Free Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

willing to let you take care of her on occasion. She has to love food as much as you, good books, eighties music, the ocean. A passion for the Red Sox is a must. She has to be willing to travel and not mind you smoking a cigar on occasion. I'd choose someone who likes to talk, because you're too quiet. A relationship needs noise.''
    He smiled at that.
    ''Above all, she has to be your friend.'' I shifted in my seat as he pulled up to Valentine, Inc. ''How'd I do?''
    He nodded. ''It's a start.''
    I laughed. ''Now I've just got to find her.''
    ''I have complete faith.''
    ''At least one of us does,'' I murmured, though I was going to do my best to make him happy. He deserved it. I suspected the problem would lie in finding someone worthy of him.
    I slid out of the car, held the door. His comment about being lonely kept playing in my head. ''How about lunch today?'' I'd have offered dinner, but I had a blind date with Butch the butcher.
    ''Sounds perfect,'' Raphael said with a crooked, endearing smile. ''Come to the penthouse; I'll whip something up.''
    ''Oh no! You deserve someone to cook for you once in a while.''
    His face blanched. ''Not you. . . .''
    ''I won't take that personally, Pasa.'' A breeze loosened the knot my hair had been swept into. ''We'll go out. Where to? The Oyster House?''
    ''Nothing fancy. You know I don't like fancy.''
    I looked around. The perfect choice was right in front of me. ''The Porcupine? At noon?''
    ''I'll be here.''
    I closed the door and waved good-bye. As soon as I turned around, I came face-to-face with the persistent reporter.
    ''You're Lucy Valentine, correct?''
    Somebody had been doing her homework.
    ''And you are?'' I asked.
    ''Preston Bailey, reporter for the South Shore Beacon .''
    It was a small newspaper, local to where I lived. One that usually stuck to regional news and not gossipy articles about famous matchmakers who cheated on their wives. I had two options. I could blow her off and hope she'd go away, or I could act like a human and hope she'd go away.
    ''Nice to meet you.''
    She looked stunned that I'd used manners. Shaggy shoulder-length blonde hair had been pushed back behind her ears. Serious blue eyes peered at me beneath fringe bangs.
    Walking with me toward the door, she said, ''I'm going to be honest. I want a job with one of the bigger papers. The Globe , the Herald . If I can get a scoop from you, it may just be the stepping-stone I need to be looked at seriously. Can I ask you a few questions?''
    ''I'm sorry. I don't really have anything to say.'' I hurried to the entrance of Valentine, Inc. At five-foot-eight, I had four, maybe five, inches on Preston Bailey, roving reporter, and therefore my strides were longer. She had to jog to keep up.
    ''I find that hard to believe.'' She didn't wait for a response from me. Instead she launched into her next question. ''Is it true that your father has left town, leaving the running of the company to you?''
    She was good. I wasn't sure where she had gotten her information, but she had pretty much nailed it.
    ''My father has taken a medical leave of absence.''
    ''In St. Lucia?''
    I smiled as I swiped the card key. ''Where better?''
    She answered with another question. ''With your mother, correct? Does this mean she's forgiven him for his little dalliance?''
    ''Cute shoes,'' I said, eyeing her boots.
    She looked down at her feet. ''Thanks.''
    While her attention had been diverted, I'd pulled open the door and stepped in before she could follow me.
    ''Hey! Wait!'' she cried. ''I've got more questions!''
    ''I'm sorry. I have clients waiting.''
    I quickly pulled the door closed, but I swore I could have heard her say, ''You'd think he'd avoid the beach.''
    I couldn't help but smile. I'd thought the same thing.
    As I stopped on the second-floor landing, I looked up the next flight of steps. On the third floor, the door to SD Investigations stood open wide. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to run up right now and chat with Sean.
    And