Part 3 (2/2)
”No way,” Ca.s.sie said. ”In fact, we're willing to put up with the criticism and scrutiny of someone like Simon Dodson in the hope of finding a good man we can share our lives with.”
Shawn grew thoughtful. ”I don't understand why he'd reject you, Angie. It seems to me you'd be an ideal candidate.”
”Well, he did, and it's his prerogative,” she said briskly. Then she smiled at Ca.s.sie. ”I can hardly wait until you have your next appointment.”
”Now, just a minute,” Shawn said again. ”You should've asked me to set you up before you went to all this trouble.”
Ca.s.sie's eyes widened. ”You have someone you want me to meet?”
”Well, sure. I know a dozen eligible men. I could've introduced you.”
Ca.s.sie glanced at Angie. ”He only thinks to mention this now?”
Angie frowned. ”Do you really trust your brother to find you a husband?”
Ca.s.sie shook her head. ”My idea of what I want and what he has to offer might be worlds apart.”
”Hey, you two,” Shawn said, breaking into their conversation. ”I'm sitting right here. If you have any doubts, you can address them to me directly and not to each other.”
”Okay,” Ca.s.sie said. ”Tell me about one such man.”
”All right.” He appeared to be deep in thought.
”I don't think he can scrounge up even one,” Ca.s.sie whispered, raising her eyebrows.
”Give me a minute, would you,” he snapped.
”Notice how testy he gets when challenged.”
Her brother silenced her with a look.
”There's Riley,” he declared triumphantly. He beamed a smile at Angie and then Ca.s.sie.
”I've always liked the name Riley,” Angie said.
”Riley.” Ca.s.sie threw back her head. ”You're joking!”
”What's wrong with Riley?” Angie wanted to know.
”He's an artist friend of Shawn's. He's got two ex-wives, a gambling problem and he drinks too much. You're sc.r.a.ping the bottom of the frying pan if you're suggesting either of us should marry Riley.”
”He's reformed.”
”Yeah, right. And when did this happen?”
Shawn seemed unsure. ”Not too long ago. He said he's through messing up his life. What he needs now is a good woman.”
Ca.s.sie exhaled slowly. ”Tell him to talk to one of his ex-wives, then.”
”Sorry,” Angie said, ”I'm not interested, either.”
”You're going to have to try harder than that,” Ca.s.sie informed her brother.
”What about Larry Upjohn? You couldn't meet a nicer guy if you tried.”
”Do you know Larry?” Angie asked her.
Ca.s.sie nodded. ”He's Shawn's CPA and in a word...b-o-r-i-n-g.”
”You didn't say you were looking for a stand-up comic,” Shawn said, obviously annoyed.
”Call me superficial, but I don't want to date a man who wears knee-high socks with his sandals and a pocket protector in his pajamas.”
”A little personality would be helpful,” Angie said in a defeated voice. ”As you can tell, it's not as easy as it seems.”
”Warren!” Shawn's face lit up. ”What about Warren?”
Once more Angie turned to Ca.s.sie.
She nodded, but without enthusiasm. ”Warren's a...possibility.”
”What's wrong with Warren?” Shawn cried.
Ca.s.sie shrugged. ”Nothing really. He just doesn't ring my bells. He might Angie's, though.”
Shawn leaned back, throwing out his arms in an expansive gesture. ”I can introduce you, if you like.”
”Tell me about him first,” Angie said.
”He's Shawn's agent,” Ca.s.sie explained. ”He's a nice guy.”
”Nice isn't a word I'd use to describe Warren,” Shawn commented. ”He's a tough negotiator.”
”But a real kitten on the inside,” Ca.s.sie said. ”He's also divorced. Recently, if I remember.”
”He and Clare split last year. I don't know many guys your age who aren't divorced.”
”That's rea.s.suring,” Ca.s.sie muttered. Warren was the best of the rather shallow pool of Shawn's male friends and acquaintances. Shallow pools, as everyone knew, were usually the slimiest, too. This was exactly why she'd decided on the matchmaker.
”Warren's got a couple of kids. His wife has custody.”
”Thanks, big brother, but I'll stick with Dr. Dodson.”
”I appreciate the suggestion,” Angie said, ”but I'll pa.s.s on Warren, too.”
”If I think of anyone else, I'll give you a call.”
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