Molly Matthews Meddles in Marriage by Jill Steeples

what he meant about Hannah’s laugh, but opting to keep a dignified silence. “And what about Amy then? What was wrong with her?” She couldn’t keep a lid on her exasperation. All the girls were gorgeous, interesting individuals and yet Rory was still able to find fault with them all.
    “Nothing wrong with Amy. Good-looking girl. Funny. Vivacious.”
    “But?” interjected Molly, knowing there would have to be one.
    “She wasn’t a doggy person.”
    “She wasn’t? Did you ask her then?”
    “No, she made some disparaging comment about dogs being smelly. The way she crinkled her perky little nose up in disgust, well, it was a no-go from that point on. Besides, she would never have got past Bella. Dogs have an inner sense for these sorts of things.”
    She sighed and helped herself to an intricate puff pastry concoction from the plate of delights that had been discreetly laid before them. The thin layers melted on her tongue as a cornucopia of flavors exploded in her mouth. She sighed again, this time in gastronomic delight.
    So not only would Molly’s selections have to pass muster with Rory, but she also had to make sure the dog approved as well. What chance did she have?
    It was the same story as far as the other three girls were concerned. Lovely girls, so Rory said, but there were plenty of good reasons why he wouldn’t be able to see any of them again.
    He wasn’t looking for a bride. He was in search of something unattainable, a female superhero or a goddess or, at the very least, a heavenly creature. Sadly Molly had run right out of those on her books.
    She closed her folder, not quite ready to admit defeat with Rory.
    “Are you certain you don’t want to see any of the girls again for a second date? A few hours isn’t really long enough to know whether you might get on with someone or not.”
    “Really? I think it’s more than enough time. If that initial spark isn’t there, you can’t force it. Don’t you agree?”
    She sighed and took another appetizer. They were taunting her with their deliciousness, just as Rory was taunting her with his words, and she was finding them both increasingly hard to resist. Besides, she needed all the comfort and sustenance she could get at the moment.
    “In my experience you need to keep an open mind about these things. It’s not like walking into a club and seeing a woman you fancy and falling for her instantly. After all, isn’t that the reason you’re using my services? So that I can help put you in touch with people you may not normally come into contact with.”
    Rory shrugged, seemingly unimpressed. He sat back in his chair, his long legs outstretched in front of him, his hand resting on his chin.
    “Is that your personal experience or your professional experience?”
    She bristled at his bare-faced cheek.
    “My professional experience, of course. Which is what you’re paying me for after all, Rory.”
    “Oh, come on, Molls, you know how it works. Boy meets girl. Boy fancies girl. With any luck girl fancies boy too and then, woohoo, you might have something going on. But if that initial spark isn’t there, if there’s no chemistry, you can’t make it happen, even if they do happen to share a passionate interest in the life cycle of the purple-spotted snail.”
    She took another sip of wine, its effect on her head immediate and alarming. Again, Rory seemed to be lagging behind in the drinking stakes, alternating his wine with sips of mineral water. A warm fuzziness seeped from her mind along the entire length of her body. She was putting it down to the Orvieto, but it might well have been the Rory effect. The sight of those large plump cushions in the womblike room only added to her sleepy haze. She could have quite easily kicked off her shoes and nestled down for a snooze. Preferably in Rory’s arms. It had been a long week and it wasn’t over yet. She still had Rory to deal with.
    “Well, that’s where I disagree. A partnership based on