The Wife Finder

by McClone, Melissa

  Hadley’s auburn hair shone underneath the lights. She wore jeans, a nice blouse, and boots. A lanyard with a badge hung around her neck.

  She smiled at him, and his pulse stuttered.

  Blaise wove his way around people to meet her halfway. “Hey.”

  “Hey, you.” Her blue eyes twinkled. “Having fun?”

  “Now I am.” He brushed his lips across hers before hugging her. She smelled like sunshine and strawberries. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Same.” He ran his hand over her soft hair, needing to touch her. “We’re together now.”

  “As soon as my panel is over, I’m all yours. There’s a party later, but we can skip it.”

  “I don’t care what we do as long as we’re together.”

  That sounded good to him. All he wanted was to stand here and stare. Seeing her settled him the way he knew it would. She was so beautiful, but she’d also worked this morning before flying to him this afternoon. “Are you hungry? Do you want a drink?”

  Hadley touched his arm, connecting them in a way he hadn’t known he needed. “You’re all I need.”

  “I need another kiss.” Blaise’s lips touched hers, harder this time. His mouth lingered, tasting her sweetness and her warmth. Yes, she was exactly what he needed.

  He knew people were around them, the din of conversations, but he didn't care. He had nothing to hide.

  Not anymore. Not with Hadley.

  Blaise didn’t want to wait to kiss her. He needed her.

  As he pulled her closer, she arched against him. He didn’t want to stop kissing her, but there would be time for more kisses later. This was only the beginning for them.

  No rush.

  That was what he’d been telling himself.

  And he repeated the words, even if quiet desperation for her flowed through him.

  Slowly, he drew the kiss to an end, but he didn’t back away.

  Blaise couldn’t. Instead, he rested his forehead against hers. “I could get used to doing this all the time.”

  “Me, too.” She sounded breathless.

  Good. That was how he felt around her. He laced his fingers with hers, wanting to hold on to her tightly.

  Not that he planned on letting her go.

  An announcement about the upcoming session sounded.

  He tugged on his tie with his free hand.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Yes, I just want the panel to go well.”

  She kissed his cheek. “You’ll be brilliant as usual.”

  Her compliment was what he needed.

  “So…” they said at the same time and then laughed.

  “You go first,” she said.

  “Dash likes the woman you introduced him to,” Blaise said. “He went out with her again.”

  Hadley’s face brightened. “I’m happy to hear that. They are an excellent match, so I’m curious how it plays out.”

  “He will put a ring on her finger and say ‘I do.’”

  She laughed. “I appreciate your confidence in my abilities, but don’t tell Dash that or he might freak out.”

  “He’ll get there.”

  “Don’t you guys call him Mr. Status Quo?”

  “Yes, but he’s never dated a woman who designs video games or gone out with the same person twice in one week,” Blaise explained. “You hit a home run.”

  She beamed. “I can’t wait to see what happens in the next inning.”

  The doors to where his panel was being held opened. People streamed out from the previous session and into the lobby where they stood. Blaise noticed Rizzo still in line for coffee, but now the crowd was between them.

  “I saw Wes earlier, but he didn’t mention his date.” Blaise wanted to get his mind off the panel. “Did he tell you anything?”

  As her smile faltered, she glanced around. “This might not be the best place to talk.”

  He didn’t see anyone paying attention to them. “It’s fine.”

  She took a breath. “Wes went out on his date, but he doesn’t want to go on another with her.”

  “Did something happen?”

  “No, he liked her. It’s just not the right time for him to be dating.”

  That didn’t sound like Wes. “Yeah, right.”

  “He was honest with me,” Hadley said, her tone compassionate. “The last couple of years have been hard on him. Physically and emotionally. He wants more time before he jumps into the dating world again. It’s good he recognizes that because I think he needs a break.”

  “What he needs is to move on with his life,” Blaise countered. “The cancer is in remission. He needs a wife.”

  Her jaw clenched. “He’s not ready for a date. A wife is the last thing he needs.”

  No. Hadley was being stubborn. Maybe she was following a flowchart or something, but Blaise wouldn’t let anything get in his way of winning. “Wes has always been up for going out and dating.”

  “Maybe before, but that’s not what he wants now. It’s not right to push him into something because you want it to happen.”

  “He told you all this?”

  She nodded. “We spoke on the phone.”

  That was strange. Blaise didn’t like how easy she spoke about Wes. “He didn’t say a word to me.”

  “He will.” Hadley sounded certain. “It’s too bad, but trying to find someone to date right now would be a waste of my time and your money.”

  Heat rushed up Blaise’s neck. “The bet—”

  “What’s more important to you? Winning the bet or doing what’s best for your friend?”

  He didn’t like the accusation in her voice or how close—familiar—she suddenly appeared to be with Wes. “They aren’t mutually exclusive. Which is why I hired you.”

  “Talk to Wes. Hear what he has to say.”

  “Wes is my friend, not yours. So I’m not sure why he’s discussing this with you.”

  She gave Blaise a funny look. “I’m his matchmaker.”

  “Then you should know love is what he needs. Find him another date as soon as you’re back in the office.”

  Something flashed in her eyes. “I can’t.”

  I can’t.

  Memories slammed into Blaise like a speeding semi-truck with no brakes, roaring in his ears and making him nauseous. His parents had said the same thing to him when they chose heroin over him. Time and time again. All he’d ever wanted was to be important enough for someone to put him first, to choose him. He thought Hadley felt that way about him. But she was choosing Wes.

  Not me.

  “You can’t?” Blaise repeated, not believing what was happening.

  “I can’t because that’s not what Wes needs. Give him time to heal emotionally first.”

  What Wes needed? Blaise grimaced. What about him?

  Each muscle tensed into a rock-hard ball. Anger flared, his temper spiraling out of control.

  He’d been wrong about Hadley. She didn’t care about him.

  Not at all.

  If she did, she would have picked him. Not Wes.

  “I hired you to do a job.” Blaise spoke through gritted teeth. “Now you’re telling me you won’t do it?”

  She flinched. “I’m trying to do the right thing.”

  “For Wes. What about for me?”

  “For both of you.”

  Not good enough. Not even close. “The right thing is for you to what I hired you to do.”

  “I can’t.”

  Blaise hated those two words. Why had he thought Hadley was different? She wasn’t.

  He raised his chin. “Then I’ll hire someone else.”

  Her jaw dropped. “You’re firing me?”

  “I am.” The words sounded harsh to his ears, but they would never work out. He saw that now. “I hired you for your matchmaking skills. Now, you’re telling me you can’t do the job. Yes, I’m firing you because Matched by Lowell is nothing but a scam. I’ll find a more qualified matchmaker who won’t give up when things don�
��t work out the first time.”

  “He’s not ready.” She choked out the words, her voice was whisper soft.

  “Yes, he is.”

  Her eyebrows drew together, matching the pinched expression on her face. “Winning is that important to you?”

  “If you knew me the way I thought you did, you would know what the bet means to me.”

  Hurt filled her eyes. “If you knew me the way I thought you did, you would know why I can’t do this to Wes.”

  Blaise didn’t—couldn’t—say anything.

  She swallowed. “So where does that leave us?”

  “There is no us.” The words shot out. “If there was, we’d never be having this discussion. We got carried away pretending to be together. That’s all.”

  Hadley’s eyes gleamed. She took a breath and then another. “That’s all.”

  She sounded so defeated.

  Blaise didn’t—couldn’t—care. He pressed his lips together. He had nothing to say to her.

  “I offer a money back guarantee. I’ll void our contract and refund the retainer you paid me.” With that, she hurried away from him, disappearing into the crowd.

  He stood, paralyzed. People rode the escalators. Some entered the room where he’d be speaking on the panel. Others talked as he and Hadley had.

  Except they hadn’t been chatting or catching up.

  They’d fought.

  Broken up.

  And…

  Blaise rubbed the spot over his heart.

  I can’t.

  Her words had slayed him. Hurt him deeper than he’d thought possible.

  Until meeting Hadley, he hadn’t known how much he needed someone in his life—in his heart—but she’d chosen someone else. Now he was on his own again.

  Alone.

  And he didn’t know what to do.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Men suck.” Fallon’s angry voice was so loud Hadley had to pull her phone away from her ear. “Blaise is no different from the rest of them.”

  Tears stung Hadley’s eyes. She’d hoped—believed—Blaise would be different. If she hadn’t, she would have never fallen in…

  An announcement sounded—the boarding call for a Boston flight.

  She blinked. Wiped her eyes. Tried to pull herself together.

  Falling apart in the hotel room she’d checked into only hours ago had been hard enough. She couldn’t lose it here—in public at the airport.

  And wait…

  What Fallon said didn’t sound right.

  Hadley sniffled before readjusting the phone at her ear. “I thought you weren’t going to blame all men for the actions of one. Or two.”

  “Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel differently,” Fallon explained, her tone harsh. “But right now? I hate them all.”

  A family of four ran toward the end of the terminal. The kids wore brightly colored backpacks. The man pulled a suitcase behind him. The mom held on to the hand of a young boy. A little girl carried a stuffed llama that was identical to Audra’s.

  Hadley’s chest tightened. She swallowed past the burning in her throat. “I wish I were home.”

  “You will be soon.”

  The line of people standing at the counter told Hadley she wasn’t the only one trying to get to San Francisco tonight. “If not this flight, then the next one.”

  “You’ll get on.”

  “I will.” Hadley needed to think positively. The thought of being stuck in the same city as Blaise filled her eyes with tears. She blinked them away.

  A part of her wished she’d stayed in her hotel room with a box of tissues, a pint of cookie dough ice cream, and her tiara on her head, but she could do the same thing with Fallon once Hadley arrived home.

  Ice cream might not solve problems, but it wouldn’t make them worse. The disappointment, anger, and disdain in Blaise’s eyes had cut her to the core. And what he’d said…

  Trying to calm herself, she inhaled, held her breath, and then exhaled.

  “You’re too quiet,” Fallon said. “Talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  The only thing that matters to Blaise is winning.

  He’d said that to Hadley, more than once.

  But she’d forgotten.

  And she couldn’t tell Fallon. Blaise was still her client. Even if he wasn’t, she would never betray his confidence or privacy. Wes’s, either.

  “As long as I did what he wanted, things were fine. When I wouldn’t…”

  “That tells me the man isn’t as smart as everyone thinks,” Fallon said in a matter-of-fact tone. “You, my dear sister, are a catch. Not only that, you care about others. Your family, friends, clients. If Blaise can’t see that, then the man is an idiot and doesn’t deserve you.”

  “Thanks.” Hadley had been positive he would understand about Wes. She was disappointed Blaise hadn’t, but she’d never expected things to explode the way they did. “I feel so stupid.”

  “I only met him the one time, but he fooled the kids.”

  Her heart dropped. Audra and Ryder had enjoyed spending time with Blaise.

  “Before you worry about Audra and Ryder, they only saw him twice. They know he lives in another state. It’s no big deal.”

  Except this was another guy disappearing from their lives. Hadley wouldn’t introduce any men to them again. Not until she knew…

  Knew what? That a relationship would last? That the feelings were real? That her love wasn’t unrequited?

  Love.

  A sob escaped.

  “Hey.” Fallon’s voice softened. “It’ll get better. Even though it feels like you’re sinking and will never be okay again, you will be. You want to know how I know that?”

  “How?”

  “Because my smart sister told me that when I didn’t want to get out of bed ever again,” Fallon said. “And you were right. Every day gets better. And one day, we’re both going to meet men who are different from those in our past. They won’t be perfect, but they will be what each of us needs. And the heartache and pain we’ve suffered will make the upcoming happy times worth it.”

  Hadley hoped so. Though “one day” would be a long time for her. Her heart needed to recover. “Thanks.”

  “And you know what?”

  “What?” she asked.

  “Someday, Blaise will regret what he lost.”

  Wait. Fallon didn’t know about the bet. Even if she knew about it, the bet was still going on. “He hasn’t lost anything.”

  “I meant you, silly.”

  Hadley inhaled sharply.

  “I hate how this turned out for you,” Fallon said. “But each heartbreak brings you one step closer to finding true love.”

  An elderly couple strolled by with their hands linked. Love radiated between them.

  That’s what I wanted.

  What I thought I found with Blaise.

  Except Hadley had been fooling herself to think they belonged together. The billionaire and the matchmaker. Both with companies to run in different states and a family who needed her. “I was daydreaming. Getting caught up in the fairy tale.”

  “I don’t blame you,” Fallon admitted. “It was a good fairy tale while it lasted. But there’s a happy ending out there for you and for me.”

  Fallon deserved one. And…

  So do I.

  “Someday…” Hadley said.

  “Someday,” her sister repeated.

  A happily ever after required work, commitment, and love.

  When the time was right and her heart was ready, Hadley would find a man who wanted the same as her.

  Another announcement sounded.

  “They’re boarding my flight,” Hadley said. “I need to listen to the names called off the standby list. I’ll let you know.”

  “I’m here if you need me.”

  Her sister was the best. “Thanks.”

  “Your heart will stop hurting so bad.”

  Hadley sighed. She only wished it would stop hurting now.

&n
bsp; * * *

  Somehow, Blaise survived the panel. He barely remembered a word he’d said or a question he’d answered, but he’d received nothing but praise about the session. Someone had taped it, and he could confirm whether or not he’d made a lovesick fool out of himself.

  Not lovesick.

  A fool with a capital F.

  Which was why he now sat alone in the VIP area of the hottest new club in Las Vegas. He didn’t drink much, but tonight he would get blackout drunk. Maybe then he could stop hurting.

  He admired the bottle sitting on the table: 23 Year Old Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. An empty glass was within arm’s reach. His bodyguards hovered with concerned expressions on their faces, but Lex and Rizzo knew to leave Blaise alone.

  He poured two fingers of the amber red liquid and downed the contents. The bourbon burned, but that didn’t keep him from refilling the glass and doing the same thing until he lost track of how many drinks he’d had. He filled the glass once again, only this time to the top and drank as much as he could in one gulp.

  “Drinking alone?” Wes stood next to the table, towering over Blaise. “Or strategizing with yourself on who I could marry so you can win the bet?”

  The words hit Blaise like a sucker punch. A million and one thoughts collided in his brain. Most of them bad. A nice buzz was on the way, and he didn’t want it to stop. He refilled his glass before placing the bottle on the table.

  Playing dumb wasn’t his usual MO, but in this case, he had nothing else to try. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Wes half laughed, though no humor flashed in his eyes. “The video of you firing Hadley has gone viral.”

  “What video?”

  Wes pulled out his phone, touched the screen, and shoved his cell phone at Blaise. “I had no idea you wanted to win this badly.”

  Words sat on the tip of Blaise’s tongue, ready to jump out in his defense. But he pressed his lips together, took the phone from Wes, and hit play.

  Whoever held the camera stood behind a potted plant. The sound quality was poor, but the filming showed him kissing Hadley. Blaise hadn’t noticed anyone with a camera, but he hadn’t been paying attention to the people around them.

  As he watched, a knot in his stomach grew. Not all their words could be heard, but enough to imply what was happening.