The Wife Finder

by McClone, Melissa

  Hadley studied him like he was a lab rat. “I thought you’d rub it in.”

  “You didn’t rub in me falling asleep and missing our chance to talk. Why would I do that to you?”

  “Bad assumption.”

  Not really, because in another instance he may have. He stood. “I’m going to use the bathroom.”

  “Washcloths are under the sink. New toothbrushes are in the second drawer.”

  Curiosity got the better of him. “Do you keep a supply for overnight guests?”

  “Audra and Ryder’s friends sometimes forget to bring things when they stay over, and toothbrushes are the number one item.”

  So she hadn’t meant adult overnight guests. That was good. Not that he cared. What she did was none of his business. Still, he wondered. She didn’t go out with clients, but an attractive, successful woman must date. Did she have a boyfriend? Or a special guy she spent time with?

  “Not that we have a ton of space for sleepovers, but we make do.”

  He glanced around. “Your condo is nice.”

  She smiled. “I love it, but I bought this when it was only me. I need to find a bigger place for us.”

  Us meaning Hadley, her sister, the kids, and the cat. “Have you started looking?”

  “Yes, but I want to stay in this neighborhood so it’ll take time.”

  If she wanted something bigger, he didn’t understand why she wouldn’t just buy a new house and move. “Lack of inventory around here?”

  “Money.” She toyed with the edge of her apron. “Houses are pricier than condos.”

  “Oh, right.” Which he should know. Except he’d buried what being poor was like. Well, tried. The bad memories outweighed the good ones by a hundred to one so why hold on to them?

  “It’ll happen,” she said.

  “You have a plan.”

  Hadley laughed. “I do.”

  And now Blaise had one, too. Everyone had a price. He’d said that to Trevor. Unknowingly, Hadley had told Blaise hers—a house for her family. An expensive one. He could make that happen for her. Today, tomorrow, whenever she wanted.

  He forced himself not to grin too widely.

  “A fresh pot of coffee is brewing,” she said. “There’s a clean mug sitting on the counter.”

  “Are you making breakfast?”

  “Dinner. The crock pot comes in handy with work and kids.”

  “I’ve never used one.” He had no idea if he owned a slow cooker. Someone else had set up his kitchen when he moved in. His housekeeper, Robyn, did his shopping. He also had a personal chef.

  “We use ours too much, but it saves time.” She wiped her hands on the front of her apron. “Today is pancakes and pajama day so the kids eat at school.”

  “Shouldn’t take them long to get ready then. Crawl out of bed, brush teeth and hair, and go.”

  She shivered. “The kids can’t wear the same pajamas they wore overnight.”

  “All they did was sleep in them.”

  “For hours. They need clean ones.”

  That rigid side of her was showing again. “You’re making more work for yourself.”

  “I don’t mind. If you want cereal or I may have yogurt…”

  “No, thanks.” He didn’t want her to go to any trouble for him. “All I need is a cup of coffee.”

  “Okay, I have to get the kids up.”

  She didn’t give him a chance to respond before she walked away.

  Maybe she wasn’t a morning person. Maybe she hadn’t had a cup of coffee yet. Or maybe she was as inflexible as he first believed, not only about work but also about life.

  Still she cared about her work and her family. Her sister, niece, and nephew were lucky to have someone like Hadley. Other than a handful of friends, no one cared about Blaise. Not that way. The only people who did things for him were on his payroll. If things worked out as he planned during their meeting, Hadley would work for him, too.

  And then she could buy whatever house she wanted.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Later that morning, Hadley sat at her desk. Even though tempted, she hadn’t poured herself a cup of coffee from the pot she’d made for Blaise and passed by the machine in the lobby. Whether Hadley remained awake all day, however, remained to be seen because she hadn’t slept well last night. But that had more to do with Blaise sleeping in her living room than her going cold turkey.

  Still, she was proud she’d survived another morning without a jolt of caffeine to get her going. She’d also checked off every item on her morning to-do list at home and at the office.

  Next on her schedule—the nine o’clock meeting with Blaise.

  Warmth spread through her veins.

  Twenty-four hours ago, she’d never met him. She wouldn’t call them friends, but she’d enjoyed spending time with him yesterday. He’d piqued her curiosity. She wanted to hear what he was looking for—a date, a girlfriend, a wife. A part of her envied whoever he ended up with because he was a catch.

  And not only because of his net worth.

  In some ways, Blaise was exactly the man she imagined he would be. Pushy, all business, not wanting to take no for an answer. But seeing him with Audra and Ryder had given Hadley a glimpse of a softer side. That appealed to her deep inside, a place she hadn’t realized existed. Maybe that explained why he’d been on her mind since Lex picked him up at her condo two hours ago.

  More than once, Blaise’s confidence had wavered with the kids. The hint of vulnerability made him seem more approachable. The switch from standoffish to kind in a blink of an eye took his hotness to a new level.

  She also had a feeling her niece and nephew would talk about Mr. M for days.

  A part of her was crushing on him.

  Harmless, yes, but she needed to focus on business. On his wanting to hire her. Anything else would only get in the way, especially if he became a client.

  Ella poked her head into the office. “The receptionist from the front desk called. Blaise is on his way back.”

  “Thanks.” Hadley glanced at the time on her screen.

  8:59 AM.

  Punctual. That was a good sign.

  The outer door opened and closed.

  Hadley rubbed her palms over her pants, took a breath, and then exhaled slowly.

  “Hello, again.” Blaise strode into her office with purposeful steps, his laptop bag in his left hand, and a dazzling smile on his face. He’d changed clothes. His yellow shirt and gray pants weren’t as fancy as his suit yesterday, but the style looked good on him. He’d tamed the hair that had been a mess when he’d woken up, and he wore black glasses.

  Flutters filled her stomach.

  She swallowed.

  Standing on the opposite side of her desk, he held out his right arm.

  Hadley stood and shook his hand.

  Tingles erupted at the point of contact. The feeling was unexpected. Not unenjoyable.

  His skin was warm. His hand large.

  And this was lasting far too long.

  Crushing was one thing. Touching him? Avoid at all costs.

  She pulled away, not understanding why his touch affected her, and motioned to the empty chair. “Please have a seat.”

  He did.

  She was thankful the desk was between them. That was enough distance where she couldn’t smell him—his aftershave or soap—like she could yesterday in the car.

  Ella brought in coffee for him and left without saying a word.

  Blaise raised the cup. “So here we are. At the time you said. So how do we start?”

  “I like to begin by telling a little about myself.”

  “Go right ahead.”

  She rested her elbows on the desk and leaned forward. “I opened Matched by Lowell seven years ago after working for a few other matchmakers. My focus then, as it is now, is to find people their perfect match. Not only to date, though that’s where everyone starts, but to connect two people whose journey together will lead them to a fulfilling life-long marriage
. My services are rather old school with personal interviews and surveys. Which is why I limit who I accept as a client. I want to give each person the focus they deserve and have time to interview each person who might be a match. Any questions so far?”

  He held his coffee cup. “No.”

  “The time we’d work together varies. There is no limit as to how long it takes to find a match. Some clients are with me for months. Others a year or two. One client took three years, but that is the exception not the norm. I can’t guarantee a happily ever after, but I will do everything in my power to introduce you to people who can help you find one.”

  Blaise’s smile was neon-lights-on-Broadway bright. “I read through the information you sent Trevor, but hearing you say this reaffirms we’re on the same page. Your fees for such an individualized service are fair.”

  “Excellent.” She opened her notebook and readied her pen. “Let’s talk timeframe. Do you have one or are you flexible?”

  “Is by the end of the month too soon?”

  He grinned, but she couldn’t tell if he was serious or not. She hoped not.

  “Joking,” he said. “But I would like things to happen as quickly as possible.”

  Her insides twisted, but she wasn’t sure why given the reason he wanted to hire her. “Love at first sight has happened with clients, but that’s a rarity. The norm is much slower.”

  “That’s fine. I can be patient while you work your magic.”

  “Love isn’t something you conjure up. If it was, I’d be out of business,” she admitted. “Though I will admit when I look at two people to gauge their compatibility, there’s a gut instinct involved.”

  “Magic.”

  “Are you playing devil’s advocate?”

  He winked. “Maybe.”

  The temperature in the office rose. Or maybe it was her. “When did you decide you wanted a serious relationship?”

  “I don’t want one.”

  Her gaze jerked to his. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I don’t want a girlfriend or to get married. Not now, maybe not ever.”

  Her mouth gaped. She closed it. Considered his words. Scratched her head. “Then why are you here?”

  Wasting your time and mine?

  “I need you to find two wives.” The serious glint in his eyes told her he wasn’t joking.

  Hadley started to speak but then stopped herself. She leaned back in her chair before trying again.

  “I thought there was nothing anyone could say that would shock me. You have.” The wealthy could be eccentric but this was on another level and illegal. “Polygamy is against the law.”

  Blaise laughed. The deep, rich sound floated through the air, smacking into her and curling her toes. A totally inappropriate response to a man wanting two wives but not marriage.

  What was wrong with her? And him?

  “Based on the disgust on your face, I should clarify my needs.” He sounded as if this was amusing to him. “The women won’t be my wives.”

  Say what? That didn’t clarify anything. “Whose wives would they be?”

  “My two closest friends.”

  “That’s…unusual.” She sounded exasperated, exactly how she felt. Something about Blaise left her unsettled and off-kilter. She didn’t like the feeling and wanted it to end.

  “Is it?” he asked. “Henry Davenport is a good friend of mine. He thought you’d be able to help me.”

  So that was how Blaise had found her. She took client confidentiality seriously, but Henry must have said something to him. “Your friend and I have a special arrangement.”

  “Did you date him?”

  Hadley laughed. Henry had never seen her as anything more than someone he hired. Staff, if that. Otherwise, she would have received an invitation to one of his elaborate birthday celebrations. She hadn’t. “No.”

  “Does that mean you’re the brains behind his matchmaking?”

  “Henry has his own skills for pairing couples, but our styles…complement each other.”

  “Excellent.” Blaise leaned forward in his chair. “That means you know how to match people who aren’t your clients.”

  She didn’t know what he was getting at. At this point, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “As I said, my arrangement with Henry is one of a kind.”

  “No reason you can’t have two of those ‘arrangements.’”

  “True…” But she needed more information to decide what to do. “Why do you want your friends to get married so badly you’re willing to hire a matchmaker for them?”

  “I want them to be happy,” Blaise said without missing a beat.

  That begged a question. “They aren’t happy now?”

  Blaise’s lips folded in. “They could be happier.”

  He wasn’t telling her the truth. “Do they know what you’re planning?”

  “Not exactly.” He rubbed his chin. “It will be a surprise.”

  “You hiring a matchmaker...or them falling in love with their perfect matches?”

  He sipped his coffee as if he wanted to delay his answer. Or think of one. “Both.”

  “Sending your friends on a vacation is a surprise.” This still made no sense to her. “Hiring your friends a matchmaker they don’t want would be a mistake.”

  His face fell for a moment, but then his smile returned. “It’s not a mistake. They won’t think so after meeting the love of their life.”

  He sounded convinced. She wasn’t. “They must be close friends for you to go to so much trouble.”

  His eyes darted around the office. “They are.”

  He might believe that, but based on Blaise’s body language, he was holding back information.

  She tapped her finger against her chin. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  He crossed his leg over his knee. “What do you mean? I have two friends, and I want you to find them wives.”

  “Something isn’t adding up. And if Henry’s involved, there’s more to the situation than what you’ve told me.”

  Blaise scratched his neck. “If you’re worried, this is like his birthday adventure pairings, it isn’t.”

  “Then what is it? Why do your friends need wives now?”

  A beat passed. And another.

  A sheepish expression crossed his face. “There’s a bet.”

  I knew this went beyond friendship.

  But she also realized Blaise Mortenson was as much trouble as she thought he would be. She steepled her fingers. “Go on.”

  “Five years ago, six of us made a bet. The last single man wins.” A muscle ticked at his jawline. “We each contributed ten million dollars. We created a fund that my company runs and we agreed to use the money to test an investment algorithm I’d been developing. The return exceeded my expectations.”

  “How well did it do?”

  “The fund is worth five hundred million dollars.”

  Her lips parted. That amount explained his motivation for wanting his friends to get married.

  “Winner takes all, unless all of us marry within a year of the first person,” he explained. “The first wedding occurred nine months ago. The third was on Saturday. That’s when I decided I wanted to speed things up so I win sooner.”

  “By finding the other two wives,” she offered.

  “It’s a brilliant idea.”

  Cockiness oozed from him. She shouldn’t find that as attractive as she did. Usually that was a turn-off. “That remains to be seen.”

  But she had her doubts.

  “My friends will have zero complaints once they meet the women of their dreams. Which is where you come in. I need to make sure they end up with the right women. Not gold-diggers or divas.”

  Hadley bit her lip, unsure of what she wanted to say next. “What you’re asking goes beyond what I do for Henry.”

  “New skills are good to have.”

  “Not sure how marketable these would be.”

  “I’ll give you my highest recommendation.”
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br />   “Thanks, but you’re single and not planning to settle down.” Which was too bad. “Are your friends dating or are they trying to win the bet, too?”

  “Neither is pursuing nor dating anyone. Both would be open to meeting someone. The bet doesn’t seem important to them. One forgot about it. The other doesn’t seem to care much about winning.”

  Blaise appeared to have justified his actions, but that didn’t make his plan right. She studied him, trying to see beneath the gorgeous outer package. “But the bet is to you.”

  He nodded once.

  Having the most money was a way for some wealthy clients to quantify their success with spots on a Richest in America list. Though a few shied away from that and didn’t want to be listed or even known to the public. Which was Blaise?

  “Do you want to win because of the money or something else?” she asked.

  Blaise stared down his nose at her. “What I want doesn’t affect you or anyone else. It’s personal.”

  Touchy. He had to be hiding something. “Have your friends mentioned being interested in marriage?”

  “No, but they are. Everyone is.”

  “You said you weren’t.”

  “I was speaking literally. As in right now.” He leaned back in the chair. “But I’m okay whether or not it happens. Marriage has never been a life goal. But my friends? They will be great husbands. This will be a win for all three of us.”

  She hesitated. “Maybe, but I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “You’re cautious. A planner.” Blaise didn’t miss a beat responding. “That means you should be questioning the situation. And me.”

  “I’m past the point of questioning,” she admitted. “My gut is telling me no.”

  He sat forward. “Why?”

  “How many reasons do you want to hear?”

  Blaise laughed. “Henry said you were thorough so I should have known there would be more than one. What’s your biggest reason?”

  “Finding matches without your friends’ input and meeting them in person will be impossible.”

  “I know both well. We’re close.”

  “As a friend, maybe. But you can’t see inside their heads or peek into their hearts.”

  “I’m willing to take that risk,” he countered.