Page 6 of The Singles Club

“It’s a social club, no marrieds or anyone in a serious relationship can attend. There are some of us who don’t have dreams of children and the suburban white-picket-fence lifestyle… something I believe you can relate to. Or am I wrong?”

My chest tightened, and I ignored her question. “What time are you meeting?”

“Seven.”

“Stay until six-thirty and I’ll pay for a car to take you wherever you need to go.”

She pursed her lips and thought a moment. “I’ll do it on one condition: after this, no more than three late days a week… per our agreement when you hired me.”

I could threaten her job, but the truth was, Isabella was the best assistant I’d ever had, and I liked that she could be upfront and frank with me. Also, she knew how to keep the likes of Lisa, Giselle, and the rest at bay.

I tapped my fingers on the desk. “Fine.”

“Oh, by the way… I have this friend who I think you’d really—”

“Not interested.”

“Come on, it’sonedate, if it works out, great, if not, at least you got to do something that isn’t work-related for a change.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, my head beginning to throb at the thought of getting into the dating scene again. “Isabella, I know I have a different rapport with you than anyone else here, but I would appreciate if we kept dating and relationships off the table of discussion.”

“Done.” Her wide grin unsettled me a bit, and I had a sinking feeling she was up to no good.

2

The Bet

Vivian

The Longfellow Bar was packed and noisy as the hostess led me to the top floor where Crystal, Isabella, and our newest recruit, Becky, sat around a small table. I loved the exposed brick wall and arched window behind the bar, which reminded me of the loft I used to have. I was supposed to move in with Lucas after we got engaged… but I’d broken it off before it ever became official. Living together made the whole thing even more real, and something I’d never done with anyone I had dated in the past.

I couldn’t go through with it.

Now, I was temporarily staying in a one-bedroom brownstone apartment in the building my father owned. We kept this one apartment free for family use when staying in the city. My brother, Benny, used it the most but gave it up for me until my move to Paris.

“You’re late.” Crystal sipped a cocktail from a tiki glass. “We already ordered appetizers.”

I took the seat next to her. “I already had a little something before I came.”

Not much, but since I had a rounder face than I’d like, it was one of the first places to puff out even more when I gained weight.

“Viv, this is Becky.” Crystal gestured to the seemingly timid woman sitting next to Isabella. She had light brown hair pulled back in a very tight ponytail and wore a vintage 1970s brown polyester dress and an olive-green elbow-sleeve sweater. The green didn’t go with her coloring, and the brown drowned her out due to her matching eyes and hair.

“Oh, yes. You work in accounting, right?”

Becky was in the middle of sipping her wine and quickly forced down a swallow. “Yes.”

She did, however, have beautiful lips and cheekbones I would kill for.

“How did you hear about our little club?” I asked.

Her face reddened as she fumbled with her napkin. “I overheard Pam talking about it with Stacy at lunch. She said you believe anyone can get the person they want.”

“Absolutely.”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t believe it?”