Free Tamed by You by Kate Perry

been elsewhere."
    Lola and Kristin looked at each other with raised brows. Lola said, "This sounds like a man issue."
    "Ethan isn't just a man," she said. "He's a force of nature, and he's wreaking havoc with my ecosystem."
    Lola leaned forward, eyes bright. "Ethan's a great hero's name. Strong, but understanding. Definitely better than, say—"
    "Atticus," Kristin interjected.
    They both looked at her.
    Wiping the counter, the barista shrugged. "Admit it. Neither one of you would date someone named Atticus."
    "I would. He sounds grand all over," Lola said with a lascivious smirk.
    "You're such a romance writer." Kristin turned to Valentine. "A word of unsolicited advice?"
    "Okay," she agreed carefully.
    "Just do him. It might be forever. It might not be. But if you don't do him, you'll always wonder."
    Valentine turned to Lola.
    The writer nodded. "If you were a heroine in my book, I'd get you in bed with him by chapter three."
    "Um. Okay." She hugged the cups to her chest, not sure what to say. "Thanks. I think."
    The women smiled at her and then began to discuss the merits of hooking up with a man named Atticus.
    Licking a drop from the lid of her cup, Valentine thought about what they said as she strolled back to her office. Should she?
    She relived the kiss. He'd made her want it before h is mouth got anywhere near hers . He'd made sure she was dying to feel him on her lips.
    It'd been eye-opening. She'd never been kissed like that before—like she was something to be savored. A decadent dessert. Like she was salted caramel crème brûlée and he wanted to lick every bit of her off the plate.
    She'd never felt like caramel crème brûlée before. She saw herself more like strawberry shortcake.
    Which was why she couldn't call him. Seeing him again was like getting on a speed train to temptation, and that was a ride she didn't need to take. Not while her mom was so unstable.
    Meaning she could abandon matching Ethan and find someone else. Or she could forge ahead and find someone for him.
    She didn't like either option.
    The Matchmaker sign flickered once as she approached her office, as though winking at her. She stuck her tongue out at it and braced herself as she descended into the office.
    The smile she'd pasted on her face faded when she saw her mother on her hands and knees next to the couch. She gasped and hurried in. "Mom, are you okay?"
    "Yes, of course." Venus looked up with a frown , a smear of dirt on her cheek . "Help me move this table."
    "That table weighs a ton." She set the to-go cups on the table in question. "We won't be able to move it."
    "How did you get it here?"
    She'd asked Alex, a guy that she'd gone out with once or twice. But the last thing she wanted to bring up was her love life, so she just shrugged and made something up . "I had them put it there when they delivered it."
    "It's in the wrong place." Venus stood, hands on her hips, frowning at the offending piece of furniture. "It's throwing off the flow of the space. No wonder you aren't getting clients. "
    If only she could blame her ineptitude on the table . "It's fine where it is, Mom."
    "Details, Valentine. You need to pay attention to the details. "
    She gritted her teeth against a retort. At least her mom was in the office instead of holed up in the apartment like she had been the first few days. She even looked more like herself despite the smudge of dirt on her face. At least she'd gotten dressed in a suit, all the parts and pieces matching, just like she used to. The only thing that gave away her state of mind was the tightness around her eyes and mouth.
    Venus pointed at the cups. " Is one for me?"
    " Yes." Valentine handed one over. " I got you a Nutella latte. It's one of the specialties at Grounds for Thought ."
    "I wanted a mocha."
    According to Venus Jones, chocolate was the quintessential romantic food, so if it was an option, she always opted for it. Isabella was the same way.
    Valentine didn't love chocolate. She'd pick