Page 7 of Her Age Gap Match

I read it twice. Trying to find something that would tell me this was all some elaborate joke.

But there was nothing. I knew what the attachment pairing score meant for long-term stability. I knew what the conflict resolution number predicted about how two people would fight and come back from it. I knew what it meant when the alignment score sat that high—that you weren’t just compatible, you were oriented toward the same life.

I sighed, looking up at Jasper. “I don’t know what you want me to do with this.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know either. Go fall in love?”

“Jasper…” I shook my head. “I could lose my job. You know it’s against policy to get involved with clients.”

“Sounds like he’s about to get fired as a client,” Jasper said. “Wouldn’t you rather see what happens before he’s out of your life completely?”

I stared at him.

“That is…genuinely the worst advice I’ve ever received.”

“It’s not advice,” he said. “It’s data.”

Then he just turned around and walked off, waving at me over his shoulder…acting like he hadn’t just thrown a hand grenade into my love life.

CHAPTER 3

Poppy

Johnny Lawson was in my bed.

It was dark…hazy. His hands were on me, rough with real work, cool metal pressing into me from his rings. I couldn't quite figure out what we were doing, but his lips were by my ear and I felt so, so full.

“Just like that, Poppy,” he growled. “Right there…tell me what you want.”

I whimpered, his weight on me, between my legs. He was…he was inside me. God, he was inside me, and it felt so good.

“You,” I breathed. “You.”

“Good girl,” he chuckled.

The pressure intensified. I was thrusting my hips now, chasing sensation. “Fuck me, John,” I begged. “Please.”

“Come for me, baby,” he commanded. “Come, Poppy⁠—”

My eyes snapped open, my lips parting as I moaned. Oh God…oh no, it wasn't him. I was just—I was coming all by myself in bed.

Coming from a very specific sex dream.

My hand flew down between my legs and I worked myself through it, rolling onto my side to bury my face in the pillows so I wouldn't disturb the neighbors. I was ashamed to admit that this wasn’t the first time I’d had this dream…and not about this specific person either. He was the only guy who’d ever made me come without ever touching me.

I was so gone and for him.

And the matchmaking report Jasper gave me had made it so much worse.

I let it settle for a second, the pleasure washing over me as I stared up at my ceiling. I really expected that I would just fall right back to sleep—that was what normally happened—but the ceiling became far more interesting than usual.

I growled and swung my legs out of my bed.

My roommate Stevie was a night owl, and I could still hear the TV running in the living room. She was probably passed out on the couch with some horrific true crime show serving as white noise; I figured that was a good enough reason for me to be able to stomp around if needed.

But I didn’t go out to the living room. Didn’t go to make myself a cup of tea or anything like that.

I went straight to the desk in my bedroom, sat down, and stared at the report.