Aimee (A Time for Love Book 3) Read Free Page A

of matches. But that rarely happens,” she smiled.
    “Oh, do I have to buy the whole program?” Aimee hesitated. She hated to say it, but she made herself continue. “My budget’s a bit tight. I was hoping to pay for a single match or something.”
    “We find it works best if our clients follow the program as a whole. But we are running a promotion now. Phase I is free if you sign up by Friday, and you only pay if you choose to move on to Phase 2. If you do, we can work with you on payment terms.” Edwina stood up. “Why don’t you read over our materials, and you can come in and sign up when you’re ready?”
    “I will, thanks.”
    Aimee stood too and let Edwina walk her to the door, but she stopped before they left the office. “Wait!”
    “Yes?” Edwina halted beside her.
    “I don’t want to go home and read it over. I’m sure I want to sign up. I’d like to get my first match as soon as possible.”
    No more moping over Tom or feeling sorry for herself. Besides, she was afraid that if she left, she’d never come back.
    “If you’re sure?”
    “I’m sure. And I have a request.”
    “What’s that?”
    “If my friend Charlene signs up for the program, I’d like a double date. It’s been so long since I’ve had a first date,” she explained, and Edwina made another note.
    Aimee returned to A Time for Love’s waiting room with a packet of papers and a date for Saturday night. Charlene’s appointment was scheduled immediately after Aimee’s, and the two friends had ridden together to the office. Charlene was leafing through a photo album, which she set down when Aimee appeared.
    “Your turn,” Aimee said.
    “How’d it go?”
    “Fine. We can compare notes afterwards.”
    Charlene still looked skeptical of the whole situation, but she followed the receptionist back to Edwina’s office. Aimee took Charlene’s seat and picked up the photo album she’d been viewing. The album contained page after page of happy couples. The last page was a photo of Dana and Benjamin, taken at their wedding. Dana was beaming at the camera, while Benjamin’s attention was on his new wife. Their happiness showed clearly in the photo, and Aimee felt tears sting her eyes. Dana was a good person. She deserved her happy ending. Could Edwina find someone for Aimee who’d bring her that kind of happiness? Maybe her picture would be in the album someday.
    She was still looking through the albums when Charlene returned, less than ten minutes later. Her friend’s expression was less than thrilled, but Aimee still thought coming to A Time for Love was a good step for both of them. Maybe they’d be following in Dana and Tish’s footsteps soon.
    “Ready to go?”
    Charlene didn’t wait for an answer, just headed for the elevator, and Aimee noticed she wasn’t carrying a packet like the one Edwina had given her. Aimee thanked the receptionist who’d shown her and Charlene to Edwina’s office and followed her friend outdoors.
    “Did the meeting not go well?” Aimee asked once they were in Charlene’s late-model Mercedes. She wasn’t sure she could go through with the date on her own. “I know you weren’t sold on the idea, so it’s okay if you decided not to join.”
    “No.” Charlene looked at Aimee and clarified, “I didn’t decide not to sign up. This means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”
    “I just thought it’d be great, going through the process together.”
    “Well, you got your wish. We’re double-dating Saturday night.”
    “Great!” Aimee smiled. “We can make a girls’ day of it. Do our nails, pick out clothes, help each other with our makeup.”
    “Sure, okay.”
    Charlene smiled back, but Aimee knew her friend was making the effort for her sake. She’d never known Charlene to date. Her life seemed to revolve around her career. Maybe it would be good for both of them to go out with some decent men. Even if the date was horribly awkward, it could hardly be worse than her breakup with