I threw up my arms. “Fine! One match.”
She clapped her hands. “Finally! I knew you’d crack!”
I narrowed my eyes. “Only because I’m too busy to keep arguing. One match, ladies, and then you back offfor good and leave me the heck alone. If I rot in loneliness, it’s my business!”
“Deal!” Iola said, “But you have to actuallytry?—”
I ducked around them, already refocusing on my next plan of action. “Sure, fine. But onlyonematch! Make it a good one, because after that, we’re done!”
CHAPTER 3
Silas
Three days later,the mamas sent me a match—Bryson, age 33, business owner new to Granville.
I texted him to set up the date the same night. The sooner this was over, the sooner I could get on with my happily single life.
At exactly 7:00 p.m., headlights bounced up the driveway. A pickup truck.Of course.
I watched from the window as the driver’s door opened and a country boy in jeans and a denim jacket hopped out. Bryson’s mess of curls would make any bride jealous, and his thick stubble instantly made my inner thighs tingle with a rush of desire.
“Fuck me,” I muttered. “They sure know how to pick them.”
Bryson sauntered up the walk, looking comfortable in his skin. He hit the doorbell, but his gaze flicked to the window. Busted.
I smoothed my fitted paisley button-down, checked myhair in the hall mirror, and opened the door with a smile. “Hey, Bryson. Nice to meet you.”
Bryson swept his gaze over me, head to foot, and I had the sudden nervous thought that I might not impress him. Weird. I never had trouble interesting guys. Usually, one flicker of my bedroom eyes did the trick. My thick dark hair, expensive clothes, and trim figure didn’t hurt either.
Bryson smiled, warm and a tad suggestively. “This matchmaking service is off to a good start.”
I laughed because it really was. I’d fought the mamas for months, but if I’d known they could deliver a Bryson to my doorstep, maybe I’d have yielded before now.
Not that this would be anything but one fun night, but still, it could bereallyfun.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked.
He looked tempted, gaze flicking past my shoulder to the interior of my living room. He swiped his tongue over his bottom lip, making my body warm further.
“Better not,” he said with a regretful smile. “I’ve got plans all set up to romance you.”
“I’m not really the romancing type.”
“No?” He looked surprised. “Youlooklike the type.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” I said tartly. “For example, youdon’tlook like the type to turn down a sure thing.” I stepped out on the porch and closed the door behind me. “Guess we were both wrong.”
He laughed. “You’ve got some fire in you. I like that.”
“Mm.” I brushed past him to take the steps down to the sidewalk. “You could have seen a lot more of that fire, but suit yourself.”
He caught up to me in one easy stride of his long-ass legs. “Easy, darlin’. The night is young. Plenty of timefor fire after the romancin’.” He winked, and I wanted to be annoyed, but he was too freaking charming.
He jogged ahead to open the pickup door for me.
“Chivalrous,” I murmured as I stepped up into the cab.
He took my hand and raised it to his lips, bestowing a soft kiss to my knuckles. “Just trying to treat you right.”
