“Oh. Yes. There is that.”
“Anything else? Skipper is giving me dirty looks. I promised him a treat.” She rubbed the dog’s round belly while he rolled on the couch in ecstasy.
“You and that fat pooch. Give Edwin the heave ho. Get a man!”
“Bye, Char. Call me again when you want to share your wisdom.” She clicked off and smiled at Skipper. “I don’t need another man as long as I have you, my sweetie-weetie. C’mon let’s find that peanut butter treat. Then I have to call Dadley to give him a heads-up about his traditional, annual surprise party.”
Yes, she loved her dog, and she was pretty sure she could love Edwin, but as she reached in the cupboard for the box of dog cookies, she wondered what it would feel like to have Dwayne Dempsey wrap his big arms around her. To have his…don’t go there, Marla. Still, what would it be like to know that when he called her beautiful or gorgeous, he really meant it?
Chapter Two
Marla’s stomach flopped and perspiration formed at the base of her throat. The closer they got to the restaurant for the singles gathering, the more she was sure she did not want to walk through that door. How had she let Char talk her into taking part in this misadventure?
“Char. I don’t feel well. I think I’d better head on home.”
Charlene grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the entrance. “Oh, no you don’t. You promised you’d come. Lordy, you are the biggest coward. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
“For one thing, I look ridiculous in this dress.”
“No you don’t. You look gorgeous. I don’t know why you always wear those dull, unflattering pantsuits.”
“They’re very practical for business. I’m in and out of the car all day.” Her eyes darted to the entrance. “I don’t think there’s an upside to this fiasco.”
“They’re just single men. They’re not monsters. At least they shouldn’t be, because the organizer checks everyone for a past criminal record.”
“Oh, for the love of goats! You’re making it sound better every minute.” Marla pulled her arm from Char’s hand and stopped. “Wait. Wait for just a minute. How is this going to work again?” She knew she couldn’t stall much longer. The door of Villa Sorrento beckoned with its twinkling lights and delicious aromas.
“I told you already. They draw names based on compatible characteristics from the personality profile. Nobody knows until they start the pairings who they’re going to have dinner with.”
“How many people are going to be here?”
“You never listen to me. I told you that too.” Char threw her arms in the air and pretended to pull out her hair.
“Tell me again.”
“Twelve. Six women and six men.” She took Marla’s cold, sweaty hand. “It’s just dinner, sis. Look at it this way—you’ll have dinner with a man who’s probably more nervous than you are. There won’t be any awkward moments about the check because it’s already taken care of with the registration fee.”
Still resisting the pull of her sister’s hand, Marla worked to push back rising panic. “How long do I have to stay?”
“Take a breath and relax. I can’t believe you’re working yourself into a meltdown over this.”
“How long?”
Charlene gripped Marla’s shoulders and glared. “The organizers told me they wrap up the evening at eight-thirty.” Char squeezed her shoulders tighter. “That’s only two hours. Not a freaking lifetime.”
Two hours? How was she going to maintain intelligent conversation with a total stranger for two hours? This would be the evening from hell.
Charlene opened the door and nudged her into the foyer. Their mellow lighting and dark wood paneling usually comforted Marla, but not tonight. She moved as if she had a date with the gas chamber.
“Smile,” Charlene said through gritted teeth, then let loose a dazzling smile of her own.
Marla took a slow breath and pasted on a small, closed-lips smile. She imagined herself looking like the Mona Lisa. Enigmatic. Mysterious. Amused. Or just plain defeated.
Charlene pulled her toward the podium. She gave their names to the tuxedoed host, received their tickets, and was directed to an informal seating area in the lounge.
Marla took the flimsy stick-on badge and smacked it to her lapel. As they stepped away, a man approached the host, and Charlene’s eyes widened with appreciation while Marla only smirked at her sister’s reaction. She left her sister’s side and walked directly to the darkest corner. Slumping down, she turned her shoulders away from the entrance.
Charlene walked over to her. “Lordy, lord, Marla. You look like you’re hiding from the cops.” Charlene fluffed her hair, glanced around the room, and sighed. “It’ll all be over in two hours. Can you please, please relax and smile. Look.” She pointed across the restaurant. “Harry and Barry just got here. They can’t sit with us though. They’re so cute.”
Marla tossed a handful of nuts in her mouth. She watched their brothers from the corner of her eye, noticing that the twins hadn’t dressed alike for a change. “Why can’t they sit with us while we’re waiting?”
“I don’t want anyone to know we’re related to them.”
“Why in the world not?”
“I don’t remember now, but I had a real good reason when I arranged for all of us to be here. Anyway, they’re seating the men in another section till dinner.”
Marla swallowed hard to prevent choking on the peanuts, smiled and gave the boys a finger wave. “I’ll never understand you, Char. Your mind works in ways I can only wonder about.”
Charlene signaled the waitress. “You’ll never admit it, but you’re lucky to have me for your sister. I’ll grab you a glass of pinot. Knock it back fast. Try and relax.”
“In case you forgot, I’m the designated driver.”
With a long-suffering sigh, Char looked at Marla as if she were a hopeless case. “The point is, in case you haven’t been paying attention as usual, you won’t be driving after dinner. The mystery date will be happy
