The Relationship Coach (29 page)

Later, they’d filled up her bathtub and soaked until their skin was wrinkled like prunes. Then they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

This morning, he’d woken her early and said he had to go. He’d kissed her and told her not to think that they were done. But with the glorious feelings this morning, Lacey also realized she was falling for Reed-hook, line, and a broken heart in her future. She didn’t do casual sex and limited her sexual partners to men she was in a serious relationship with. To her, sex was an emotional joining, and she couldn’t just be someone’s fuck buddy.

She sighed, got up and started getting ready to go to the office.

An hour later, she walked in as Amanda rounded the corner. Lacey handed her a cup of Starbucks.

“Vanilla Latte skinny, just the way you like it,” Lacey said.

“What’s up? That drink is code for we need to talk.”

“You got it, sister.”

Amanda laughed and followed her into the office. She took a seat across from Lacey’s desk. “What’s so urgent?”

“I’m worried about you,” Lacey admitted. She’d known something was wrong with Amanda, but had not had the chance to talk to her. This morning, she was making time for her friend.

“Me?”

“Yeah, you’ve been quiet lately. What’s going on?”

Amanda shook her head. “I think I’m going to become celibate,” she said with a short laugh. “I broke up with Jason.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. He seemed so perfect.” Lacey sipped from her coffee. “But then, so did Dean.”

“Yeah, seemed and is, are too different things. We were going nowhere. So I ended it.”

“Are you okay?”

Amanda didn’t look broken hearted, but Lacey had known something wasn’t right. Now she understood.

“Actually, I’m fabulous. I’m certain I did the right thing. My next step is contemplating joining a nunnery. How do you think I’d look in a habit?”

“Drab.”

“Finding a man who fits my needs, gets along with my family, and is a good guy doesn’t seem to be happening. Maybe I should sign up for our matchmaking services.”

“Amanda—”

“I know, I know,. I’ll find someone when the time is right.”

“You deserve someone who is good for you. Obviously, Jason wasn’t. You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find your prince.”

God, there were more toads than princes and even the princes had issues. Just like most women had problems they needed to deal with. Dating wasn’t fun, exciting, but rather nerve wracking.

“The toads are going to have to do without me for a while.”

Lacey laughed.

“You’re in a chipper mood this morning.”

“Yeah, I am, though my reasons for feeling so good could come back to bite me in the butt at any moment.”

Amanda groaned. “Oh, no.”

“Oh, yes. I slept with Reed again.”

“Lacey!”

“Yes, I know. He’s not interested in marriage. Or even a steady relationship for that matter. But when he touches me, my body turns to hot liquid, and I can’t get my clothes off fast enough.”

“Oh, if this gets out.”

“I’m in so much trouble, Amanda. He makes me feel things I’ve never felt. He makes me scream with passion. I don’t recall experiencing anything like this before.”

Amanda frowned and stared at her like she had two heads with snakes crawling out of them. “You’ve never acted like this over a man before.”

“Men don’t usually affect me this way.”

“Oh, no.”

“Yes, I know.” Lacey repeated, shaking her head, unable to believe she had left herself so vulnerable. “I’m a relationship coach, a counselor, who is not following my own advice. I’m falling in love with Reed Hunter, and he’s going to break my heart.”

***

Reed stared at Stephen Bridges, his last interview for the documentary. A man who had a negative experience with Mate Incorporated. He already didn’t like the guy, and he’d only met him five minutes ago. He’d come in with an arrogant attitude, insisting they shine the camera on his right side as that was better than his left side.

Reed had Ty rearrange the room, so the lights were arranged to show off Mr. Bridges’ right side, which was just as ugly as his left side.

Then he’d tried to have them sign a release saying he could not be sued.

“Sorry, Mr. Bridges. I don’t sign releases without my attorney looking them over. Now we can either film your story today, or we can decide this was not in your best interest and go our separate ways.”

The man frowned at Reed, his thinning short hair and hawkish eyes staring at him. “Sarah told me you’d be a fool to sign anything, but I wanted to try anyway.”

“Sorry, I don’t sign releases.” Reed paused. “Who is Sarah?”

“Oh, she’s a girl I met while doing the matchmaking service.”

“You’re still seeing someone you met while going through Ms. Morgan’s service?”

“Oh yeah, Sarah’s great. I didn’t like the service, but since I’d paid for it, I felt I might as well use it.”

Reed didn’t say anything for a few moments, his gut twisting with guilt. The memory of Lacey curled in his arms came rushing at him like a missile, and he felt its explosion around him.

Reed focused on his job. His personal feelings had no place in the workplace when he was filming. Yet, what he was doing would harm Lacey, and he was struggling with that knowledge.

“Are we ready to begin?” he asked the gentleman.

“Sure.”

Ty called, “Action.”

“Today, I have Stephen Bridges, a client of Mate Inc. Tell me how you got involved with Mate Incorporated.”

The man crossed his legs and cleared his throat. “After being in a serious relationship for over a year, we broke up, and I didn’t know how to go about meeting other women. I signed up for the Twelve Steps of Dating Seminar.”

“And did you learn anything about yourself at the seminar?”

“Oh yeah, Lacey spends a lot of time on making sure you know who you are and what kind of relationship you’re looking for. I confirmed what I already knew about myself. The seminar was a waste of time for someone like me.”

Reed tried to stay focused, but he wanted to wipe the smile off this arrogant, pompous fool. “What did you do after the seminar?”

“I signed up for the matchmaking session. I also started attending the Friday night get togethers. Let me tell you, those Friday night parties are filled with women desperate to find a man. You can get plenty of action there, if you know what I mean.” He raised his brows in a lecherous way that made Reed want to puke.

Reed ignored his comments. “What about the matchmaking service?”

“Totally bogus. They made me take a personality test and gave me four letters and said this type of woman would suit me best. Hell, I know the kind of woman I want. Blonde, big boobs, and has a job. That’s all I need to know.”

Reed wanted to turn the camera off at that moment, but decided to forge ahead, knowing very little of what this Neanderthal said would show up on the film.

Were all men this way about women? Had he treated women this way?

What the hell was wrong with him? He’d never questioned his actions before. Could Lacey’s relationship advice have changed his subconscious?

“Did you get any dates from the service?”

“Oh, yeah. I went out with two of the homeliest women I’ve ever seen. If you want to meet some dogs, believe me, sign up with a dating service. I expected women as hot as Lacey.”

Reed took a deep calming breath. If he didn’t jump out of this chair before the end of the interview and throttle this man, it would be a miracle. And he would be doing women world-wide a favor.

“Okay, did you have any good dates from the service?”

“A couple, but one girl told me I was not her type, and the other one won’t return my calls.”

Smart woman
. “How did you meet Sarah?”

“Oh, I met Sarah at the Friday night gathering. We stood around making fun of everyone in the room.”

“That’s nice.” The sarcasm was lost on the man. “What exactly is your complaint against Lacey?”

“It’s the way they do things. I didn’t need to take a personality test. I didn’t need to be psychologically evaluated to make sure I’m not a stalker. I paid them good money to get me dates and find someone compatible with me. Sarah is the only person I still have a connection with.”

“Did you speak with Lacey about your dissatisfaction?” Reed knew she tried to make every client happy and would go out of her way to help satisfy someone if they didn’t think they were getting their money’s worth. Yet, here sat this ignorant soul.

“Yes, and she told me she would refund my money. She does that with clients after six months if she is unable to find them anyone to date.”

“That seems more than fair. After all, you had two dates.”

“But I expected ten or more.”

“Maybe she didn’t have anyone who fit your profile.”

“Profile, personality test, whatever. I expected to date women. Lots of gorgeous women.”

Reed had to wait a moment before he could respond without pounding the weasel. “Did you take the refund from Lacey?”

“Hell, no. Not at first. I told her I wanted dates.”

“And how did she respond?”

“She told me she didn’t have any clients who would fit my criteria. She sent me my money back!”

Reed had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. He could hear Lacey saying this to him in a professional voice, knowing he wouldn’t get that she didn’t have anyone who would want to date him. Or that she would inflict his personality on.

“How would you describe your experience with Mate Incorporated?”

“Totally frustrating. She needs to be shut down and put out of business.”

“Even after she refunded your money?”

“She played with my emotions. I expected to meet a hottie.” The man spat like a drama queen in men’s clothing.

At the end of his patience, Reed wanted to walk him to the door and tell him to never come back.

He made the cut motion to Ty.

“Okay, thank you for coming in, Mr. Bridges.”

Reed had to end this session or find himself in jail for trying to pound some bloody sense into this fool. How did Lacey put up with idiots like this?

“We’re done? That’s all? I was just getting started.”

“We have everything we need.”

The man stood and gathered his belongings. “I hope you run that bitch out of business.”

Reed felt his fists clench at his sides. He took a deep breath to keep from slamming the man. The brothels he’d filmed in Russia hadn’t left him feeling so slimy and dirty. “Goodbye, Mr. Bridges,” he said and deliberately closed the door on him.

Stepping from behind the camera, Ty came out laughing. “That dude was a trip.”

“I wanted to punch him.”

Ty looked at him in a weird way. “I don’t think he helped us show her in a bad way.”

Reed had to resist from telling Ty to dump the film. He so wanted to tell him to destroy this interview, but he knew he couldn’t. “Would you date a creep like that?”

“No, I don’t date other men. I like women.”

“I guess we saw what women have to deal with from our sex all the time.”

Ty stared at him and shook his head. “You’re going soft on me, buddy.”

“What do you mean?” Reed asked, a strange ache gripping his stomach.

“Are you sleeping with Lacey?”

Reed frowned. What could he say? Ty sometimes acted ignorant, but he was as intelligent as they come. He would know the truth.

“Shit!” he said. “You’re sleeping with her again. I knew I had a bad feeling about this film. This is going to turn out to be crap, isn’t it?”

“I don’t mix business and pleasure. Business is business, and pleasure is kept strictly separate,” Reed said, straightening his shoulders and gazing into Ty’s eyes.

“Yeah, and my grandmother smokes pot.”

Reed smiled at him. “You never told me that before. That’s a new revelation.”

“You’re lying to yourself and me. I can see it on your face. You’re starting to care about this girl. You’re falling for her.”

Panic crept over Reed like ants on candy. She was just another woman he enjoyed sleeping with. Still, wow, he did enjoy being with her. “Hey, you’re talking to a man who has not had a serious relationship in years.”

“Sure.” Ty looked away and begin to pack up the equipment. “If you don’t get your act together, we’re going to crash and burn.”

“You say that about every film. This is going to be our best film yet.”

“I sure hope so. I’m looking forward to that beach in Hawaii. I’m hoping Graham doesn’t fire our asses.”

***

Lacey had just turned out the light in her bedroom when the phone rang. She jumped on it, hoping it was Reed. She hadn’t heard from him all day, and tonight, she’d been disappointed he hadn’t called. But until this moment the phone had been silent.

“Hello,” she said, her heart rate accelerating with hope.

“Hi,” her sister said, her voice sounding odd.

“Hi,” Lacey responded, sitting up in bed. “Is everything okay?”

The phone went silent.

“Are you all right?” she demanded.

“Yes.”

“What’s wrong? You never call me this late.”

“Matt is out with his friends. They’re doing his bachelor party tonight,” Kerri said, her voice tired and strained. “The wedding is two weeks away.”

Lacey didn’t say anything and just let Kerri talk. As she listened, she felt torn. She had come to accept this wedding, and now, what if Kerri decided to back out?

“I spent tonight packing, trying to get ready to move. Usually he’s here with me.”

“You spent the evening alone?”

“Yes.”

“You must have enjoyed some time to yourself.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Kerri, what’s going on?” Lacey asked.

“I don’t know. I sat here all night wondering if I was doing the right thing. I mean you’re right. We grew up with so many step-dads and step-families. I don’t want that for my children. I started having doubts.”

“Do you love Matt?”

“Yes, with all my heart.”

Lacey smiled. Her sister had a case of pre-wedding jitters. She could try to talk her out of the wedding, but Kerri wanted to get married. Lacey just needed to be there for her sister.

“I think it’s normal for you to get scared before the wedding. This is one of the biggest decisions of your life. And we’re all human and prone to errors,” Lacey said, determined to support her sister during this moment of doubt.