Dating by Design Series Box Set

by Jennifer Peel

  “When can I move in?” I teased.

  “For a cool two point five million, I can hook you up.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Yeah, it’s a little daunting isn’t it?”

  “I don’t think that’s quite in my budget.”

  “Mine, either.”

  There was a little table for two set in the middle of the quaint gazebo, almost as if placed there for this purpose.

  Jason placed the food on the table before holding out my chair for me. The lights in the gazebo only brightened the sparkle in his eyes. I smiled at him as I sat down and he returned it with one of his own.

  “How am I doing so far?” He pushed my chair in for me and whispered against my ear.

  I involuntarily shivered a little in the sweet, warm air of the evening. “I would say you’re averaging an A-.”

  “A-?”

  “You did pay for dinner.”

  “I think most women would find that to be a plus.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.”

  He sat down across from me. “Can I ask what you have against men paying for you?”

  I thought for a moment while he opened up the containers of food. I liked that he waited patiently for me to answer, and that he didn’t seemed bothered by the silence.

  I sighed softly. “I guess because I don’t ever want to get sucked in.”

  He looked up from the chicken lo-mein he was dishing onto the paper plates the restaurant so graciously provided for us. “Sucked in?”

  “How about, I don’t want to get lulled into a false sense of security.”

  “I hope I haven’t caused you any permanent angst.”

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  “I don’t know. Will it lower my grade?”

  “I have a feeling you’ll be getting high marks. Now pass the egg rolls.”

  We talked easily during dinner, about his family and mine. It sounded like we both had pretty ideal childhoods, at least until my daddy passed away. His parents, Hank and Marcia, sounded like good people. His dad was a retired investment banker and his mom ran a little art gallery. I could tell by the way he spoke that he admired them both. I also noted the honorable way he spoke about his mom. That was a good indication he would treat any woman in his life well. I made another mental note.

  I learned some things about him too, like he played soccer in high school, and almost thought about trying to go pro. I was interested to learn he played the guitar and sang. He should have mentioned that in the talent section of his survey. That was a definite plus with the ladies.

  “So do you ever perform?” I took my last bite of the decadent cake.

  “Only in private settings now, and only for people I really like.”

  “Has Zander heard you play?”

  “Yeah. I used to use it to our advantage when were in college.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Is that so?”

  “Let’s just say it earned me my fair share of dates.”

  “I’m sure it did.”

  “Does that information count against me?”

  “Not at all.”

  He pushed his chair back. “Are you ready to take a tour?”

  I smiled and nodded.

  We both cleaned up the table, but we kept getting in each other’s way. I could tell he was trying to clean up more than me and our hands kept bumping. We both laughed about it. He insisted on taking the trash to the garbage can near the home’s detached garage.

  I watched him walk there and back, and for the first time in a very long time, I felt attracted to someone. There was this confidence about him, but not in a cocky sort of way. He didn’t strut at all. No, he was self-assured and happy. I was almost jealous. I wondered how he bounced back so quickly after his break-up.

  He joined me and we walked toward the front of the house to gain entry.

  As he dealt with the lockbox code, I let curiosity get the better of me. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything.”

  “How long ago did you and your fiancée break up?”

  He paused before he opened the door. I noticed his eyebrows gather in. “Three months ago.”

  “And are you over it?”

  “That’s two questions.” He smiled as he opened the door.

  “I’m sorry, it’s none of my business.”

  He motioned for me to enter the house before following me in. “It’s okay that you asked. And the answer is, some days.”

  “Is today one of those days?”

  “Yes.”

  I looked up into those aqua eyes that were so inviting.

  He wasn’t smiling, but he looked at me with sincere interest.

  “Can I ask your secret?”

  “Maybe because my heart knew all along it was wrong.”

  “Your heart? Isn’t it usually your mind?”

  “No. My head kept saying it made sense. We were the right age, and both successful. And she was my opposite.”

  “You know that’s not typically a good thing.”

  “I found that out the hard way. I kept telling myself it was good to try out new things in life, like the opera, and boring-as-hell fundraisers.”

  “How boring is hell?” I grinned.

  “Believe me, you don’t want to know.”

  “So what prevented you from ending it?”

  “I didn’t want to hurt her, but apparently she had no problem hurting me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Looking back, I’m glad it happened, maybe not the way it happened, but marrying Felicia would have been a huge mistake.”

  We stared at each other for a moment. I didn’t mean for us to get so personal, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable, other than I felt him studying me.

  “Are you ready to give me the tour?” I broke free of his gaze. It had me feeling a little off.

  “Absolutely.” He smiled. “But first, I want you to know that your ex was a moron.”

  “And so was I for not listening to my heart.”

  “It happens to the best of us.”

  “I suppose so.”

  “Let’s move on from unpleasant subjects; let me take you on a tour of my genius.”

  I laughed. “I’d like that.”

  “Me, too.” He waved his hand forward.

  I looked ahead of me and felt like I had died and gone to heaven. Why I hadn’t noticed this before, I don’t know, but I was captivated. The entryway was marked by a grand staircase and to my left was a two-story library with books galore in the built-in shelves that encased the whole room, and with fine leather seating throughout.

  “Library first?” He noticed my gaze.

  I nodded. I walked in reverently. It smelled delectable, or at least like a fine bookstore. I felt like running my hands across the hardbound books as I walked by. “I think if I lived here, I would never leave this room.”

  “It’s my favorite, too.”

  That didn’t surprise me.

  “Do you like to read?” He followed me as I strolled through the room and took it all in.

  “Love it. How about you?” I felt guilty asking since I already knew he did. Though I shouldn’t have felt guilty, because if I really were his relationship manager, I would have looked at his profile and survey. It still seemed unnatural for me to know though.

  “I enjoy it, especially science fiction.”

  “Hmmm …”

  “Not a science fiction fan?”

  “It’s all right, as long as there is a good relationship in the story.”

  “Ahh, so you like romance novels?”

  “Did I say that?”

  He chuckled. “I recently finished a book that might be right up your alley. I’ll bring it to you the next time we see each other.” He said it like it was a sure thing.

  I was supposed to be keeping my distance from him, but I was finding that I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  We moved on from the library to the enormous living room. The ri
ch, dark wood was offset with the champagne-colored furniture. But there was a slight problem.

  “Do you mind if I make a suggestion?”

  His looked down, curiosity written in his eyes. “Not at all.”

  “It’s just, the way this furniture is placed, it cuts the room off and takes your eyes away from the masterpiece of the room, the fireplace.”

  He raised his eyebrow. “You’re an interior designer, too?”

  “No, but I did work for an interior designer for a couple of summers and I picked up some useful tips. If you moved the couch and the chairs so they were parallel to each other, it would give the room clean lines and a more inviting feel, besides showcasing the fireplace.” The fireplace was absolutely gorgeous. It deserved to steal the show. It was made of stone and wood, with a French country finish. The mantle boasted several different sized cream column candles on black wrought iron stands. It was simple but elegant, and it fit in well with the French country motif.

  “I’ll pass along your suggestion.”

  From there, I let him guide me through the house. The way he talked about it, you could tell it was a labor of love. His eyes lit up whenever we came to a part of the house he was particularly proud of, like the his-and-hers bathrooms in the master suite. The genius part was they were connected with a magnificent raised tub made for two.

  “I think you will probably save some marriages with that design.”

  He chuckled. “I do what I can for the good of mankind.”

  It was such a pleasant evening that I almost forgot it was a business dinner. Instead, I felt like I was out with an old friend. We talked easily without drags in the conversation. I had to say, whoever we paired him up with was going to be very happy.

  The only awkward part came at the end. The door scene. I tried to avoid it, but he insisted on walking me to my door. I should have known he would.

  We both stood there on my stoop under the small light above my door. He was relaxed, with a casual smile. “I had a terrific time tonight. I hope I passed the test.”

  “I think it’s safe to say you will be moving on to the next stage.”

  “Phew.” He wiped his brow. “The question still remains if you want to be my personal relationship manager.”

  “I have a feeling you really don’t need the help. I think you know what you’re doing.”

  “That’s not true.” He stepped closer to me. So much so, we were practically touching.

  I froze in place.

  He looked down at me with a penetrating gaze. “See, I need your help to know how I should end my dates.” He leaned a little closer and his head bent slightly down. “Should I end it with a kiss?”

  I shook my head no.

  He smiled warmly. “Too much for a first date?”

  “Um … I guess it depends.”

  “On what?”

  “I suppose if you had such an amazing time and you both knew you wanted to see each other again, then I think it would be appropriate.”

  His eyes danced with delight like I had given him the perfect answer.

  “What should I do if I’m unsure how the woman feels?”

  I thought for a moment. “A handshake?”

  He leaned in. “I don’t think so.”

  “Then what do you think?” I held my breath.

  Without warning or pretense, he bent down and lightly brushed my cheek with his soft, warm lips.

  I was so stunned by the gesture I reached up and touched what felt like a red hot spot where he left his mark. My whole body felt warm; it was an unfamiliar sensation.

  His face hovered close to mine, so much so I could smell his sweet breath. “How does that work?” he barely spoke above a whisper.

  I couldn’t speak right away. I nodded instead.

  He grinned and stood up straight. “Thank you for best evening I’ve had in a long time.”

  “Thank you for dinner and giving me a tour.”

  “It was my pleasure.”

  “Well, goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Kenadie.”

  I rushed into my condo and shut the door quickly. It was weird, but I felt like hiding. I felt like some of my walls were crumbling and I wasn’t sure how to process that. I wasn’t sure what to think of the best night I’d had in forever. And I wasn’t sure what to think about Jason Hadley.

  Chapter Eleven

  Work. I needed work, except my first task of the day would be to find the perfect matches for Jason. Since I had taken him out, or I guess he had taken me out, it was my job to run his profile against our database and see who he matched up with. I would take my top picks to the meeting with me and then Will and Zander could give their insights into the women. I would also have to give my thoughts on Jason, which made me squirm. It was one thing to talk about a stranger, but it was another thing to talk about someone who I knew, and maybe even liked.

  I arrived early, as usual, and had the office to myself. I felt like I needed to be alone while I ran his data. I don’t know why. I clicked the button to run the matches and rested my head against my palm. I swore I could still feel where he kissed my cheek. I sat up immediately. What a dumb thought. I already had a headache. I popped a couple of Advil while the program worked its magic. A handful of matches came up that were more than fifty percent compatible. They all fell under the not looking for anything serious category. That felt off, too. He gave off the vibe of someone who wanted to settle down. He talked highly of his family and family life in general. He bought a house and even talked about getting a dog. Maybe he was looking for some more time to get over Felicia.

  I kept staring at his profile picture. Those eyes.

  “Hey, Kenz.” Zander popped in.

  I startled. I hadn’t realized anyone else was in the office.

  “Jumpy this morning.” He came in and perched himself on my desk.

  I quickly clicked out of the screen that held Jason’s profile.

  “I’m not jumpy.”

  He smirked at me. “So you did it. You went on a date.”

  “It wasn’t a date.”

  “Fine, business dinner. Jason said he had a great time, but he wouldn’t give me any details. So are there details?”

  “What kind of question is that?”

  “You seem defensive, like there’s a story there.”

  “You are absurd. We had dinner; what else is there to say?” Maybe it was a little more than dinner, but since Jason didn’t feel the need to elaborate, neither did I.

  He raised his eyebrow at me in scrutiny. “Do I dare even ask if you had a good time?”

  I tucked my hair behind my ear and aimlessly stared at a paper clip on my desk. “Yeah.”

  He chuckled. “You did have a good time.”

  I smiled up at him and rolled my eyes. “Will you stop it?”

  “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

  “Oh, good. I was worried there. But, since we are talking about it, I have a question to ask you.”

  He gave me his utmost attention. “Shoot.”

  “Jason put himself in the not looking for anything serious category, but I get the vibe that’s not really where his heart lies.”

  “You looked into his heart last night?” He wagged his eyebrows.

  “Will you grow up and answer the question?”

  “Come on, Kenz. This is a huge step for you. At least let me get some mileage out of it.”

  “You can later. Answer my question.”

  He squirmed a little, and I could see the wheels in his head turning. I thought this was a straightforward question. “I think, for now, we should take him at his word.”

  “Explain.”

  “I thought I said that in pretty plain English.”

  “You’re such a smart aleck.”

  He touched my cheek gently. “It’s not going to kill you to trust somebody.”

  “Fine.”

  He hopped down. “I’m off to work.”

  “Hey,” I called out to him.
“Do you think I should order in lunch for our meeting today?”

  He turned around at the door and grinned like an idiot. “I’m proud of you, Kenz.” And without another word he was off again.

  I took that as meaning I should. Had I really been that bad? I had a feeling I had been, and probably still was going to be, but I could try to be better on a personal level.

  I pulled up Jason’s profile again. I couldn’t get over that nagging feeling that he wasn’t really the serial dating type. We had quite a few of those kind of clients. They paid through the nose for our services, so naturally I loved them. And it made sense. We carefully screened each client, making dating like that a safer option. But Jason didn’t fit that mold.

  Despite my gut instinct, I did what Zander said and took Jason at his word. I researched those who had come up as possible matches. In the end, I selected three women that I thought would make good matches for him. I stared at Liz, Angela, and Hope’s profiles and thought about how lucky any of them would be if they were selected.

  I looked at the clock and was surprised at the time. I hadn’t realized how long it took to put together prospects. It made me think I probably should hire some new relationship managers. It was a good problem to have. I decided, too, if I were going to order in lunch, I had better do that now. I sent a quick email to the staff letting them know lunch was being provided by the company. I called my favorite deli, placed an order, sat back, and sighed.

  During my momentary break, my phone’s text alert chimed. I had a great time last night.

  I caught myself smiling at my phone. Is this what you do after all of your dates? I texted back.

  Is this still a test?

  Maybe.

  The answer is no.

  So this is a special circumstance?

  Very special.

  This isn’t really a test. I responded.

  I know.

  “Hey, Kenz.”

  I jumped and dropped my phone. I scrambled to pick it up while Zander laughed.

  “You’re so on edge today. What’s going on?”

  I picked up my phone and hastily clicked off the screen. “Nothing. You startled me is all.”

  He walked in and narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized me. “So, did you get Jason’s women all lined up?”