Page 1 of Romance Reset
Chapter 1
“You did wha—Seriously?” Amelia Parker asked, blown away by the news her best friend had just dropped like a bomb. “You hired a matchmaker? Forme?”
“Yes, for you,” Izzy said. “Meli, you Googled directions to sperm banks and checked out their Yelp reviews.”
“I was researching. That’s no reason to go crazy a-and hire amatchmaker.” It wasn’t that she was anti-matchmaker but what the process meant. She’d made a firm decision about using a sperm bank to get the family she wanted. Trying her hand at dating—again—messed with that plan. And with her biological clock ticking… Time wasn’t on her side.
"Yeah, hiring a matchmaker is the crazy in that scenario. If you’re willing to go that route just because the big four-oh looms in the distance–”
“Not that distant.”
“Thenthere is no reason not to try my idea first,” Izzy said as though Amelia hadn’t interrupted her. “Meli, you’ve given up on love and romance and I can’t stand it.”
The noise of the restaurant faded into the background as Amelia stared into the concerned expression of her friend. The fat-paddle fans overhead kept the air flowing, but nothing could cool the heat flooding Amelia’s body due to stress.
“Says the woman who is as single as I am.” Izzy was an artist Amelia had met four years ago after consigning a special piece for a particular movie set. They’d hit it off and become fast friends. But shouldn’t a friend know not to mess with another friend’s plans?
“That may be so but I’m not trying to be a baby mama. You seriously don’t want to raise a kid alone, do you?”
“Who says if I’m with someone he’ll stick around? Do you know how many single parents are in the world? I know it’ll be difficult, but why not save myself the heartache of meeting someone only to have them walk out later?”
“Wow. Cynical much?”
Amelia glared at Izzy. “Wait until you’re my age. I’ve pretty much seen it all.” Izzy was ten years younger than Amelia and obviously wasn’t worried about children any time soon. Izzy had issues with her two biological sisters, and not for the first time did Amelia wonder if Izzy’s stubbornness and persistence had something to do with the difficulties within her immediate family.
“You’re doing this,” Izzy said. “You’re meeting her. I won’t hear another word about it.”
Izzy tilted her head as she stared at Amelia and wore what Amelia always thought of as Izzy’sbooyaexpression. Izzy widened her very expressive eyes and set her jaw, lips pursed in a determined line. “So is she setting you up, too?” Time to change tactics. Obviously getting out of the mess wasn’t an option, so maybe she should drag Izzy along for the ride?
“No. At least not yet, anyway. Look, you mentioned meeting Marsali Jones on the set of the movie set you’re designing,andthat she’s a friend of Oliver Beck’s. He’s a freaking Hollywood actor and friends with this woman. She’s obviously got something, and ifanyonecan help you find the perfect man, I think she can. You know I’m right.”
“Izzy—”
“You said how well you and Marsali hit it off, so I decided to take it a step further and contact her for you. She loves the idea, by the way, and thinks the world of you.”
“You told her?”
“Only that you’re ready to settle down with a family. Anyway, she sang your praises and said she knows she can find you a wonderful match.”
Amelia groaned and buried her face in her hands. “I’m going to strangle you. Poison you. Push you off a boat into the Intercoastal.”
“Yeah, yeah. Come on, Meli, you’re embarrassed about being set up by a professional matchmaker, but you’re not embarrassed about knowing which sperm banks have a better selection of swimmers?”
That comment was delivered right as their waitress stopped by their table to deliver their drinks, and Amelia nearly dove under the wooden surface. She wasn’t shy by nature but certain things needed to remain private. Like their talk of sperm banks and her plan to use one in order to become a mom. “She’s joking,” Amelia said to the teenager.
“Am not,” Izzy countered in a low, singsong voice once the waitress left their drinks and was out of earshot.
“Why do you think me having a baby is a problem?” Amelia asked, continuing the argument with her so-called friend.
“It’s the way you’re going about it that I have a problem with. That and the fact you think you can pick a kid from a catalogue of characteristics when picking men that way hasn’t worked out for you.”
“Owwwch.” Didn’t Izzy get it? She was tired. Tired of searching, tired of looking for the right man only to be disappointed. She’d spent the last twenty-threeyearsdating. Maybe not seriously at first, but later she’d tried and wanted more but never found it. And the sad fact was that men her age were now searching for younger women becausetheywere finally ready to settle down and have families, and her age factored into a relationship.
“Today you’re hearing truth,” Izzy argued. “All truth and nothing but. I’m tired of sugarcoating my thoughts on this, and you’ve asked me for my opinion several times, so you’re going to get it. No holding back.”
“I changed my mind. Lie to me,” Amelia muttered.
“Nope. And since I knew you’d protest and make excuses to not meet Marsali, now’s a good time to tell you she’s here. Hiii, Marsali,” Izzy called, waving to someone behind Amelia. “Scoot,” Izzy ordered in a low breath to Amelia.
