“Oh,” Maddie said, biting her lower lip. “That’s unfortunate because you don’t have time for that tonight. I set up a date for you.”
Rachel stared at her in disbelief. “You what?”
“Well, I was thinking that you never finished the bet. So, you have a date. Date number five. The last one for the bet.”
“What?”
She raised both hands apologetically. “I thought it might provide a distraction. Besides, Rachel, I want my sign on the divorce firm’s door. Ineedit. We need it.” She shrugged. “So…at least try, okay? It’s at the Galette. You like it, right?”
Her mouth went dry, and she groaned loudly. TheGalette, of all places.
“Look at it this way,” Maddie added hastily. “The bet will be over for good, and if you still want Connor after the date, you have your answer. I have to tell you that the guy I matched you with is pretty hot, and has a ninety-one percent match with you.”
“What? Ninety-one percent?” That was a ridiculously high number — and she didn’t care at all. Even if it were 100 percent, she wanted Connor.
“Do it for me, okay?” Maddie looked almost stern now. “You started this damn bet, so finish it. So we can hang our sign on his door.”
Rachel narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Fine!” she conceded, annoyed. Connor wasn’t around anyway and she needed to talk to him in person.
Even if the date would be a complete waste of time!
Chapter Twenty-Five
You don’t have to give your partner everything. You should always leave enough for yourself. Love, energy… Connor would add: And sex.
From the self-help book for self-pitiers by psychologist Rachel James
That is correct. - Connor
What do you mean, he’s dropping the lawsuit?” Rachel asked, irritated, as she locked her car. She definitely wasn’t going to drink anything on this date, so she was driving there.
“I have no idea what happened,” her lawyer admitted. “He just called out of the blue this morning and said he was withdrawing it. That he was wrong, that you didn’t assault him, and that you should definitely keep your license.”
Stunned, she stopped in front of the Galette door. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“No. But that’s okay, just be happy. You can practice again, so congratulations. See you, Rachel.”
She hung up, and Rachel shook her head as she stared at her phone.
Today was a very strange day.
Not only had she admitted to herself that she was wrong – which she never did – but she had a father who would go to therapy, two sisters who were there for her, and one less lawsuit to deal with.
She closed her eyes, put her phone away, and took a deep breath. She quickly texted Connor again, asking him to let her know when he was back and squared her shoulders.
She would go on the date so that, at least for her, the bet would finally be over. But she would be honest with her date and tell him that her heart already belonged to someone else. Honesty was more important than she had previously admitted. How ironic.
She pushed open the door and looked around. Maddie had forgotten to send her a photo of her date, but the waiter who appeared in front of her assured her that her date was already seated at the table Maddie had reserved in her name.
They worked their way through the tables until they reached a small booth at the back of the room…
And Rachel stopped dead in her tracks.
Her date was dressed entirely in black and white, wearing a shirt that was too tight. Dark jeans. His expensive watch screamedmoney, his short, dark-blond hairangel, and his dark brown eyes…were focused only on her. And infinitely warm.
“Hello. I’m Connor,” he said, standing and holding out his hand. On the table in front of him were a Gin Buck and a small, delicate cactus.
But all she could do was stare at him.
