. But hey, if you want to sign up with us…”

“No thanks.” Tara grimaced as she stuck an umbrella into Maddie’s tequila sunrise. “If I’m ever looking for more than a single night with no strings attached, I’ll let you know right away. But then if you're not looking for new clients, what are you doing here?”

“Meeting Lucy. Have you seen her?” She stood on her tiptoes and peered over the dancing crowd at the few tables along the wall.

“Oh, yeah.” Tara grinned broadly and wiggled her eyebrows. “She’s here with some built demigod.”

Maddie sighed inwardly. Of course she was. If Lucy’s life were a book, it would be one of Greek mythology. The number of demigods who came and went in her life – as well as her bed – was impressive.

“They’re sitting outside on the terrace, where your ears should get a break.”

Maybe a little one. “All right, thanks. Oh, another thing, there’s a beautiful bench outside your door, covered in green velvet…”

“We threw it out. It’s on the curb for pick up.”

Maddie’s heart skipped a beat. This evening was going to be good, after all! She loved old furniture with a history that she could refurbish. “No, it’s going in my hallway!”

Tara laughed and pushed the cocktail across the bar to her. “You’re surrounded by hot guys and women and you’re pining over a piece of deadwood.”

“A piece of deadwood covered in green velvet!”

“Yeah, yeah, of course, that changes everything. Anyway, feel free to take it with you, but it’s really heavy.”

“I’ll manage!” Lucy could help carry it in exchange for Maddie coming here tonight, ignoring her bed's calls. Then again, her little sister had started a new job today and her first day hadn’t gone smoothly. At least, she had sounded angry on the phone. The only reason Maddie was here now was because she was incapable of saying no to her family, no matter how small the request.

She paid for the cocktail and was about to make her way through the dancing crowd toward the patio when a dark-haired giant blocked her path.

“Hey, cutie,” he said, lifting the corner of his mouth, “Are you – ”

“— not interested?” she finished for him, smiling. “Yeah. How did you know?”

The guy blinked at her with his mouth gaping. She wasn't going to wait around for a fly to land. She left him standing there and fought her way outside. She wasn’t going to meet the man of her dreams in a bar. First, it was unromantic and, second, the men here weren’t interested in anything serious. And that was all a man would get from her: forever and ever. Nothing else. So far, she hadn’t communicated that clearly enough – at least, if her only ex-boyfriend was to be believed – and she wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Her sister, on the other hand, was of a different mind.

Maddie stepped out onto the patio surrounded by palm trees and found Lucy within seconds. It wasn’t because of her red mane of hair, but rather because of the man sitting at the table with her.

Wow. Demigod was accurate. Or was Adonis a full god? Whatever. The man next to her sister had an angular Michelangelo jaw, broad Ken shoulders, blond surfer hair, and a devilish 100-watt smile that could surely melt panties. Figuratively speaking, that is.

He looked like one of those Santa Monica beach bums people stare at all day on Muscle Beach, those guys proudly showing off their eight-packs. General category: hot dude.

Great. So when Lucy had said she was going with a friend, she'd meant one of those friends. Couldn’t her sister have warned her? Maddie had little desire to hang out with Lucy’s conquests. She would be the third wheel while the two of them engaged in verbal foreplay, rubbing thighs together as if by accident.

Maddie sighed. Well, she was here now. Her watch indicated it was just after nine; she could stay just until ten thirty without being rude. At least there were a few groups of women sitting nearby. If Lucy and macho-man got hot and heavy, she could spend her time recruiting singles here for Match Me! Her agency was just getting started and could use every client it could get.

“Oh, Maddie,” Lucy said, beaming and jumping up as her sister reached the table. “I didn’t expect you to actually show up!”

Huh, if Maddie had known she already had an out, she might not have come. “Hey. You sounded upset on the phone and I didn’t want you to be alone.” She hugged her sister briefly and eyed the strange blond, who seemed vaguely familiar, staring at her with his brown eyes. “But obviously, that’s not the case.”

“Yes, this is Matt. He owed me a drink, so I invited him, too,” Lucy said lightly, waving her hand in his direction. “Matt, this is Madison, my sister.”

“Hey, Madison,” the demigod replied with a wry smile, his voice dark and calm as he stood and offered her his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Maddie’s stomach lurched as he wrapped his big, warm fingers around hers. Her gaze fell on his sinewy forearms. Oh, god, he was a hot dummy with manners – the most dangerous kind of man.

You had to hand it to Lucy: her taste was impeccable, as long as it was just a matter of a few hot weeks with someone, which was not Maddie's MO. She cleared her throat and hastily let go of his hand. “It's Maddie. Everyone calls me Maddie. Nice to meet you, too.”

“What about you, do your friends call you Matty?” Lucy asked with a grin, pulling a chair over for Maddie. “Then I’d be out with Maddie and Matty today.”

Matt frowned and rubbed his stubbly chin. “Shit, no. No one but my sisters ever calls me Matty.”

“So, you won’t make an exception for me?” Lucy asked, playing up her coy agitation by putting a hand on her chest.

“Nope.”

Maddie forced a smile. The verbal foreplay had already begun. “Where did you two meet?”

“At work,” Lucy replied.

Maddie widened her eyes. “Oh.” Her sister actually had strict rules about separating work from pleasure. “So, you two are…”

“Ugh, no!” her sister said, horrified. “He’s on the team, Maddie. You know how I feel about that.”

Confused, Maddie blinked as she studied the blond man, and then realized why he looked familiar. Of course: He was Matthew Payne, a winger for the L.A. Hawks pro hockey team. She almost hadn't recognized him without the helmet. “So, you're just here as friends,” she said with relief, immediately relaxing. That would make the evening more pleasant.

“Of course!” Still shocked, Lucy looked at her. “I would never get involved with this ice twerp.”

“Thanks, put a little more disgust in your voice,” Matt replied dryly and took a sip of beer.

Maddie laughed at his sullen expression. “Don’t take it personally, Matt. Lucy has this rule: She doesn’t get involved with hockey players.”

“Oh, that’s going to break some hearts,” he said with a sigh. “But I get it. I might as well warn them.”

Lucy rolled her eyes.

Maddie had to ask him with a broad smile, “So? Are you included in the heartbreaks?”

“Nah.” He gave her a mischievous grin, leaned forward, and whispered, “I prefer brunettes.”

Heat rose in Maddie’s cheeks as she hastily pushed her brown hair behind her ears. “Wow,” she managed to reply. “Was that line on sale, or why does it sound so cheap?”

Lucy laughed and, to her surprise, Matt did too.

“So much for practicing in front of the mirror,” he said, feigning distress, and then tapped her playfully on the shoulder.

“I’m sorry, but you need more practice, not less,” she replied apologetically, ignoring the goosebumps that spread from his index finger across her back, where he was touching bare skin.

Yes, she wanted something serious, but that didn’t mean her body didn’t miss the fun sometimes. And not-so-bright athletes were good at it, right?

Oh, forget it; Matt wasn’t for her.

“Why do you owe Lucy a drink?” she asked quickly, trying to change the subject.

“I told her where to find Dax Temple.”

“What?” She didn’t understand.

“Not important,” Lucy said, gritting her teeth. “I don’t want to hear that name tonight, okay? Actually, when I think about it, I could do without ever seeing him again.”

Mercy, what had the man done? Lucy wasn’t easily upset. She was tough, didn’t shy away from confrontation, and took what she wanted – qualities that Maddie had always envied.

“That’s going to be difficult, since he’s a player and you’re the team’s PR woman,” Matt pointed out. “But hey, Dax was probably just having a bad day. He’s actually an all-right guy.”

“So, it’s true you’re best friends?” Maddie asked. At least that was what the media reported. She wasn’t a huge Hawks fan like Lucy, but her entire family used to go to a game once a month. They’d done so until her mother died. She still followed the sport casually because it gave her a warm feeling in her chest.

“Guilty as charged,” Matt said, grinning.

“Oh, Matt, your taste in men is terrible,” Lucy said regretfully, standing. “I even feel a little sick. Excuse me for a minute.” She gave him another reproachful look and then disappeared into the bar.

Matt chuckled softly, and the rough, dark tone made the little hairs on Maddie’s neck stand up. “Your sister isn’t shy, is she?”

“Oh, no,” Maddie confirmed…and then she didn’t know what else to say. Uncertain, she smiled at the far too good-looking, rich, and famous guy, and when a few terrible seconds of awkward silence followed, she pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I just want to quickly…” She didn’t finish the sentence but pointed at her screen. Then she typed the first thing that came to mind into Google.

Adonis demigod full god?

“Full god.”

She looked up, confused. “What?”

“Adonis. He was a full god. At least, according to the Phrygians.”

Maddie blinked. Extremely strange things were coming out of the mouth of the hot moron with manners. “The Phrygians?”

Matt grinned. “Yes. The Indo-European people who had a relatively large empire in the middle of Asia Minor in the eighth century BC. He was their vegetation god.”

“But…” Maddie was still having trouble connecting these words with the incredibly handsome man in front of her. “I thought he came from Greek mythology.”

“Yes, researchers are still arguing about that. The Phrygians were the first, but he is also mentioned in Greek and Roman mythology. There, however, he was neither a demigod nor a real god. There, he was merely a beautiful human born of inbreeding who fell for Aphrodite or Venus — your pick. And then he was killed by her jealous husband, Ares or Mars.”

Maddie’s mouth dropped because, damn! He wasn’t a hot idiot. He was just hot. How completely unfair. “How do you know that?” she asked, perplexed.

He shrugged. “I studied history. I found mythology to be one of the more interesting subjects.”

“You studied…? For real , with a degree?” Even to her ears, her voice sounded blunt and incredulous. Most athletes only went to college for show!

Matt grinned. “My parents insisted. That’s why I came to the NHL a little later and…” He paused, probably because he noticed her eyes widening in astonishment. “Oh, shit.” He laughed. “You’re shocked, aren’t you? You thought I was just a dumb jock.”

It wasn’t a question, it was a statement.

“No!” she said, horrified, raising her hands defensively — even though it was a bit true.

“Yes, you did.” His grin widened. “Don’t worry, you’re not the first.”

Her cheeks caught fire. “Really, I didn’t…I mean, I don’t even know you,” she stammered, embarrassed.

He snorted in amusement. “Yeah, sure, that always stops people from judging others, you’re right.”

The corners of her mouth twitched and she sank deeper into the chair with a groan. “Oh man.” She sighed and pressed a hand to her face. “I’m sorry. Really. It’s just that Lucy brings guys over from time to time, and most of them are blessed with beauty and a lot of muscle but no brains. I had no idea you had all three.”

“Well, well,” he replied, “So, you’re superficial — and you think I’m beautiful.”

“I’m not superficial, I just know all the clichés.” She peeked through her fingers. “Besides, if you’ve practiced with your reflection as much as you say, you know you’re beautiful!”

He laughed hoarsely. “What exactly are all these clichés?” he asked. “If it makes you feel any better, I have a full-length mirror hanging above my bed so I don’t miss out on any of my beauty.”

She snorted – because she was rather certain he was joking…right? – then said, “I’m prone to prejudices,” she admitted contritely. “I deal with men all day who fit every stereotype. It’s hard to break the habit of placing them into categories.”

“So, what categories might those be?”

“Generally speaking? Marriage material or relationship-phobic.”

Matt choked on his beer and leaned forward, coughing and wheezing. “You immediately categorize all the men you meet into at either for the altar or just here for the orgasms ?”

Well, she wouldn’t put it that way…

“It’s an occupational hazard,” she uttered hastily. “I just started a dating agency.”

Matt set the bottle down loudly on the table and blinked at her in surprise. “Seriously? In these days of Tinder and Grindr?”

She swallowed. Yes, he wasn’t the first person to tell her that. “On Tinder and Grindr, most people aren’t seeking true love.”

“Well, the next fuck can also be true love,” Matt said wisely.

She winced at his choice of words. He was probably not a romantic. “It usually isn’t. It’s only satisfying…briefly.”

Matt lifted the corner of his mouth and slowly leaned toward her until his fingers touched hers. “But it does satisfy , if you do it right,” he whispered, his breath brushing her cheek. “That’s no peanuts.”

Her uterus immediately did flips and her skin began to tingle. She took it all back; he was a hot jackass after all, but at least an entertaining one.

She glanced away. “Yeah, maybe, but that’s not what I’m talking about. Consulting with a friend and my older sister, who’s a couples’ therapist, I developed a questionnaire and an algorithm that’s designed for the long term. Besides, I have my intuition. I’m pretty good at sensing if someone is a long-term match. It’s no one on Tinder.”

“Ah.” Matt still seemed skeptical, but he nodded. “So, are you successful?”

She made a face. “We just started two months ago, but it looks promising.” At least, that was what she kept telling herself. Her idea was sound and her algorithm was great. Knowing first-hand what was important for long-term relationships, Rachel had created a brilliant questionnaire. Her business partner Hailey had been programming since she was ten. Maddie herself was good with people and could tell who was a good match and who wasn’t a hundred yards out. It was a gift. The agency simply needed a little marketing boost and it would work out. Every business had difficulties in the beginning.

“Well then,” Matt raised his glass, “here’s to promising .”

He clinked glasses with her and she quickly downed the tequila sunrise. All this talk about work was making her nervous.

“Hey, I have another question. What made you google Adonis?”

“Um,” she said quickly, hoping he attributed her glowing cheeks to a bad sunburn, “research.”

He lifted the corner of his mouth and moved his dark gaze down her face to her lips. “Of course,” he whispered.

Oh dear, this was becoming awkward. Time to change the subject again.

“So, how exactly did Lucy convince you to come with her?” She leaned back in her chair and pulled her hands off the table. “Surely, a famous hockey player has better things to do than go out for drinks with a new co-worker in Santa Monica. Isn’t the Ice Lounge by the arena the actual team hangout?” At least, according to the tabloids, that was where the groupies congregated.

He shrugged. “I owed her a drink and, to be honest, sometimes I think it’s nice to go somewhere without the team. We always get recognized when we’re in a group. Then fans come by who I have to be nice to and my evening is no longer normal and relaxed, so…” He smiled, but uneasily, as if he had said something that actually revealed that he was vulnerable. He waved it off. “It’s just that sometimes a little peace and quiet is nice.”

As if he had summoned them with his words, two college boys stood up a few tables away and stared at him curiously. Matt ignored them, although the looks were so intrusive, Maddie’s neck started to itch.

“Hey, aren’t you Matthew Payne?” one of them eventually asked, full of enthusiasm.

Matt sighed and put on a smile. Before he could open his mouth, though, Maddie beat him to it.

“No, he’s not.” She made a face. “But Freddie hears that all the time. It’s the hair. The rest of the face isn’t as pretty as Payne’s, unfortunately. No offense, Freddie-sweetheart.” She patted his hand apologetically. “I mean, all you have to do is really look. The nose alone…”

The students blinked, then leaned forward and said, “Oops. Yeah, totally. Sorry we disturbed you.”

Embarrassed, they raised their hands and went back to their table.

“Freddie?” Matt asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s your name, after all,” she replied innocently.

He snorted but smiled. “Ah, yes. And what’s wrong with my nose?”

“It’s huge!”

“Hm.” He nodded, concerned. “Yes. You sound like the midwife at my birth. And my mother. And Dax. And the photographer from Sports Illustrated.”

She laughed loudly. “Well, at least I didn’t hurt your feelings.”

“At least there’s that,” he confirmed, toasting her and draining his beer. “Anyway, thanks.”

“No problem,” she replied warmly. “Everyone has the right to be normal .”

“You’re contradicting all the other scandal-hungry people in the world.”

“Oh, yes, I’m a true rebel,” she lied.

“Obviously.” His gaze locked with hers, causing her body temperature to shoot up by two degrees.

When he still hadn’t turned away after thirty wild heartbeats, she asked nervously, “What?”

“Nothing. You’re so different from Lucy. I mean, I’ve only known her for a few hours and I’m already a little scared of her. You’re…nicer.”

“ Nicer .” She frowned. “Ouch.”

Unfortunately, she knew what he meant. Lucy was brave. A rabble-rouser. She hated being treated unfairly and jumped headfirst into every argument. Maddie was…more modest. Just his morning, she’d given up two parking spaces that were rightfully hers simply because she didn’t feel like dealing with the confrontations.

“Nice isn’t bad,” Matt said, immediately surprised.

“No, of course not.” She waved him off. Nice was just nice. Nothing special. “So, what about you, Matt?” she asked, uncomfortable about revealing too much about herself. “Can you be nice?”

“Oh, yeah.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Very nice. You can ask anyone.”

She chuckled, fairly certain it had to be anyone female. God, he was completely unsuitable for Match Me! Unfortunately. A prominent client like him might help them compete successfully with Tinder.

Her cell phone vibrated and when she glanced at the display, she saw a message from Lucy: I met a cute guy at the bar. Give me fifteen minutes .

She sighed. “Lucy needs time,” she said and showed her phone to Matt.

“Well, what the heck. Let’s use the time…for another drink?” He pointed at her empty glass.

Use the time. Yes, she wanted to use the time. “Tell me, Matt,” she said on impulse, “Are your muscles functional or are they merely for show?”

He gave her a wry look. “They work.”

“Wonderful. So then, you won’t mind carrying a bench I found in the trash to my apartment?”

It was worth a try. Lucy wasn’t that strong, at least not when it came to muscles.

“You want…what? To your apartment?” he asked, somewhat perplexed, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Yep, it won’t take long. I promise. I live on the top floor and the bench is too heavy for me.” She shrugged helplessly. “So, are you up for it?”

He blinked. “If I’m up for…the bench,” he repeated tonelessly.

Why was he looking at her so strangely?

“Yes.”

“Okay.” He cleared his throat and rubbed his neck. “Sure.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you!” she said, squeezing his shoulder. “You’re exactly the man I was looking for today.”

“Ah,” he repeated, raising one corner of his mouth before standing and following her into the bar toward the front door.

It was crowded on the dance floor and Matt reached for her hand, probably so as not to lose her. It irritated her that he was rubbing circles with his thumb over the thin skin of her wrist, but he was probably lost in thought.

She smiled at him over her shoulder and pushed through the door to the street. A fresh breeze blew and the moon reflected off the ocean in front of them. She never got tired of living on the beach.

“So,” Matt said quietly, turning her around and taking a step toward her. “The bench.” He slid his hand up her arm.

“Yep,” she said and nodded toward the piece of furniture in question. Had he noticed that she was a little cold, or why was he putting his other hand on her arm? He’d have to stop because the goosebumps on her back were not due to the wind. “It’s right there.”

Matt’s mouth twitched. “Hm, okay. Then we’d better carry it. But first…” His large, warm hand slid to her neck and Maddie forgot to breathe.

He ran his thumb to her chin and peered into her eyes. His gaze grew…darker. Maddie’s heartbeat increased as he leaned down…