Her Best Match: A Romantic Comedy (The Best Girls Book 1) by Tamie Dearen

Wicked, sung by the original cast. “I love it. What made you decide to get this for me?”
    Henri studied his napkin in his lap. “I saw the picture—you and Gherring in the theater. And I thought that it was the music that made you cry. Was I right? It was not Gherring? It was the music?”
    “That’s so sweet. Yes, you were right, it was the music.” Anne chewed on her lower lip. “Henri, I have a question. What happened between you and the girl Mr. Gherring used to be engaged to? The girl you dated for a while?”
    “What? What are you asking me?”
    “I hesitate to ask, but I want to know why Mr. Gherring doesn’t like you. You see, Mr. Gherring says you’re just a player and you’ll hurt me, but… but you don’t seem like that kind of man to me.” She looked into his green eyes as they peered earnestly at her. “You seem to be thoughtful and kind, and not the sort of guy who would use a girl or hurt someone.”
    Henri studied the table as he responded. “I cannot tell you what happened, because telling would hurt her. I promise you I did not want hurt to her. I loved her. I think she was the only woman I ever loved. But I did not deserve her. I did not deserve anyone that good. But she found someone else, someone better than me.”
    He pushed his chair back from the table and started to stand. “I do not deserve you either. I flirt too much. I should not be here.”
    “No,” Anne put her hand on Henri’s to stop him. “Don’t go. I believe you. I think you’re a better man than you realize, Henri. Only the good in you can recognize the good in someone else. Give yourself a chance. I don’t know what you’ve done in your past, but you’ve got to learn to forgive yourself.” She squeezed his arm. “Thank you so much for the music. It’s the most thoughtful gift I’ve been given in a long time.”
    His worried face transformed as his eyes crinkled in a relieved smile.
     
    Anne jumped as Gherring’s office door opened. Gherring and Henri had been in private conference for over an hour. As the two men stepped out, Anne looked for signs of a bloody battle. She was caught by surprise as Gherring smiled at Henri, shook his hand firmly, then patted him on the back as he turned to go. Gherring looked pointedly at Anne, and then returned into his office and shut the door.
    As Henri approached Anne’s desk she asked, “What happened in there? I thought y’all almost hated each other. You almost looked like friends shaking hands just now.”
    “I just did what I should have done long ago. I talked to Gherring. I told him the whole story, good and bad. I thought, assurément , he would be angry, mais non —he was less angry. What he thought was worse than the truth. He thought I did not love Michelle. He thought I slept with another woman. Now he knows the truth. We can be friends.” He laughed, “No we cannot be friends, because I will always irritate him, always, toujours. But we can do business and he will not hate me quite so much.”
    “Well, I’m proud of you Henri. I think you did the right thing.”
    “That is good. I want you to be proud of me. And now I want you to do something for me. I want you to say yes. I am going to ask you a question, and I want you to say yes.”
    “What are you going to ask me?”
    “ Mon dieu ! It is not bad. I will not ask you to kill someone!” Henri smirked at Anne’s expression.
    Laughing, Anne asked, “Okay, but what is it? I’m not saying yes until I know the question.”
    “ S'il vous plait , go to the gala with me. Veux-tu venir avec moi? You will go? Tomorrow night?”
    Anne stared at Henri, dumbfounded. Henri began to plead. “I will be good. I will not drink too much. If you desire I will not drink at all. You will say yes, and make me happy?”
    “Henri, you can’t go with me. Surely you know many women in the city who’d love to go.”
    “Why do you say I should forgive myself and give myself a chance, but you will not give me