I understand why my sister doesn't like Christopher Bennett-- and why my bestie does.

The man sitting across the table from me at the small coffee shop near the courthouse truly is beautiful. He's tall and muscular. His features are chiseled with just the right combination of rugged and sophisticated. His smile is almost unarming. Almost.

He sits in his chair and leans back, his arm long enough to easily rest his elbow on the table while his hand engulfs the insulated paper cup his coffee is in.

Half caff, soy latte with ristretto shots. Because, apparently, the soy milk "rounds out" the "slightly sweet quality" of the ristretto shot.

I roll my eyes at the pretentious coffee order. I don't care if the man is a coffee connoisseur, but having to endure the unsolicited explanation of why his coffee order was superior to mine was a bit much.

"So," I try one more time to get this conversation going somewhere-- anywhere-- interesting, "why an arranged marriage?"

My attempts haven't been working so far. Christopher sits across from me, spinning his coffee cup absently between his fingers while he watches me with an expression I'm having trouble deciphering. Which is unusual. I'm usually pretty good at reading a person's facial expressions, but I'm coming up blank on this guy.

His forehead furrows, it causes his eyebrows to draw together and pull downward, making his bright blue eyes take on a dark and slightly dangerous look.

It's sexy. I'm not going to lie.

"I'd really rather not announce that to the whole world," he tells me in a low warning tone that matches the dangerous look in his eyes, "I don't think it'd be good for the image."

From the way he leans in with a hint of curl at the corners of his lips I think he means to be speaking in a conspiratorial whisper, but it comes out a little growly and it sounds like he's issuing me an order.

So far, in the 15 minutes or so that I've been sitting across from him, all I really know about Christopher Bennett is that he's used to getting away with issuing orders.

I turn my head and cast a pleading look at Lori who's sitting at a table across the room with Christopher's assistant, Rod. Neither of our chaperons notice me. They're both engrossed in their cell phones.

"Then why did you opt for the arrangement if you don't want anyone to know that's how we met?" I ask stiffly.

I pull back slightly from the table, sitting up straight in my chair and crossing my legs at the knees. I feel like I'm interviewing a new client. Right at that point where I realize they're guilty as sin and I'm about to decline their case.

I leave my plain black house brew with one sugar sitting on the table and fold my hands in my lap.

Christopher's eyebrows move in the opposite direction, rising just slightly as his pupils dilate. It's hard to keep myself from smiling at his reaction. He's not used to women pulling away from him.

Well, I think to myself as I glance down at my watch, unconcerned with whether or not he notices, he's about to get a big shock.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bennett," I say in my best lawyer voice as I uncross my legs and reach down for my brief case beside me, "Unfortunately, I'm needed in court at 9 and I have a lot of cases to review before then."

I'd be a liar if I pretended that the look of utter astonishment on his perfect features didn't send a little thrill through me.

I stand up and hold my hand out to shake his politely before I pick up my coffee, "If you want to schedule another meeting, let my sister or Lori know."

Speaking of Lori, she catches my movement and is suddenly watching me with confusion and concern as Chris awkwardly jumps to his feet and stammers something that sounds a bit like an attempt to regain control of the situation.

Too late. I've already left the table. I stop to say good morning to Rod and Lori jumps up to follow me out of the cafe.

"You really think that's the guy I should marry?" I laugh as we cross the street and head to the courthouse. I love Lori, and I do trust her judgment, or I wouldn't have put her on my team, but-- damn if I understand how she came to the conclusion that Christopher Bennett was my Mr. Right.

"Isn't he hot?" Lori answers me with a question like she completely missed my point.

"Hot is the only thing he is," I tell her as we go through security. "He's also arrogant, uninterested, and apparently ashamed of seeking an arranged marriage. What's his story?"

"Uninterested? Are you sure? He seemed really eager to find a wife and start a family when we were interviewing." I'm not sure if Lori is actually talking to me or if she's thinking out loud.

"Well I'm not what he was expecting, I can tell you that much for sure," I tell her, "and he's not what I'm looking for."

Lori follows me into the room that's serving as my private office for the day. The federal courthouse in this county doesn't really provide attorneys much space, but it's better than some of the courthouses I've been to where I had to carry all my case files with me all day long.

"What do you mean?" Lori sits on the edge of the table in the room while I pull paperwork out of my case and start organizing it by appointment time.

"I mean I'm looking for a husband who is an equal partner in our marriage, Lor," I look up at her and smile, "I need a man who's ego isn't going to get in the way of my career. I make more money than most men, I work more hours, I need a man who's not threatened by that. I can tell you right now, that's not Christopher Bennett."

"But, Manda, he is your equal. He's got a masters degree, he has a high profile career, he's looking to move into local politics. Your political leanings are a match, you have similar family back grounds, you have compatible aspirations--"

I cut her off with a wave of my hand and a quiet laugh. She sounds like she's quoting my match maker word for word. I can just hear Raven listing these things as she ticks them off with a press to each perfectly manicured fingertip.

"OK. I get why Raven might have thought we were compatible-- on paper," I say, "but that's why she uses people from her clients' real lives to do the final interviews. You're supposed to fill in the gaps that Raven can't."

Lori nods, "I know that. Look, Amanda," Lori gets up and gathers her stuff, preparing to take off, "we did our job, we took it seriously. Raven had very strong leanings toward Chris from the beginning and the more we discussed it and got to know him and his team, the more we agreed with her. I know he comes off a little rough around the edges, but give him a chance. I think you'll be surprised."

I return her hug and save the eye rolling till she's left.