“You’d better get used to it,” Connor replied.
“You want to end the date?” Phil asked, taken aback. “I had a feeling things were going well!”
“I’m sorry,” she said contritely, “but I’m not ready to give up my right to work just yet. It isn’t going to happen between us.”
Phil was visibly disappointed. Finally, though, he nodded, stood, and trotted off.
“Perfect Rachel, who likes to spend her evenings quietly on the couch. Don’t make me laugh,” Connor muttered as soon as he was gone. “You love a challenge and a thrill. I just don’t know why you try so hard to hide that side of yourself.”
“Nonsense! You scared him away.”
“He scared himself away.”
“If he hadn’t said that about work, we could have had something.”
“Please. He was too boring for you.”
“He was normal. I like normal.”
“That’s a lie and you know it!” he replied darkly. “You may pretend to everyone that you’re responsible, professional, and elegant…but you, Rachel James, were born to cause chaos.”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. “You’re delusional.”
Connor shook his head at her. “Good heavens, you really don’t know yourself, do you? You’re a psychologist. You preach to me about morals, ethics, and proper behavior…and you showed my date theI-hate-Connor-Stonesite! And you had fun doing it. Would someone who’s intonormaldo that?”
She just couldn’t stop the smile now. Because she’d actually enjoyed it a little! Because the evening had been more fun than she’d let on. Even though she hadn’t gotten any closer to meeting the man of her dreams. “Possibly. But a guy who has a hate website dedicated to him kind of deserves it!”
Connor grew quiet. Not with his mouth, but with his body. Everything about him seemed strangely…calm. He leaned forward almost imperceptibly and said softly, but clearly, “You shouldn’t be so quick to judge people. Isn’t there anyone who hates you?”
She opened her mouth to say no…but it would be a lie.
A knowing look appeared on his face. “Exactly. This site, if you don’t mind me saying, was started by my high schoolsweetheart because I stood her up at the prom. That was seventeen years ago. She’s married now and on her fifth child!”
“So, why did you stand her up?” she asked, interested.
“Oh, I was busy running my sweatshop empire, hunting whales with my spear gun, and smacking ice cream out of kids’ hands.”
“Ah, I see. Yeah, understandably, there wasn’t time for dancing, except on someone’s grave,” she said, nodding.
“Exactly.”
Narrowing her eyes, she studied him. “Why aren’t you mad that I showed Mel the site?”
“Because a woman who runs away because she reads something about me on the Internet can’t possibly be the right one for me,” he said simply. “So I guess you did me a favor. I wouldn’t have won the bet with Mel.” He glanced at his expensive watch. “Our dates lasted a full fifteen minutes. So, I’m willing to admit that my method isn’t exactly foolproof. How about you?”
“No. Never.” She shook her head. “The questionnaire has worked for quite a few people.”
Connor clicked his tongue and slid a seat over so he was sitting directly across from her. “Okay, that’s enough. I want to see it.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “What?”
“The questionnaire you love more than the truth. Show it to me.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m starting to think it’s not Match Me! that’s the problem, but you!” he said sharply. “You’re obviously lying to yourself, so there’s probably nothing true on your questionnaire.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “That’s bullshit. I was completely honest.”
