“Not unless you leave,” Damon said flatly.
I widened my eyes at Damon. “This is my date, Gordon. We’re about to head out.” I tried for a smile that was probably more of a feral baring of teeth. “No need to check up on me this time.”
Damon crossed his arms over his delectable chest. Damn, he had nice biceps, built by actual real work rather than some gym regimen. Why did that make them sexier?
“You sure about that? You haven’t even made it off the porch and he’s already propositioning you.”
I sighed. “I know it’s hard to understand, Damon, but some guys find me hot.”
“It’s not that,” he said, eyes sweeping over me in much the way Gordon’s had, but without the creepy feeling he was undressing me with his eyes. More like he was appreciating what I chose to show him. “Of course he finds you attractive, Mav. He’s into dudes, and you’re a hot dude.”
My stomach fluttered. “Thanks?”
Gordon glanced between us with a furrowed brow. “So, are we doing this or not? If I’m wasting my time here…”
“No, of course. Let’s go.” I stepped out of my house and closed the door behind me. “Where are we headed?”
“Drive-in. We can cozy up and have a lot of privacy. Watch the movie…or do whatever elseinspiresus.”
Ugh. He really was too much. Charming, but in a smarmyhe’s going to fuck me and never return my callssort of way. I’d heard that Gordon got around. But why sign up for a matchmaking service unless he wanted more than that? I’d hoped to go into this with an open mind.
“Oh, hell no,” Damon said, coming up the steps. “This asshole is a player, Mav. Don’t go with him.”
“Damon, I can take care of myself.”
“You’re not doing a very good job of it.”
My temper spiked. “Maybe if you’d stop interfering, I’d haveonegood date!”
Damon joined us in front of my door. “Maybe if a guy who actuallydeservedyou ever showed up. Come on, Mav. You don’t want this guy. You want?—”
He stopped short.
“What?” I glared into his stupidly gorgeous dark eyes. “What do I want, Damon?”
Gordon laughed. “Oh, I see what’s going on here.”
Damon didn’t look away from me. I stared just as hard, willing him to be the first to blink.
“I didn’t really sign up for a jealous boyfriend,” Gordon said. “So I’m going to bow out gracefully.”
I jerked my gaze from Damon. “What? He’s not my boyfr?—”
“Sure,” Gordon said, taking the stairs two at a time. “Well, you all have fun with whatever the hell this is. I’m going to head to The Stag and see if there’s anyone who’s interested in a good time.” He gave me one last look over his shoulder. “You change your mind, you can come find me,babe.”
He turned and jogged to his flashy sports car. Damon called after him, “Don’t call him babe!”
The car started with a roar, and then Gordon took off so fast his tires squealed.
“What a douchenozzle,” Damon muttered.
“What the fuck, Damon!” I exclaimed. “Why is it so hard for you to just stay the fuck out of my business?”
He blinked in shock. “Come on, you’re not actually sorry to see that asshole go, are you?”
“I spent the last fucking hour getting ready for this date.” I waved a hand to my clothes. “I know this is just a prank to you, but I actually hoped the matchmaking thing would help me meet someone who?—”
My voice gave out as the horrifying realization hit that I’d actuallyhopedthe Matchmaking Mamas might find me a good guy. I missed dating. Missed having a boyfriend. Missed the support of a partner, the intimacy of sharing a pillow, the release of regular sex.
