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Damn, Lays, you know how to make a guy blush.
I snort at his bullshit reply with a quick eye roll emoji. Even though he’s probably halfway down the street by now, I can practically hear his laughter.
Staring down at my phone until it fades to black, I once again startle when I hear my name. Hazel this time, with a drink in hand.
“Layla, who was that tall drink of water you were talking to?”
I shake my head. “Oh, that was Cole. Old friend.”
“Yummy. Never seen him in here before. Here, brought you something. New drink. Saw you in line a little bit ago and was going to offer you one, but I was waiting until the hottie with the body left.” She grins.
I roll my eyes playfully, finding my way back to my normal self. “What is it?” I nod toward the drink as she hands it over.
“Raspberry mango splash. It has a green tea base, so it’s really tasty and packs a punch for a mid-day boost.” I take a sip and the fruity flavors assault my taste buds and I let out a delighted moan.
“It’s so good.”
“Thank you! Hey, you want to go out to dinner tonight? I was going to go out with Harper, but she’s under the weather.”
“Yeah, sure. When and where?” I ask, taking another drink.
“Six and I got a reservation at LACE. I’m excited to try it. Haven’t had a chance to eat there yet,” she tells me excitedly.
Shit. Really?
“Oh, yeah, me neither. I’ll be there,” I tell her, faking a smile. And hope like hell I don’t run into the owner.
“Awesome. It’s a date. I gotta run!” She smiles and scurries away.
I make my way out of the café and back to my office. I stare off into space as the elevator takes me up two floors.
I don’t know why Cole’s presence is affecting me so much.
He was my friend, never more.
Was I attracted to him? Sure, you’d have to be blind not to be.
Had I briefly thought about asking him out after Trevor and I broke up?
Sure, but the man was popular with the ladies. By the time I decided to go for it, he was already dating someone new.
So why is it that I’m clearly affected by him being here, in Indy, in my office, meeting with my grandmother, needing a matchmaker? I wish I had run into him anywhere else, somewhere sooner than today, been able to reconnect with him. See if there was any kind of spark between us. I think there might be. But now, now none of that matters because he’s becoming a client of Happily Ever After, Inc.
And every smart matchmaker knows you never fall in love with a client.
So I guess he will be one more HEA success story. Finding his match with the help of a matchmaking master.
Maybe the next one, Layla.
Chapter 4
TWICE IN ONE DAY
COLE
I can’t getthe gorgeous woman out of my head. I knew seeing Layla James for the first time after a decade would be an experience, but I wasn’t expecting to see her in my head every time I fucking blinked.
Her smile still wrecked me. Her thick brown hair still made my fingers itch to tangle in it, pull a little to see if it would cause a sexy, little moan. Her body had only filled out in the best way into her thirties. But mostly, over the damn sinful look of her, it was her voice. The raspy, sexy voice of hers. I could still hear it in my head and I wanted to hear it more.
