Non-Refundable Groom

Her words stung because he knew she was right. “Okay, I admit, I should’ve listened to you about my ex-wife.” His aunt didn’t approve of her from day one. He couldn’t help thinking that she’d like Elena.

“Sign this paper, Garrett,” his aunt pushed. “You might be matched with someone really nice.”

He couldn’t envision meeting a woman more perfect than Elena. His impulse was to say no, but he stopped himself.

“I need to read the rules first,” he said, knowing how persistent his aunt could be when she felt strongly about something. He’d do anything for her, and she knew it.

He read that he’d only be obligated to go on three prearranged, already-paid-for dates, one every two weeks, beginning with the upcoming Saturday. He could feel his aunt looking over his shoulder, waiting for his signature on the form.

“Okay, three dates, that’s it,” he said, forcing himself to sign.

“Garrett, you need to promise me one thing,” Aunt Rosie began. “Never tell your date I talked you into joining the service. That’s no way to start a romance.”

“I promise,” he told her, making a mental note to write a check to cover the cost of the service and deposit the money into his aunt’s bank account in the morning.

When he returned to his apartment in Santa Monica, Garrett felt uneasy about the prearranged date for Saturday night. Before he met Elena, he would’ve thought of the dates as three fun evenings, and that was it. But now he had no desire to go out with anyone, except her.

He shed his clothes and jumped into the shower, trying not to think about his powerful feelings for her. But when he flashed on holding her soft body in his arms at the office, he fantasized about what it would be like to hold her naked against him.

He turned on the cold water full-force. Temporarily dating a woman chosen by a service was a lot safer than being tempted by his intense attraction to Elena Martin.

As he felt the cold water on his face, he anxiously realized that Elena could make a man such as him momentarily forget his goal to become vice president and his vow to remain single.

“Aunt Elena, you’ve got red polka dots on your skin!” Bennie said with wide eyes.

“Polka dots?” she said as she nervously took out a black evening jacket from her bedroom closet for her first Marriage Connection date. She was so anxious that she’d probably smeared lipstick on her face.

“They’re spreading all over!” he went on.

She glanced in the bureau mirror and did a double take. “Oh, no!” she frantically said, seeing red spots on her neck and parts of her face. “Jan, come in here!”

Her sister, who’d stopped by her apartment with the kids to give her moral support for her first date, ran into the bedroom with Tod at her side.

Tod’s eyes almost popped out. “Aunt Elena, you’ve got the chicken pox!”

Jan examined the blotches. “You’ve got nervous hives,” she said, laughing.

“It’s not funny!” She grabbed her concealer makeup and applied the flesh-colored cream on her skin.

“Just relax and the spots will disappear,” her sister advised as Bennie and Tod ran into the living room to play on her computer.

How could she relax when Garrett had been on her mind all day? “Jan, I can’t go on this date.”

“You can’t back out now,” her sister insisted. “Keep reminding yourself that he’s perfectly matched for you. And he wants to get married, just like you do.”

“I’ll try. I really will.” She didn’t want to disappoint her sister, but she knew she’d be thinking about Garrett all evening. He was the one she wanted to date.

“El, you better get going,” Jan said. “Here’s the Marriage Connection card to give to the restaurant maître d’.” She handed the engraved card to her. “Call me the second you get home. I don’t care if it’s three in the morning!”

A few minutes later Elena anxiously parked her car in front of the Tiara Club in Santa Monica Canyon where a valet opened the door for her.

I’m going to meet the man meant for me, she silently told herself. Why couldn’t she believe that? Because of Garrett, that was why. A black-tuxedoed gentleman swung open the double doors of the restaurant for her to enter. Then, she handed the card to the maître d’. He immediately gave her black jacket to the coat-check lady.

“Follow me, mademoiselle,” the maître d’ said.

Elena took in the luxurious crystal chandelier and thick blue carpeting. The candle-lit tables had beige linen tablecloths and napkins butterflied in sterling silver holders with dazzling silverware at each china place setting.

She hoped she was dressed fancy enough in her jade velvet spaghetti-strapped dress. She had a string of pearls around her neck, matching pearl-drop earrings and was wearing jade pumps.

Her body trembled a little as the maître d’ led her to the door of a private room. She wanted to turn around and go back home. She didn’t want to meet a new man.

“Your date will be here any moment, mademoiselle,” he said.

As the gentleman opened the door, she glimpsed a formally set table with tall white candles and red roses in a crystal vase. She could hear soft piano music playing in the background and noticed a small hardwood dance floor.

“Mademoiselle,” he began, “I would like to introduce your date for the evening.”

Elena took a deep breath and turned around to meet the perfect man matched for her. Her eyes widened when she saw Garrett standing there!

“Elena Martin meet Garrett Sims,” the maître d’ said. “I will have your waiter bring in the champagne.” Then he left and closed the private room door behind him.

“Wow, Elena!” Garrett said, his eyes taking her all in. “You’re my date? I must’ve hit the jackpot!”

“Garrett, I can’t believe—” She was so thrilled that she could barely speak. “This is so incredible!”

He looked incredible. He was starkly handsome in a black tuxedo, crisp white shirt and black satin bow tie. The tux jacket stretched across his broad shoulders and solid chest. She felt the urge to throw her arms around his neck and tell him how ecstatic she felt that he was her date!

“You look gorgeous, Elena,” he said in a husky voice, his gaze sensually traveling down her body.

Her skin tingled at his visual caress. “So do you!” she blurted and then blushed, adding, “I mean, you look great, Garrett.”

She wanted to ask him a zillion questions about his signing up with the dating service, but she was so flustered being with him that she couldn’t remember the name of the service.

After a discreet knock on the door, the waiter entered with two crystal flute glasses of sparkling pink champagne.

Garrett slipped his hand in hers and led her to the dinner table. As he sat across from her, her heartbeat raced when she felt his knees gently touch hers.

“To us,” he said, tapping his sparkling glass with hers.

She nodded, unable to believe that her dream had come true. With a trembling hand, she took a sip of the pink bubbly, her eyes never leaving his.

The waiter served an exquisite salad of garden greens with French dressing and then an entreé of baked hen with baby carrots and garlic mashed potatoes.

“Hungry?” Garrett asked, offering her a cut of hen on his fork. “What a stroke of fate that I should be with you tonight,” he whispered. “I’ve got to admit something to you, Elena.”

“What?” she asked, feeling like her heart was about to burst with joy at being with him.

“The moment I met you in Stanley’s office,” he began, “I was majorly attracted to you. I’ve wanted to be with you ever since.”