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“Cole, you all right?” Ruth asks me, her concern obvious.
“Yeah, it’s just, this is intense,” I tell her, standing from the stool.
“Oh, no, it’s really very low-key. Sometimes I can’t always tell on paper who would make a good match, so getting to witness how people interact in person is very helpful. Just relax, be the charmer I know you are, and we will probably have to beat all these women off you by the end of the night.” She motions for me to follow her.
I snort at her comment. Suddenly, I have a vision of her beating women with a broom as she stands protectively next to me.
Four women stand between two tables, chatting as we approach.
“Ladies, I would like to introduce you to Cole Reed.” They all say hello with smiles and I look at each one as Ruth introduces them. They are all beautiful women, but none of them spark any real interest.
Maybe something will develop as we talk.
Several minutes later, I’m actually enjoying a group conversation with Mina, Vivian, Samantha, and Aubree. It’s easy to forget this is all a setup.
We all get drinks, but I switch to cola as I don’t want to lose my wits and flirt too much. They ask me about my job, of which they are all very impressed that I own several of their favorite restaurants. Each woman shares her background, Mina in real estate, Vivian and Samantha both in marketing, and Aubree a romance author. All the women are wonderful, but I can’t help becoming distracted every time I catch a glimpse of Layla.
Before long, I’m regrouping with Ruth at the bar.
“I really like Mina for you, dear. Thoughts?” she asks.
“She’s nice,” I tell her, nodding. I can’t help searching the room for Layla again. I can’t keep my eyes off her. She’s talking with Roger and he places his hand on her shoulder, which makes me flinch and suck in a breath.
“Nice is good, I suppose,” Ruth says and when I look at her, her head is cocked to the side as she studies me.
“Yeah, it’s a great starting point.” I can bullshit my way through this.
“Let’s have you chat with Mina and maybe Samantha. Sound all right?”
“Sure thing.” At this point tonight, I’m not sure any of these women are the ones, but I’m along for the ride. For my grandmother’s sake.
The rest of the night speeds on by for the most part. I end up spending a few minutes with all four women. I definitely think Mina is the one who Ruth is pushing me toward. She’s a stunning woman, jet-black hair cut right above the shoulders, she’s tall, and is a real estate agent specializing in a nearby suburb of Indy. There are worst things than being matched with this woman. Much worse things.
Then again, I can think of someone much better than Mina. No offense to her, but being somehow matched with Layla would be so much better.
At the end of the night, I’m surprisingly exhausted. My personality is big most days, thanks to my charm, but at the end of a social day or event, I want to crash and bask in the silence.
Alone with my thoughts, I can’t stop thinking about Roger hitting on Layla and her shooting him down. While I’m proud of her no-nonsense approach to keeping her business and personal life separate, I wish she bent the rules from time to time. Selfishly, because I want more time with her and it’s clear that crossing that line isn’t going to fly.
Since she’s been back in my life, I’ve spent more time than not thinking about all the ways I want to get under her skin and make her blush and grin with my words, like back in college. But now that I’ve tasted her lips, I want so much more.
I drift off to sleep with a hard-on and dirty dreams starring the one and only…Layla James.
* * *
The next day, I once again find myself in Ruth’s office at HEA, Inc. She’s clicking around on her computer while I make myself comfortable in the plush chair in front of her desk. I’ll give the women credit, they have mastered how to stock their office in inviting and comfortable furniture. Makes me second-guess my office furniture decisions at RRG.
“Just a moment, Cole, I need to send out this one meeting request,” Ruth says.
“No worries.” I take in her area and see a cluster of photo frames on the shelf behind her desk. There’s one of her and the HEA crew outside of the building standing behind a giant ribbon. Layla is holding large scissors.
There is another of Ruth and a younger Layla on graduation day. A wedding photo of Ruth and her late husband, and then one of her with Dorthy. I chuckle at the photo.
“Planning any trips out to NYC to see my grandma soon?” I ask, my eyes darting back to the ribbon-cutting photo with Layla in it.
“Ah, she’s actually going to come out here next,” she says, folding her hands together and placing them on the desk.
“That’s right, you take turns. She mentioned seeing me soon, and I don’t have any plans to fly to NYC in the next few months.” I drag my gaze away from the photos and give my attention to Ruth.
