The Greek Billionaire's Marriage Matchmaker by Holly Rayner Page B

hand, as Annie quietly slipped out of the room. Melinda started at the name, and turned to see a man with a stalwart gleam in his eye. He had short brown hair, a rectangular face, and a well-kept goatee. He wore large round glasses that made him look something like a software technician, when in fact he was the retired owner of a greeting card company. Of all the clients she had encountered over the years, Branden was one of the few Melinda had ever truly cared about.
     
    “Mr. Kingston!” Melinda exclaimed. “You were one of our earliest clients. It’s wonderful to see you again. I was so sorry to hear about Claire. She really was a good woman.”
     
    “The best,” Branden replied. “When she died, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to love again. But it’s been three years, and I think I’m ready to try.” His tone was earnest, and it was plain that he felt guilty about even approaching Melinda for her help.
     
    “None of us are meant to live alone,” she said reassuringly. “I know Claire. I helped you to find her, after all, and I know the last thing she’d want is for you to be alone. So please, Mr. Kingston, don’t feel apprehensive about anything, and just have a seat right here,” she said, indicating the leather ottoman in front of her desk. “Let’s review your profile in case anything has changed, and then I’ll be able to make a recommendation for you.”
     
    Branden agreed, and for the next fifteen minutes, Melinda’s heart swelled as she worked on his profile. Not only had she been granted the chance to bring love into someone’s life, but that someone was Branden, one of only a handful of people she had matched properly in her company’s history. He had always been a wonderful man: someone who exuded gentleness and was loyal to a fault. She internally celebrated the opportunity to help him find love once again. And then she saw something that pretty much brought tears to her eyes. It was something she had failed to consider before: Melinda Forde’s match list.
     
    The longer Melinda scrolled through the list, the deeper her heart sank. She might have experienced a profound change that morning, but her list of clients remained depressingly familiar. Names like Brie Hudson leaped out at her, and she cringed at the horror someone like that could wreak in Branden’s life. There were women on the list that made Brie look like an angel. Cruel, heartless, greedy, women. They wouldn’t be able to plunder his business because he had sold that when Claire died, thinking the entire thing seemed hollow without her. The sale had, however, earned Branden several million dollars and, given the chance, they’d be on that like flies on honey.
     
    There was nothing for it except to bring everything to a halt, and Melinda had no choice but to tell Branden as much.
     
    “One of the reasons I decided to come to you was because of your candor, Ms. Forde. Less reputable people would probably pair me with anyone just to earn a fee, but I know that’s something you never do here.”
     
    “No,” Melinda agreed, shaking nervously. “These are all current clients, Mr. Kingston. Give me a few days to go through our older records, and I’ll give you a call. I’m certain we can find someone who will complement you perfectly.”
     
    With a resigned expression, Branden agreed.
     
    The pair shook hands, and the gentleman left Melinda feeling better than she had in years, but still very uneasy; no matter how far she went back in the agency’s records, it was still going to be difficult to find someone good enough for Branden.

 
     
    FOURTEEN

At ten-thirty that evening, Zoey returned to her apartment feeling happier than she had ever imagined possible. She and Stelios had reprised their yacht adventure, and though there had been no romantic night sky, everything else had been perfect. On top of that, Stelios had insisted on pampering her all day to make up for all the stress the lawsuit had caused.