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She snorted out a laugh. “Yeah, that’s not true. You’ve been around me long enough to know I’m a hot mess. A lovable one but definitely a mess.”

“You fight so hard for things. If we were together, you’d fight hard for us. It wouldn’t matter what my dad said.”

Eden pressed a hand to his forehead. There was the whisper of a smile on her face that Blaze longed to see every day.

“You should rest,” she said softly.

“I don’t want to. I have a plan.”

“Oh, yeah. What’s that?”

“I’ll slip your file in with the others. I’ll pick you. When my dad questions it, I’ll tell him he gave me the details. I’m only picking my right match.”

Eden tilted her head. “Right match for what? What’s your dad making you decide on?”

“Only the rest of my life.”

She was silent for a moment, keeping her hand on his forehead and gently massaging her thumb across the skin, sending a shiver of need through him.

“That’s a big decision to make,” Eden said.

“The biggest. But I made a promise.”

“It sounds like you’re at a crossroad, and you need to make a choice.”

“I’m at a big crossroad. A beautiful one, full of great matches. All of them leave me cold.” He closed his eyes, his gut roiling as the venom continued to trickle through him.

“And what are your options at this crossroad?”

“Loyalty to my family, or...”

“Or...”

“Happiness. The kind you don’t think is real. Maybe it’s not.” Blaze squeezed her hand. “What would be your version of happiness?”

“A free bar full of hot guys.” Eden laughed. “No, a free bar, an all-you-can-eat buffet that doesn’t make you gain weight, my best friends hanging out with me, and lots of gorgeous, available guys.”

A coldness settled around his heart. “Is that really all you want? Life to be one long party?”

The smile on Eden’s face flickered. The sadness that entered her eyes hit Blaze in the gut. “It makes life easy.”

“But does it make you happy? In the long term?”

“I thought it did. I don’t know.” Her gaze went to the door.

“I’m not accepting that. I can fix this for both of us. Give me your details. Leave nothing out. I’ll make up a file, accept you, and then we both get what we want.”

“Um, you want a file all about me? How will that help with this crossroad situation you’re in?”

“It’ll help me. I can show that we should be together.”

“Together!” Eden glanced at the medics. She lowered her mouth close to his ear. “We’ve made out a couple of times. That doesn’t mean we’re married.”

Blaze turned his head so that her face was inches from his. He could see the confusion in her eyes. “Would you like that?”

“Marriage? No way!” She jerked back. “This doggo venom really is making you lose your mind.”

“My mind has never been clearer. This will work. So long as there aren’t too many skeletons in your closet.”