Don’t kiss again.
A heaviness pressed against Blaise, making him feel as if he held weights on each shoulder. He broke eye contact to avoid her seeing his disappointment about no more kissing.
“Because I don’t kiss clients,” she added.
He considered her words. “Does that mean you’ll be my friends’ matchmaker?”
She nodded.
“But I’m the client, not them?” He wanted confirmation on that point.
“You’re paying me so you’re the client.”
Okay, no more kisses. Maybe once his friends were married…
Blaise shook the thought from his head. He was getting ahead of himself. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Her voice was strained. “I want to be on record saying this is most likely going to blow up in both of our faces.”
“It won’t.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
Hard work and letting his tunnel vision drive him until he accomplished what he’d set out to do had led to success, from graduating high school to attending college to founding his own company. He was doing the same thing with the bet by finding the one person who could help him win sooner. “Trust me.”
* * *
Trust me.
Sitting on the airplane, Blaise’s words sounded in Hadley’s head. The way they had since she’d left his house. The only-in-her-imagination voice teased and mocked her.
Forget about him.
Other passengers were still boarding. Hadley had a window seat. She adjusted the air stream above her before she tugged on her seat belt to make sure it was secure. Even though she flew to the East Coast twice a month, she scanned the aircraft safety card, located her closest emergency exits, and then shoved the instructions into the seat pocket in front of her.
Trust me.
The voice was back.
Hadley didn’t trust Blaise. She couldn’t.
Winning isn’t everything.
Henry told me the same thing, but let’s agree to disagree.
Blaisewanted to win.He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, doing or saying anything, no matter what the cost. Earlier today, he’d let his friends believe he was dating her, kissing her to prove they were together, even if he claimed not to have planned that.
Who knew if that was true?
She couldn’t trust him.
Wouldn’t.
Even if her lips wanted more kisses.
And you, too.
No, Hadley didn’t.
