Tossing back a fry, she wondered if Christian was right. No one walked away from a nintey-six percent.
Chapter Eleven
“Excuse me, Abbey. Do you have a minute?”
Abbey glanced up to see Melissa hovering in her doorway of her office. “Please,” she said, surprised. “Come in.”
The redhead moved gracefully to the chair opposite Abbey and sank into it. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“Anytime,” Abbey replied. “It’s not you I have any problems with.” She switched off her computer screen and gave Melissa her full attention. “Are you here to sign up?”
The vampire shook her head. “Lucian is holding to his timeline. Another week or so and I’m sure I’ll be back.”
“All right.” Abbey folded her hands on the desk. “Then what can I help you with?”
“He’s going out with that were-tiger again. It’s the fourth time this week.”
Familiar pain stabbed through her but she refused to allow her hurt to show. “I fail to see what that has to do with me.”
Melissa shook her head in frustration. “Because it’s you he should be with.”
“You barely know me,” she said. “You’ve made a mistake. Lucian and I didn’t suit. He made that more than clear and I’ve moved on.”
“To a werewolf.” Her lip curled in distaste.
“How’d you hear about that?”
Melissa gestured toward the lobby. “The woman manning the desk out front is gossipy.”
“Remind me to kill Chloe,” she muttered.
“Look.” Melissa leaned forward. “I don’t mean to meddle where I’m not wanted. You don’t know me and my opinion means nothing to you, but I’m telling you, my sire is not happy with the woman he’s been dating. He hasn’t smiled since you parted ways.”
“Too bad,” Abbey said without sympathy. “He’s the one who ended our affair.”
“Give him another chance.”
She snorted at the words. “He doesn’t want one, trust me.”
“Lucian doesn’t know what he wants. That’s why I have to do this for him.”
Abbey could understand wanting to look after a parent, really she did. She’d been ready to do battle for her mother when she’d started dating her badger. But she also knew Melissa looked at Lucian through rose-colored glasses.
“Lucian and I only had a forty-seven percent rating,” she said. “I’m not the one who belongs with him.”
“Then perhaps my sire is right and your rating system needs adjustment.”
She shook her head. “I’m dating someone. I’m sorry if Lucian’s love life isn’t shaking out the way you want, but it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“Ah, yes. The werewolf. Tell me, does he excite you as Lucian did?”
“He’s a decent man. Honest, has a sense of humor, and he’s serious about me.”
The other woman’s eyes lit in triumph. “That did not answer my question.”
Because the answer was not something Abbey wanted to admit. She’d seen Christian almost every day this week and the man was fantastic.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure he was fantastic for her. They had fun together, it was true, but when he kissed her, Lucian was never far from her mind.
“He’s what I need right now,” she said instead. “I’m very happy with him.”
Melissa sighed. “You mortals are so stubborn.”
“Says the daughter of Lucian Redgrave.”
“Fair point.”
Abbey smiled. She liked Melissa, she really did. Her heart was in the right place, if misguided. If she ever managed to join Fated Match, Abbey would put the extra effort into finding her someone amazing.
“If you’re not going to listen to me about Lucian, then maybe you can help me with something else.”
“Sure,” Abbey said.
“I know I’m not an official member yet, but I heard you were having a mixer tonight and I want an invite.”
Abbey cocked her head to the side. “Lucian doesn’t want you having anything to do with our company.”
“I’m not asking to be matched up. I just want to see what sort of prospects are out there. Don’t you sometimes let prospective clients attend?”
They did if the client was someone of Melissa’s stature. Besides, Abbey didn’t see the harm. Lucian was shacked up with his were-tiger so he wouldn’t be putting in an appearance. If Melissa was eager to explore what their agency had to offer, it could only end well for Fated Match.
“All right,” she agreed, opening her desk drawer. “It’s a cocktail mixer in SoHo. The address is on the back.” She held out a printed invitation.