It was the craziest thing I had ever agreed to do. But how could I refuse? His offer was too generous to pass up. And hopefully, after I was done fake dating Dane, I would find my true love using his app. I just knew a good man was in New York waiting for me.
I just had to find him. Maybe Cupid’s Arrow would hit its mark for me too.
CHAPTER 10
DANE
It had been a shit morning. If I didn’t get away from marketing and PR teams, I was going to go on a firing spree. They had all lost their damn minds. By the time I escaped the office for lunch, I was at my wit’s end.
I met Keith at a steakhouse in Midtown. He was already there when I arrived, sitting at our usual table by the window, scrolling through his phone.
“You look like hell,” he said by way of greeting.
“It’s been a morning.” I dropped into the chair across from him.
“Let me guess. The board is breathing down your neck about getting numbers up.”
“Among other things.” I didn’t elaborate. The less Keith knew about the fake dating scheme Heidi had cooked up, the better. He’d either think it was brilliant and encourage it, or he’d make some inappropriate comment about Ina that would make me want to punch him in the face.
Possibly both.
We ordered. Keith got the ribeye and I got the New York strip. I needed protein to get through the rest of my day.
“So,” Keith said, settling back in his chair with a drink I was going to guess was rum and Coke. I wasn’t going to say anything about one drink at lunch, but I hoped that’s where it ended. “I need a favor.”
“Not a chance.”
He scoffed. “You don’t even know what it is yet.”
“I know you well enough to know that when you start with ‘I need a favor,’ it’s going to be something I don’t want to do.”
He grinned, completely unbothered. “Fair point. But hear me out. I have the hots for your assistant.”
I went very still. “Can you repeat that? I could have sworn you said something stupid.”
“Your assistant. Ava. The cute one with the dark hair who sits outside your office. You probably wouldn’t know because you have blinders on. You wouldn’t see a beautiful woman if she was standing directly in front of your nose.” He took a sip of his drink. “I want you to put in a good word for me.”
“Her name is Ina,” I said, each word carefully controlled. “And no fucking way.”
“Come on, Dane. You’re her boss. She’ll listen to you.”
“Which is exactly why I’m not going to abuse that dynamic by playing matchmaker for you. I’m her boss, not her pimp.” I took a bite of my steak and slowly chewed trying to wash down the taste of anger building in my throat. “If you’re interested inIna, talk to her yourself. Like an adult.”
Keith waved dismissively. “I’ve tried. She’s always busy, or running off to some meeting, or I don’t know. She just doesn’t seem interested. But if you put in a word for me, tell her I’m a good guy, it might help.”
I thought about that bull shit stapler sitting on the corner of Ina’s desk. The one Keith had given her as a “thoughtful” Secret Cupid gift.
“Maybe she’s not interested because you don’t know even know her name,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
“That’s what dates are for. Getting to know each other.” Keith shrugged. “Besides, that’s what the Cupid’s Arrow matchmakers do anyway, right? They pair people up and let them figure out if they’re compatible. I’m just cutting out the middleman.”
I gritted my teeth. “If you want to impress Ina, put in the actual work to get to know her. Find out what she likes. What she cares about. What makes her laugh.”
“Isn’t that what the matchmakers are for?”
“I think it’s a little different when you work with someone,” I said. “Shouldn’t you take the time to ask questions yourself?”
I wanted to bring up the stapler. The words were right there, burning on my tongue. He was trying to get me to put in a good word and he couldn’t bother to give her a real gift.
