Searching for Perfect (Searching For 2)

"We'll use mine. My name's Nate."

"Wolfe." His grip was firm. "Appreciate it."

"No problem. Wouldn't want to lose a potential golfer. Is there a reason you wanted to start to play?" He resumed walking toward the next hole, his clubs comfortably secured on his shoulder, face tipped up slightly to enjoy the sun.

Wolfe followed. "I work at a hotel and I'm trying to secure a big-time client. He has a huge roster of clients who come into New York to stay for a few weeks, and I'm trying to woo him away from the Waldorf. Only problem is he's obsessed with golf. Plays all the time at this club, and only does deals on the course. I haven't been able to get a meeting or even a conference call. So, I decided there was only one way to do it: I'll come to him. Learn the game, finagle an invite into his group, and make my magic."

Nate shook his head. "Don't mean to burst your bubble, but it doesn't work like that. No one sashays onto a course, plays a few rounds, and closes a deal. That's only in the movies."

"No shit?"

Nate laughed again. Damn, this guy was funny. "If you play badly or don't know the rules, you'll insult him. My advice is to take some lessons, get comfortable and decent with your skills, and then approach."

"Hmm, only one problem."

"What?"

"I need to close the deal in a few weeks."

Nate slid his clubs to the ground and scratched his face. Growing in that damn stubble was annoying as hell. "I think you're screwed. Unless you take a lesson every day. That's possible."

Wolfe groaned. "I work day and night. I can take a few lessons, definitely, but I need a fast route. Don't they have one of those books, Golf for Dummies? Or How to Be Successful at Golf in Fifteen Days?"

"No."

"You're the direct type, huh?"

"Yep."

Wolfe shot him a grin. "Good. I've had enough bullshit to last the rest of my life."

"I bet. What hotel?"

"Purity."

"Ah, yes, you're opening in Manhattan. Nice place. No wonder you need the game; most hotel executives are huge golfers."

"I've always been more of the video game type. What do you do?"

"I work for a small private company that's trying to get people into space. I study propulsion mechanics and try to find a more economical, inexpensive way to get us to Mars."

"An aerospace engineer, huh? Cool."

Suddenly, Nate knew it was going to be a great day. "Yeah. Listen, I may be able to help. Let me study your natural stance and do some measurements. I'm working on an amateur program using physics to compute a sequence to increase your skill faster. I'd need to take some video, though."

Wolfe studied him again, and Nate waited him out. There was a darkness within Wolfe he sensed immediately, but his gut urged him to help. He needed to expand his horizons from the work crowd and his brother. Delving into a special project might be the thing he needed to get his mind off his bewitching, sexy as hell matchmaker.

"Sure I won't be taking up too much of your time?"

"I'm sure."

"Then let's do it. And thanks."

"Welcome."

They grinned at each other and got to work.

seven

KENNEDY SLID INTO the booth, plucked up her Skinny Girl margarita, and guzzled. The tequila smoothed away her worries of the day, including her calorie count--since the ice cream episode, she'd beefed up on her Greek yogurt and oven-roasted turkey breast, and hadn't indulged in carbs for a full forty-eight hours.

Maybe that was why she was so pissy.

"Another diet, babe?" Kate gave her a sympathetic look from across the battered table. Kennedy's inner circle knew that her push-pull with food never ended, though she managed to achieve a healthy balance most of the time. She watched herself carefully and was now able to yank herself back when she began getting nuts over daily caloric intake or a missed gym appointment. She thought of anorexia as alcoholism. She was always recovering and could never be completely cured. One twisted reflection in the mirror could be the catalyst to starve herself, but so far, she hadn't regressed in more than five years. Odd, she seemed much more relaxed about indulging around Nate. After the fries and ice cream, she hadn't gone home and beat herself up. She'd actually been . . . happier and more satisfied.

But then the old anxieties had come creeping back in, and she had promised to be stricter than ever with what she let into her body.

She refocused on Kate. "Always battling the enemy of carbs."

"Whatever you do, please don't give up chocolate. The last time you tried, Arilyn almost quit."

Arilyn laughed. The tinkling sound rang out like church bells. "I'm not afraid of Kennedy."

"If you keep wearing these outfits on a Friday night, you better be scared. How are you supposed to catch a hot man dressed in yoga pants?"

Arilyn looked a bit smug and a whole lot of satisfied. "Don't need to. We're back together."

Kate bit her lip. Worry bloomed from her expression. "That's great, but, well, did he decide to be monogamous with you?"

Arilyn shrugged and sipped her apple martini. "We didn't discuss it, exactly, but it's assumed."

Kennedy tapped her finger against her chin. "Darling, using the word assumed when it comes to sex brings one phrase to mind. It makes an ass out of you and me."

A rare frown crossed Arilyn's lovely features. Kennedy had been dying to make her over for years but was refused each time. Her background in yoga and meditation practice kept her firmly in the camp of organic cottons, environmental friendly make-up and hair products, and a tendency to downplay all her natural womanly assets. "There's only one ass at this table."

Kate laughed. "Listen, we're just worried. The last time you walked in on him with another of his students you went into a depression. We want you happy."

"I am happy. It's complicated. He decided to go deeply into his meditation and discovered he can't live without me. He won't stray anymore."

Kennedy fought the urge to find the asshole's yoga studio and demonstrate her kickboxing moves on his face. Instead, she tamped down her anger and focused on the alcohol. "How come we've never met him?"

Arilyn shifted. "We don't like to go public with our relationship. At least, not yet."

Kate met Kennedy's gaze, and they did the classic close girlfriend psychic thought volley. Both silently agreed he was going to hurt her again, and then they'd go and hurt him. Both agreed they needed to support Arilyn and play the denial game with enthusiasm. "We understand. It sounds like a great plan, and we're behind you all the way," Kate said.

"Me, too."

Arilyn calmed. "Thanks. So, tell us the update with Eliza Doolittle. Ming succeeded, and Benny rocked the cut. Didn't you say you were taking him to the gym?"

She plucked the cute umbrella out of her glass and twirled it around. "Yep. Can anyone say Zumba?"

Kate's eyes widened. "No. You didn't."

"I did."

Arilyn burst into giggles. "Oh, my God, that may have been better than Slade's hot yoga session. You're brilliant."

She preened. "Thanks. He needed to get past some of the blocks regarding his body. He lives mostly in his mind and tortures himself about getting things right."

"Hmm, sure he's not a female you?" Arilyn asked.

"Funny. Nothing wrong with being a perfectionist. I'm going to keep him in the classes for a few weeks."

"So, you did skin, hair, workout. Clothes are next, right?" Kate asked.

"I have to move the role-play session up. He tends to come on too strong and scares everyone away. Will you guys help me out? Maybe we can meet at a bar and run some setup scenes for the first meet?"

Kate lit up. "I love doing those! Can I be the bitchy slut this time?"

Kennedy rolled her eyes. "Whatever makes you happy."