2 YEARS LATER

Working at a matchmaking agency wasn't all I had thought it would be. Of course, there was the pleasant hum I got knowing that I was helping people to find love, and the rush of satisfaction whenever a wedding invitation was sent to the office. The sensation was doubled when it belonged to a couple that I had personally helped. But there were certainly trying moments, like the customer sitting in front of me now.

Mr Cole had been bounced around our system repeatedly and I must have been the fourth worker assigned to help him find a wife. Merlin, each woman I sent him out on dates with were more than suitable, they were almost perfect if the man had actually been looking for a long-term relationship like he claimed to be. He was quite clearly using our services to find a string of one-night stands – which failed each time – and to make matters worse, he seemed adamant on adding me to the list. It appeared that some men were just stupid; he had tried this on every female worker so far and it hadn't worked a single time.

"I've already made a reservation," he insisted and I barely concealed the retort that I hadn't told him to make the reservation. "You don't want me to have to eat alone, do you?"

"Mr Cole," I said through gritted teeth, "do I have to remind you again on one of the clauses in the contract you signed? Employees are not allowed to date customers."

"They don't need to know –"

"This is not something to risk my job over," I shot back, continuing to rifle through the folder of potential candidates that I had drawn up.

"Then I'll simply leave your services and then everything will be fine, yes?" He watched me eagerly and Merlin, just the sight of the lust brimming in his eyes had me wanting to cast an aguamenti on him to cool him down. Why the hell was he always so horny?

"No." And before he could protest, I raised my left hand to show him the ring on my finger. His face fell instantly but not before he regained his composure.

"What does your fiancé do? How much does he earn?"

"He's becoming a healer – if you think an Auror can do some damage, then you've never thought of what a healer can do." Arching an eyebrow, I added, "I've never thought to ask how much he earns. I don't particularly care to know either. Any other questions?"

When he grumbled that no, he didn't have any other questions, I sat up straight in my seat. Setting the folder down on my desk, I crossed my arms and considered him for a good moment. He preened under my gaze as if he was a bloody peacock.

"I'm handing your case over to one of my co-workers," I declared and when he started to interrupt, I shook my head to silence him. "I believe you've met Malcolm before? Since you appear to have an issue with not taking a liking to our female employees, management decided it best to assign you to one of the men on our team."

"You can't do that!"

"I think you'll find that I've already done it," I corrected as I rose to my feet and started to pack up for the day. "Now that this meeting has run on for longer than necessary and you've kept me past closing time, would you please leave my office? I have a fiancé I need to get home to."

Mr Cole met my eyes, looking like he wanted to protest. And finally, I let the annoyance I felt towards him show on my face. Reluctantly admitting defeat, he rose from his seat and stormed out of the room. Rolling my eyes, I waited until he was out of eyesight and slipped the ring off my finger and into my pocket. It was just one of Terence's many good ideas.

Once I finished checking out for the day, I was quick to apparate home so I could kick off the damn heels that only caused me pain. Every night I swore that I wouldn't wear them and then when I woke up the next morning, I was always swayed into wearing them because of how pretty they were. Groaning aloud in relief, I headed into the front room where, to no surprise, I found Terence fast asleep on the sofa.

Retreating into the storage cupboard, I drew a blanket out and returned to the front room. Covering him properly with the blanket, I smiled gently at him and couldn't help but brush a hand over his hair. Terence usually slept like the dead but he had the canniest ability to know just when I was near. Sure enough, he reached out with eyes still closed to grasp my hand and only when he felt his fingers brush against my own, did he open his eyes sleepily.

Crouching down beside the sofa, I asked quietly, "Long day?"

He grumbled something that sounded like an agreement as he moved towards me, burying his head in my arms. Stroking his hair softly, I pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head that had him sighing his approval.

"It'll be worth it," I reminded him. "Once this is all over, you'll be a fully qualified healer."

"I know that," he insisted sounding so very tired that his words were slurring slightly. "But I just want to sleep for the next few days."

"You need to eat something first," I protested, trying to move him from my arms. Instead, I somehow found myself being drawn further into his embrace so that I laid with him, "I can fix you something to eat."

"Later," he grumbled against the skin of my neck. "Sleep now."

"Alright, alright," I conceded, stroking his hair as his eyes began to flutter shut again. Terence didn't fight his oncoming sleep and instead wound his legs through mine as if to get closer to me. "Later then."

"The first thing I'm getting you when I'm fully qualified is a ring to replace the fake one you wear now," he said around a smothered yawn.