portly man before them continued in his irritating nasal voice. “And so you see, before Mr. Kenna can come in and choose one of you, it is incumbent that the strict requirements be met.”
Claudia could just about guess what he would demand. No venereal diseases. No nasty habits like spitting and weeping. Snoring.
“You must all be over the age of forty. Anyone who does not fit the bill should leave now.”
Claudia rolled her eyes at the wooden ceiling. Well, she’d certainly been stumped. She’d flown half way across the world for her age to finally be acceptable.
With a short, stubby finger, the man pushed his spectacles up his nose. “You should all be above average weight.” He perused their small group before grunting his approval. “I see we have no problems there.”
What kind of insane requirements were these? If Vice Kenna was Sin’s twin, then the man should be in his early thirties. Was he looking for a nanny? Her hefty bosom heaved as she stifled her amusement.
“And finally, the most important rule, no spinsters, divorcees, or widows.”
What the hell does that leave? Claudia scowled at the man. Why didn’t he just mention they need not be human as well, for all the sense this interrogation was making.
“You must be, currently and legally bound according by laws of your respective countries, married.”
Claudia’s jaw dropped to her chest. Married. This Vice man had such a preference for the kink of adultery that he actually interviewed women for it. She eyed the other women uncertainly. No one seemed bothered by these unorthodox standards. In all fairness, she had disqualified herself the minute she’d given Reggie the boot. Indecision waged a miniwar within her. Should she just pack her bags and return to the States? It did not sit well in her craw to lie outright. But then again there wasn’t a chance on God’s green earth this man was going to choose her. And if by some highly miraculous divine intervention he did, in fact, choose her, then he damn sure could pardon a small white lie. The bloody unscrupulous man obviously had no sense of morality and didn’t deserve her honesty. Her feet remained rooted.
“Good. Then we are ready to proceed.” He rushed to the door. “I’ll send Mr. Kenna in to make his evaluations.”
Claudia pinched the bridge of her nose as the women immediately broke out into loud chattering. On second thought, perhaps this is not such a good idea. She could just slip out while no one was paying attention. She certainly did not fit in with this bunch. As she edged stealthily toward the door, it flew open. A hushed silence filled the room.
The tall man with adorable red curls stepped in. His smile was warm and engaging as his blue eyes twinkled mischievously. “Good morning, ladies.”
Claudia frowned. Hadn’t Sin mentioned identical twin? Well, Sin had black hair and eyes. That was two solid strikes against this impostor before her. Maybe I’m in the wrong place after all.
The slender man strode forward, and in the most jovial voice, as though what he said was a common as a comment about the weather he requested, “Could you remove all your clothes?”
Well this Yankee-Doodle could ride his pony right on back to hell and stick his feather up his scrumptious-looking butt. “Kiss my fat ass.” Claudia would have even punctuated that brash statement with a smack on her layers of cellulite, except a deep, undeniably masculine voice spoke from the entrance.
“Remove your jeans, and I’ll gladly accommodate.”
Everything within Claudia stilled as her eyes shot to the newcomer at the door. Oowee! Now if that isn’t the finest specimen of raw, hot man-meat I’ve ever seen. The breath hitched in her chest. This man had to be Sin’s twin and the man she’d come seeking. Description-wise he certainly fit the bill. Oh Lordy, Vice Kenna in the flesh. His devilish dark eyes seemed to sear straight into her soul. His glossy, raven-black hair was wildly
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