Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(13)

Chloe reached for the first file on Abbey’s reject pile and flipped it open. “Marion the harpy. What’s wrong with her?”

“Marion has no sense of humor. Lucian needs someone who’s not so serious to open him up at bit.”

The silence was damning.

“I’m good at my job,” Abbey defended. She couldn’t help it if paying attention to Lucian was easy work.

“Apparently. Have you slept with him yet?”

Abbey dropped her latest dossier as if it burned her. “No!”

“Mind if I do?”

The thought of Lucian and the bubbly brunette turned her stomach but she forced herself to shake her head. “But you only have a 19 percent rating,” she said. “I checked for you.”

Chloe laughed. “Darling, sometimes love has nothing to do with it. I’m not interested in forever. Right now is good enough for me.”

Abbey chewed her lip, wishing she shared the same philosophy.

“Speaking of which, have you replied to that sexy werewolf?”

A real grin lit Abbey’s face. “Not yet. I’ve been…hesitating.” The wolf’s e-mail had come in before she’d been sent off to meet Lucian. Since then, the vampire had taken up more of her thoughts than she was willing to admit. Flirting with him made it rather difficult to think of anyone else.

“Let me see his details.”

Abbey hit a few buttons and brought up the werewolf’s profile. A handsome man smiled from the screen. He wasn’t as striking as Lucian, but lovely in his own right. Auburn hair curled around his ears, almost brushing against his shoulders. Clear amber eyes stared out at her from the photograph. He was clean-shaven and classically handsome with his high cheekbones and a strong jaw. Still out of her league, but not as dramatically so as Lucian.

“Christian Kae,” Chloe said, scanning the information. “Cute. What’s your rating?”

“Ninety-six percent.”

The witch blinked. “What?”

“I know.” Abbey looked at the computer and couldn’t help smiling. She’d never had such a high rating with anyone. Hell, matches that high were rare for any species and yet she, the ordinary human, had come up with one. When she’d first seen her score with Christian, she’d barely believed it. Surely a computer glitch was a better explanation than a true pairing that high.

“He’s gorgeous and you’re practically perfect for each other? What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I’m human, for one thing.” There was a reason she didn’t date in the supernatural world. Most members she met from that world looked down on her.

Chloe snorted. “If he contacted you first, I highly doubt Christian will care. Humans date supernaturals sometimes.”

Abbey’s lips twisted. They did have a few mortal members, but their romances rarely ended well.

“My life span is a bit of an issue if things go well, don’t you think?” she said, minimizing Christian’s profile.

“Only if you want it to be,” Chloe pointed out. “Most of the species we represent can change their mates. Even if you fall for someone who can’t, just get bitten by a were. Look at your mom. Accidents happen.”

Yes, they did. But Abbey didn’t want to give up her nice human world. Working with supernaturals was one thing. Becoming one was another.

“At least reply to his e-mail,” her friend suggested. “No one is asking for a lifetime commitment.”

But with a 96 percent pairing, it wasn’t an unreasonable assumption.

“I’ll think about it,” she said.

Grabbing a file, she flipped it open to find a smiling griffin. Scanning the file proved that all the woman’s details checked out against Lucian’s preferences. The lucky member made it through to round two. Dropping the dossier in her “keep” pile, Abbey thought about the e-mail from the werewolf. Lucian was looking for the love of his life—why shouldn’t she? A few incredible kisses didn’t mean she owed the vampire any more than he owed her.

“All right,” she said, startling Chloe. “I’ll ask if Christian wants to get a drink.” At the very least, a date would help her get out of her current rut.

A knowing smile curved Chloe’s lips. “Good girl.”

…

The rest of the day flew by as Abbey and her colleagues scrambled to set up Lucian’s next five dates. They’d found amazing candidates, and none of the women had turned down the chance to meet the famous vampire.

The vampire due to arrive any minute.

Abbey glanced at the clock again. He was late.

Not that she was particularly looking forward to facing Lucian after what had transpired the evening before. She smiled wryly, knowing the thought was not strictly true. Part of her feared the encounter, and a deeper part jumped up and down at the thought of seeing Lucian again. Dueling with him was definitely not boring.