Dating by Design Series Box Set

by Jennifer Peel

  She noticed us first and ran straight into her grandfather’s open arms. “Grandpa.”

  “There’s my girl.” Jack held her tight.

  Unfortunately, that meant her father joined us too. Or he attempted to. He had some fans in the waiting area. He paused and chatted with a couple, even took a picture with them. He flashed his signature brittle smile and made the woman swoon and giggle.

  I noticed Skylar roll her eyes. I liked her already.

  Jack chuckled and caught my eye. “Skye, I want you to meet someone.”

  I liked her nick name.

  “This is Kate Morgan.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” I smiled at the beautiful girl.

  Skye gave me an appraising sort of look. “You’re the one having dinner with my dad.” She didn’t sound very fond of the idea.

  I imagined it must be hard for her to see her dad date. Even though this wasn’t at all that kind of date. “If you had plans with him, I’m happy to reschedule. Or you’re welcome to join us for our dinner meeting.” I wanted to make sure she knew it wasn’t a date and I was no threat to her. Also, I really didn’t want to be alone with Nick. Besides, seeing how he interacted with his daughter could give me some more insight into him.

  Skye’s demeanor went from scrutinizing to surprised. “Really?”

  Jack gave me a smile of approval. “I think we should all have dinner together.” His focus shifted behind me. “What do you think, Nick?”

  My head turned, and I was met with those Wells eyes. They captured mine before they roved over my body, exactly like the pair that belonged to his father had. Was he perusing me or judging me? He wore a look of discontent. He probably wasn’t happy with the way our phone call ended. But he was on time. My body, unfortunately, had mixed reactions to the way his eyes seemed to x-ray me. A hint of excitement ran through it, as well as a heavy dose of loathing. I berated myself internally for the small lapse of judgment in my neurons. Not that I could entirely blame them. I used to have posters of him on my wall. No one ever needed to know that.

  Nick’s eyes stayed on me, but he spoke to his father. “Think about what?” The timbre of his voice matched his father’s, but his had an air of conceit.

  A mischievous smile appeared on Jack’s face, showing off his laugh lines. He had plenty of them, unlike his progeny, who may have never laughed a day in his life judging by how taut his jawline was.

  “I’ve decided I can’t bear to part company with our gorgeous new friend, so Skye and I are changing our plans and dining here with you. You don’t mind, do you?” Jack didn’t give him a chance to answer; he held out an arm for me and one for his granddaughter. “Ladies, let me show you to the best table we have here.”

  Nick’s scowl said he wasn’t on board with the new plan, but he didn’t object.

  Relief flooded me. I happily took Jack’s arm, as did Skye. Her mood lightened with the change of plan. Mine did, too. Part of me felt guilty because I knew I wasn’t technically fulfilling my duty as a relationship manager, but who was I to come between father and daughter? And I liked Jack. Not in an I-would-date-him sort of way, but there was something about him. He was a throwback to days gone by, where the man wasn’t afraid to show his interest. It was refreshing. And he was keeping me from being alone with his son, so I blessed him.

  We strolled through the crowded main dining area that was decorated to match the outside. Cottage and French country dining tables and chairs dotted the restaurant in hues of antique white. Crystal bronze chandeliers set the mood. Several patrons stared as we passed by, or should I say, as Nick passed by, trailing behind us.

  Jack led us out to the covered patio that had a gorgeous view of the river. The breeze off the river and patio ceiling fans made it comfortable to be outdoors in the warm July evening. Pots of flowers in a variety of colors overflowed the cozy space. Jack seated us near the edge where we could get the best view of the river and the trees that lined the body of water. Several patrons greeted Jack like they were old-time friends.

  Which made me wonder. “When did you open this place, Jack?”

  Jack pulled out my chair for me. “I’ve been in business about five years. Retirement was too boring.”

  I took my seat while watching Nick pull out Skye’s chair next to me. He earned another point for that gesture. “What did you do before you retired?”

  “I was in the Navy for years, before I managed this kid’s career for a while.” He nodded toward his son. “But Georgia is more my pace.”

  I had no idea his dad was his manager. I’m sad to admit how much I did know from reading several articles about Nick when On the Edge first came out and the subsequent years after. Like I knew Nick’s mother, Barbara, died during the fifth season. My roommate and I mourned for him like we actually knew him. Okay, so I’d had a brush with him by then. Now I’d like to brush him away.

  Nick took the seat across from me but had yet to say a word to me. Not like I had greeted him either. I wasn’t good at real dating, much less this awkward scenario. Let’s not forget I had serious reservations about the man. I had to remember, though, I was there to help Binary Search and mitigate any potential disasters.

  “Hello, Nick.”

  His eyes connected with mine, which was another point for him. Making eye contact was a good thing, but he was too good at it. His gaze was so penetrating I physically felt it. I remember Meg once mentioning that’s how she felt when Zander looked at her. I had never experienced such a sensation until now. Why couldn’t he just return my greeting instead of making me feel exposed? But that’s what narcissists did. They fed off your vulnerabilities.

  I tore my eyes away from his. I refused to be vulnerable again, at least not in the presence of someone who couldn’t be trusted with it. No relationship ever worked unless both parties were willing to be vulnerable.

  “I made it on time.” It was hard to tell if he was being sarcastic or if he wanted praise.

  “I’ll add a star to your chart in the office,” I deadpanned.

  The corner of his lip may have twitched, but his eyebrow arched so fast I wasn’t sure.

  Jack, on the other hand, chortled from the seat next to me. “Beautiful and quick witted. Where do I sign up?” He gave me a wink.

  Nick’s famous eyebrow arch now hit his dad.

  Jack took it all in stride. “I may be old, but I’m not dead, son.” Jack patted my hand. “I suppose I should ask if you’re single.”

  “Grandpa, you’re too old for her,” Skye stated boldly.

  I smiled at Skye and was pleased she returned it. “I think your granddaughter’s right.”

  “I hate to argue with beautiful women, but in this case, I might make an exception.”

  He had me wishing he was younger while Skye shook her gorgeous head at him.

  Nick apparently didn’t like the direction of the conversation. “Where’s our server?”

  “Patience,” Jack reprimanded his son.

  “I already know I’m having the spinach and cheese crepes,” Skye said.

  “That sounds delicious,” I addressed Skye.

  “They are,” Nick spoke, surprising me.

  I shifted my gaze toward him. “Perhaps I’ll order them then.”

  “You won’t be disappointed.” Nick’s tone was smoldering.

  Unfortunately, I usually was.

  Chapter Five

  While we waited for our food, there was no lack of conversation. Jack was unlike his son and liked to talk.

  “So, darlin’,” Jack turned his attention toward me, “Nick tells me you work for the matchmaking service he’s got himself all tangled up in. What is it you all do there?”

  I took a sip of water out of my goblet and set it down. “We use a blend of technology and human observation to help connect people in a meaningful way.”

  “Are you observing me now?” Jack flirted with me.

  “Yes.” I leaned in and played along.

  “And what is your
conclusion?”

  “You’re trouble.”

  Jack tapped my nose. “You’re right.”

  Nick cleared his throat.

  Jack leaned back and grinned at his son. “You’re here to observe Nick, then?”

  “In a matter of speaking, I suppose.”

  “What do you think of him?”

  Both of Nick’s eyebrows skyrocketed up.

  “I’m not allowed to discuss our clients.”

  Nick shot me a thoughtful look.

  “He’s practically an employee, doing advertisements for you,” Jack pressed.

  “Be that as it may, he’s still a client.” One who I’d signed my life away for. The NDA his lawyer sent over for me to sign made me afraid to even call him a client in front of his family, but since Nick had already told them, I hoped I was staying within the lines.

  Jack clapped his hands together. “If you can’t talk about him professionally, at least tell us why you aren’t a fan of his work.”

  I was right. Jack was trouble. I rubbed the exposed part of my chest. “Did I say that?” I reached for my water.

  Skye was giggling to my right while her father was waiting for my reply.

  Jack’s eyes danced to a devious tune. “I think you did.”

  Nick was laser focused on me.

  I met his stare. “What was the name of your character again?”

  “Talon Fox,” Skye giggled some more. “Dumbest name ever.”

  “Yes, and so broody,” I added.

  Skye smacked her dad’s arm playfully. “I told you, Daddy.”

  Nick surprised me and caught his daughter’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  The father-daughter pair were obviously comfortable with one another. The affection he showed Skye gave me some pause. It was genuine.

  Skye faced me. “It’s so embarrassing to watch that show.”

  She made me laugh. “What do you like to watch?”

  “Mostly YouTube, but I love the home design show, This is My Place. Oliver Ren is the hottest. I want to be like him and host my own show someday.”

  “I love that show too.” The show’s basis was to go in and pick one room for a deserving person and make it over, making it their “place.” “Do you remember the show last year where he made a headboard out of old hardback books?”

  “I loved that episode. He did it for that retired librarian who donated all the money she won in the lottery to the library,” Skye responded.

  I placed my hand across my heart. “That was so sweet. I was so inspired by it, I made the same headboard.”

  “Ooo. I’d love to see that.”

  “Me too,” Jack said seductively. He really was trouble.

  “You know my dad produces that show?” Skye informed me. “And I got to meet Oliver.”

  “I didn’t know that,” I glanced quickly at Nick, who looked between Skye and me with interest, before I asked, “Is Oliver Ren as good looking in person?”

  “Even better,” Skye sighed, “but he has a girlfriend.”

  “He’s too old for you and off limits.” Nick sounded like a dad.

  Skye waved her hand at her dad. “In ten years when I’m twenty-five and he’s thirty-five, no one will care. And the last woman you dated was young enough to be my sister.”

  Tension arose like a tidal wave, as did the scarlet tint in Nick’s cheeks.

  All her dad had to say was, “Skye,” and she said not another word on the subject.

  The arrival of food was good timing. After a few bites, the delicious food worked its magic like only good food could. The mood at the table shifted back to being more lighthearted. Jack was back to asking me more questions.

  “Are you from around here?”

  I swallowed and nodded. “Mostly, yes. I grew up in Durbin Hills but attended college in Pennsylvania and then Iowa.”

  “What did you study?”

  Nick obviously didn’t tell him what my role was at Binary Search. Interesting.

  “For my undergrad I received a degree in sociology. Then I earned a masters and a doctorate in psychology.”

  “I didn’t know we were in the presence of a doctor. Nick, you never mentioned it.”

  Nick wiped his mouth with his napkin. He too had ordered the spinach and cheese crepes. “I didn’t know.”

  “Should we call you Dr. Morgan?” Jack teased.

  “No.” I smiled. “I don’t usually advertise it in the office. I want people to feel comfortable around me. The only time I ever use that title is Monday nights when I volunteer at one of the counseling clinics near my place. The people there are my only true patients now.”

  “Smart, beautiful, and generous.” Jack was liberal with compliments.

  I tried to take the compliments for what they were. Even tried to absorb them. Since Douglas, I was wary of them. Douglas had laid them on thick when we first met, and I bought into it. But by the end he made me feel like the most worthless person who had ever lived. I still had to fight against those feelings. And I was always afraid that when someone complimented me, it wasn’t genuine, or they had ulterior motives. I didn’t want to feel that way. It was tiring, to be honest.

  “I don’t know about that. I only want to give back where I can.”

  Jack beamed at me. “How someone hasn’t snatched you up yet, I can’t fathom.”

  Someone had snatched me, devoured me, then spit me out. “I do my best to make that difficult.” The ease to which I owned that surprised me.

  “I like a challenge, darlin’.” I don’t think he was teasing.

  “Dad,” Nick’s voice warned.

  “Ah, let your old man have some fun.” Jack stood up and held his hand out to me. “Take a spin with me.”

  A few couples who had too much to drink had started an impromptu dance in the corner. I had enjoyed watching them on and off. One couple were spectacular swing dancers. I looked at Jack’s hand and reminded myself I wanted to have more fun in my life. My hand landed in his. “I would be honored.”

  He pulled me up and close to him. “The honor is all mine.”

  If only he were younger. Though my mom was right, I would probably find some reason we couldn’t be together. For now, though, I would enjoy the moment with the distinguished gentleman.

  Just in Time by Dean Martin was playing over the restaurant’s sound system.

  Jack led me to the corner and held me close, but in a gentlemanly manner. He was tall like his son, and even in my heels I had to tilt my head up to look at him. He made me wonder how such a carefree man had raised such a brooding son.

  Jack’s eyes sparkled before he leaned in to whisper in my ear. “If I were a younger man, I would be asking for your number right about now.”

  “If you were a younger man, I would be giving it to you.”

  His playful laugh rang in my ear. “I do enjoy vexing my son. And this is doing the trick quite nicely. Don’t you think?”

  We both looked his way and, sure enough, his eyes were shooting daggers at his dad.

  “He needs to lighten up a bit. But that said,” Jack’s tone took a more serious turn, “I don’t know what in the world he is doing using a dating service. Maybe he’s tired of all the piranhas in Hollywood. Or he’s finally realized how horrible his taste in women is. Skye’s mother, and I use the term lightly, has put them both through the wringer, so I’m begging you for Skye’s sake to make sure he’s matched with someone who won’t hurt him or her.”

  I wanted to ask what had happened, but it wasn’t my place. “I promise.” For his daughter’s sake I would do my best. The question was, would Nick hurt whoever I set him up with?

  Relief washed over Jack’s face. “Are you available for him?”

  “No.” I had to keep the shock of horror off my face at such a notion. “Employees aren’t allowed to date clients.”

  “Too bad.” Jack swung me out, making my dress twirl. We both laughed as he pulled me back in. “You are enchanting, darlin’. You remind m
e of my Barbara.”

  No one had ever called me enchanting before. I wanted to believe him. I almost ached to. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Don’t be. We lived five lifetimes together. I only wish the same for my son. For you too.”

  “Thank you, Jack.”

  “For what?”

  “For reminding me what this is like and giving me some hope.”

  He pulled me closer and we swayed together. “Anytime, darlin’.”

  As if the evening hadn’t already been so unexpected, Nick and Skye joined us on the dance floor. I leaned on Jack’s shoulder and watched father and daughter. Skye talked and talked, and her dad listened as he held her tenderly. It was as if I could see in his eyes that he wished the moment would never end. If I ever did marry, I hoped my husband would dance with our daughter like Nick danced with his. And, as always, I wondered if my baby would have been a little girl. She would have been nine now. I could picture her standing on her father’s feet, dancing and dancing. Well, not her father’s, he was awful, but I planned to do so much better the next go around.

  Amid my contemplation Nick’s eyes locked with my own. They made me pause. His eyes asked the same thing I was thinking, Who are you?

  I left with more questions about him than answers.

  I had no idea what type of woman to pair him with. I didn’t even get to ask him one question. Confusion swirled in my brain. I was having a hard time reconciling the man in my office and his egregious questionnaire, to the man who treated his daughter like a princess. Mind you, he hardly said a word to me or anyone else. Perhaps I should pair him with someone who didn’t mind carrying the conversation, but even a person like that wanted some reciprocation.

  I said my goodbyes to Jack and Skye, each giving me a hug. Nick hung in the back, not saying a thing. But while I was walking to my car, I was stopped by the sound of the man with nothing to say.

  “Kate.”

  Startled, I stopped in the middle of the parking lot, but didn’t turn around.