And Michaela was a professional, so she did her job. “I can make a reservation for you. Will eight o’clock be all right?”
“Great.” He gave her that bone-melting smile again. It was like a sunbeam over his whole face, making it shine like a god from Olympus. The man was too good-looking.
And he was going on a date with Alice Fletcher.
“I’ll have Alice meet you there. I find that’s best on a first date. Leave your name with the restaurant’s host so they can escort her right to you.” She wagged a finger at him, as if that was going to help her get control of herself. “Don’t be late,” she said in a singsong voice.
She sounded like an idiot.
But, oh my God, she was jealous.
Then, with a smile and the strongest of wills, she headed out with her coffee and managed not to run.
Chapter Six
Troy watched Michaela go. He could have sworn she was running away. Even if she hadn’t been running.
He’d been hoping to see her at the coffee shop. Yesterday, after his trip down to Matt’s factory to see the prototype and his talk with Walter Braedon, he’d staked out Santa Cruz 9. In case she came in.
Was that pathetic or what?
Maybe not pathetic, just very interested.
The billionaire matchmaker was beautiful. She smelled good. Her skin had been smooth and soft beneath his every touch on Saturday.
And Saturday was why he’d agreed to the date. Gabby had challenged him, and he would not forfeit this bet. Michaela hadn’t found a match for her yet, and that made him the bigger sibling by taking the first date. He couldn’t have Gabby get one up on him if he refused to go out with any woman Michaela selected for him.
But there was an even bigger reason he’d accepted. It was the look in Michaela’s eyes when he’d said yes.
She’d never admit it, but he’d seen the spark of jealousy. Her lovely jade eyes had deepened to the shade of the green-eyed monster. Jealousy. She hadn’t said anything. In fact, her words had said the exact opposite. But he’d recognized the signs in her beautiful eyes and her sharp intake of breath when he’d said yes instead of no.
Of course he hadn’t said yes only to make her jealous. He might enjoy the date. He might be immune to love, but conversing with a beautiful, accomplished woman was always a pleasure.
Making Michaela jealous was a side benefit.
Thursday was a nightmare. Michaela couldn’t stop thinking about Troy’s date with Alice Fletcher. Despite her work, the calls she’d made, the research she’d done on perfect matches for clients, she felt as if she were losing her mind.
When she went home that night—while Troy and Alice were both getting ready for the perfect date that she’d set up—her mind slipped into catastrophe mode. Thoughts rumbled through her brain. It would be love at first sight. He’d take Alice to his magnificent home in the Los Gatos hills and make love to her until the sun came up. He’d propose to her on the first date. He’d even give Michaela a bonus for finding the perfect match for him. In addition to paying out a million-dollar bet.
The crazy thoughts went on and on until her mother said, “You’ve got a bee in your bonnet. What’s going on?”
Not one bee, but a whole hive.
Sitting in the family room, they were enjoying a pre-dinner glass of wine. It did nothing to soothe Michaela’s savage beast. Nothing would help except calling Troy and saying Alice had canceled. Or calling Alice to say Troy had canceled. Or calling them both.
If anyone found out, her reputation would be in ruins. But at least she wouldn’t go insane.
“Do you want me to make your favorite dinner?” her mother asked.
Flo always picked up on her daughter’s moods, knowing when Michaela had a hard day. But today was for a reason she’d never experienced before. Troy had her twisted up on the inside. She was fighting feelings she shouldn’t have.
“That would be great, Mom.”
Forty-five minutes later, they were sitting down to a delicious shepherd’s pie. Her mother’s was homemade, and the best Michaela had ever tasted. Almost as good as one served in a real English pub.
Over the second half of her glass of wine, Michaela spilled her guts. She always spilled her guts. “Now that I’ve set Troy up on a date, I actually feel jealous. It’s been driving me nuts for two days. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m jealous, and I don’t even like the man.”
Flo smiled, though Michaela couldn’t read anything in it. “Why don’t you like him? He was lovely at the art gallery.”
