Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Oh, right. That’d do it.
I tense as I try to see my home through her eyes. Is she thinking about the lack of Christmas decorations? The fact that my home is simple and unadorned? Just a big couch for watching movies with Mia, a coffee table covered in coloring supplies, and a state-of-the-art sound system, but nothing that screams a holiday is coming.
Does she like it?
Why the hell am I wondering if she likes it?
Best to get down to business. “All right. What’s going on with this late-night visit?”
As Isla takes a sip of her Chablis, I try my damnedest not to stare salaciously at her pink lips, but it’s hard. Damn hard. She sets her glass on a coaster right as I lift my raspberry lime drink, hoping it’ll distract my one-track mind.
“I told Jason about our practice dates,” she says, and I nearly do a spit take.
But that would give away my crush, so I uncomfortably swallow down the carbonated drink.
“Yeah?” I rasp out.
Jason lifts his tumbler, giving an approving nod. “Brilliant plan. Isla will coach you. It’ll get you one step closer to the real thing.”
Doubtful.
But I’m guessing she told him because they’re in on this matchmaking thing together. She wants everything to be on the up and up. That’s fine. Of course that’s fine. It’s not like we’re fucking.
Not that I’d mind if we were.
And…I need to shut those thoughts down right now. Which is easy because a bigger question looms. The timing. The schedule. The one I’ve been trying to figure out since this afternoon, but also, the fact that we’ve come up empty so far in the matchmaking department. “I’m heading to Evergreen Falls at the end of the week, so I’m not sure how you’re going to find a match for me there or how we’ll even fit in any practice dates.”
Such a bummer.
But Jason’s shrewd smile says he’s got this. “Yeah, about that,” he begins, then with a nod, he hands off to his sister.
“First of all, I have a new client in town here. She’s an ER doctor, and she has some things in common with you.”
I raise a skeptical brow. “She likes to hit opponents on the ice?”
“No. But she’s a little rough around the edges,” Isla says.
I groan. “Really?”
“And so are you, so it’ll be a good chance before Evergreen Falls for both of you to test out dating.”
I narrow my eyes at Isla across from me on the sofa. “How is she rough around the edges? Is she a grumpy doctor?”
Isla shakes her head. “She has a habit of talking too much about weird medical stuff. I spoke to her tonight, though, and said I thought she could use a practice date, and what do you know? You could too.”
Jason snort-laughs from his spot on the other side of the couch. “It’s like dating on training wheels.”
I jerk my gaze to him. “You’re not helping.”
“You’re right. It’d be more helpful if I filmed your date with Doctor Rough Around the Edges.”
I flip him the bird, then turn back to Isla. “There’s still the issue of scheduling.” I mean, there’s not much she can do about me being gone most of this week.
Isla waves a hand airily. “Don’t worry twice. Jason gave me the schedule for your return flight from Seattle Thursday afternoon. You can meet her for a quick cup of coffee after your plane lands and before you pick up Mia. Then, we can use that experience to really home in on the key areas for your dating school.”
Damn. This woman thinks of everything. And she makes it impossible for you to say no. “Fine,” I grumble.
“Great. Your assignment is simple—ask her a few questions about herself, but don’t make them about medicine. And her assignment will be to talk about anything else at all.”
“It’s dating remedial school,” I say.
“Want me to come along and give you a grade?” Jason offers.
Isla turns to her brother. “You might actually not be helping right now, J.”
Schooling his expression, he turns to me. “Ignore me. Follow her advice.”
“You don’t say,” I remark.
Isla leans closer to me. “And my advice is to think of this as a trial date. Before Evergreen Falls.”
Which brings me back to the bigger issue. “Right, but that’s what I keep coming back to. Evergreen Falls. There’s no way for you to set me up there,” I say, playing my ace finally. My get-out-of-matchmaking card.
But Isla smiles brightly. “Don’t even worry about that.”
“I wouldn’t say I was worried.”
“Oh good. Because it’ll be easy to set you up in Evergreen Falls. I’ve been working on a plan this afternoon and evening. I have some women in mind and—good news. They’re all open to coming up to Evergreen Falls to go out with you there.”
It’s like a scratch on your favorite record, slowing down The Clash into a sad, warped song.