sharing your future with?”
“Anyone.”
Kennedy stared at him. She’d counseled hundreds of men, and there was always a list. A type. Someone to avoid at all costs. “You’re willing to date anyone? There must be a few qualities you want in your wife.”
He picked at his nails, seemed to catch himself, and rested them on the arms of the chair. “Of course. I can waste our time giving you an inventory of qualities that each person dreams of in a soul-mate. Generosity, humor, attractiveness, intelligence, sexual chemistry. They won’t mean a thing until I meet her, though, will they? If I love her, I’m willing to compromise. I want to share my life and have a family. So my true answer remains. I am open to anyone. I just need to find her.”
Odd, the way he communicated made perfect sense. There would never be any guessing with this man, and no games. Direct, honest, unflinching. She just needed to find him a female who owned the same type of qualities, or one who was the complete opposite. Either he’d get along best with similar types, or he’d need the balance of contradiction.
Definitely a mixer. Targeted, maybe four to five women of all types, a melting pot he’d be able to delve into. But itwouldn’t work until she made some major changes on the outside.
Ken smiled. “I think that was a great answer.”
“Then why does that expression on your face make me nervous?”
She laughed. “I told you I’m not looking to change who you are, but I need to tweak the surface. For the next two weeks, I’ll be attached to your side. Other than work, we’ll be spending evenings together, and weekends. When I feel you’re ready, I’ll schedule the first mixer. Is that agreeable?”
The unibrow lowered. “What are you going to do to me?”
Her palms literally itched, a sure sign of success. She lowered her voice.
“Everything.”
NED ALMOST JERKED IN his seat from that husky, sexy spill of voice. Like velvet and gravel mixed together. The word drilled in his brain over and over, bringing up an array of delicious images.
Yep. She was a definite distraction.
He pegged her for a major flirt, but he didn’t think she realized what she’d just done to him. Probably looked at him more like an amoeba in her scientific experiment. Her black pencil skirt emphasized the toned muscles in her legs, which were a deep golden brown. The snug jacket cut over the natural fullness of her breasts and lifted them up like a present. Today, she wore a glittery silver ankle braceletwith tiny charm things. As she shook her leg, they tinkled and brought attention to the strappy platform sandals no woman should be wearing in the cool March weather. A natural sultriness radiated around her figure, and though she obviously knew how to use it, Ned figured that most of the time she had no clue how insanely attractive she was. Something seemed to hold her back, as if she hid a big secret at her core. Would be interesting to explore those limits and see inside. But that wouldn’t happen in his lifetime.
She was already looking back down at her papers. Dismissed, without a thought what that husky voice could do to a man. “Let’s talk about your hobbies outside of work. I see you golf.”
She uttered that word with pure disdain. He itched to show her the excitement of the subtlety and mental challenge of the sport, but obviously, she was more of a baseball or football fan. “Yes. I golf.”
Her gaze probed under the cotton fabric of his lab coat to get an idea of his biceps. He may not have a killer body, but he wasn’t soft. He ate healthy, golfed, and did regular crunches to keep his abdomen tight. Irritation bristled. What would it feel like to be a man she lusted after? Those gorgeous eyes reminded him of a sleek, strong lioness, pure gold shot with a touch of amber. Fogged with desire, he bet they’d get soft and sleepy. Maybe she bit and sucked her lower lip, which had a natural pout. She was probably trained to know