Free Not Your Match by Lindzee Armstrong Page A

a week of Andi’s time if she could spend them dancing with Ben. He’d always been praised by their ballroom dance coach on his hip movements during Latin dances. She imagined his hands running down the sides of her body in the rumba, the sensual looks he’d given her for the benefit of the judges during competitions. Her skin flushed at the thought. “I know someone who might be interested.”
    “You are amazing,” Elle said. “I’ll send the information to the email address on your business card. Thank you so much. You’re saving our bacon.” They said their goodbyes and hung up.
    Dancing. Andi could almost feel the swish of a skirt, the arch of her foot as she sashayed in her heeled ballroom shoes.
    She hoped Ben would say yes. She thought he would.
    Andi managed to leave the office a few minutes before six. She was nearly to her parents’, dressed in a red silk holiday blouse and flowing black skirt, when her phone rang. She pushed the button on her bluetooth headset. “This is Andi.”
    “Hey,” Rachel said. “I’m calling to invite you to a party on New Year’s Eve. Just a small get together with a few friends.”
    Andi seriously doubted the “small” part. But Rachel’s parties were always fun. “Sure, sounds fun. What time?”
    “Party starts at seven.” Rachel paused, and the silence stretched out, long and awkward.
    “Is there something else you wanted to tell me, Rach?”
    “I was wondering if you’d be coming alone.”
    “Rachel Madison Cartwright.”
    “Well, I thought maybe you’d been matched up with someone perfect already.”
    Andi sighed, pulling to a stop in front of her parent’s house. “I’m sure they were closed yesterday for Christmas, and I didn’t have time to schedule my first appointment today.”
    “You are going to make it though?”
    “I will. Promise.” And she would. Eventually.
    “So it’ll be just you?” The disappointment in Rachel’s voice was evident by her long-suffering sigh.
    “I might see if Ben wants to drive over together. I’m assuming he’s invited, and it doesn’t make sense to bring two cars.”
    There was a pregnant pause on the other end of the line, the kind Andi knew meant Rachel didn’t like something. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean, what if Whitney found out?”
    “Oh my gosh. I’m at my parents now. Bye, Rach.” Andi clicked off her phone. She loved her best friend, but she really had to stop meddling.
    Ben was moving in tomorrow. She’d ask him about New Year’s Eve and dancing then.
    Andi got out of the car, staring up at her childhood home. The towering Beverly Hills mansion was all climbing ivy and stone. She blew out a breath. As if the phone call with Rachel wasn’t bad enough, now she’d have to sit through three hours of her mother hinting at which young men in their circle of acquaintances were single.
    Andi walked up to the massive double doors and knocked twice before letting herself inside. “I’m here, Mom.” She pulled off her jacket and hung it up in the coat closet next to the door.
    Her mom appeared at the top of the stairs, fastening an earring. “Hi, dear. Your father should be down any minute. He had a few things to take care of as soon as we got back from New York.”
    “How was the flight?” Andi asked.
    “Not bad. I slept for most of it while your father worked.” Her mom floated down the stairs and gave Andi a hug. “I love that shirt. Is it new?”
    “No.”
    “Oh. Well, come into the kitchen. You can help me set the table. The caterers delivered the meal about ten minutes ago and it’s sitting in warmers.”
    Andi followed her mom into the massive kitchen. She grabbed a stack of plates from one of the dark wood cabinets and set them on the granite counter top, then grabbed salad plates and stemware.
    A hand landed on her back, and Andi turned. Her father stood there in a white button down shirt and black slacks, but without a suit coat and tie he looked almost dressed