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“Only part of it. Bowling also tells a woman what kind of man he is. Does he sulk when he loses? Become unbearable when he wins? Blame the lane every time he throws a bad ball?”
“And what does blaming the lane tell you?”
“That he’s observant. This one is clearly crooked.”
I laugh just as Chloe’s phone buzzes inside her purse. When she pulls it out, I catch the name glowing on the screen.
I lean closer. “Tom Voss?”
“My newest client.” Chloe’s smile is full of pride. “If I find him a wife, every high-profile bachelor in Alton Hills will be calling me.”
“Instead of Lori Lee?”
Her smile disappears. “This has nothing to do with Lori.”
I should’ve known better than to bring her up. Lori once called Chloe’s agency a charming little service during a TV interview, then said it’s unfortunate smaller firms don’t have the contacts to help serious clients.
“One season of reality TV five years ago, and every morning show still introduces her as Alton Hills’ leading matchmaker,” Chloe says.
“When you have better results,” I add, repeating an argument I’ve heard at least a hundred times.
“Exactly. My couples stay together.” She takes a sip of her margarita. “I’m not saying Lori is bad at her job. I’m saying she isn’t better than me, no matter how often she tells the city she is.”
“And Tom changes that?”
“If I find him someone he truly loves, yes. A Voss wedding would get attention whether I asked for it or not.” Her eyes brighten. “I’d be an idiot not to use some of it. Maybe people would finally take my work as seriously as I do.”
“And invite you onto daytime television?”
“I don’t want Lori’s career. I just want her to stop using it to undermine mine.” Chloe takes another sip of her drink. “But yes, I’d love to go on daytime television and explain what a healthy relationship actually looks like.”
Her phone buzzes again. This time, it’s a text.
Tom Voss: You won’t date a client. I respect that. You didn’t say anything about marrying one. Are you free Saturday?
I look at Chloe. “I don’t think he wants to be your client.”
“That’s a minor problem.”
“He just asked you to marry him.”
“He made a joke about marrying me. That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It sounds like he likes you.”
“Men like Tom talk about marriage and a future before the first date because it makes them seem serious. Then dinner feels safe, and going home with them feels like the start of something real. By the time you realize they never meant any of it, they’ve already got what they wanted.”
She begins typing a reply. “It won’t work on me. I’ll coach it out of him before I introduce him to anyone.”
Chloe: Perfect timing. I have a five-eleven runway model with very long legs and a graduate degree in behavioral economics. She can marry you on Saturday.
His reply arrives almost at once.
Tom Voss: She sounds perfect. Ask if she’s free to be your bridesmaid.
I laugh.
“He’s going to be a difficult client.”
