"That's the way I work, Kade. It's not up for negotiation."
"Dammit, crap, hell," Kade muttered another string of swearwords under his breath as he finished rolling up his other sleeve. When he was done, he placed his hands on either side of Brodie's face, gave her a hard kiss and picked up his jacket. "We'll talk about this again."
Brodie touched her lips as he walked out of her kitchen, leaving as quickly as he'd arrived.
So that was that. Well, then.
She was now Kade's matchmaker.
Five
Three weeks later Brodie sat in her usual seat at Jan's waiting for Kade, her trusty tablet on the table in front of her. How was she supposed to ask Kade all these intensely personal questions knowing he'd touched, caressed and kissed every inch of her body?
What had she done to piss off the karma fairy?
Brodie placed her cheek in her hand and swallowed down her nausea. Her stomach roiled and she tasted bile in the back of her throat every time she thought about this upcoming interview. She'd had twenty-one days, thanks to Kade's insane schedule and Wren wanting maximum publicity, to feel this way. Three weeks of restless sleep, of feeling on edge, miserable.
Angry.
Once you've done this interview and you've entered the relevant data into the program, you can find his three dates and get on with your life.
Her donation to the auction only included three matches. She wouldn't have to set him up again if none of those woman suited. One batch, she decided, was enough.
And then, when it was done, she'd walk away for good and Kade Webb would be a memory of the best sex she'd ever experienced.
As she'd predicted, Wren had made a charming PR story of Rory's matchmaking gift. Every few weeks, depending on Kade's schedule, a new "date" for Kade would be introduced to the public. Their likes and dislikes would be posted on the Mavericks' website with their photos. Pictures and short video clips of their date would be uploaded and the public could comment. Once all three women had been on a date with Kade, the public would vote on their favorite match.
Such fun and games, Brodie thought. Brodie slipped out of her lightweight cardigan and draped it over her bag. It was hot in the coffee shop, something she'd never experienced before. Usually the air-conditioning made her feel chilly. She also had a headache; damn, she hoped she wasn't getting sick again. That was all she needed.
Brodie heard the tinkle of the chimes announcing a new arrival into the coffee shop. She looked toward the door and immediately sighed. Kade embodied business casual in his dark gold chinos, steel-gray jacket and checked shirt under a sweater the color of berries. Successful and urbane. Too sexy for words.
And she wasn't the only one reacting to his arrival. She felt the collective intake of female breath and knew many sets of ovaries were shivering in delight. Kade pushed his sunglasses onto the top of his head and looked around. He smiled when he saw her and her heart stumbled. Stupid organ.
Kade bent down and brushed his lips across her cheek, and she inhaled his cologne. Sandalwood and spice and something all Kade. She felt her nipples prickle and cursed. Yep, the attraction hadn't lessened one damn bit.
Annoyed she couldn't control her reaction to this man, she frowned at him. "You're late."
"Two minutes and hello to you, too," Kade replied as he sat down. He leaned forward and gripped her chin. "Why are you looking tired? And pale?"
So nice to know she was looking her best, Brodie thought. "I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"I had a chest infection shortly before the auction, maybe it's coming back."
"Are you coughing? Short of breath? Should you see a doctor?"
"I'm fine, Webb. Jeez, stop fussing." She pulled her tablet toward her, hitting the power button. "Shall we get started?"
"Tired and pale and grumpy. Can I order some coffee first?" Kade tapped her hand with his finger and waited until she met his eyes. "This situation is crazy enough without us snapping at each other."
She heard the rebuke in his voice and blushed. She was acting like a child. Okay, it wasn't the ideal situation, but she shouldn't be taking her bad mood out on him. He didn't want to be set up any more than she wanted to set him up and he was right, it would be a lot easier if she acted like an adult, even better if she could be friendly.
Pull yourself together, Stewart.
Brodie straightened her shoulders and sent him an apologetic smile. "Sorry. Hi...how are you?"
Kade nodded. "Good. Sorry we haven't been able to meet before this but I've been swamped."
Brodie had realized that. If the papers weren't talking about his upcoming dates, then they were discussing the Mavericks' purchase of Josh Logan, superstar wing, the negotiations to buy the franchise and the legal action against the Mavericks for unfair dismissal by the former star rookie. "What do your lawyers say?"
"About the dismissal?" Kade asked to clarify. He shrugged. "He's wasting his time, and mine, but we all know that. He doesn't have a leg to stand on. It's just a pain in my ass, to be frank." Kade scowled at her tablet. "As are these stupid dates. Seriously, Brodie, I don't want to answer your questions...just choose three women and let's get it over with. Nobody will know but us."
She wished she could but it went against her nature to cut corners. Besides, her questionnaire revealed a lot about her clients and she was curious about Kade.
Not professional, but what the hell? They'd never date and this was the only way she'd be able to assuage her curiosity. "I can't enter the data until I have the answers and I can't match you until I have the data."
"How long does it take?" Kade demanded as Jan approached their table.
"An hour for the long version, half hour if you only answer the compulsory questions." Brodie looked at Jan. "Kade, this is my friend Jan. Jan, Kade Webb."
"I figured." Jan shook his hand. "What can I get you, Kade? Brodie here usually has a coffee milk shake."
Brodie shuddered. She couldn't stomach it today. Too rich...
"Not today, Jan. I'll just have a glass of water."
Jan frowned at her. "You okay?"
"I'm feeling a little flu-ey," Brodie reluctantly admitted. "Hot, a little dizzy and I have a headache." Jan put her hand on her forehead and Brodie slapped it away. "I don't have a temperature and I'll see a doctor if I start coughing, okay?"
"When did you last eat?" Jan demanded.
Maybe that was what was wrong with her. She'd had soup for supper last night and she'd skipped breakfast. She was, she realized, starving. A hamburger would chase away her malaise. "I am hungry." She turned to Kade. "Jan's hamburgers can cure anything from depression to smallpox. Do you want one?"
Kade nodded. "I can eat."
Brodie ordered two cheeseburgers with everything and when Jan left, Brodie smiled at Kade. "Her burgers are really good." She reached into her bag, pulled out her reading glasses and slid them onto her face. "Shall we get started?"
* * *
Kade had never considered glasses to be sexy but Brodie's black-rimmed frames turned her green eyes, already mesmerizing, to a deep emerald. He loved her eyes, he thought as he answered questions about his date of birth, his height, his weight. Then again, he also loved her high cheekbones, her stubborn chin, her small but very firm breasts and those long, slim legs.
He liked everything about her and he wished he could blow off lunch and take her to bed. When this stupidity was over, he promised himself. When it was done, he'd kidnap Brodie for the weekend, take her somewhere private and keep her naked in his bed until he'd burned this craving for her out of his system.
He was hardly sleeping and when he did, his dreams were erotic, with Brodie taking the starring role. He thought about her at the most inappropriate times. Memories from the night they shared obliterated his concentration. It was torture trying to negotiate when he recalled the way Brodie fell apart under his touch.
Brodie pinching his wrist pulled him back to their conversation. "What?"
"I asked...siblings?"
"None." He'd always wanted a brother, someone to take the edge off the loneliness growing up. Someone to stand by his side as he entered the hallway of a new school or joined a new team. Someone who could help him recall the towns they'd lived in and in what order.
"Parents?"
"My father lives in the city, my mother died when I was ten." He snapped the words out. He rubbed a hand over his jaw. God, he didn't want to do this. He never discussed his childhood, his past, his on-off relationship with his socially inept, now reclusive father. "You don't need information about my past so move along."