Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(4)

Abbey stopped before the desk, pulling her professional facade around her like armor.

“Mr. Redgrave, Miss Redgrave, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Abbey Sinclair and I am a representative of Fated Match. Thank you for your interest in our organization.”

Melissa’s grin widened. “I’ve been wanting to try your services for decades. My friends rave about your matches.”

Abbey transferred her attention to Melissa, figuring she was the easier sell. “We have a very high success rate for those looking for long-term relationships.”

Melissa nodded eagerly. “Exactly what I need. I’m ready to settle down.”

“Melissa is interested in your company but I, on the other hand, have my doubts. How can anyone promise to match mates when the bond is so innate?”

Lucian’s deep voice shook Abbey to her bones. She could just imagine how he would sound whispering dirty words in a woman’s ear. Heat pooled low in her stomach at the thought and she mentally shook herself. Vampires were off her list for a reason, sexy voice or no.

“Why don’t I walk you through the process?” she asked. “May I sit?”

Lucian didn’t reply, merely watched her with his wolf gaze.

Taking his silence for consent, Abbey perched on the high-backed chair and laid the briefcase on the desk. “We are well aware of the elusive nature of the mating bond,” she said, opening the case. “Which is why we mix science with matchmaking. Melissa, should you choose to pursue this course, I will take a swab of the inside of your cheek and a hair sample.” She held up her tools as she explained. “We’ll collect pheromones with this tissue”—she held up the object in question—“and a trace of venom if you produce any. If you have any other gifts which create a physical effect or scent, I’ll need samples of them as well.”

“What do you do with your collection?” Lucian asked.

“We run the data through an exhaustive testing procedure at our lab, which distills your physical presence into a computer program. With that information along with your personal preferences, we can run you through our database and find possible matches for you based on your biology. We will set you up on dates with matches of 75 percent or higher.”

“But a mating bond is more than genetics,” Lucian said, his gaze never leaving hers. “There is instinct, fate. How can your computer program replace seeing your mate across a crowded room and knowing she is yours?”

Abbey swallowed, wondering if the room had just grown hotter. Looking into his eyes, she almost agreed with him. How could science replace physical attraction? That animalistic combustibility everyone yearned to find just once in their lives?

“I’m sure they’ve done all the proper testing,” Melissa said.

Abbey turned her attention to the other woman gratefully. “Yes, of course.” She cleared her throat. “Matches happen even without the 75 percent rating. I know of one pair who only had a 33 percent compatibility rating and yet are deliriously happy. Mates could find each other outside of our services. We just make the process easier, eliminating the time-wasting that normally comes with searching for a partner. We don’t guarantee success, but we’ll get you on a much better footing to find your intended.”

“That’s fine by me,” Melissa said. “I think it sounds like great fun.”

“I still have reservations.” Lucian leaned back in his chair, but his relaxed pose did nothing to put Abbey at ease. If he wanted to go in for the kill, both she and Fated Match were in trouble. “Are there many humans in the program?”

Abbey bristled. Another anti-human snob. The old ones tended to remember only the times when mortals were toys to be used and thrown away. They didn’t see the advancements of the twenty-first century.

“Several,” she said, trying to keep the frost from her voice. “I am the only one on the management team, but we have a few participants who regularly date our supernatural clients.”

“And how did you find out about this world? It is not something humans normally have knowledge of.”

Her spine stiffened. She didn’t want to reveal personal information about herself to this man. Still, a job was a job.

“My mother was bitten by a were-badger when I was in my late teens. I dropped out of university to help her with the transition and was introduced to this world through her.”

“And your father?”

“Dead.” She said no more, merely held his gaze and waited.

Lucian tapped his fingers together. Both she and Melissa kept quiet as he came to his decision.