if he had a rebound fling. He's a great guy, and you took him for granted."
"Rub it in, why don't you?"
"Well, you don't seem to hear otherwise." She took a sip of her tea. "I gave you the perfect guy and you didn't treat him like the gift he was."
"I know that. I'm kicking myself about it every second I'm awake and even in my sleep." Marley faced her friend. "Tell me the truth. Is it too late to try and get him back?"
Valentine studied her for a long, silent moment. Whatever she saw must have passed the test, because she shook her head. "I don't know. Brian said he needed a change of scenery to think things through. He's coming back in a couple days."
Panic spread icy through her veins. "What's he thinking through?"
The matchmaker threw her hands in the air. "I don't know. Whatever stuff guys need to work out."
"I've got to do something."
Valentine rested a hand on her arm. "You really like him?"
"I hadn't realized how much until I'd screwed it all up."
"Are you willing to do whatever it takes? Even if you have to beg?"
"Yes. I love him," she said without hesitation, and the words felt so true and real that she wanted to smack herself on her head for not realizing sooner.
"Okay." Valentine nodded, her demeanor all business as she pulled out her phone. She swiped the screen a couple times. "He comes back in two days. I'm supposed to pick him up at the airport, but you're going in my stead."
Marley worried her lip, thinking of all the things that could go wrong. "What if he doesn't want to go with me?"
"That's not an option. Failure isn't one of the choices here. You need to make him see reason."
"I can't make him love me."
"You don't have to." The matchmaker slid off the stool and tugged her skirt down. "Come with me. We need to arm you for battle."
She obediently got off her seat. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because I'm a love advocate." She marched out the door, a skinny redhead on the charge.
Just as Valentine was about to exit, the Hulk stepped into the doorway, blocking it with his width. He glared at her like she was a gnat harassing him.
Valentine, who looked tiny compared to him, just glared back. "You're in my way."
Marley thought he was going to growl—maybe even bite the woman in two. But he surprised her by stepping aside.
"I can help." Valentine handed him a card. "Call me," she ordered as she primly walked by, her purse swinging in the crook of her elbow.
Marley followed before the Hulk decided to take it out on her. "That was impressive," she said to her friend under her breath.
"I'm going to match him up." There was a determined light in her eyes.
"I believe you." Marley strode after her. "How did you have that card ready so quickly? Do you have some stashed in your bra?"
Valentine gasped. "A bra with a built-in card holder. That's brilliant. I may have to work on that."
"Valentine, where are we going?"
"Here." She swept into Romantic Notions, the posh lingerie store, and walked right up to the young woman manning the counter. "Nicole, we need something saucy to wear. For her."
Both women turned to inspect Marley.
She wanted to duck under their calculating gazes, which she equated to being much like Superman's laser vision.
"How saucy are we talking?" Nicole asked.
"Garters," Valentine said decisively. "Stockings."
"Stockings?" Marley gulped. "I don't—"
"Really saucy then." Nicole rubbed her hands together gleefully. "We can do that."
The two women discussed her like she wasn't there. They picked out some things, debated color, and then settled on a lacy garter and black stockings, with a matching bra.
Marley held up the bra, which seemed to be missing essential parts and pieces. "This has no cups."
"I know." Nicole winked wickedly at her. "He's going to love it."
"Where are the panties?"
"No panties," Valentine said.
She shook her head. "I can't not wear panties."
Valentine narrowed her eyes. "You can when the stakes are so high."
Could she go without underwear? She tried to picture it.
"Look at it this way," her friend said. "If it ensured you being loved for the rest of your life, would you take the risk?"
Marley turned to Nicole. "No panties, please."
Marley teetered on the heels she wasn't used to wearing as she moved out of the way of a large family with a hundred suitcases. One of the children eyed her. Could the kid see that she was naked underneath