Free His For Christmas by Kinsley Gibb Page A

body type,
education level, income and whatever else you want.”
    Charlie took over the keyboard.
    Anabelle watched the magic unfold. “Is there
a filter that sorts hot guys who were kind, wanted kids and had the
ability to be faithful and wasn’t stuck in the closet? Was there an
algorithm for that?”
    Eight years of relative bliss until her
husband had barreled out of the closet with their trusted builder
and shocked the hell out of all of them.
    Charlie gave her a sympathetic squeeze.
“That would be perfect, wouldn’t it?”
    She nodded. She’d reeled in shock for a
while because these kinds of things happened on Oprah to other people, not to her.
    She was boring.
    She had always been boring.
    She liked being boring.
    She wanted to remain boring.
    Not really, but who wanted to be the star of
the “look at poor Anabelle” party? In a heartbeat she’d give up the
never-ending sympathy, the gratuitous speculation on why it had
happened and how relieved she must have felt to remain childless so
further drama had been avoided.
    Right.
    How could she not feel relieved she’d waited
until everything was in place before she’d contemplated children?
Especially when her thirty-eight year old eggs were on the verge of
a cold, unfertilized death with nary a man in sight and a
disappointed mother, she should feel grateful.
    Not.
    “Is there a reason why so many of these guys
aren’t smiling? Are they constipated? Or do they think looking like
an unhappy grump is somehow sexy?
    Charlie laughed. “You’ve got a point
there.”
    “Look at this guy. Is that the best photo he
has? Really?”
    “Have you emailed anyone yet?”
    “Are you kidding me?” she shuddered. “Toe in
water, remember?”
    “Chicken.” A sly look entered Charlie’s
eyes. “How about a party and I invite a select few single
guys?”
    “Don’t you dare.” Anabelle didn’t like the
speculative look Charlie wore. It never meant well for her. “Never
mind, you go away and I’ll sort through it.”
    “How about a list? You don’t do anything
without one,” Charlie said with an arched eyebrow.
    “Well…”
    Charlie held out a hand, palm side up. “Give
it.”
    Anabelle tugged the list from her hiding
spot and pushed it forward. “Don’t laugh.”
    “Not bad,” she said after a moment. “Family
oriented, honest, sweet. Perfect…if you’re shopping for a dog.
Jeez, Anabelle.”
    She snatched back the list. “I knew I
shouldn’t have shown you anything.”
    Charlie snatched it back. “I have a few
qualities you need to add.”
    “Heaven help me.”
    Charlie grabbed a pen. “You’ll love it. I
know.” She finished writing with a flourish and pushed the list
towards Anabelle.
    “Should I look?” Anabelle glanced down but
didn’t grab it. The slightly evil grin Charlie wore made her
pause.
    “Please do.” Charlie fluttered her fingers
in a plotting manner. “Come on. Read it,” she begged, bouncing on
the edge of her chair.
    Anabelle sighed, knowing there was no way
out of it, and picked up the list. “Sex god? Kissing connoisseur?
Love machine?”
    “Hubba…hubba.” Charlie waggled her
eyebrows.
    “You know you’re ridiculous, don’t you?”
    “Hey. These are good qualities. Having a
strong intimate relationship matters.”
    “Uh huh.”
    She picked up a pen to scratch the new
additions but Charlie stayed her hand.
    “Leave them.”
    Anabelle stilled, thinking about the
qualities Charlie deemed as necessary. Maybe Charlie had a point.
Those qualities weren’t necessarily bad and they would help towards
her pursuit of a male induced orgasm.
    “Fine,” she said, ignoring Charlie’s pleased
expression. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t you have a
shop to look after?”
    Charlie ignored Anabelle’s irritation and
took her time selecting a cookie. “My mom is there.”
    “Ha! Now I know why you’re so interested in
my love life. You big chicken.” Karma was a witch and since Charlie
had gotten