**Note - This book was previously released by another publisher and has been re-edited form it's original version for release with eXtasy Books.**

Excerpt:

“Oh, good goddess!  Why can’t you leave me alone?”

Kat Carlton glared at her older sister, Lila, while their younger sister cowered by the door.  Leave it to timid little Maddy to skulk away when tempers flared.  They so often did whenever Lila brought up the subject of marriage. 

“Because, my dear sister, I care about you.”  Infinite patience resonated from Lila even though her emerald eyes blazed with anger.  “I want you to be happily married to a good, powerful wizard.  Is that so wrong?”  Throwing her strawberry-blond hair off her shoulder, Lila shot Kat a smile brilliant enough to melt icebergs.

Frustration flowed through Kat as she worked to restrain her ire.  How many more years could she put up with Lila’s persistent nagging?  How many disastrous blind dates could she endure before her sister stopped playing matchmaker?  Should she get married to end Lila’s daily harangue?

Well, enough was enough!  Now was the time to stop her sister’s constant intrusion into her life.

“Look, ‘my dear sister’, if I’d wanted to get married just to be married, I would have already done so.  Instead, I wanted to focus on my company and my career.  Besides, lots of women my age are still single.  So back off, you b—abe!”

Okay, so maybe “babe” wasn’t the word she’d wanted to use.  But “babe” was a whole lot safer.

Lila continued the attack.  “Oh, yes, and what a fine career for a witch.  Running a dating service for sad, lonely mortals, seeking other equally pathetic mortals.  My own sister, who could choose any of the wonderful wizards we’ve introduced her to, insists on throwing her life away helping lovesick barbarians.  It’s positively humiliating.”  The disgust Lila exuded could knock a Sumo wrestler off his feet.

Romance Magic, Inc. was Kat’s dream come true.  After working for one of the large, national dating services, she’d decided a more intimate, personal service would be a better way to help people look for love.  Plus, owning and running her own service allowed her to use a touch of magic whenever two potential soul mates needed a little push.  After all, her slogan was Where Love is Truly Magical.  Yet business had fallen off for the past year, even with her magical help to bring in customers.  Now only an immediate influx of cash could divert disaster.

Kat groaned as she ran a hand through her hair.  “Mortals are not barbarians.”

“Of course they are.  All you have to do is look at the way they live to know the truth.  Besides, Kat, you’re over thirty, darling, and not getting any younger.  Or better looking.”

“What?  Thanks a lot!”

Oh, how she wanted to use the other “B” word now!

“Well, sometimes the truth has to be said.  I mean, sure, you’re a pretty woman, but time and its ravages don’t stand still for anyone.  Not even a witch.  Well, perhaps a bit more for a witch.  But sooner or later, we all get older.  Time’s flitting away, my dear.”

“Humph.”  Kat threw the list of recently matched dating partners she’d held across the room, letting it bang against a wall.  Shuffling over to retrieve it, she bent her body forward and placed her hand on her hip.  She added an elderly voice and quipped, “Oh, my.  Where is my cane when I need it?”

“Very amusing, Kat.  Perhaps your back is hurting because of those extra pounds you’re carrying.”

The shame and hurt hit her before she could steel herself against the insult.  Lila winced, clasping her hand over her mouth.

“Low blow, Lila.  Really low.”  Maddy’s tearful eyes jumped from sister to sister.

“Kat, sweetie, I’m sorry.  I wish I could take back what I said.  You know I would never intentionally hurt you, don’t you?”

Fighting to swallow her pain, Kat raked Lila with a vicious glare.  “Do I?  Can I help it if I wasn’t blessed with the same gorgeous body you and Maddy have?  You know I’ve tried to lose weight time and time again.  This is me and I’m not going to change.  I’m tired of you throwing my weight problem in my face.  I have to hide my insecurity about my weight around others, but I shouldn’t have to around you.  Back off and get used to me being fat and single.” 

With all the appearance of remorse gone, Lila returned to the offensive.  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic.  You’re not fat—exactly.  You simply have more to love.  Or so the saying goes.  But couldn’t we work on the single part?”

Kat turned to Maddy, hoping for help.  “Can’t you get her to leave me alone?  After all, once she gets me married, you’ll be the next one she’ll want to fix up.”

Without waiting for the response she knew would never come, she whipped around to face Lila again.  “Besides, seems to me you keep forgetting you’re not currently married either.  So what’s your excuse?”

Lila examined her fire-engine colored nails before answering in a voice dripping with acid.  “True, I’m not married at the present time.  But at least I’ve been married twice before.  Why, as we speak, two more delectable young males are yearning to sit at my feet.  They would jump at the chance to marry me if I that’s what I wanted.  So you see, we’re in much different situations.”

“Delectable?”  Kat’s snicker sounded harsh to her own ears.  “Gee, Lila.  I knew you chewed up men on a regular basis, but I didn’t think you actually ate them.”  She smiled wider.  “Or do you?”

Maddy giggled, but quieted when Lila shot her a cold, hard stare.  In a split second, she resumed her subservient manner, ducking her head causing her red bangs to cover her eyes.

“Don’t be crass, darling.  You know what I meant.  Although, the idea does bring some entertaining images to mind.”

Frustrated, Kat couldn’t even laugh at the sight of Lila’s tongue flicking over her lips with her eyes cast in a faraway haze.  But the moment—and the reprieve—didn’t last long.

“Let’s not get sidetracked from the discussion at hand, Kat.  Marton is an absolutely fabulous young wizard who’s dying to meet you.  He’s very rich, very powerful, and very good in bed.”

Kat‘s jaw dropped open.  “Are you kidding me?  Are you trying to set me up with your sloppy seconds?  Eeww!”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.  He’s not one of mine.  And I don’t recycle my lovers.  I’ve been told he’s marvelous in bed.  Of course, I wouldn’t mind giving him a whirl if things were different.  Picture him.  Long black hair, bottomless eyes, and a body to make all the witches wiggle in their panties.”

“Gee, thanks a lot for the offer.  But, hey, since I’m not snapping him up, feel free to add him to your trophies.”  Kat narrowed her eyes at her sister, hoping to reinforce the intensity behind her words.

“Oh, I would, darling.  But I’ve already got too many men on my plate.  Or should I say in my bed?”

Determined to get her sisters to leave, Kat tried a different tactic.  “Well, goody for you.  But, if you’ll excuse me, I have a business to run.  In fact, I’m expecting someone any moment now.  Say bye-bye, girls..”  She wished she actually did have an appointment scheduled.  But no clients were expected for at least three hours.

Maddy turned to leave, but Lila remained where she stood.  “Certainly, darling.  Just as soon as we’ve told you about your lunch date.”

“What?  What date?  Please don’t tell me you set me up again.”  But the expression on Lila’s face said it all.  “Oh, no.  Uh-uh.  I am not going on a blind date with this Marton person.”

Kat grabbed her cell phone and shoved it at Lila.  “You get him on the line and cancel lunch right this instant.  Or send him a telepathic message.  Do whatever you have to do.  Do you hear me, Lila?  I am so fed up with you.  Who do you think you are?  Why do you think you have any right to keep meddling in my life?”

Her stomach churned with indignation.  Indignation mixed with a horrible suspicion of impending doom.  She could not, would not, let Lila do this to her again.

“Well, I’m sorry, but Marton’s expecting to meet you in one hour at the cozy little Italian restaurant you like so much.  An hour should give you ample time to freshen your make-up and slip into something else.  Perhaps something a little more appealing?”  Lila scanned Kat’s gray slacks and simple white blouse, clucking her tongue in disapproval.

Kat’s mind raced.  She had to get out of this date and get her sister off her case.  But how?  Without thinking, she opened her mouth to speak, not caring what words would come out next.  She’d say anything to get out of this trap.

“But Lila, I can’t.  It wouldn’t be right.  And it wouldn’t be fair to Marton.”

“And why not?  Cut the excuses, Kat.  Why can’t you meet Marton?”

Words and thoughts fumbled around in her head.  “I—I just can’t.”

Crossing her arms in front of her, Lila stood her ground.  “Not an acceptable reason.  Tell me why you shouldn’t walk out the door right this minute to meet Marton.”

“Because I can’t.  Because I’ve got another commitment.”

“Not good enough, Kat.  You don’t have a real reason, do you?  So why can’t you meet with Marton for a bite of lunch and friendly conversation?  What harm could it do?  Hmm?”  Lila’s lips inched wider, reminding Kat of Sylvester right before he pops Tweety Bird into his mouth.

“Because…I’m engaged.”

The following silence would have been deafening if not for the thoughts tearing through Kat’s mind.  Where had that idea come from?  How could she have said something so ridiculous?  Engaged?  Oh, good goddess, what was she thinking?

“Liar.”

The tension swirled in the air between the two sisters.  Maddy, all too familiar with her sisters’ powers, moved quickly and quietly behind Kat’s desk.

Trying to bank the fire raging inside her, Kat crossed over to stand inches from Lila’s face.  Lowering the pitch of her voice, she hissed, “Are you calling me a liar?”

Lila’s face was a stone mask.  “If the shoe fits…”

“No one calls me a liar.”

“No?  Then prove it.  Let’s meet this mystery fiancé.”

For a moment, Kat forgot she was lying.  But she’d die before she ever admitted it to her sisters.  “Fine, you will.  But it’ll take awhile since…”

“Oh, ho!  Sounds to me like there’s another excuse coming up.” 

Gee, how she’d love to wipe Lila’s smug grin off her face.

“No, no excuse.  He’s been away on business for awhile and I’m not sure when he’s expected to return.”

Taking her sister’s arm, Kat motioned for Maddy to follow.  But Lila cut off her attempt to lead her out of the office.

“Well, then.  There’s no reason for you to stand up Marton.  Until you can produce this so-called husband-to-be, you can take an hour or so for your rendezvous.  Your future hubby will never know.”

“I told you.  I can’t.  It wouldn’t be fair to Marton or to…”

Lila cackled, enjoying Kat’s predicament.  “Not fair to whom, dear?  To your imaginary lover?  Really, Kat, aren’t you too old to be making up fictitious playmates?  At least you could be more resourceful and give him a name.  Come on.  Don’t you even know his name?”

“Of course, I do.  His name is—”

“Pardon me, ladies, for the intrusion.  My name is Colin MacLaughlin.”