“Okay, then you go first. How would you describe your ideal man?”
“Hmmm.” Anne twisted a strand of hair around her finger. “You know, I’ve never given it much thought. I’ve always been good at picking out people who go together. But I picked out a man so long ago…” She gave Gherring a challenging look. “You have to list as many characteristics as I do. Deal?”
“Deal.”
Anne contemplated her list. Obviously, handsome and a great body would go on her list, but she wasn’t going to mention that first. “Hmmm… well-educated, great conversationalist—”
Gherring grinned. “Ditto.”
“No way—you have to think of your own. You go next, that way you can’t cheat.”
“Beautiful, with a great body. What else matters?” He laughed.
“Ditto,” Anne chuckled.
“Now who’s cheating?”
“Okay, how about this one—someone who’ll put me first and someone I would be willing to put first in my own life.”
“No, that’s too hard to measure. How about hair color, eye color?”
“Blond and brown,” she replied quickly. She certainly wasn’t going to say dark hair and blue eyes.
“Oh.” Gherring’s dimples appeared suddenly. “Too bad for Henri. Shall I be the one to break the news?”
She chuckled. “Stop it! Now don’t you want a woman who isn’t interested in your money?”
“Why would I want that? I’m an old fart now. Women aren’t really interested in me for myself anymore. Money’s my only real asset.”
“That’s not true at all. There’s a lot more to you than your money.”
Gherring looked away, dejected. “If I wasn’t rich, no woman would look twice at me.”
“You can’t really believe that. You’re smart and handsome and you…” Anne stopped talking when she noticed Gherring’s shoulders shaking with laughter. “And you did it to me again!”
“Don’t stop now. I’m really enjoying your evaluation.” He chuckled but grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “No, please, don’t be mad. I’ll cooperate this time.”
He heaved a great sigh.
“I want someone I won’t be bored with after six months. I’d like someone who’d be fun to grow old with. I want someone who helps me to be the best man I can be. I want someone who needs me as much as I need h
er.”
“Wow… that’s really good.” Anne was acutely aware of his hand holding hers, yet she maintained her composure. “But talk about hard to measure. How would you ever know?”
“In the past, I would’ve said you couldn’t really know. You’d have to be willing to take a chance.”
“But now?” Anne attempted to slide her hand away casually, but Gherring maintained his firm, yet gentle, hold.
“But now I’d say I’d never met the right woman.”
This time Anne succeeded in slipping her hand away to gesture with it. “You see, that’s exactly what Gram and I said. We just need to find you the right woman.” She smiled with satisfaction.
“And what about you?”
Anne felt herself blushing and leaned down to retie her boots and hide her face. “What about me?”
“I gave you four more qualities. Now you owe me four more. And they have to be really good ones.”