Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
There was no choice. Troy had to win her. And lose the bet.
A mere half hour ago, he’d sent his matchmaking team away. And he still hadn’t come up with a single idea for wooing Michaela.
He was a lovesick idiot.
And he’d have to figure this out on his own. Whatever he did, it had to be amazing. Something like… flying her to New York for dinner at the most expensive, romantic restaurant. Or… renting a train car and having a delicious meal served while the locomotive whisked them down to LA, where he would take her to the hottest new dance club, Exchange LA, located in the historic Los Angeles Stock Exchange. It had become the premier destination for lovers of electronic dance music.
Did she even like electronic dance music?
Dammit, those were the kinds of dates a billionaire would use to impress her. He didn’t want to remind her of his billionaire status. No, he needed something better. He needed something totally un-billionaire-ish.
He couldn’t say why his eyes fell to the row of athletic shoes and hiking boots lining the wall. They’d been there for a couple of weeks, in place for today’s meeting, but suddenly he remembered what Flo had said as she was walking out the door.
Michaela liked to hike.
And he did need a test hiker for those boots.
His heart rate was already racing as he imagined watching her hike in skimpy shorts, getting all hot and sweaty. This was perfect. If he phrased it right, she wouldn’t be able to say no.
Not wanting to waste a moment, he called Michaela. Instead of saying something like, I want to go for a hike with you, he took a sneakier route. “Hey, look, I’m working on a new deal with a Hong Kong shoe manufacturer. I can test the men’s boots, but I need help to test the women’s.”
She puffed out an exasperated breath. “Don’t you have an employee who can help you?”
Of course he did. But he wanted her. “No one is available.” Though he hadn’t asked anyone else. “I’ve already had to reschedule the meeting with this supplier.” He didn’t say he’d rescheduled it so he could come up with the perfect date with her.
Was that a growl over the phone line? With a very audible sigh, she said, “All right, I’ll help you, but I want you to understand this is not a date.”
Oh yes, it was.
“Just so you know there’s nothing between us.”
Oh, but there would be.
“I’m only doing this because you need a woman to wear those boots.”
That was good enough for him.
Bam! He’d done it! “Great. What size are you?” When she told him, he suggested, “How about tomorrow, then?” It was supposed to be another beautiful June Saturday.
“Tomorrow would be fine,” she said, though he sensed hesitancy in her voice.
He wouldn’t let her back out now, so he pushed forward with definite plans. “Why don’t you choose a trail for us, and I’ll pick you up at eight tomorrow morning.”
“Okay,” she said as if she was still feeling hesitant. But then she added, “Meet me at my office. I’ll bring lunch.”
Oh yeah, he got it. She was trying to maintain a businesslike distance by making it the office instead of her home.
That didn’t matter. He felt his heart hammering at the thought of seeing her again. Of kissing her again.
Today, she might be denying it was a date, but tomorrow, after he kissed her the way he so desperately wanted to, she’d no longer be able to deny their attraction.
When Michaela had seen the name on her phone screen, her hand had twitched, and she couldn’t stop herself from answering.
She couldn’t believe she’d said yes to Troy’s hike tomorrow. But she knew exactly why she had. It was that kiss. Oh my God, that kiss. She touched her lips, thinking about it. She’d lain awake last night reliving it. Even when she’d finally fallen asleep, she’d dreamed of it.
And now they had another business engagement. She wouldn’t call it a date.
Her fingers caressing her lips, she murmured aloud, “I wonder if he’ll kiss me again.”
“Wait, who is the matchmaker finally matching herself with?”
The voice snapped her back to reality, to the meeting she was in. She’d completely forgotten about Gloria Madden sitting across from her, recalling only now that Gloria had been on the phone with her husband when Troy called.
Good Lord, she’d forgotten everything when his voice had purred in her ear.
This wasn’t like her at all.
Gloria was no longer a dating client. As Michaela had told Troy, she’d matched Gloria and Ivan Madden ten years ago, not only as the cofounders of FoodFast, but in love as well.
Now, she and Gloria were fast friends.
Ooh, she should to a search on that term. FastFriends could be a dating site Gloria and Ivan could build together. Right now, though, Michaela was doing some art matchmaking for the couple. She was sure they’d adore Rosie Jones’s paintings.