But breaking things off with him was the least of her problems. How was she supposed to believe in herself when she never had before? She didn’t even know where to begin.
Chapter 1
“Don’t be such a coward,” Abby mumbled to herself. “People join dating services all the time. There’s nothing to it. Pick up the phone and call!”
Taking her own advice sounded easy enough, but she cringed at the thought of throwing herself back into the dating scene. She hated dating. She just wasn’t good at it. Men wanted a woman with curves and personality and sex appeal, and she lacked all three. Oh, she didn’t think of herself as a complete loser—she was pleasant and easygoing and knew how to act in public. When it came to men, however, her confidence was nonexistent. And it was all her mother’s fault.
“I think someone must have switched babies on me in the hospital. Look at you! You can’t be my kid. You’re skinny as a fence post, your face is covered with freckles and that red hair of yours glows in the dark. I never looked unattractive a day in my life. I was pretty.”
Even now, twenty-three years later, Abby could see her mother fluffing her hair and preening before her like some kind of movie star. Concerned only with herself, she hadn’t given a thought to what she was doing to her ten-year-old daughter’s self-esteem. Not that that was anything new, Abby thought with a grimace. Her mother had never passed up a chance to point out that she didn’t measure up, regardless of how hard she tried.
“Take my advice, sweetheart,” her mother had told Abby countless times. “Learn all you can while you’re in school, then get yourself a good job. You’re going to need it. No man is his right mind is going to want you. You’re just too plain.”
Abby hadn’t wanted to believe her, but time, unfortunately, had proved her mother to be right. Abby was thirty-three years old and could count the men who’d asked her out on the fingers of one hand. Which was why she’d agreed to date Dennis.
From the moment she’d met him, she’d known he wasn’t the Prince Charming she’d been waiting for her entire life. Not even close. But she was so tired of being alone. And he wasn’t a complete loser. At times he could be considerate. Though his constant bragging set her nerves on edge and he had even more insecurities than she did, she’d learned to close her ears to it. Things would work out, she’d told herself. They just needed some time.
Then she’d seen him through the eyes of her friends at her high-school reunion and was forced to face the truth. She could date Dennis for the rest of her life, but he just wasn’t the type of man she was ever going to love. She was only dating him because she didn’t want to be alone, and that wasn’t fair to him or herself. The minute they’d arrived back in Austin after the reunion, she’d broken off with him.
That was two months ago, and she hadn’t had a date since.
So what are you waiting for? that irritating little voice in her head demanded. If you want a man in your life, he’s not going to come knocking at your door. Step out of your comfort zone for once and go after what you want. Pick up the phone and call a dating service. It’s the only way you’re going to find someone!
Reluctantly, she had to agree. She didn’t have that many opportunities to meet people. She’d never liked the bar scene, and when she’d joined the singles club at church, the only man who’d shown her any attention was a fifty-year-old widower who was looking for someone to help him with his rebellious teenage daughter.
At least with a dating service, she would have an opportunity to meet someone who was close to her in age and possibly shared her interests, Abby admitted grudgingly. What would it hurt to try?
Her heart in her throat, she reached for the phone book in the bottom drawer of her desk and had just flipped it open to the yellow pages when Martin James, her boss, who was an Austin city councilman, stepped through the door between his office and hers. He’d been on the phone for the last twenty minutes with an unknown caller, and Abby only had to take one look at his set jaw to know that whatever business he’d discussed with the man had not gone well.
“Problems?” she asked.
“No more than usual,” he growled. “I’ll deal with it. I need you to make a bank deposit for me.”
“Of course,” she replied as he strode over to her desk and handed her a fat bank envelope. “Does it need to be in by two?”
“Just sometime today,” he began, only to frown down at the yellow pages on her desk and the section she had circled. “What’s this? Are you joining a dating service?”
With heat climbing her cheeks, she almost said no, but stopped herself just in time. What was wrong with her? She had no reason to be embarrassed. There was nothing wrong with using a dating service to find a date—people did it all the time.
Lifting her chin, she said, “Yes, I am. I was just about to call several and see how much it costs.”
“I’ve heard it can be pricey. Are you sure you want to do this? I’d be happy to introduce you to some of my friends.”
If anyone but Martin had made such an offer, she would have probably given it serious consideration. But she’d worked for him for three years, and that had given her plenty of time to get to know not only the man, but to meet some of his friends when they dropped by the office to visit him. Like Martin, they were charming, attractive, sophisticated…and far too smooth for Abby’s peace of mind. From what she’d seen, they were nothing but good-looking womanizers who had no intention of settling down with one woman anytime soon. All things considered, she wanted nothing to do with them.
She could hardly tell her boss that, however. Instead, she laughed. “Are you kidding? Martin, your friends are gorgeous and they go out with women who are as pretty as they are. I’m not in the same category.”
“That’s not true—”
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “I know what I am. And short, redheaded women with glasses don’t go out with hunks who like tall blond bombshells. So I’ll just stick to the dating service and see if I can find an ordinary guy who’s not looking for Miss America. I just want someone to go to the movies or out to dinner with, someone who’s already sowed his wild oats and wants to settle down and have babies. I don’t think your friends would qualify.”
“You got that right,” he laughed, not the least bit offended. Sobering, he added, “But do you want to go out with any Tom, Dick or Harry who joins a dating service? There are a lot of weirdos out there.”
“I know,” she said. “But I plan to be wonderful.”
“So when were you going to sign up?”
She hesitated, grimacing. “I was going to check into it first…”
“So you can find a reason not to do it?”
He knew her too well. “I just don’t want to make a mistake,” she replied. “I’ve done enough of that already.”
Not the least impressed with her practicality, he said, “Just remember, he who hesitates is lost. Sometimes you’ve just got to go for it. This could be one of those times.”
“So you think I should just jump into this?”
He grinned. “With both feet. In fact, you can start right this minute.” Walking around behind her desk, he rolled her chair back and urged her to her feet. “Go! Do it now! Make the bank deposit, then take the rest of the afternoon and go join your dating service. If Sonya and I ever break up, I may do it myself.”
Abby doubted that, but before she could think of another reason to delay, he grabbed her purse and the bank envelope, shoved them into her arms, and hustled her toward the front door. Her heart pounding crazily, she had no choice but to go.
An hour later, after she’d made the deposit at the bank for Martin,