He sounded uncertain. That wasn’t good. “Do you want to go out with someone?”
“Sure,” he blurted. “I mean, probably not if I had to go out and meet someone, text back and forth a bunch of times, and then make a date happen on my own. That’s too much work, you know?”
She nodded, trying not to smile.
“But Blaise and you are together. He says you’re good at your job. I looked you up to confirm it.”
“It’s smart to know what you’re agreeing to.”
It was Dash’s turn to nod. “Blaise is so happy when he talks about you, and it’s cool you’re a matchmaker. So, I want to do this for him. And maybe I’ll get something out of it for me.”
The guy was super-sweet to want to go on a date to make Blaise happy. “My job is to make sureyouget something out of it.”
“Okay.”
As she read his questionnaire, she ate more of the donut. “Would you mind answering a few questions now? That will help me narrow down your wants and needs for a future partner.”
“Future date.” He winked. “They might call you the wife finder, but let’s not go crazy here.”
Oops.She laughed. That had been her mistake. A good thing she hadn’t mentioned finding himthe one.
“I know what I want,” he continued. “I want to meet a woman who has her own interests so she won’t get bored when I’m working and who doesn’t hate video games since I love playing them.”
Simple needs, but Hadley needed to know more. “That’s helpful. Now let’s see if we can drill down a bit.”
An hour later, Dash had answered her questions, peppered her with ones of his own, and eaten two more donuts.
“So, what happens next?” he asked.
“I’ll fill in your file and start my search.” Hadley had a better picture of Dashiell Cabot, Wonderkid of Silicon Forest, and what kind of woman would fit best with his personality and lifestyle. “When I find a match or two, I’ll be in touch.”
Dash stood. “Sounds good. I have a meeting, so I’m leaving. Tell Blaise bye.”
These guys worked seven days a week, but then again, sometimes she did, too. “I will. Have a nice day.”
Hadley made herself a cup of tea and placed Dash’s mug in the dishwasher. The pink box on the island kept taunting her. Finally, after wiping off the countertops, she gave in and removed a cake donut with white icing and multicolored candy sprinkles.
“What’s better than one donut?” she asked herself aloud. “Two!”
She took a bite.
“Taste good?” Blaise entered the kitchen and family room area.
“Yes.”
He carried a coffee cup—an empty one based on the way he held it. He wore track pants and an old T-shirt that had seen better days, but he looked gorgeous.
Oops. Time to focus on something available to her.
She motioned to the box. “Lucky for you, Dash and I didn’t eat all of them.”
“Thanks, but I had one before my call.” Blaise refilled his cup before joining her at the island. “Did you talk to Dash?”
“I did.” She glanced at the paperwork sitting on the island. “He filled out the questionnaire and answered my questions. Does this mean last night with your friends went well?”
A slow smile spread, crinkling the corners of his eyes and making her want to reach for her phone to capture his expression with a photograph. “It went better than I ever expected.”
She touched his arm but then pulled her hand away when she realized what she’d done. “I’m so happy for you.”
