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“He’s just confident,” she corrects. “He runs a billion-dollar company. I’d be surprised if he ever doubted himself.”

“Trust me, he doesn’t.”

She sighs. “I’d love to have him as a client. Or one of his brothers.”

Of course she would. Chloe runs one of the best matchmaking services in Alton Hills, and she can turn any conversation about a single man into a business opportunity. She can find the right person for almost anyone.

Almost.

She has tried to find someone for me. Before each of my three dates, she interviewed the man herself. They were decent, successful, and looking for serious relationships. Each said he admired ambitious women and could handle my demanding career. I think they meant it—until they saw how my work affected them.

Two of the dates happened while Granddad still ran the Hartwell and I was preparing to take over. One man lost interest when he learned I worked most weekends. Another spent the evening suggesting ways I could hand more work to someone else.

Chloe tried again after I became CEO. A guest emergency made me three minutes late, and my date decided that meant I didn’t respect his time. I explained that emergencies at the Hartwell come before dinner reservations. He said they shouldn’t. There wasn’t a second date.

She hadn’t chosen poorly. If I worked regular hours, any of them could’ve been right for me. But the Hartwell keeps me late, takes my weekends, and needs me whenever something goes wrong.

Chloe can find me a good man. She can’t make him accept that the Hartwell will always come first. So far, no man has. If one asks me to choose, he’ll lose every time.

“I’m not giving Eric your card,” I tell her. “He already thinks no is the start of a negotiation. I’d hate to be the poor woman you set him up with.”

Her keyboard starts clattering.

“He’s thirty-nine, Rach. Maybe he’s ready to settle down.”

“Are you looking him up?”

“I’m doing my job.”

“He isn’t your client.”

“Not yet.” Her keyboard clicks in the background. “Here we are. Eric Voss, oldest of four brothers. He became CEO after his father died five months ago. No social media. He hasn’t been publicly linked to anyone since he took over.”

The tapping stops.

“Wait. He dated Amelia Van der Morgan,” she says.

“Who?”

“I introduced her to her husband. She’s one of the highest-paid models in the world. She owns a beauty company, runs a charity that sends girls to college, and speaks four languages.”

I take another bite of dinner. “Well, she has terrible taste in men.”

Chloe’s keyboard starts clicking again. “Daniel is thirty-six, and Tom is thirty-four. Huh. I thought Daniel was closer to Eric’s age than Tom’s.” She pauses. “The fourth brother isn’t on the company website. You know, I heard he’s their half brother. Apparently, their mother had an affair⁠—”

“I really don’t care.”

Chloe continues as if I haven’t spoken. “That family has excellent genes. Have you seen their father? God rest his soul, but the man was a total DILF.”

I nearly choke on my rice. “Chloe.”

“What? I was respectful.”

“You just called a dead man a DILF.”

“Only after I said God rest his soul.”

Her keyboard starts clicking again before I’ve finished coughing.