Page 55 of Fall Into Temptation
An arm shot out of a darkened room and hooked through hers.
Eva yelped as she was dragged inside.
“What the hell, Ellery?” Eva demanded. “I’m going to start carrying pepper spray if I keep getting accosted on the mean streets of Blue Moon.”
Ellery shushed her and dragged Gia inside before shutting the door. She flipped one of the switches on the wall, and an ancient fluorescent light flickered to life on the ceiling.
“What’s with the cloak and dagger, El?” Gia asked, completely unconcerned by the abduction.
“I need to make sure you two are focused.” She snapped her fingers in their faces like a hypnotist waking her victims. “The committee has some radical members who don’t understand how relationships actually work. Their ideas are terrible… and dangerous. And since I’m no longer a calming influence in there, I need you two to protect the single people of Blue Moon from bad matchmaking.”
“How will we know if it’s a bad plan?” Eva asked. She assumed all plans from the Beautification Committee would be mostly awful.
“Think of it like your books. Just like a story, a good matchmaking scheme involves layers of psychology and physical attraction. You need to understand each party and dig into what they really want or need in life. The subconscious desires of the psyche.”
“Damn, Ellery. I could use you as a beta reader on my new book,” Eva grinned.
“Make sure those yahoos don’t ruin my wedding day, and I’ll read the heck out of your beta,” Ellery promised.
“So is there going to be a test or something to see if we’re fit for membership?” Gia asked nervously.
Ellery nodded solemnly. “There’s a test.”
“What kind of questions are there? Do you have the answers? Are there essays or multiple choice? Have you ever accepted anyone who didn’t pass the test? Oh, my God! What if they don’t let me in?” Gia’s verbalized train of thought ran off the rails.
“I can’t give you the answers because that would be unethical,” Ellery said, taking Gia by the shoulders.
“But they screwed you over,” Eva pointed out.
“Ah, but that’s their karma, not mine.Istill believe in the mission statement of the Beautification Committee and am sworn to uphold my dedication to promoting love.”
Eva looked over her shoulder to see what was giving Ellery that far-away look in her eyes. It was either the dusty bust of Mozart or Ellery’s own ideals.
“Together, we will conquer personal fears and anxieties and mold the foundations of relationships to form unbreakable bonds!” Ellery stood with hands on hips like a super hero.
“Okay. So, cool. Uh, we’ll do that,” Eva said.
“And if those pompous, rule-bound weirdos in there give you any crap, I’ll take care of them,” Ellery said darkly.
“When you say ‘take care’ of them…” Eva began.
“I’ll make them sorry for crossing me and ignoring my contributions. My great-grandmother was a voodoo priestess, you know.”
No, Eva didn’t know that.Great. Not only did they have to put the Beautification Committee on a leash, but they had to make sure that Ellery didn’t start marching in a vengeance parade of one.
“So, what are you going to do during the meeting?” Eva asked easing away from the subject.
“I’m going to climb into that air vent and eavesdrop.” Ellery pointed at the wall above them. “If there’s anything insane being discussed, I’ll text you instructions.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Conference Room 204 was buzzing with enough activity that Eva barely heard the occasional clank and bump from the air duct. She probably should have suggested that Ellery lose the tiered chains she wore as a necklace before climbing into the metal tube.Oh, well. Next time.
The tables, decorated with bud vases of pink roses, were organized in a U-shape that faced a large white board framed with pink and red hearts.
“Welcome, potential members!” Bruce Oakleigh waved from the front of the room. His fluffy beard matched the gray sweater vest that hugged his ample belly. “Come in. Come in.”
He ushered them over to the snack table where Eva chose a heart-shaped muffin top while Gia gushed her gratitude to Bruce.
