Passion: The Arranged Hearts Series

Chapter 1

“I havea meeting I have to go to later, so can you pick the kids up from day care for me?” I asked my mother.

“Yeah, of course, G. Do you know how long you will be? I may take them out to eat pizza.”

“Oh Lord. Kizzie will have a fit. You know that’s her jam. She loves pizza. I should only be an hour or so, but if y’all are still out, I can wait.”

“Okay. You know I know what my babies like. I might go pick up Jream too. She would be upset if I didn’t pick her up for pizza.”

I chuckled. Jream was my niece. My brother Daniel had a six-year-old daughter who was his pride and joy. That little girl meant the world to him, as she should. She was his and Jorielle’s only child. They got married nearly eight years ago. I wasn’t married but had two kids with one of my best friends. Clayton and I both wanted kids. I wanted them badly but knew a relationship between the two of us would never work.

We met one another in elementary school—in third grade, to be exact—when he and his family moved to Tallahassee from Baltimore. When I was twenty, I started getting the fever. Besides my career as a dental hygienist, there were two things I wanted. The first thing was kids. If I couldn’t find the man I wanted to settle down with, I didn’t want to be left alone. Kids were something I wanted more than anything else, especially after my car accident. I wanted to be married one day, but I refused to settle for just anybody.

My mama always told me I was way too picky and that I needed to go lie on her couch and talk about what was really the issue. She was a psychiatrist and had overcome quite a past. Her past from Houston with a drug dealer had recently come to Florida to meet us. I had a brother she’d never told us about. So instead of having one big brother, I now had two. I wasn’t mad about that since Joel was so cool.

He and I had gotten somewhat close over the past couple of months. We talked at least twice a week, and I made promises of visiting him in Houston. However, unlike him, I’d had a normal childhood, and there was nothing I could think of that had caused me to be the way I was. I was just fearful of meeting who I thought was the right man, only to discover he was all wrong.

I wanted kids before I turned thirty, so Clayton and I decided that we would be amazing co-parents since we were best friends. We made two beautiful children together, Kizzie and Dakota, and I didn’t regret it. Here I was, thirty-one years old and still single. Today was the day I would do something about it, though.

The meeting I had didn’t pertain to my job as I’d had my mother to believe. I was actually going to a company called Arranged Hearts for an interview. I was sick of the dating scene and needed someone to weed out the undesirables. When I heard that Nathan and Savannah Bryant had opened a location here in Tallahassee, the wheels in my head started turning in excitement.

As soon as I knew they were up and running, I wanted to make an appointment. I let fear hold me back though. Plus, I knew my family would think I had lost my damn mind, including Clayton. I also knew the part that would give them pause was the fact I would have to marry whoever they matched me with before meeting him. That was why I didn’t tell Solé King what I was doing. My mama could have me questioning my own identity. She had the gift of gab and could make a lion question whether he was king of the jungle.

I wanted to do this for me. Putting my wants and desires on the back burner for my children and everyone else had drained me. I rarely spent time away from my babies. Either I was at work or I was with them. I only got time to myself when I was driving to work after dropping them off or when I was leaving work to pick them up. Most times, when they were with Clayton, I was either working or doing housework.

I didn’t really have friends, other than my new boss. After meeting my brother, he introduced me to his girlfriend, Keondra. Her sister was a dentist and was needing hygienists. I applied with her and was hired on the spot. Yunique and I had become friends, but she was the only one I had. Besides, most times I was around her, our conversations were mostly about work.

I talked to my mother a little longer, then I ended the call because it was time for me to head to my appointment. I was so damn nervous, and I didn’t know why. It wasn’t like I would be meeting the person today. I only had to answer their questions honestly so I could meet the man of my dreams that would one day have my heart. It would be an arrangement, but my goal was for this to work as if I’d picked him out myself.

When I got to the address I’d programmed in my GPS, I stared at the building. There were palm trees outside and a beautiful cobblestone walkway to the entrance. After taking a deep breath, I mumbled, “Here goes nothing.”

I opened the door and straightened my shirt, being sure my dress pants were smoothed out as well. My heels clicked along the walkway, taking my nerves to higher heights the closer I got to the building. My ass felt extremely heavy. It already had its own zip code, but now it felt like that shit was its own country. My back was throbbing from it along with the anxiety I was feeling.

I opened the door and walked to the desk, feeling like I was about to start sweating. The lady seated there smiled big. “Hello! How can I help you?”

“Hi. My name is Giselle King, and I have an appointment with Kerri.”

“Oh, yes! Do you have the questionnaire filled out?”

“Yes, ma’am. I emailed it to her already.”

“Awesome. I’ll lead you to her office since she’s ready for you.”

I nodded, hoping I would have had time to sit and gather my feelings and nerves. Not so. Kerri was already waiting for me. I followed the young lady to her office. She knocked on the doorframe, since her door was open, and the beautiful, curvaceous woman turned to us and stood. Her eyebrows went up slightly as did mine. We resembled somewhat. “Wow. Hello, Giselle. I’m Kerri. Come on in and have a seat.”

“Wow is right,” I said as she chuckled.

After closing the door, she sat across from me, and we stared at one another for a moment. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we were related,” she said, breaking our silent stare down.

I chuckled. “Me either.”

“Well, I have your responses to our questions pulled up on my computer, so let’s get to it, shall we?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay. I’m just going to read these verbatim, and if I need you to elaborate a bit, we can get into that.” She took a deep breath and began. “What are the most important values you look for in a partner? For example, honesty, loyalty, kindness, etcetera. You responded, I look for kindness, honesty, loyalty, and all that, but I also like him to be somewhat rough around the edges. I need to know that he can protect me if need be. That I will feel safe with him.”

She glanced up at me with a slight smile. “Did you want to add anything to that?”

“Umm, I think I said everything. Oh, I definitely want him to be considerate. Selfish men irritate me.”

She chuckled. “Noted.” She went on to the next question. “Which three qualities are absolute must-haves in your ideal match? You said that he must be considerate, honest, and loyal.”

She looked up at me, I supposed waiting to see if I wanted to add to that. “I would like him to be taller than me. I’m five-seven.”

“Okay. Do you have a preference for your partner”s education level or career path? You said, yes. Education is very important to you, even if it’s just a certificate from a trade school.”

“Yes, ma’am. As long as he can provide a decent living, we should be fine. I’m not looking for someone to take care of me, but I don’t want to have to financially take care of him either.”

She chuckled. “I get that, totally. What are your top two interests and hobbies that you enjoy most? You said, honestly, I don’t even engage in anything that doesn’t concern my children or family. So spending time with them is my top interest. I would like to be able to add my own interests to my life, which are listening to music and reading.”

She gave me a sympathetic glance, causing me to lower my head. “I don’t have time for much else. At least I thought that was what the problem was. I don’t make time for much else because I’m not completely satisfied. I love my children, so I give all my time and love to them. I want to be able to share that with someone who can give me intimacy in return.”

“I think we’re twins. We have the same light complexion, deadly curves, and somewhat of the same personality. Our desires are somewhat the same. The only difference is that I’m married. I came through Arranged Hearts as well, and my husband and I have been married for five years. We have three children, a set of twin boys and a little princess.”

“That’s great. You’re proof that this can actually work. I’m so tired of the dating scene. I had to give this a try.”

“Well, it can definitely work. I’m sure you saw all the success stories online and how the owners of the company met the same way.”

“I did, and I’m excited for my happily ever after.”

She nodded and smiled then went back to the questionnaire. “How would you describe your ideal first date together?” She smiled again and read my response. “I’m somewhat of an introvert, but because I have children, I’m also cautious. I would like something intimate, like a dinner at a restaurant where we are seated in a private booth, away from the thick of things. That would allow easy conversation.”

I supposed she didn’t need me to elaborate, because she went on to the next question. “What personality traits do you find most appealing in a potential partner?” After pausing to take a sip of water, she continued. “Sense of humor, hustler slash go-getter, protective, and a somewhat friendly romantic.”

I nodded. “I like someone that can make me laugh. I’m pretty serious most of the time. If he can make me laugh, that’s a huge plus. I need his protective instincts to be on point. So on point that he makes sure to walk on the outside of me at all times.”

“I like how you think. My husband is a lot like you’re describing.” She shifted in her seat and asked the next question. “How important is physical attraction and chemistry to you in a relationship?” She chuckled at my response before reading it. “It’s very important. I need to be able to stare at him. If I’m not physically attracted to him, I would be setting myself up for failure.”

“Yes. If we have no chemistry, we’re roommates. I wouldn’t want to have sex with him or anything else, and that would cause me to look for it in other people. I’m not getting married to cheat. The goal is to stay married, so I refuse to settle on certain things. That is one of them,” I added.

“Baby, listen,” she said, dropping her professional tone. “Ain’t nobody trying to stare at someone they think looks like a gremlin.”

I laughed loudly. “Hell naw,” I said. “I wish I would.”

“Okay. Although I know you have children, I’m gonna read this question and your response anyway. What is your preference regarding having children someday? I already have children, so any man I meet has to be cool with that. Their father is very active in their lives, and he and I are friends. I want the man I meet to be understanding of our dynamic. Clayton and I don’t want a relationship with each other, never have. Having children together was an arrangement to give us both what we wanted at the time.”

She glanced up at me, typed something on her computer, then looked up at me again. “I must say, that situation is very unique. I’ve never heard of a woman just sleeping with a friend and her feelings not get involved.”

“Yes, it’s very unique. Clayton and I have been friends since elementary school. I’ve never seen him as more than that. He said he’s never seen me as more than a friend. Our first time sleeping together was after our discussion about having children. It was somewhat weird at first. We’re so close though. He was a man I trusted… that I still trust. We just know way too much about each other for this to work romantically. From what I know about how he is in relationships, I already know I would kill his ass.”

She laughed, which caused me to laugh too. I could see how our dynamic could be misconstrued though. I just hoped the man they chose for me would understand. Clayton and I hadn’t slept together since I found out I was pregnant with Dakota. My baby was two years old now. While Clayton was very nice looking and had a decent dick game, our dynamic wasn’t about that. It was about creating beautiful children that we could both love on and cherish.

He was a financial analyst for a Fortune 500 company, so he made a very good living. I wasn’t searching for a man to provide for me. I wanted a man strictly for companionship. Correction—I needed a man for companionship. I needed to feel his touch and his love for me.

I felt somewhat lost in motherhood and needed someone to help level me out. I didn’t believe in leaving my kids on my parents to go have fun. That just wasn’t my style. I felt that they were my responsibility, and if I couldn’t handle it, then I shouldn’t have had them.

Someone to hold me at night when I felt exhausted or to cook dinner when I was running late could possibly make me feel alive again. Not to mention, someone who could set my body ablaze. I wanted to experience mind-blowing orgasms with a man I was emotionally connected to.

For some reason, I was extremely independent, wanting to take care of everything myself. I wasn’t raised seeing things that way. Maybe my mom was right. Something was up with me, and I needed to lie on her couch to figure out what.

Interrupting my thoughts, Kerri continued. “What is your idea of the perfect way to spend a weekend? You wrote, any time spent with the man I love is perfect. Can you elaborate on that?”

“I’m not a very outgoing person. I was a homebody even before I had children, which is probably another reason why I haven’t met the right one. I only go out occasionally because I don’t have friends like that. So, even if we didn’t go anywhere, it would be perfect. Laying around the house, binge watching a TV show, cooking together, and just loving on each other. Those are the things I long for.”

Kerri looked like she wanted to cry, and I felt like I wanted to cry. “That’s beautiful, Ms. King.”

“Call me Giselle.”

“Giselle. If a man were to take you out, though, what are some places you wouldn’t mind going?”

“Honestly, I would go anywhere if I was feeling him that much. However, I like private moments. Being out on the town is nice, but it’s something I can do without. I do like watching movies and seeing plays at the theater. I definitely love good food, whether it’s an upscale restaurant or a hole in the wall.”

She giggled as she nodded and typed a few things. “How important is sharing core beliefs or interests with your partner? You said that it was very important. Why start off unequally yoked? That could only lead to future arguments that can take a devastating turn.” She glanced up at me and said, “That was worded perfectly.”

I smiled slightly. Opinions about small issues didn’t matter, but as far as religious preferences and major issues… we had to be in agreement on that. I could be very argumentative when it was something I was passionate about.

“I’m going to cover two questions in one this time, like it is on the questionnaire. How would your closest friends describe your personality? What is one quirky or unique quality about yourself you embrace? You said, I really only have one true friend, and he tells me that I’m bossy but kind, argumentative but passionate, no-nonsense but kind and loving. I’m somewhat petty and sarcastic too. However, I love hard. Someone would have to stab me in the back and twist the knife for me to step out of character.”

She nodded. “That means you’re not hot headed.”

“Only when it concerns my kids. I don’t play about them.”

“Understandable. For the second part, you said you’re very organized. You alphabetize things, put your books on the shelves from tallest to shortest, and can’t stand to leave the TV or lights on if no one is in the room.” She giggled. “Is there anything else? Like mannerisms?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Umm… I like things done a certain way, but I think that comes with living on my own for a while.”

“I’m more than sure. Would you be willing to do things differently if someone suggested it?”

“If I think it makes sense, yes.”

She laughed. “So you can be stubborn.”

I rolled my eyes. I’d heard that a time or ten, mainly from my mama and Clayton. If it wasn’t broke, why fix it? That was my motto for everything I did. Unless I could see the sense in changing it, I stuck to my decisions. Period.

“What are your love languages, and how do you prefer receiving love? Your response was acts of service and words of affirmation. At some point, all of these could be my love language. My needs change with situations. Sometimes I may crave physical touch or want a gift that shows how much I’m appreciated. I believe as we age, our primary needs tend to change a bit. Acts of service is big for me because I’m always so busy.”

I nodded and lowered my head as she stared at me. “You need help, but you won’t say it. Does Clayton know?”

I shook my head. “I show them that I don’t need it… that I have it all together. If I want something done, I do it myself, because I know it will be done how I want it to be done.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled. I knew that wasn’t a good way to be, but I didn’t like being disappointed or upset that something wasn’t done to my liking. Kerri nodded and moved on to the next question. It almost seemed like she wanted to be my damn therapist.

“How much time do you ideally like to spend with your partner versus alone? You said, I haven’t had a partner in years, so I would probably be clingy at first. I rarely get alone time, but when I do, I’m always busy doing something for the kids or cleaning.”

She looked up at me. “I would probably be clingy for a while. Let’s just go with that.”

She smiled. “Okay. Last question. What three adjectives would you use to describe your ideal partner?” She paused and smiled. “You said respectful, loyal, and trustworthy.”

I nodded. “If he’s all those things, then I have nothing to worry about.”

She nodded and smiled again. I watched her type a bit on her laptop, then she stood from her seat. I did the same as she extended her hand. “Well, we are done here. I will forward your information to the next department that will match you with your ideal partner. They will reach out to you when they find a match. That could be as quick as a couple of days or as long as a month, but hopefully, you will hear from them soon.”

“Thank you so much, Kerri.”

I smiled and left her office, heading to my vehicle. I was anxious and nervous but ready as hell to leave the place I was in to start a journey with someone who would be my forever.