“YOU DIDN’T HAVE to be quite so rude to Josie.” Adriana stepped beside Theo and shoved her elbow into his ribs.
Josie had elbowed Theo earlier. He’d missed what she’d been whispering, yet had barely restrained his smile at her boldness. Now he frowned and walked with his sister toward his office. “I wasn’t—”
“Yes,” Adriana interrupted. “You were rude. And you need to apologize.”
“But I’m not sorry.” He’d given his opinion. Expressed how he felt. He’d never apologized for that before. Maybe he could’ve used different words. Or not been quite so blunt. Theo shook his head. No. He was always blunt. No need to change now, even for the softhearted Josie Beck. As for the wisp of guilt shifting through him, he’d ignore that, too. Right now, they had other things—other people—to focus on. “Mother wasn’t kidding earlier. She really is Daphne Holland’s newest client at Holland Matchmakers.”
Adriana swayed on her heels and squeezed his arm. “That’s not funny, Theo.”
Neither was giving Josie false expectations. But he’d done just that at their lunch meeting yesterday. She’d looked at him, gratitude and hope shining in her big blue eyes. Something about Josie Beck stuck to him and made him question himself. There was nothing amusing about that. Or the guilt that lingered. “When was the last time I made a joke?”
Building a national brand required single-minded concentration and dedication. Light moments and laughter, however welcome, offered little return on investment. If Theo dwelled in those lighter moments too long, he feared he’d become content, like his dad.
You’ll never build anything worthy if you become content like me, Theo. Love will do that to a man. Make you believe you have enough. Yet when you look back, all you’ll really have is an endless list of regrets.
His father had expected Theo to be better. He had to be better. He’d earned his parents love after he’d grown the business. Only then had he been welcomed home, or, rather, welcomed home to the house he’d bought for his parents. The business had brought his family back together. Only continued success would ensure they stayed together.
He had no regrets since he’d accepted control of his father’s company a decade ago. Yet watching Josie walk away, her head held high despite his negative words about her vintage dresses, he knew she could be his only regret. If he wasn’t careful.
But he’d mastered the art of caution. He hadn’t defended Josie against his mother, preferring not to put too much importance on the dressmaker. His mother would’ve honed-in, and she was already too curious about Josie.
“Mother hired a matchmaker to find a fiancé quickly, didn’t she?” His sister’s briskness confirmed his belief that she was truly worried.
“So it appears.” As for his interest in Josie, he’d learned as a child to be more disciplined with his emotions. He’d perfected that skill as an adult, been determined to prove he was an obedient son and not merely another one of his father’s regrets.
“We have to stop her.” Adriana glanced inside his office. Their mother sat at his eight-seat conference table and was touching up her makeup.
“We’re going to.” Theo walked into his office, waited for Daphne to end her phone call and take a seat next to their mother. Then he looked at his sister. “Right now.”
Adriana walked to the opposite end of the conference table, choosing a seat the farthest away from their mother. Adriana and their mother shared the same high cheekbones, defined features and dark hair color. The similarities ended there. Their mother preferred to offer advice and criticism to her daughter in the same conversation. Adriana opted to challenge her, yet with actions, not words.
“Thank you for coming in today, Daphne.” Theo closed his office door and picked up a remote from the center of the large table. One press of a button and the windows dimmed, blocking his employees from seeing inside.
“I’m delighted to be here.” Daphne tucked her dark brown hair behind her ear and smiled at Theo as if he’d agreed to become her client, too. “It’s wonderful when an entire family comes together to support their loved one’s journey to find companionship and, hopefully, love.”
Support wasn’t the word either of the Taylor children would use. His gaze collided with his sister’s. Adriana rose to cover her sudden cough, opened the small refrigerator and handed out bottles of water. The only support Theo intended to give was for the cancellation of his mother’s contract with Holland Matchmakers.
Their mother clicked her compact closed, the distinct snap drawing everyone’s attention to her where she’d always desired it to be—on her. “Daphne has brought a list of potential matches for us to look over together.”
His mother used the word us as if they’d collectively agreed she should hire a matchmaker. The Taylors agreed on very little. From things as simple as food—his mother preferred chicken, while Adriana maintained a strict vegetarian diet and Theo chose a medium-rare steak, prime rib or bacon-wrapped hamburger any chance he could—to the Christmas holiday, which Theo always worked. Adriana always escaped to Ryan’s house. Their mother floated from one social event to another.
“We’d like to begin the initial meet-and-greets as soon as this Saturday.” Daphne pulled out a large slate-gray folder.
Saturday. As in two days away. One day before Josie had promised to have two prototypes completed. Impossible. He’d given Josie an impossible task. From the looks of Daphne’s extra thick folder, her task wouldn’t be simple, either. Although, Theo could simplify the list quickly by persuading them that none of the potential matches suitable for his mother.
That would require he stay in his office and look over each candidate. That was also impossible. He didn’t have that kind of open time on his schedule. He had actual work to do. A job to perform. A company to oversee.
His office door opened. The film-crew trio spilled into the room. Nolan, wearing his ever-present boyish grin, carried a fuzz-covered microphone. Timmy balanced the camera in one hand and tugged off his usual knit beanie with the other, as if he’d arrived for a sit-down family dinner. Barry—the assistant producer and leader—closed the office door and clasped his hands together as he surveyed the scene like a seasoned director.
Theo stood and shook hands with Barry, Nolan and Timmy. “Guys, this is a bad time.”
“There couldn’t be a better time.” His mother set her cell phone on the table and rose like a queen pleased to take another audience. She hugged each man and urged them farther into the room.
“You won’t even know we’re here.” Barry kept his arm linked with Theo’s mother’s.
Way too late for that. Theo smoothed out his expression and his irritation. “Mother, we haven’t asked Ms. Holland’s permission to film her.”
“It’s no problem.” His mother released Barry and set her hand on Daphne’s shoulder. “It’s just rough footage for our possible TV show. You don’t mind, do you, dear?”
Daphne touched her cheek and scanned the film crew.
“There are usually written consent forms involved.” Theo returned to the table, gripped the chair back and held onto his frustration.
Nolan slid a piece of paper across the table toward Daphne. One edge of his mouth tipped up along with his one-shoulder shrug. “We like to be prepared.”
And Theo liked to be forewarned.
“This is only footage to determine the final cast for the show.” Timmy raised the camera and settled it on his shoulder. “It won’t be aired.”
Daphne took the pen his mother offered her and signed the paper. Theo rolled the chair away from the table and reluctantly sat down.
“Let’s get started then.” His mother took a portion of the paperwork and divided the pages into three piles. Eagerness punctuated her movements, delight her words. “There are so many. How should we proceed?”
“We shouldn’t proceed.” And Theo should’ve proceeded much differently with Josie Beck.
He should’ve opened their lunch meeting by informing Ms. Beck that her dressmaker services were not required. Regardless of her feelings. Feelings had no place in business. Ever. He added, “Daphne, it’s not an appropriate time to begin this process.”
It would’ve been an appropriate time at lunch to explain to Josie that her boutique would be renovated and redesigned from the storefront to her not profitable business model on Coast to Coast Living’s new TV series. If she agreed to the terms.
“Look at all these potential matches, Theo.” His mother’s half smile and the blush that tinted her cheeks revealed her pleasure. “Seems like a very good time to start.”
Barry stepped forward and grabbed a paper from Theo’s pile. “What are we starting?”
“The journey to find my perfect partner, of course.” His mother beamed and waved toward Daphne. “Gentleman, this is Daphne Holland, my talented and successful matchmaker. Would you gentlemen like to help us look through profiles, too?”
Theo narrowed his eyes and slapped his hand on his pile of profiles, stopping Barry from seizing more papers. Barry tiptoed back beside Nolan.
If Theo canceled the matchmaking, he didn’t trust his mother not to go out and find anyone willing to say yes to her hasty proposal just to spite him. His mother adjusted her phone, nudging it closer to the matchmaker. Nolan and the oversize microphone shifted into Theo’s view as if eager to capture Theo’s comeback. He pressed his lips together.
Daphne brushed her bangs to the side to reveal her face, as if she was suddenly willing and more than ready to be fully seen on camera. “Lilian Rose wasn’t very specific on what she was looking for in a partner.”
Theo had wanted to be very specific about the idea of Josie meeting Daphne Holland. Instead, he’d flattened his rapid refusal between his clenched teeth. It wasn’t his place to dictate Josie’s dating life. Even if the idea of Josie with another man roiled his stomach.
He’d have to get used to the discomfort. Protecting Josie wasn’t his priority. Neither was dating. Yet maintaining the family image mattered. “Mother, that surprises me. You’re always very particular.”
Adriana opened her water and drank, as if washing down her response.
“I want what Adriana and Ryan share.” Lilian Rose pressed her ring finger against the edge of her eye, as if smoothing out the age-revealing fine lines for the camera. “But I don’t want someone Ryan’s age.”
Theo wanted to remember that relying on a pair of blue eyes, no matter how captivating, was beyond dangerous. His father had fallen under the spell of a pair of dove-grey eyes. Married young and often lamented about his unfortunate lapse into a life of contentment.
Theo had a lapse in judgment. He’d requested two dress prototypes, not one, from Josie. As if Josie’s liquid sky-blue eyes provided a compelling enough argument to hire her sewing skills.
As if Theo always relied on eye color to guide his decisions.
But success wasn’t built on daydreams and delusions.
And if he terminated the matchmaking agreement now, his mother’s disappointment would trail him like bad press. Theo picked up two stacks of paperwork and handed one to Adriana. “Let’s exclude everyone under the age of fifty.”
His sister ignored the paperwork and grasped his arm. “We are not a part of this.”
“Fifty-five,” their mother corrected. She leaned toward her cell phone, smiled at Timmy and added, “Sometimes people are still searching to figure out who they are in their early fifties. I’d like someone who knows himself.”
“So birthdates from 1964 and earlier.” Theo picked up a pen and drew a line through several profile pages, then imagined he could draw a line through Barry’s forthcoming film clips, too.
Adriana picked up a profile page to hide behind and leaned toward him. “What are you doing?”
The paper blocked their faces but the frustration in Adriana’s voice vibrated between them. Nothing blocked the obnoxious microphone Nolan lowered over their heads.
“If she’s dating, then she can’t be wedding planning, too.” Theo snatched the paper from Adriana and drew a line across it. “We’re diverting her attention.”
“For how long?” Adriana whispered.
Their mother was never good in a supporting role, like mother-of-the-bride. Lilian Rose laughed, swirled a large smiley face on one of her profile pages and presented the paper to the camera. The blissful tint in his mother’s cheeks made the skin on the back of Theo’s neck bristle. How long before his mother’s dating life collided with the wedding planning and crashed into the business?
His mother handed the profile page to Adriana. “One of his hobbies is ballroom dancing. Perfect for a first dance.”
That happy face his mother drew turned smug, whistling its taunt at Theo. The hairs on the back of Theo’s neck shuddered. That was faster than even he’d imagined.
“Perhaps we could meet for a private dance lesson,” his mother suggested.
Barry’s foot tapped as if the man danced to his own internal music. Or perhaps that was the happy beat of ratings gold.
“We recommend all meet-and-greets occur in public places.” The waves in Daphne’s hair looked to be sliding off, each strand like an icicle surrendering to the sun. In this case it was Lilian Rose, and she’d expect Daphne to concede. The matchmaker added, “Casual settings work best.”
“Still, we prefer to look out for each other, don’t we, Mother?” Adriana tapped her pen against her pile. “That’s why my mother called my fiancé with a fake emergency a month after we started dating.”
Barry bounced on his heels and leaned toward Nolan. The microphone never wavered. Timmy adjusted the camera lens as his grin widened. Clearly the film trio was more than thrilled by this inside glimpse into the Taylor family.
“I wanted to know how Ryan would handle a crisis.” Their mother angled her head and eyed Adriana, as if waiting for a thank-you. “He passed, by the way, and that’s the important thing.”
Precisely why Theo rarely dated. His mother acted according to her own counsel and rarely considered the consequences. As for other people’s feelings, those were their responsibility, not hers. After all, she always had some point to prove, even if her methods were often misguided.
“You want to know that your partner is levelheaded and competent in any situation.” His mother crossed off several pages like a teacher grading her students’ blank quiz answers. “I want that too—a team player.”
“My mother wants a man who knows himself, is a team player and will love her like Ryan loves Adriana.” Theo wanted to end this meeting and clear these folks out his office. Now. Before Barry and the crew decided his mother’s search for love really would make a hit TV show. “Daphne, could you please refine your search to include those key words?”
Barry raised his hand as if he was one of his mother’s students. “Theo, what key words would you use to find your mother’s ideal partner?”
No. Not happening. This wasn’t a question-and-answer session. Or a producer-led interview. Theo remained silent.
“That’s a lovely idea. Thank you, Barry.” His mother clasped her hands together and tilted her head at the appropriate angle to radiate genuine curiosity to the camera. “I should know what my own children want for me. What kind of partner they’d like to see me with. After all, he’ll be a large part of their lives, too.”
Under the table, Theo pressed his heels into the floor to stop the irritation from sending his legs into a rapid shaking rhythm. Finally, he cleared his throat, but not the annoyance. “I want the same things as my mother wants, of course.”
Beside him, Adriana finished her bottle of water. “As do I.”
There was nothing faint about his sister’s tone. Nothing waterlogged about her voice. What was his sister up to? They were supposed to be on the same side.
“Those are things Lilian Rose will discover at their first meet-up.” Daphne’s smile strained at the edges, as if she was struggling not to scowl for the camera.
“If mother doesn’t like her dates, then Theo will be there to take care of it,” Adriana added. Her half grin steamrolled over Theo.
Wait. What? Theo frowned at his sister. “I will?”
Barry pulled a notebook from his back pocket and scribbled on a page. No doubt a note to follow up with Daphne on meet-up times and places. More ratings gold.
Theo didn’t have time to supervise his mother’s dates. He didn’t want another diversion. He had a company to guide to the next level and that involved his attention and dedication. What happened to canceling this farce? What happened to his decisiveness?
Theo untwisted the cap from his water bottle and drank. The cool water did nothing to ease his dry throat or his frustration. The wedding planning, the matchmaking and a certain dressmaker dulled his edge.
“We agreed to look out for each other,” his mother said. “That’s what families do.”
His mother’s voice was too smooth and a notch too pleasant. Her smile too genuine. He knew that practiced look all too well. His mother had perfected it each year for parent weekend at his boarding school. And now, it seemed, for the TV camera. His teachers had adored her. The other parents had wanted to meet her.
Their family always looked out for each other from a distance. Until Theo had proven himself competent and dramatically raised the Taylor-family status. Then they came together as a family to be celebrated as an American success story in the press. With their brand solidified, no one in the Taylor family bothered to issue a correction.
“First, you need to agree on someone to meet.” Daphne clicked her pen. Open. Closed. Open. The steady rhythm fell short of tempering the worry in her tone. The matchmaker had made no matches.
A twinge of sympathy for the flustered matchmaker tweaked Theo’s conscience. But not enough for him to soothe Daphne’s worry. He had to end this…and quickly. Before Barry offered more insightful questions. Before his mother discovered her starring role.
Theo drew an X across several of the profiles in his stack. No smokers allowed. No serial marriages—seven times married was not a badge of honor.
The next one made him pause—“coached little league on Saturdays, widow for six years, favorite meal to cook: pasta. Thankful for a good life and great memories.” Profile HJ-62 sounded promising. Theo wasn’t there to encourage his mother. He was there to oppose. He crossed a line through Profile HJ-62.
“What else are you looking for, Mother?” Adriana’s gaze remained fixed on her stack of profiles. Only a mild interest leaked through her tone.
“As I said, dear, what you have with Ryan.” His mother sighed and flipped several profiles into the growing no stack. “What I had with your father. That special something.”
“But paper cannot reveal that.” Daphne gathered the discarded profiles from Adriana and Theo as if collecting lingerie spilling from a suitcase at the airport baggage claim. The exasperation in her tone shifted into a breathless insistence. “As I’ve explained, that’s what the first meet-and-greets are for.”
Theo had witnessed “that peculiar something special” every time he saw his mother and father holding hands. A small, insignificant connection to most observers. Yet Theo had noticed the way his mother’s smile had always flared up into her gaze, lighting her entire face. His father’s grin had always tipped up as if his wife had told him a really good secret.
Nothing more than warmth had ever seized Theo whenever he’d reached for a former girlfriend’s hand. Certainly nothing that realigned his core as the urge to hold on longer burned through him. Not that he was searching for “that peculiar something special.” Signing up for Daphne Holland’s matchmaking program was not happening. As for holding someone’s hand, he hadn’t wanted to do that until recently. Until he’d stepped into a certain bridal boutique.
But he knew nothing about those special feelings his mother liked to talk about. Most likely his memory had adjusted the recollections of his mother and father holding hands.
Theo tapped his pen against the profile pages, filtering his focus back to the conference table. He was really only interested in the gown Josie Beck produced with her hands. Nothing more.
As for his mother, he couldn’t envision his mother holding any hand of her potential matches. Except maybe Profile HJ-62, but Theo had already removed him from the running. Just as he was also removing himself from any kind of running other than a business association with Josie.
“I expect I’ll have a feeling. In here.” His mother set more profiles on the rejection pile then placed her palm over her heart and spoke into her phone. “I have to honor that feeling when it happens.”
Barry raised his hand again. “I’m struggling to decide who has a faster rejection rate—Ms. Lilian Rose or Theo. What feeling are you both getting that is resulting in such a rapid rejection rate?”
His mother tapped her heart. “There’s nothing flipping over in here. Nothing good happening.”
Except Theo suddenly had a good feeling. A very good feeling that his mother wouldn’t have a meet-and-greet this weekend, considering that her rejection rate clearly exceeded his.
Daphne Holland would need to expand her search criteria into zip codes beyond the city. Arranging long-distance meet-and-greets would require planning and scheduling. That alone would slow the process.
That elusive something special his mother expected—well, Theo wasn’t convinced she’d ever find that again. Or that Daphne Holland could locate it. Or that it ever really existed in the first place—perhaps it was only part of his boyhood imagination.
Daphne Holland had an impossible task before her. Theo drew a line through a profile page and smoothed out his grin.
Almost as impossible as the one he’d given to Josie. Two prototypes in four days. Two dresses that would meet his exacting standards. It wasn’t possible. Just as Daphne wouldn’t be able to find a candidate that met his mother’s exacting standards, either.
That realization curved optimism through him. He rocked back in his chair, finally feeling like he was back in control.
Josie would have to give in, too. Admit defeat. Of course, he wouldn’t judge her. Then he’d offer her a spot on his TV show, keeping attention away from the disputing Taylors and keeping the brand in tact for another day.
As for Daphne, surely he knew several high-profile bachelors to send her way once his mother backed out.
That left the wedding gown. He’d convince his mother that she wanted a different gown. Then persuade Adriana the Linden Topher—the one-of-a-kind custom dress—was the best option.
What could be more simple? He’d negotiated seven-figure contracts and guided disparate businesses into lucrative partnerships. He hadn’t faltered in the business world. Surely he could manage his own family.
Theo crossed off the remaining pages of profiles with a renewed flourish and slid the pile to Daphne. He made his voice sound accommodating and interested. “When would you be able to have more profiles available?”
Daphne gathered the paperwork and straightened the stack on the table, as if aligning the conviction in her tone. “As soon as tomorrow.”
He applauded the matchmaker’s confidence. Confidence that reminded him of a certain bridal dressmaker.
“My next meeting should be only with your mother,” Daphne suggested. “Then she can share her choices with you and your sister.”
“I disagree.” Theo stood and shifted his smile to offer more sincerity. “This group collaboration worked quite well. The next meeting should be at Glass Violet.”
Reservations for the exclusive five-star restaurant were often booked three weeks in advance. The current holiday season lengthened the wait time to five weeks, often longer for premium dining times. If he planned appropriately, he could postpone another meeting with Daphne Holland and his mother’s groom search until after the New Year.
“Lunch at Glass Violet would be delightful. I can’t wait.” His mother rose, hugged Daphne and then reached for her phone and pressed a red button.
Suspicion dulled Theo’s earlier optimism. He rose from his chair. “Mother, were you recording this meeting, too?”
“Absolutely.” His mother tucked her phone into her purse and patted her flawless hair into place. “I’m making a video memory book of my next love story.”
Theo paused. “A video what?”
“You won’t understand.” His mother walked over to him and tapped his cheek. “It’s nothing to concern yourself with.”
Theo had used those same words with Josie. Josie had thrown those same words back at him earlier. Now his mother. Those words made him concerned. Those words suddenly made him want to get involved—very involved.
“Now, I have errands to run.” His mother blew kisses into the room and grinned at Barry. “Would you gentlemen care to join me?”
“They’re spending the day with me,” Theo said, then slammed his mouth closed. The last thing he wanted was to spend the entire day being filmed. But his mother alone with the trio… Theo added, “I’ve promised them an exclusive interview and a behind-the-scenes look at the company.”
Barry rubbed his chin, smoothing his fingers through his goatee. His assessing gaze shifted from Theo’s mother, then back to Theo.
His mother could not be alone with a film crew. Theo launched another volley. “I have a meeting at the Pioneer Stadium with the team owner. He mentioned extra playoff tickets he has to give away.”
Nolan and Timmy high-fived. His mother had lost out to the local professional football team and possible box seats. But Theo sensed it’d been a close race. Too close.
His mother preened at Barry and his crew. “Until next time.” Then she was gone.
Barry gathered Timmy and Nolan. “We’re going to get refills at the coffee bar and talk to a few of your staff.”
With that, Theo’s office was almost back to normal.
“Mother can be rather particular. I wish you luck.” Adriana handed her stack of rejections to Daphne and left the office.
“Particular is my specialty,” Daphne muttered. She crammed the paperwork into her tote bag and blinked at Theo as if only then realizing he was still in the office. She straightened, pinned a smile on her face and put positivity in her tone. “The more time I spend with my clients, the more I learn about them. That’s always good.”
It was also good to be back in control. Why didn’t he feel in control? Theo stepped behind his desk and checked the calendar on his computer. One meeting with his editorial staff. A conference call to discuss potential shareholders. He’d have the rest of the evening to get caught up on his work from the morning and regain his footing. “I’m certain my mother would like to spend more time with you.”
And Theo would most certainly appreciate the distraction Daphne Holland provided.
“I know it can be hard for children to see their mother with someone other than their father.” Daphne crossed the office and stopped on the other side of Theo’s desk. “I’m aware that no man will match up to yours.”
Perhaps not in his mother’s eyes. Theo was counting on that much. At least until his sister recited her vows and her wedding was over. After that, he’d worry about his mother’s dates fitting the image for their brand. But that was for later.
Right now, he needed his mother occupied with endless profile pages and her diverted from wedding planning. Theo escorted Daphne to the elevator lobby. “My mother’s happiness is important to me.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Daphne stepped into the elevator and held the door open. “Perhaps next time you can put her happiness first and not reject every single candidate.”
“I’m also quite particular,” Theo said. “I suppose I get that trait from my mother. I’m sure you can meet our expectations in time.”
“I intend to.” Daphne nodded, clenched the handles on her bag and let the doors slide shut.
Theo intended to stop letting dressmakers and matchmaking distract him from his real work.