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He stared at her steadily. “Erik told me what he wanted, and based on my experience, I felt Chicago would have the type of down-to-earth, nice woman he was looking for.”
“Is that the kind of girl you want?”
“I want you,” he replied even more emphatically.
Oddly, she didn’t distrust that, despite her concern about the supermodels. “So what are you? A matchmaker?”
He snorted. “Hardly, but maybe I should change professions because people keep coming to me for advice. I could join my cousin, who’s launching a dating app.”
“Coco?” she asked, remembering that he’d said she was his best friend.
He shook his head. “Her sister Vivienne.”
“Are you that good at love?”
“I’m good at winning.” He leaned back, his arm resting on the back of her stool. “If I know where the goal is, I can see how to get to it and win. It doesn’t matter if the goal is love or a job or getting over an emotional hurdle that’s holding you back. Over the years, it’s become habit, me helping the guys I know with their issues. They all come to me when they need help.”
“You’re like a life coach,” Rachel said. “You should help me.”
“With?”
“Life. At the moment, I’m not winning.” She thought about thirty-five looming and winced.
“Why don’t you want to win?” he asked.
She blinked at the blunt question. “You don’t pull punches. No wonder Lottie loves you.”
He shook his head, his gaze dropping to her mouth before returning to her eyes. “You’re evading the question. Why are you afraid to win?”
She toyed with the stem of her glass. “Maybe it’s not winning I’m afraid of. Maybe it’s being a loser.”
“And you won’t be a loser if you don’t get in the game, so you stay safe by not engaging.” He nodded, his hand on his chin as he studied her. “Except you dipped your toe in with your job.”
“I’m determined to earn that promotion,” she said, feeling the desire down to her toes.
After a moment, he nodded. “I believe you. Can I get you another drink?”
She stared at her suddenly empty glass. “It’s a school night.”
“Play hooky,” Jamie said in his sexy Satan’s henchman voice.
“I can’t play hooky. I just said I’d do anything to get a promotion. I can’t just not go in. I have a new client, and I need to produce some excellent ideas. My promotion is contingent on it.”
He stared at her mouth. “Do you get tipsy easily?”
“Not usually.” But sitting next to him was going to her head. She saw Jamie glance at her mouth again and she wiped at the corner. “Is my lip gloss smeared?”
“Not yet,” he said.
“Then why are you staring at my mouth?”
“Because I keep thinking about the word I gave you.”
Kisses. She blushed as she looked at his mouth.
He leaned toward her, lowering his voice. “You have the most delectable lips I’ve ever seen, and since the first time I saw you, I wondered what they tasted like.” Suddenly he took his wallet out. “You’re right. We should get out of here.”
“What happened to another drink?” she asked, dazed.
