and trusted. Agents used them to bring potential clients to the table. Although Heath hadn't spelled it out, Bodie had known he had to get sober first, and that's what he'd done. Before long, his no-bullshit style had turned him into one of the best.
Bodie had started driving for him accidentally. Heath spent a lot of hours on Chicago's tollways, heading up to Halas Hall, out to Stars headquarters, or making endless trips to and from O'Hare. He hated wasting time stuck in traffic jams, and Bodie liked being behind the wheel, so Bodie'd started taking over when it was convenient for both of them. With Bodie driving, Heath could make phone calls, answer e-mail, and handle paperwork, although, just as frequently, they used their time to strategize, and this was where Bodie earned the six-figure income Heath paid him. Bodie's intimidating appearance hid a highly analytical mind-cool, focused, and unsentimental. He'd become Heath's closest friend, and the only person Heath completely trusted.
Bodie returned from the kitchen with a beer. 'Your matchmaker doesn't like you.'
'I care.'
'I think you amuse her, though.'
'Amuse her?' Heath lost his rhythm. 'What the hell does that mean?'
'Ask her, not me.'
'I'm not asking her a damn thing.'
'It'll be interesting to see who she comes up with next.
You sure didn't like that brunette Powers introduced you to last week.'
'Too much perfume, and she was hard to get rid of.' He punched at the display, raising the treadmill's incline. 'I guess I should make Powers sit in on the introductions the same way I did with Annabelle, but Powers takes over so much it's tough to get a good read.'
'You should make Annabelle sit in on all of them. She doesn't seem to get on your nerves.'
'What are you talking about? She sure as hell got on my nerves this afternoon-her and her questionnaire.' His cell rang. Bodie tossed it to him. Heath checked the caller ID and hit the button. 'Rocco… Exactly the man I want to talk to…'
How rich do you think he is?' Barrie Delshire's long brown hair swung around the perfect oval of her face, unlike Annabelle's hair, which continued to defy the new straightening product she'd obviously paid too much for.
'He's rich enough.' Annabelle poked a curl behind her ear.
'That's cool. My last boyfriend still owes me fifty bucks, but he says he'll pay me back.'
Barrie wasn't the brightest bulb in the Pottery Barn chandelier, but she was sweet, exquisitely beautiful, and her bustline alone should catch Heath's attention. Barrie didn't want to walk into the restaurant alone, so Annabelle had met up with her at a nearby convenience store. As they drew nearer to Sienna's, a stylish, rail-thin woman with pale skin and inky hair turned from the window where she was perusing the menu to watch them approach. She wore a silky blue halter top that tied behind her neck, white slacks, and backless navy-and-white kitten-heeled slides. She gazed at Annabelle with an odd intensity, then turned her attention back to the menu.
Barrie flicked her hair. 'Thanks again for arranging this. I'm so sick of dating losers.'
'Heath definitely isn't a loser.' Annabelle had been too nervous about tonight to eat, and as they entered the restaurant, the fragrant smells of garlic and fresh-baked bread made her mouth water. Heath sat at the same table he'd occupied when she'd introduced him to Gwen. Tonight, he wore an open-collar knit shirt a shade lighter than his thick, barely rumpled hair. As they got closer, she saw him pocket his BlackBerry.
He rose in an unconscious display of athletic grace-no fumbling with the chair or bumping against the table for this dude. Annabelle made the introductions. He wasn't easy to read, but as she watched him take in Barrie's long hair and amazing breasts, she could tell he was interested.
He held out the chair next to him for her, leaving Annabelle to fend for herself. Barrie gave him an alluring, moist-lipped smile. 'You're just as amazing-looking as Annabelle said you were.'
Heath shot Annabelle an amused glance. 'Did she now?'
Annabelle ordered herself not to flush. She'd been doing her job, and that was all.
The conversation unfolded without much effort on Annabelle's part, other than steering Barrie away from discussing her horoscope. Fortunately, Barrie was a big Stars fan, so they had plenty to talk about, and Heath gave her his full attention. Annabelle wished somebody would listen to her with so much interest. His cell rang. He pulled it out to check the number but didn't answer, which Annabelle took as a positive sign, or maybe a negative one, because she was growing increasingly convinced that Barrie was completely wrong for him.
'Did you play football?' Barrie said with breathless intensity.
'I played college ball, but I wasn't good enough to be more than a benchwarmer for the pros, so I passed.'
'You turned down a chance to play for the pros?'
'I don't do anything where I can't be the best.'
What about doing something just for fun? Annabelle wondered. Again, she thought of her work-obsessed brothers.
Barrie pushed her shampoo-model hair back over one shoulder. 'Where did you go to college?'
'I got my undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois, then grabbed a chance to go to Harvard Law.'
'You went to Harvard?' Barrie exclaimed. 'Oh my God, I'm so impressed. I always wanted to go to a big West Coast school, but my parents couldn't afford it.'
Heath blinked.
Annabelle grabbed her green phantom and calculated how quickly she could set up his next date.
Your friend sure won't be bringing the cheese dip to the next MENSA potluck,' Heath said, after Barrie left the restaurant.
Annabelle resisted the urge to drain her green phantom. 'Maybe not, but you've got to admit that she's gorgeous.'
'Sweet, too. But I expected better from you, especially after answering all those stupid questions yesterday.'
'They weren't stupid. And there's a big difference between what men say they want in a woman and what they really want.'
'So this was a test?'
'Sort of. Maybe.'
'Don't do it again.' He leveled his roughneck's gaze at her. 'I'm crystal clear about what I want, and Barrie- while admittedly hot-isn't it.'
Annabelle gazed wistfully toward the doorway. 'If I could put my brain in her body, the world would be mine for the taking.'
'Ease up, Dr. Evil. The next candidate is due in five minutes, and I have a call to make. Keep her entertained till I get back, will you?'
'The next-? I didn't-'
But he'd already disappeared into a back room. She shot up, ready to go after him, only to see a stylishly dressed blonde enter. With her Escada suit and Chanel bag, she had the stamp of Power Matches all over her. Was he serious? Did he really expect her to entertain a competitor's candidate?
The woman glanced around the bar. Despite her designer duds, she seemed unsure of herself, and Annabelle's Good Samaritan instinct reared its namby-pamby head. She fought it for almost thirty seconds, but the woman looked so uncomfortable that she finally gave in and made her way to her side. 'Are you looking for Heath Champion?'
'Yes, I am.'
'He got called away for a few minutes. He asked me to keep an eye out for you. I'm Annabelle Granger, his…' She hesitated. Saying she was his backup matchmaker was out of the question, and she couldn't stomach saying she was his assistant, so she settled on the next best thing. 'I'm Heath's boss.'
'Melanie Richter.' The woman took in Annabelle's khaki skirt and fitted persimmon jacket-which, next to all the Escada, wasn't too impressive. Still, she didn't seem judgmental, and she had a friendly smile. 'Being a woman in such a male-dominated field must be challenging.'
'You have no idea.'
Melanie followed her back to the table. Since Annabelle wasn't anxious to discuss her career as a sports mogul, she asked Melanie about herself and learned that she was divorced with one child. She had a background in fashion,
