Dating by Design Series - Box Set

by Jennifer Peel

  You looked like more than friends when you hugged him when the Broncos scored.

  That was a nice moment. He was a great hugger. All friendly. Don’t worry.

  He looks like a city slicker. What kind of car does he drive?

  These boys. Don’t worry about it. We’re not dating.

  Looks like we need to plan a trip to Georgia.

  You’re all talk.

  Tell that boy to keep his hands away from your nether regions the next time you hug him.

  Goodbye. I slid my phone back in my pocket. I could only imagine the conversations going on back home. I wondered what my dad thought. He never would say, but I knew he would think something.

  Zander returned with a smile and my hot chocolate.

  “Thank you. Did you know we’re famous?”

  He took his seat next to me. “What for?”

  “My brothers texted me to say they saw me on TV. I guess wearing a Broncos jersey is eye catching to whoever’s broadcasting the game.”

  He took a sip of his coffee. “It might be more than your clothes.”

  “Like what?”

  He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “You’re kind of gorgeous.”

  My insides fluttered. “Kind of?”

  He laughed low in my ear.

  He was going to do me in. I was trying to remember it was only evolution and some primal need that I couldn’t control telling me that he would give my children amazing genes. But Kate also mentioned something about proximity. We became more attracted to those we spent a lot of time with. I blamed work. I sat up to put a little distance between us. “I hope nobody at work saw us.”

  “Why?”

  “You saw how Cara and Eva were in the meeting on Friday. I have a feeling Eva may like you and she doesn’t like it when you and I agree.”

  “She can’t help herself.”

  “There are some of us who are impervious to your charm.”

  “You just admitted I have charm.”

  I nudged him with my shoulder. “Never mind.”

  “I told you not to worry about them.”

  “You didn’t tell them that we pretended to date a couple of times, did you?”

  His smirk was out in full force. “We more than dated. You admitted you were in love with me.”

  I whipped around in my seat. “I did no such thing.”

  “Yes, ma’am, you did. Ask Leann.”

  “That was all for show and you know it.”

  “Kenz never said anything like that when we would go out.”

  “Maybe I should take a page from her book and call you a butthead.”

  He laughed. “You sound just like her.”

  I faced forward and ignored him. My cheeks burned red from embarrassment.

  “Your dirty secret is safe with me.”

  I tried not to smile. I choked on my next words, but maybe it would be for the best. It would help me to get over him and the tension in the office would die down. “Maybe you should ask Eva to be your pretend girlfriend.”

  “No.”

  I turned toward him to see the facial expression that came with the curt tone. “Why?”

  He stretched out his neck from side to side. “Eva and Cara lack certain qualities.”

  “Like what?”

  “I’ll leave that for you to figure out.”

  That gave me something to chew on besides how terrible my team was playing during the second half. No matter how much I yelled and jumped up and down or smack talked with the Falcons fans around me, it did no good. My guys let me down. Twenty-three to sixteen.

  We walked toward the train that would take us back to Zander’s car. Our arms touched and my hand ached for him to hold it.

  “Thank you for taking me to the game.”

  “Thanks for giving me a show.”

  “I’m passionate about my team.”

  “I like that about you.”

  “Anything else?” I looked up into his beautiful eyes.

  “You’ll have to figure that out too.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  We were three days away from Thanksgiving, twenty-seven days from the bridal shower, thirty-four from Christmas, and forty days until the wedding. I was busier than ever between work, school, wedding shower planning, Christmas shopping, baking, and did I mention Zander?

  I had become Zander’s fill-in friend. Kenadie and Jason were wrapped up in their own world and with the wedding, so I found myself playing the part of best friend instead of girlfriend. Several evenings a week he came to my apartment, after we each went on our client dates. He was “helping” me research Nicholas Wells, which meant we were binge watching On the Edge between doing my homework, which Zander was also helping me with. More and more I was convinced he picked the wrong career, but he was good at what he did.

  I should clarify, I binge watched the crime drama series while Zander made fun of me.

  “Could this guy act any more brooding?”

  I smiled over at him on my couch. He had his tablet in his lap, pretending to work, but I think he was as invested as me in the show. “I think it’s kind of sexy.”

  “Really? He hardly says two words a show.”

  “I think you’re jealous he can land women without saying a word.”

  “You think I can’t?”

  “I didn’t say that.” I turned back to watch Talon Fox, aka Nicholas Wells, once again refuse to admit any feelings for his partner, Samantha, who he really belonged with. “Why doesn’t he just tell her that he loves her?”

  “Then they couldn’t drag the show on for five more seasons.”

  “He’s being an idiot.”

  “It’s not real.”

  “Let me enjoy this.”

  “Are you attracted to this guy?”

  I turned back to face the man I was really attracted to. “Um, yeah. Look at him. Talk about hot? He qualifies.” His sex appeal jumped off the screen. I wanted to run my fingers through his perfect brown hair and gaze into his sea blue eyes. That got me to thinking. “I know you can’t say exactly what’s going down, but do you think there’s a chance I might get to meet him?”

  “He’s old enough to be your dad.”

  “He’s forty and barely that, he just celebrated his birthday last month.”

  Zander went back to paying attention to his tablet and some charts he had pulled up. “You don’t want someone like him.”

  I had read enough about the divorced, single dad and ladies’ man actor to know that was true, but I was curious to know why Zander thought that was the case. “I don’t know. I’ve heard older men make good partners.” I scratched Jasper, who sat on my lap.

  Zander didn’t fall for the bait, instead he eyed my cat. “Is your cat deformed or something?”

  “No.” I held Jasper up and looked into his cute face. “Don’t listen to him.”

  “Why are his legs so short?”

  “He’s a munchkin breed.”

  Zander laughed. “That’s a thing?”

  I laid Jasper back on my lap and ignored Zander. Talon and Samantha were having a moment. He’d just rescued her from an escaped convict. He was holding her and kissing her head. She was clinging to him in her torn dress. “Kiss her,” I said aloud. “Don’t laugh.” I smacked Zander with a throw pillow.

  He laughed anyway.

  For a second, it looked like the kiss was going to happen, but in the end, Talon kissed her forehead. “Idiot.” I turned off the TV.

  “That wasn’t as fun as watching you watch sports, but it was a close second.”

  “I’m glad I can be your entertainment. Now you get to help me.”

  He arched his eyebrow. “Do what?”

  I set Jasper down so I could stand up. “We’re going to make a popcorn and cranberry garland.”

  “What? Is this Little House on the Prairie?”

  “It’s a tradition, and I’m going to put my tree up this weekend.” I headed to the kitchen to grab the popcorn I had let dry fo
r the last couple of days and the cranberries I washed and set out before Zander showed up. “Do you want something to drink?” I yelled from the kitchen.

  “I’ll come get it.”

  I met his eyes from across the breakfast bar; he was already standing up. “I don’t mind.”

  “I know, but I do.” He was walking my way.

  I stepped out of his way so he could get to the refrigerator. “Why does it bother you?”

  He seemed agitated as he opened the fridge and peered in.

  I rested my hand on his back, unsure about his sudden change in mood. “Tell me.” I felt him take in a breath and let it out.

  “I hated that my dad expected my mom to wait on him hand and foot.”

  My hand trailed down his back. Touching him ignited feelings that needed to be doused, but they burned inside of me. “I know you don’t expect me to, that’s why I want to.”

  He grabbed a bottle of fruit infused water before standing up and facing me. With his free hand, he reached out to touch me, but didn’t quite make it. “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Make garland.”

  “Only with you. Don’t tell anyone else. I don’t want my reputation to be ruined . . . again.”

  I turned from him and grabbed the supplies. “I did you a favor. I bet Leann hasn’t come calling anymore.”

  “No, but thank you for all the vacant stares I get now.” He took the bowl of popcorn out of my hands and carried it to the living room for me.

  I grabbed all the other supplies. “I thought you told them we broke up.”

  “I’m still waiting for the right time.”

  I tried not to smile as I walked toward him.

  “I may have to move, thanks to you.”

  “You’ll be fine.” I sat next to him and got my supplies situated.

  He shook his head at the materials on the coffee table. “Why do you do this?”

  I grabbed a needle and some fishing line. “Because my mom said anyone could buy decorations and slap them on a tree, but Christmas is about love and so love should go into making each decoration and ornament. She would make my brother and I each an ornament every year. I have mine with me and I try to add one of my own every year.”

  He arched his eyebrow. “Really, Meg. You surprise me more and more.”

  I handed him a threaded needle. “I’m glad. Three pieces of popcorn for every one cranberry. Go.”

  He smirked and took the needle from me.

  “Does your family have any traditions?”

  “Not any worth mentioning.”

  I didn’t press. “Will you see your family for Christmas?” I knew he was going to Mrs. Marshall’s for Thanksgiving. We were driving over together.

  “Yeah.” He grabbed some popcorn. “My parents will be back from visiting my brother and his family by then. They’re staying with me until the wedding’s over.”

  “So, your parents are allowed in your apartment?”

  “It’s not my first choice.”

  I was stringing my own needle. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “For whatever it is that didn’t go right or made you unhappy.”

  His eyes landed on me and penetrated me in ways that were unexplainable. He thought for a moment about what he was going to say. I saw turmoil in his eyes. “You make me . . .”

  I bit my lip waiting to see what he was going to say.

  In the end, he focused back on the garland he was making. “There is nothing for you to be sorry about.”

  Maybe I should have apologized to myself for falling for a man who would never be mine.

  ~*~

  I was happy for the short work week. Tensions in the office were getting higher. In Eva’s office, which was next to mine, I overheard Cara and Eva making fun of the bridal shower invitations I had made. They were a little too sparkly for their taste, and apparently I really knew how to suck up to our boss. I was about ready to call them on it, but I held my tongue. I thought the invitations were beautiful. Mrs. Marshall and Lana sure thought so, even Kenadie had praised them. And what was I supposed to do? Turn away Mrs. Marshall’s affection? Tell Kenadie no when she asked me to do something?

  I think the greatest thing I was thankful for that week was that we had no meetings since we were closed on Thanksgiving and the day after. The less I saw of Eva and Cara, the better. We only saw new prospective clients if they came in to fill out a profile. It was a multi-step process to be accepted at Binary Search. You had to submit to a background check, a psych evaluation, and of course the final test of the client date. You could be rejected at any step along the way. And the final step was being able to afford it. I was surprised how many people could and were willing to pay for the service. I wasn’t complaining; it paid my bills.

  Even though we weren’t having a typical work week, I was busy doing research for Kenadie. A picture of Nicholas Wells was starting to emerge, and he sounded a lot like Zander, except that he had been married for a short time when he was younger and had a fifteen-year-old daughter named Skylar. Nicholas, like Zander, had been through a string of high-profile relationships. At one point, it seemed like he was Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor, but since the wildly popular On the Edge ended ten years ago, his acting career took a hit. He starred in some low-budget films, and he tried another series, but it was cancelled after the first season. From what I could gather, he had custody of his daughter, but he had kept her out of the spotlight. He now mainly worked behind the scenes. An interesting tidbit was that he had a Georgia connection—he grew up here and his father, Jack, still called Georgia home.

  I was so curious as to why he was of interest to Kenadie. Zander was tight-lipped about it. Speaking of him, he wasn’t feeling all that well and was working from home. I offered to bring him soup, but he still wasn’t giving in to me visiting his apartment. It was another mystery about him to solve. I was beginning to see that maybe Mrs. Marshall was right. Zander’s parents and his upbringing had followed him into his adult relationships, but he didn’t want to admit it.

  I wondered what he was afraid of.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I woke up early on Thanksgiving, happy to have a day off and looking forward to spending the day with some of my new favorite people. I hadn’t seen Zander since Monday night and I was surprised how much I missed him. It wasn’t a good thing.

  I was making cranberry apple pie to take to Mrs. Marshall’s since I had some leftover cranberries and she wouldn’t let me bring anything else. I was afraid she was going to wear herself thin with all that she had going on. She needed to step back and let Ellen, the wedding planner, do her job, but Mrs. Marshall and her friends felt like they needed to be in the middle of it all. It was entertaining watching them, at least for me. I don’t know if Kenadie appreciated all the interference. From what Zander said, Ellen was no longer answering her phone if she saw any of the Nanettes’ numbers pop up on her screen. Poor Ellen had already had to reorder the tablecloths three times because the color didn’t sit well with the best friends.

  I got the crumble on the pie and was ready to put it into the oven and take a shower while it baked when my phone rang. Zander’s handsome faced popped up on my screen.

  “Hello.”

  “Darlin’.” He sounded awful.

  “You don’t sound well.”

  “I feel worse. You’re going to need to drive yourself out to Nan’s.”

  “I’ll bring you some soup on the way.”

  “Don’t.”

  “I’ll leave it outside your door.”

  “Meg. I can take care of myself.”

  “Okay. Happy Thanksgiving.”

  “Yeah.” He hung up.

  His phone call bothered me more and more while I showered. Why was he so stubborn about me doing something nice for him? And what was the deal with his apartment? We were friends. He hung out at mine all the time lately. And it was a holiday. A person shouldn’t be alone today of all days. May
be he wasn’t alone? That thought made me want to vomit in my mouth. But he said he didn’t invite women into his place. And I had a feeling he wouldn’t want anyone to see him sick. That would mean he was actually a vulnerable human being. I knew people too.

  I got out of the shower and wrapped myself up in my gray fluffy towel. I wiped off the mirror over the sink and stared at my reflection. “Don’t do it,” I told myself. “But,” I reasoned, “it’s Thanksgiving.” I bit my lip and thought some more. I knew him well enough to know he wasn’t going to be happy if I showed up and tried to take care of him. And I knew myself well enough to know that it wouldn’t be in my best interest, but I missed him, as foolish as it was.

  I debated some more as I got dressed and ready for the day. I put on some cute jeans and a figure flattering blouse, just in case I went through with my plan.

  I pulled the baked-to-perfection pie out of the oven and continued to have an internal and sometimes external conversation about what I should do. But then Mrs. Marshall called. Her Southern Momma senses were eerily good.

  “Dear, I just spoke to Zander and he can’t come. And as much as I would love for you to join us, I can’t in good conscience allow Zander to be alone on Thanksgiving. You’re such a good girl, I know you feel the same way.”

  I heard Kenadie in the background yelling, “Momma, stay out of this.”

  “Hush, Kennie. Meg, dear, I have the perfect spicy chicken soup recipe to cure the flu. Get a pencil so you can write it down.”

  Why was I always quickly obeying this woman? I walked over to the table where I had a pencil and some paper available. “Mrs. Marshall, he doesn’t exactly allow women besides Kenadie into his place.”

  “That is about to change.” She listed off all the ingredients I would need. “And don’t forget to get him some orange juice.”

  “I really don’t know if this is a good idea.”

  “Believe me dear, it is.” She hung up.

  Great. Now I could either try and penetrate Zander’s fortress or spend Thanksgiving alone. I didn’t think Mrs. Marshall would be too keen on me showing up now. I guess I better wrap up my pie and head to the store. I hated shopping on the holiday. It made me feel guilty for all the people who had to work, but it was for a good cause.