Perfectly Mismatched

By Kathryn Kaleigh

From BookBub: A sweet and heartwarming romance! Dating is the last thing on Ashlyn's mind. But when she steps in as her mother's receptionist, she feels a spark with handsome psychiatrist Colton - while at the same time, a connection is blooming with a mysterious stranger on a dating app. Too bad they're not the same man... rig

• Language: English
• Publisher: KST Publishing Inc.
• Release date: Apr 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869293176

Kathryn Kaleigh

Kathryn Kaleigh is a bestselling romance novel and short story writer. Her writing spans from the past to the present from historical time travel fantasy novels to sweet contemporary romances. From her imaginative meet-cutes to her happily-ever-afters, her writing keeps readers coming back for more.

Book preview

Chapter One

ASHLYN BEAUFORT

Houston

Only Friends and Family need apply.

Tradition.

My life was steeped in tradition.

And yet growing up the middle child of five, two older brothers and two younger brothers, I could safely say that my life was nontraditional.

What about this one? Charlotte held up a light blue cardigan sweater. It’s cashmere. She said, running a hand along the soft wool.

Charlotte, my best friend, and I were doing our annual back to school shopping. It had been our tradition for almost fifteen years, starting sometime in high school, lasting through college, and following us into adulthood. It didn’t matter than neither one of us was not a student anymore.

I, in fact, worked from home so I lived in jeans and t-shirts. Charlotte taught kindergarten, so if either one of us qualified for back to school shopping, it would be her. It did not help, however, that she also wore jeans and t-shirts to work. Nonetheless, Charlotte was newly married and had a husband to impress.

Still. Tradition was tradition.

The Galleria was crowded with people doing legitimate back to school shopping. We blended right in.

I scrunched up my nose at the blue sweater.

How are you going to get the play-dough out of it? I asked. And the finger paint?

It’s not for work. It’s for going out with Jeff.

I turned from the rack of flowy skirts and looked her in the eye. How long have you been married? Since I had been her maid of honor, I knew perfectly well how long she had been married, but I had a point to make.

Two months, tomorrow, she said. We’re going out to celebrate.

I shook my head. You can’t wear that. Two months of marriage isn’t long enough to start wearing old-lady clothes on a date. At least wait until you’ve been married a year.

Charlotte stood her ground. It’s not old-lady. It’s professional.

Fine, I said, turning back to the rack of skirts, any of which I did not need. Wear it to a faculty meeting.

Okay. She put her hands on her hips. Tell me what you suggest then.

It was funny Charlotte had always had a good eye for fashion, but marriage had altered her brain. Maybe she just needed to have her focus reset.

A quick scan of the store and I quickly found what I was looking for.

Come on, I said, taking her by the arm.

But…

I stopped. Made a face. Bring the sweater.

Smiling, Charlotte picked up the baby blue sweater and brought it with her.

I rolled my eyes. The thing was Charlotte would look sexy in a paper sack. But as her best friend, it was my obligation to keep her off the slippery slope to looking matronly at twenty-eight.

I led her straight to the sexy dresses section.

I don’t need another black dress, she said.

"It’s not about needing it. We don’t need anything. Besides… I pulled a low-cut silver sheath dress from the rack. This is definitely not another black dress."

Ohh. She took the dress from me and held it up to her. This is pretty.

Try it on, I said, grabbing a navy dress for her to try on, too. And this one.

Reaching the dressing room, I sat on the sofa while she headed to one of the rooms.

What about you? What are you trying on?

I REALLY don’t have anywhere to wear a dress like this. Most definitely not.

Charlotte looked at me sideways. We’re going to have to fix that.

Go ahead, I said, ignoring her reference to my current single status. I need to do some work for a minute.

While Charlotte tried on the silver dress, I reviewed and submitted a dozen orders that came in through my website. My online store was just one of many things I did.

I came by my entrepreneurial spirit from both parents. I definitely had my grandfather’s entrepreneurial spirit. My grandfather, Noah Worthington had started Skye Travels, the most successful private airline company in the country from just one airplane. Now he had a whole fleet of planes.

My father had his own company, too, in the gaming industry. Even my mother, who was also a pilot for Skye Travels, had a side company delivering service animals to people.

What do you think? Charlotte asked, coming out to model the silver dress.

I think Jeff won’t know what hit him.

I love it. But I’m going to try on the navy one, too.

I’ll be right here.

As I checked my emails, a text came in from my grandmother.

Grandma Savannah

Hi Ashlyn. How are you?

My grandma used texting like a phone conversation. She didn’t seem to grasp that texts were ongoing and didn’t require greetings every time.

Good. Are you ok?

Grandma Savannah

Rose had a family emergency. I’ll be working late tonight. So sorry to have to reschedule.

My Grandma Savannah had her own private practice as a psychologist here in Houston. She had brought in a couple of social workers and a psychiatrist, but the psychiatrist had recently retired. Rose had worked for her forever.

I understand. Hope everything goes well with Rose.

Grandma Savannah

When I know more, we’ll reschedule.

Okay. Let me know if you need me to do anything.

Grandma Savannah

Just enjoy your shopping trip.

I stared at the phone. Had I told her I was going shopping? Probably not. But I had told someone in the family and word traveled fast.

What about this one? Charlotte asked, coming out of the dressing room.

She looked stunning.

You have to get both of them.

Charlotte stood in the three-way mirror, biting her lip. Then I remembered. She was married now and Jeff might have different ideas about the way they spent their money.

You’re having too much fun, I said, putting my phone away and standing up. Let me try on the silver one.

You know it’ll fit.

I just shrugged as I slipped into the dressing room.

Of course I knew it would fit. Charlotte and I could pass for sisters, maybe even twins, except that she had shoulder length red hair and I was most definitely a brunette.

But if I tried it on, I would have an excuse to buy it. Even though I didn’t need it, Charlotte could borrow it.

Minutes later, I stood next to her in front of the mirror.

We should go on a double date, Charlotte decided.

You know I’m not dating right now.

I need to do something about that. Charlotte stood on her bare feet and turned around.

I’ll date when it’s time. And I was not ready. Anyone who had experienced what I had with my last boyfriend, would probably enforce the same moratorium.

Charlotte didn’t say anything else about it until we were back in our clothes heading to the checkout counter.

There’s a new dating app out, she said.

Charlotte, I said. You’re a married woman. You shouldn’t even know about such things.

"It’s not for me Duffus. It’s for you. And you know my husband does programing."

He programmed a dating app? I thought he was into those time management apps.

His friend developed it.

Let me know how that works out.

Standing in line at the checkout counter, I changed the subject.

You know, I think you can wear that sweater with that dress.

I’d never used a dating app and I didn’t see any need to start doing so now. Besides, I wasn’t dating right now.

Not dating.

Definitely not dating.

Chapter Two

COLTON SMITH

My office on the tenth floor of the Worthington Enterprises building gave me an awesome view of Uptown. It was so awesome, in fact, that I had to lower the shades when I had clients. It didn’t matter which way I turned my chairs, either me or my client would be distracted by the view.

From here I could see the traffic backed up in front of the Galleria and I could watch the cars on the 610 Loop. I especially liked the view at night. Thousands of people all going somewhere. The hustle of the city. So many people and no one saw anyone else.

Having grown up in a small town, no matter how long I had lived in the city, I was fascinated by all the cultural aspects.

In all truthfulness, the distracting view from the window was probably mostly me.

I loved the view so much I was looking into buying a high-rise condo for myself. But it was a big investment and I was taking my time. I was not a rush into it kind of guy.

The client sitting in front of me was something of a social recluse. I’ll call him John.

In the four months I had been working with him, he had dated all of zero women. And yet he spent his time in my office lamenting that he was nearing twenty-five and was still single.

But it was my job to listen to him and help him navigate his world. To try to make his life better.

I hadn’t prescribed him any medication. At least not yet. First of all, there was an ethical issue about using medication to make people more social. And second I just didn’t think he needed it.

What do you think, Doc? he asked. We were nearing the end of our session. He always asked me what I thought and I never gave him a direct answer. It wasn’t my job to live his life for him.

But today I was feeling like we weren’t making any progress. It had been six months. It was time to get more direct. Past time.

I think it’s time you put yourself out there.

What do you mean? he asked, obviously surprised that I had actually given him a direct answer to the question he asked me at the end of our session every week.

I mean… do something different.

I’ve been trying everything you suggested.

Right. Journaling. Self-reflection. Going out in public places. None of those things seemed to be working for him.

There’s a new dating app out there that I’d like you to try. I wrote out the name of it on my prescription pad and handed it to him.

Have you used it?

No. I mostly kept my personal life personal, but I would answer basic questions like my marital status when asked. He had asked.

Why not?

Because, John, I’m not in the market. It wouldn’t be fair.

But you would use it, he asked. If you were in the market.

I would, I said. But the truth was, I had never used a dating app in my life. I always managed to find a date when I needed one.

Mostly I was content to stay to myself. I was practically married to my work anyway.

I’d yet to meet a woman who could deal with that for very long.

Of course, like the view, that could actually be my problem, too. Maybe I hadn’t tried very hard, but I had yet to meet the one. And as much of a scientist as I was, I believed in my heart that one day I would meet a woman and fall head over heels in love. No doubt. That was how it was supposed to work—at least according to the old movies I had grown up watching.

I think I’ll wait, John said, leaning back in his chair.

Wait?

I think I’ll wait until after you’ve tried it.

I don’t— I had always said that I would not ask my clients to do anything I wouldn’t.

Had I just come to that tipping point? The one where I broke my own rule for the good of the client?

Let me think about it, I