Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(7)
He was silent a long moment. “Do you have a profile, Abbey?”
Pleasure curled through her at the way her name rolled off his tongue. “Yes,” she said. “It’s company policy, but I don’t use mine much.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged.
“And what do your preferences state?” he asked.
Dangerous ground.
“That is my business.”
“As am I, for the next month at least.”
She blew on the bangs falling into her eyes. “Yes, I have certain restrictions as well.”
“Which are?”
She was mutinously silent.
“Werewolves?”
“Love ’em.”
“Mermen? Dragons? Fey?”
“I don’t discriminate.”
“Vampires?”
Abbey stilled. What to say? That five minutes in his presence was making her rethink that particular restriction? All he needed to do was search her name when she left and he’d see her dating preferences. There was no point in lying.
Setting the tablet down, she met his gaze squarely. “No. No vampires.”
Instead of being offended, Lucian merely looked thoughtful. “Why?”
“We are setting up your profile, not mine.”
“You are my VIP representative. I’m sure your boss would agree to your answering any questions I have. On any topic.”
Her fingers tapped against the tablet. “My private life is not your business.”
“How will you work with me if you despise my kind?”
“I don’t despise you,” she said. “It’s self-preservation. I don’t date demons either.”
“Because we both live off blood,” he stated as if unraveling another piece of the puzzle.
“You have to admit, you guys are on a different level. Little human me is far too breakable to play in your league.”
“I don’t know. You seem to be doing just fine.” The heat was back in his eyes and Abbey found it impossible to look away.
“None of this matters,” she said, trying to derail his line of inquiry. “It’s you we are trying to match up.”
“Given the amount of time you spend in our world, do you never wonder if you have a mate waiting for you?”
She snorted. “I’m far too human for that.”
“One never knows.” His expression grew unreadable. “In answer to your original question, humans are more than welcome on my profile.”
Abbey glanced up, unnerved by the way he watched her. She felt exposed, vulnerable. Lucian Redgrave was a man who saw far more than she intended him to.
“Let’s just get through these last few questions, all right?”
“As you wish.”
Lucian sat back and let her grill him on the last bits of information she needed. She dutifully copied down his ancestry and his current position in the hedge fund and investing world. She noted his likes and dislikes with a wry smile. He was all for order and control. This was not a man she could see bungee jumping or skydiving. He’d be far more at home in a museum or at a benefit event. Even so, she knew his old-fashioned taste would appeal to a number of their clients, and his wallet would appeal to even more. Once Lucian Redgrave’s profile went live, they’d have a mad rush for him.
“Okay, done,” she declared. “Your profile will be processed and uploaded within twenty-four hours. Here is your login information.” She passed him a slim white card, then turned the tablet to show him several of the Fated Match website’s features. “You can search for prospective dates by gender, age, or species. The button at the top of a profile that says ‘match’ will calculate your statistics against the woman whose profile you’re viewing. We don’t recommend pursuing anyone under a 75 percent match.”
“I understand.”
“One last thing,” she said as she slipped the tablet back into the briefcase.
“Yes?”
Abbey hesitated, wondering if her observation would be out of line.
“Abbey?”
“To make a better first impression, you might want to consider…updating your look a bit.”
He arched an elegant brow.
“What I mean is, some of our younger clients might be intimidated by the old-world appearance.”
A slow smile curved his lips. “For the next month, Abbey, I shall defer to your knowledge.” A wicked glint lit up his eyes. “After that time, however, I make no promises.”
She swallowed hard. “I can set you up with our personal shopper who can take you to—”
“You.” It was not a request.
She’d been expecting the command but even so, it made that little glow of pleasure within her grow. Not many men in her life requested to be with her above all others, even if it was only for work.