She reached toward the button, but her hand froze, hovering inches away.
Misgivings swamped her.
Finding a person their perfect match without them being part of the process would be difficult. She could only ask so much. Based on her research, the two guys weren’t stupid.
Her breaths rushed out in huffs.
Dash Cabot wasn’t only the smartest one in the room. He was also one of the most intelligent people on this planet. He might be a nerd, but he dated. None of his relationships, however, appeared serious.
Wes Lockhart had graduated with an undergrad degree in engineering and an MBA. He was old money like Henry Davenport, but Wes had also been sick. He dated many women. One name had been mentioned more than the others, but she’d disappeared from his life around the time of his cancer diagnosis.
What if Wes and Dash figured out what Blaise wanted her to do? Would she and her company become the scapegoats? Billionaires had deep pockets with teams of lawyers. She didn’t.
Nerves knocked louder than kids trick-or-treating on Halloween.
The situation had disaster written all over it.
If she left now, no one would know.
Three million dollars.
Like an echo in a canyon, the dollar amount swirled through her pounding head. She forced herself to slow her breathing. She needed the money to help her family. If she left—
The front door opened.
So much for making an escape.
“I saw you on the security camera.” His warm smile turned her weak legs into linguini. “I wasn’t sure if the doorbell was broken or if you were going to bolt.”
His rich voice kicked her pulse up a notch. Or maybe it was how he was rocking the casual look in his khaki shorts, maroon Henley, and bare feet.
“Not bolting.” She was breathless. That would work. “Catching my breath.”
Before she hyperventilated, which could still happen.
She should have known a place like this would have a security system. That wasn’t the worst part. She hated that her memory, even though she’d thought about Blaise all week, hadn’t done his appearance justice.
Had the guy gotten hotter since Tuesday?
He raised an eyebrow, giving his features a rakish effect she shouldn’t find so attractive. “Winded from your walk to the front door?”
Busted, but unless he called her out, she was admitting to nothing. “I’m good.”
Hadley would be. She just needed a moment to prepare herself because she had no idea what to expect when she stepped inside. Being so far out of her comfort zone and having zero control was messing with her big-time.
Should have stayed home.
Too late now.
“This is for you.” She handed him the gift bag, containing bars from a small-batch chocolate factory in San Francisco.
“Thank you.” He peeked inside. “I’ve heard about this place. Two tech guys founded it. Are the chocolates as good as they say?”
“Better.” She enjoyed going there. Or did before her caffeine moratorium. They sold chocolate bars, drinks, and pastries. “You can share with your guests or save for yourself.”
His gaze narrowed. “Is this a test to see what I do?”
“If you wanted to hire me to find you a wife, it might be,” she joked. “But since you don’t…”
