The Singles Table (Marriage Game #3)(42)

“You’re not a black-on-black person. You’re a bright-colors-and-sparkles person. Just be yourself.”

“I can’t be myself.” She leaned against the dresser piled high with plushies that Parvati had received as gifts from the many men she’d dated and dumped. “Myself will trip on the stairs, spill champagne, or set someone’s hair on fire. Myself will set off the sprinklers or fall through a drum kit.” She swallowed hard. “Myself almost kissed Jay in the alley and now I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Her hand went to her cheek where the memory of his lips made her heart thud and her toes curl. If she hadn’t turned her head, she could have had those lips. She could have kissed him until every breath had left her lungs. She could have given in to the tidal wave of desire that had roared and crashed through her veins.

“Don’t worry.” She held up a hand when Parvati opened her mouth, no doubt to remind her of her first impression of Jay. “I told him it wouldn’t happen again.”

“I am worried.” Parvati tucked the pillow behind her head. “You seem to be in denial about the fact you’re hot for him despite his considerable list of flaws.”

Zara joined Parvati on the bed. “You’re right. He’s exactly the kind of emotionally unavailable guy I’m attracted to. And then it’s all, Surprise! I’ve got two kids and a wife. And then I’m hitting him in the face with a passion fruit pavlova I had ordered from a bakery an hour away, and his kid is saying, Daddy, who is that mean lady? I don’t need that kind of drama in my life.”

“So, what’s the problem? You’re supposed to be finding his match.”

Zara tipped her head back and groaned. “He’s irritatingly thoughtful. He came to rescue me in the bar when he thought the singer was being a little too handsy, and tonight he came out to the alley to make sure I was okay. He wrapped his jacket around me because I was cold, and then he gave me a hug. He’s got a sense of humor when he lets his guard down. And he’s so sexy, Parv. The way he looks, the way he walks . . . the confidence . . . that ass . . . When he almost kissed me, he looked at me like I was the only person in the world.”

“If he’s got all that going for him, why does he need a matchmaker?” Parvati fiddled with the blue ribbon around the neck of one of her plush bears. Over the years, they’d increased in size, each lover trying to outdo the rest.

“Maybe he’s lonely. He mentioned his mom wanting him to find someone. I don’t think he’s really taking it that seriously. He keeps saying he isn’t interested in anything long-term. We have that much in common.”

“So, sleep with him. Scratch your itch and move on.” Parvati tossed the bear to Zara and she caught it in her arms.

“I don’t even know if he’s interested. Maybe he was just messing around. And what if he’s my kryptonite, Parv? What if I really fall for him and it kills me?”

“I think you’re being overly dramatic, but fortunately your best friend is a medical professional. I’ll be here to make sure that doesn’t happen. Now can I go to sleep?” She lay down and pulled the duvet over her head.

Zara squeezed the bear to her chest. “Parv?”

“Mmmhmm?”

“Am I too much?”

Parvati pushed back the cover. “What do you mean?”

“Do I talk too much? Am I . . .” She hesitated. “Do I put too much of me out there?”

Parvati’s jaw tightened. “Did Jay say that to you?”

“No. Of course not. I was just wondering . . .”

“You are perfect,” Parvati said firmly. “Exactly the way you are. Your colorful clothes. Your sparkle. The way you light up a room. Your long train-of-thought sentences when you’re excited. I love everything about you and so do your friends and your family. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a loser and not worth your time.”

Zara swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Maybe I won’t wear the black dress.”

“Damn right. You should wear the red one that you wore to your uncle Nadal’s sangeet. I will never forget how he ripped a tablecloth off one of the tables and wrapped you up like a mummy until one of the aunties found a long coat to cover you up.”

“I do look fabulous in that dress,” she mused.

Parvati pulled the covers back over her head. “Wear it. Go to the party and be yourself. Forget about Jay and meet lots of celebrities and have a fabulous time. I’m on the night shift on Tuesday. If you have to call an ambulance, tell them to go to Bay 5. I’ll be waiting.”





? 13 ?



Elias was in his element. Thirty minutes into the wrap party and he had already thrown out a trespasser, called the police to pick up a drug dealer, and stopped a zombie attack on the complimentary buffet. Jay hadn’t seen him this happy in years.

“Damn. I missed this.” Elias held a hand up to stop a group of clearly underage zombies at the door. “We should do this more often. Keep up our skills.”

“It does have its appeal.” Jay pulled two zombies apart and confiscated the fake leg they’d been fighting over. After J-Tech’s national expansion, they’d put together a solid team of ex-military specialists to deal with the on-site guarding work so they could focus on running the business. But Jay had to admit—as he rescued a zombie hooker from slipping on a pool of fake blood—that he missed being part of the action.