Searching for Always(6)

He grabbed his keys and walked out of the station. Now he had to deal with a do-gooder who had no idea what cops went through. Still, he had no choice. Best thing to do was accept it, shore up his defenses, and get through it. A physical reaction meant nothing, and a few hours in a room with her would probably cure any type of attraction. He’d agree to her ridiculous terms, pass the course, and get back to his job and his life.

No. Problem.


“I’M GOING TO SUE you.”

Arilyn held her smile. The guy across her desk was a difficult client, full of macho attitude, fear of intimacy, and a bad attitude. Still, she believed in counseling her clients to their full potential in order to be able to pursue a healthy relationship. Since she was also teaching an anger management course, she knew well how to solve difficult issues.

“I’m sorry, Ben. Why don’t you tell me what the problem is?”

His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward. “You told me I needed to be a bit softer and approachable around women. You said being a bastard doesn’t necessarily get the girl. Does any of this sound familiar?”

She kept smiling and nodded. “Yes, that’s correct. Instead of treating women with ego and attitude, letting yourself be a bit more vulnerable and nice to a woman isn’t a bad thing. That’s the way to find and stay in a solid relationship.”

“Bullshit.” He had a basset hound kind of a face, with saggy cheeks and a droopy-type mouth. His stocky body was buff, since he worked weights like crazy, and his thick blond waves of hair formed a prideful lion’s mane, but Arilyn found his crude mannerisms a definite turnoff. They’d been working with his attitude adjustment for a while.

“Why is it bullshit?” she asked calmly. She dug her fingers into the cushioned arms of her chair and began dragging in long, slow breaths. He was pissing her off, and it wasn’t a good sign that she’d rather yell than help him work through his problems. Keep breathing.

“Because I tried it. Met a girl at the bar this weekend and approached. Instead of my usual lines, I gave her my name. Listened to her. Hell, I bought her way too many drinks. When I asked her out, she said no. Said she was more attracted to the dominant kind of man and that we wouldn’t fit. Left me at the bar humiliated and broke. Because of you and your stupid advice.”

Her smile slipped. Stupid, huh? Maybe he was stupid to think any intelligent woman wouldn’t be attracted to a complete macho idiot. “She probably wasn’t meant for you, Ben. Perhaps she just wanted one night and not a relationship.”

“That’s what I wanted, too! I’m over this. Over your counseling and computer surveys just to get a mixer where I may not even connect with anyone. Your agency sucks, and I want my money back or I’ll sue.”

She’d been well trained. When people dealt with emotions like love and vulnerability, many acted out. The contract was ironclad regarding legal liabilities; Ben would never be able to sue Kinnections. As many happy endings as she had helped with, there were also heartbreakers when a couple just didn’t make it. The scenario had occurred many times before, and usually she was able to calm them down, get back on track, and move on.

She opened her mouth.

“Maybe the problem isn’t Kinnections but your lousy attitude problem regarding women,” she snapped. “Maybe I haven’t set up a mixer yet because I feel sorry for every woman who has to meet you!”

His eyes bugged out. “You can’t talk to me like that!”

She leaned forward over her desk to meet him halfway, lowering her voice. “Watch me. You’re terminated from Kinnections. Your refund check will be in the mail.”

He sat up. “Wait. Maybe we should try again. I saw some of the pics on the website and your clients are hot.”

“Good-bye, Ben.”

“I’m going to sue you for wrongful termination!”

Arilyn got up from the desk, stormed to the door, and yanked it open. “I’ll look forward to the legal papers. Have a good day and thanks for using Kinnections.”

He stared at her for a few minutes before slowly getting up and trudging out the door. The other thing she had learned about Ben was that he was a bit of a bully. Stand up to him first, and he backed down immediately. The little bell over the entrance jingled merrily, confirming his exit.

Muttering under her breath, she slammed the counseling room door and marched to her own office. Idiot. A waste of time even trying to get him to see what his real issue was or to treat women as anything other than a bodily ornament for his arm. Better to cut him now and give him his refund. She was sure Kate would understand.