house was located only four blocks away from the showroom. Anyone else might have thought Tony picked the house for convenience, but really he'd picked it because a commute took away from productive time.
Marley walked briskly back into the heart of Laurel Heights, straight to Grounds for Thought. Her focus was on her shot of espresso, so she didn't notice anyone coming out of the coffeehouse until a man loomed directly in front of her.
A very large man. He had intense dark eyes and a body built like the Hulk, except he wasn't green.
But he was angry, based on the way he glared at her. She stood shock-still, caught like a bunny in a lion's path.
"Move," he growled.
With a squeak, she stepped out of his way. She watched him go to the door directly the to left of the café's entrance, leading to the apartments above. He deftly punched a code into the keypad next to the door and went inside when the buzzer sounded.
Rattled, she walked into the café and headed straight to the counter where Valentine Jones and Kristin, the barista, were chatting.
Kristin grinned at her. "Had a run in with the ogre of Laurel Heights, did you?"
"He's more like the Hulk," she murmured, sliding onto a stool.
"I'd like to hook him up with someone," Valentine said.
They both looked at Valentine, who sat primly on a stool.
"I'm a matchmaker, and it'd be good PR. If I can find a mate for him, I should be able to find one for anyone." Then she blinked and focused on Marley. "You."
Marley blinked. "Me?"
"Let me set you up." Valentine made a face. "Not that I'm saying you'd be good PR because you'd be hard to match up with anyone."
Kristin snorted.
They both looked at her.
The barista put her hands in the air. "I'm taken, lock, stock, and barrel. I'll leave you guys to your negotiation. Marley, an espresso?"
"A double." She needed it.
Valentine leaned in toward her after Kristin turned to pull the shot. "Have you seen her guy? Hot. Don't tell anyone this, but I couldn't have done better for her myself."
She didn't know Kristin's situation, or the guy she was apparently with, but Marley had a hard time picturing anyone hotter than Tony Rossi.
Kristin returned with the espresso, sliding it across the counter with a wink before going to take another patron's order.
Marley lifted the little cup as Valentine turned to her and said, "So, you."
She shook her head. "No."
"Please?" Valentine gave her puppy dog eyes. Marley figured Valentine couldn't be much younger than her, but she looked young. Maybe it was because she was so thin, but in her 50s homemaker dress and little sweater, she looked like she was playing dress-up.
But then, Marley shouldn't judge. She wore black like she was a backdrop for other people's lives, which was exactly what she was, now that she thought about it. She frowned.
"Just once," the woman was saying. "Go out on just one date and, if you don't like it, I'll never bother you again."
"No."
"Come on. What do you have to lose?"
"Well—" She stopped, stumped. "That's a really good question."
"I'll make it painless," Valentine said eagerly. "I promise. And you only have to go out on one date. Please, Marley. It'll be worth it."
She tried to think of a reason to turn her down, but she couldn't come up with a single one, so for the second time in one day she found herself agreeing to do something she wasn't entirely convinced about. "Only one date."
Valentine squealed and threw her arms around her. "Thank you. You won't regret it."
Marley lifted her gaze and met Kristin's amused one. She sighed, already having second thoughts.
Chapter Six
She'd been in some of the most luxurious houses around the world, but Daniela had never been intimidated the way she was sitting in the real estate agent's office.
Not that it was overly fancy. It was tasteful and posh without being excessive. It looked exactly the way she'd expect the office of a successful San Francisco real estate person to look.
Ken Lewis fit his office. Slacks and a dress shirt, no tie, clean cut, moderately nice watch on his wrist. If he were a recipe, he'd have been tarte tatin: simple, elegant, and universally accepted.
Daniela crossed her legs and pumped her foot, watching him squint at his computer monitor. Tony had always managed the business stuff for her. He bought the buildings and signed the contracts. She was in charge of fondant and candied violets.
A flutter of nerves