Sweet On You - By Kate Perry Page 0,13

towel from the bathroom, she wrapped it around herself and toed on her slippers before padding down the hallway.

Her phone rang as she let herself into her private spa, as she liked to call it. She answered it, even though she didn't recognize the number.

"Is this Marley?" a man's voice asked.

Turning on the sauna to let it heat, she got ready to brush off the marketing call. "Who is this please?"

"My name is Brian Benedict. Valentine gave me your number and instructed me to call."

Sigh. She hadn't expected someone to call to soon. But she promised one date—she could do this. "Fine. When do you want to do this?"

There was a silence on the line. "You don't sound enthusiastic about meeting me. What if I'm the man of your dreams?"

She snorted as she tested the room. Not warm enough yet. "I think we both know that the chances of the two of us being the right one for each other is really small."

"I don't know any such thing," he replied, sounding as though he were suddenly paying attention.

"Great, now I've intrigued you." She kicked off her slippers. "This isn't a challenge."

He chuckled. "Marley, you definitely sound like a challenge."

"Look, why don't we set up the date? Then I can prove to you aren't interested in me, and we can both move on."

"What are you doing right now?"

"Excuse me?"

"Now. Meet me."

"But it's only"—she held her phone away for a second to look at the time—"four in the afternoon. Don't you have a job?"

"I work from home. Valentine said you did too. You're in Laurel Heights, right? I'll come over."

She looked down at the boob her falling towel exposed. "You can't come over."

"Why not?"

"I'm indecent."

"That's okay, Marley. I won't judge."

"No. I mean I'm not dressed. I was about to step into the sauna."

"Then warm up and meet me. There's that coffee shop Valentine likes, close to her office. What's it called?"

"Grounds for Thought."

"I'll meet you there in half an hour." He paused. "Don't stand me up, Marley."

In his pause, she heard a smile. But she shook her head vehemently. "Brian, I—"

But he already hung up.

She looked at her caller ID, to call him back, but it was a restricted number. She shook her fist at the phone, grumbling, and turned the sauna back off. Apparently she had a date to get dressed for.

She stomped into Grounds for Thought and glared at all the patrons.

One man sitting alone in the corner grinned at her. He winked from behind geeky glasses that were oddly attractive. His hair was messy, like he was a couple weeks overdue for a haircut. He wore jeans and a plaid long-sleeve shirt.

And red Converse shoes.

Valentine had set her up with an older Peter Parker.

Marley shook her head, trying to clear the sudden daydreams of flying through the sky with him on his web. This guy was not Spiderman or anything like him. He was some random man who needed to use a dating service—that was it.

Steeling herself, she stormed toward him. "Brian Benedict?"

"I can tell by your charming demeanor you're Marley." He stood up and took her hand, which she hadn't offered. "The pleasure is obviously only mine."

She would not be charmed by him. She withdrew her hand and plopped inelegantly onto the chair across from him. "Let's get this over with."

He grinned. "Tell me how you really feel about meeting up with me, Marley."

She stifled the beginning of a smile. It'd be really inconvenient to like him. Besides, he seemed like a nice guy, and she didn't want to lead him on. "Look, I need to be honest with you. I'm doing this as a favor to Valentine. I'm not looking for anyone. I've already met the man for me."

"Where is he?"

She blinked, surprised by the question. "Excuse me?"

"Where is he?" Brian craned his neck, looking over and around her. "Is he going to storm in here and kick my ass?"

"Of course not. He's in New York."

"Then why are you here?"

She shook her head. "I don't understand what you're after."

"And I don't get how you could be dating someone on the other side of the country. It'd make kissing really difficult."

"Tony's never kissed me." Her eyes widened as she realized what she admitted. "I mean, he and I aren't dating, per se."

"Ah."

That one utterance was loaded with meaning. She narrowed her eyes at him. "What does that mean?"

"It means I'm going to buy you coffee." He stood up. "And maybe a treat?"

"No treat."

Grinning, he touched her shoulder as