Family Secrets (2 page)

Asher comes back in front of the camera and snaps his little sign.

“What happens now?”  I ask Bianca.

“Now, is the fun part.  We get to go through your matches!” she tells me excitedly. 

Fifteen minutes later, after a flurry of people have come and touched up Bianca’s and my makeup, Asher stands in front of the camera again and snaps his sign.

NOW

“Welcome back to
Matchmakers
, I’m your host, Bianca Goulding and I’m super excited about our match up tonight.  Cassi Delaney, a twenty-three-year-old single mom of one is waiting behind me to hear all about the hot guys waiting in the wings for a chance at dating her!”  Bianca gushes in front of the camera.  “So, let’s get this party started!”

“First up tonight is candidate number one.  At twenty-six years old, our candidate describes himself as being calm, placid, and giving.  He is a rancher, and ladies, we all know how hot those cowboys can be!  Candidate number one, why don’t you say a quick hello to Cassi.”  Bianca glances over behind the black velvet drape beside me.

A deep, smooth voice fills my ears.  “Hello, Cassi.”

Lord, that is a fine voice!

“Hi,” I squeak back, not sure if I’m supposed to reply.

Bianca gives a short laugh and then turns to face the camera again.

“Next up tonight is candidate number two.  A self-confessed fitness junkie and health food ambassador, this twenty-two-year-old stud spends his days defending human rights.  Welcome, candidate number two!”

“Thank you.  Hello, Cassi,” he replies.  I can tell he’s smiling because of the lilt in his tone.  His voice isn’t as sexy as the other guy, but it’s still attractive.

“Rounding off our contestants tonight all vying for a date with the beautiful Cassi, is candidate number three.  This twenty-four-year-old businessman spends his weekends indulging in his love of the outdoors with hikes, bike riding, and swimming.  Welcome, candidate number three.”

“Thank you, Bianca. Good evening, Cassi.”

I gulp.  Holy shit his voice…it’s indescribable.  And, slightly familiar.  Rough, but smooth.  Firm, yet soft.  Husky and deep.  My knees automatically squeeze together of their own accord.

“Okay, now that the introductions have been taken care of, let’s move on to the next segment,” Bianca instructs.

My palms are sweating so badly I have to try and discreetly wipe them down the front of my jeans to try and dry them.  While I wait, my makeup is once again touched up, as is Bianca’s.  Then, the camera is rolling.

“Candidate number two, why don’t you tell Cassi your idea of a perfect first date,” Bianca says.

“First up we would take a long walk along the beach, or a hike through a rainforest.  Then, I’d treat her to a delicious meal of raw vegetables and sushi, which we’d make together while enjoying the outdoors and fresh air.  Afterwards, we might go for a swim to work off our meal.”

Seriously?

Raw vegetables?

Sushi?

No.  Just no.

I think I manage to hide my grimace from the camera trained on my face pretty well.

“Sounds…like a great night,” Bianca replies, sounding like she thinks it’s anything but.

“Candidate number three, what about you?”

“I think the first date is all about getting to know each other.  So with that in mind, I’d take Cassi to a small, cozy restaurant where we could spend time learning about each other.  After that, I’d take her to a movie where we could both relax and just enjoy each other’s company.  Then, I’d walk her home and leave her at her doorstep with a lingering kiss that she won’t stop thinking about,” he promises.

Holy shit, I bet he would!

That voice though, it’s so familiar.  I don’t have time to think on it, though, because Bianca literally swoons in front of me.

“Well, ladies, that sounds like a hell of a promise I, for one, wouldn’t pass up.”  She fans herself dramatically with the wad of papers in her hand.

“Okay number one, your turn.  Do you think you can outdo the other candidates’ perfect first dates?”

“Why, yes ma’am, I believe I can.  “My ideal first date would consist of treating the lady to a night she’d never forget.  I’d commission the local choir to perform a private show for us while we danced under the moonlight.  Then, under the cover of darkness, I’d feed her strawberries dipped in melted chocolate while she relaxed in my arms.”

“Oh, my gosh, is it hot in here or what?!  Wow, Cassi, you are going to be one lucky lady no matter which candidate you choose.”

“They all sound like amazing first dates,” I reply. 
Except the first one. That just sounded…wrong.

“Okay, let’s move right along to the next round.  This is where things get serious.  It’s the,” she pauses for dramatic effect, “elimination round.”

I wring my hands together in my lap, anxiously awaiting instruction.

“The way this one works is, Cassi, you’re going to ask our candidates three questions and they’re going to answer.  Based on their answers, you get to choose two you’d like to stay and move on to the next round.  The remaining man will be sent home.”

“Understood,” I confirm.

“Right.  When you’re ready, you may begin.”

Rather than contemplate the myriad of nervous thoughts and emotions that are vying for attention in my mind, I launch right in to the questions.

“Do you have children?”

Candidate One: “I have one infant son.” 
Infant?  Geez, that’s a bit of a red flag. 
I wonder how long he’s been separated from the mother for?

Candidate Two: “No. I don’t see myself as the fatherly type.”

Candidate Three: “No children, but I would like them in the future.”

“Thank you.  Umm, question two: Are you looking for a relationship or a one-time thing?”

Candidate One: “I’ll be honest and say that I’m open to exploring a serious relationship with the right person.”

Candidate Two: “I like to keep my options open, but I wouldn’t be adverse to having a friends with benefits kind of relationship, if the girl were willing.” 
Raw vegetables and now this.  Who is this guy?

Candidate Three: “I’m at a time in my life where I’m looking to settle down with the right woman.” 

“My final question is, if you could sum your life up in only three words, what would they be?”

Candidate One: “Fulfilling, peaceful, quiet.”

Candidate Two: “Hectic, healthy, and satisfying.”

Candidate Three: “Not over yet,” he says and I can hear the smile in his voice before he chuckles.

“Very truthful answers from all the guys tonight.  Well, Cassi, we’ll take an ad break to contemplate and make your decision.”  Some ‘thinking’ type music starts up and Asher comes back in front of the camera to snap his sign again.  I don’t get a whole lot of time to think because the makeup and hair people come to touch me up. 

“Ninety seconds,” someone bellows.

Shit.  Who do I choose?

Let’s see, there’s the guy who has an infant son.  Let’s be clear, it’s not the son part that bothers me, it’s the fact the child is an infant.  Where is his mother? If they separated, how long ago?  His idea of a first date does sound appealing though.

“Sixty seconds.”

Next is the guy who enjoys raw food, wants a friends with benefits relationship and doesn’t want anything to do with children.

“Thirty Seconds.”

Finally, the guy with the voice I can’t seem to place.  The businessman who would take me for a meal before the movies and leave me with a lingering kiss.  The guy who’s looking to settle down.

“Welcome back to
Matchmaker
. I’m your host Bianca Goulding and we’re here with Cassi and her three candidates.  Cassi, have you made your decision?”

“I think so.” I nod, my voice shaky.

“Okay, please name the two candidates you would like to stay.”

“Candidate number one.” I swallow.  “And, candidate number,” I pause for a beat, “three.”

“Unfortunately, that means candidate number two will be going home tonight.  Tom, why don’t you come out and say hi to Cassi before you leave.”

Music begins to play and I stand, my legs feeling like jelly.  Tom appears from behind the velvet curtain.  He’s attractive in a plain kind of way, with cropped strawberry-blond hair and a face full of freckles.

He extends his hand, which I accept, and then leans in to kiss my cheek.  “Good luck, Cassi,” he murmurs in my ear.

“Thank you.  Sorry,” I wince.

“No sweat.”

He leaves and I take my seat again.

“Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we’re getting down to the business end of the evening.” Bianca claps excitedly.  “I’m so excited.  Let’s move on.  The final round tonight will consist of five rapid-fire questions where Cassi will read five words off the cards our producer has given her.  After she reads each word, our remaining candidates will have to say the first word that springs to mind.”

She turns to me.  “Cassi, are you ready?”

I nod. 
Ready as I’ll ever be.  I think.

“You may begin.”

Taking a deep breath to bolster my courage, I look down at the card in my palms.  Written beside each word is my own answer.

“Apple.” (Red)

Candidate One: “Red.”

Candidate Three: “Crisp.”

“Sunset.” (Romance)

Candidate One: “Day’s end.”

Candidate Three: “Romance.”

“Diapers.” (Need changing)

Candidate One: “My life.”

Candidate Three: “Babies.”

“Love.”

Candidate One: “Myth.”

Candidate Three: “Everything.”

I swallow hard before I read the final word out loud, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Sex.” (A memory)

Candidate One: “Awesome”

Candidate Three: “Yes.” He chuckles.

“Right on,” Bianca agrees, laughing.  I can’t help the smile on my face to his cheeky answer.

“We’re down to the wire now, ladies and gentlemen.  When we come back from the ad break, Cassi will make her choice, and we will find out who she will be going on her date with.  Stay tuned.”

Less than five minutes later, I’m still no closer to picking a final candidate, and the ad break is almost over.  I feel sick.  I feel confused.  I feel antsy.  And, I feel a little bit excited – the butterflies in your stomach kind of excited. 

“Welcome back to
Matchmaker
.  In a few short moments Cassi is going to choose her guy.  Will it be candidate number one, the cowboy who appreciates chocolate covered strawberries?  Or, will it be candidate number three, the enigmatic businessman who’s looking to settle down with the right woman?”

I can’t even imagine how the two men are feeling on the other side of the curtain.  Are they nervous?  Are they ambivalent?  Are they excited?  Because I know I’m sure as hell feeling all those things and then some!

“Cassi, have you made your decision?” Bianca asks me.

I nod woodenly.  “Yes,” I squeak.

“Drum roll, please,” she drags out, building the anticipation.  “Cassi, who is the lucky candidate you have chosen to take you on a date and possibly share your life with?”

The camera cuts to me and I instantly feel beads of sweat forming on my head. My heart thrums in my chest and my hands wring together in my lap, damp with nervousness.

“I think both of the candidates are worthy, and I really appreciate their honesty.  Since there can only be one choice, I choose…candidate number three.”

A loud round of artificial applause fills the air, while Bianca gushes into the microphone.

“Candidate number one, would you like to come out and say hi to Cassi before you leave?”

“Yes, ma’am.”  He appears a few seconds later.  He’s handsome, very tall, and wearing jeans with a giant silver belt buckle.  His shirt is plaid and his shoulders are wide.  A cowboy hat sits atop his head.  He reaches me and leans in to kiss my cheek.

“Best of luck, Cassi.”

“Thank you.”

He leaves and Bianca announces the candidate I chose can come and meet me.  She builds the anticipation as the lights dim, and the music changes to a haunting romantic melody that increases the eagerness in the room.  I can feel the crew watching me with expectant eyes, hoping, praying, for a happy ending (or good ratings, I’m not sure).

The curtain shifts and my eyes land on two feet, encased in shiny black shoes. 
Lawd, he’s wearing a suit!
  Slowly, my eyes travel up, taking in his tailored black pants that fit him oh-so-well.  I swallow when I reach the considerable bulge at his groin, and keep moving up.  His black suit jacket is open, displaying the sea-blue button down shirt underneath.  It fits him snug, giving a hint of the rippling muscles he hides beneath.

Broad shoulders lead to a muscular neck.  His jaw is chiseled and his plump lips are spread apart in a smile, showcasing a bright white, straight-toothed smile.

I swallow as his smile fades, much the same as mine.  My eyes go so wide it’s painful.  My heart hammers in my chest and it feels as if all the blood has drained from my face.  A piercing, ringing sound fills my ears and my head goes light as I finally meet his aquamarine eyes.