The Wife Finder

by McClone, Melissa

  Blaise swore under his breath. He’d gotten sloppy. Let down his guard. All because of his wanting to be with Hadley.

  She was radiant. Her smile lit up her face with pure happiness and joy. Only that disappeared the longer they spoke. When he fired her—everything he’d said then was clear in the video—Hadley paled as if she might collapse. Her expression turned to a portrait of pain and sadness.

  He drank more.

  “So it’s true.” Hard lines formed around Wes’s mouth. “You hired Hadley to find Dash and me wives. You pretended to date her so she could get to know us. You set us up.”

  Even though Wes wasn’t asking questions, Blaise nodded once to acknowledge the truth.

  Except one thing had been true—his feelings for her were real. He might have told her they were pretending, but if they had been, he wouldn’t be feeling so miserable and wanting to numb the pain.

  Wes’s nostrils flared. “You always said winning was everything, so I understand your motivation. We all compete, even if it’s unspoken. But after the time we spent together during my treatments, you were the one who was there the most with me, I thought we were friends, best friends.”

  “We are.” The words erupted from Blaise’s mouth.

  “Then how does a matchmaker you hired know me better than you do?”

  “I…”

  “Hadley’s correct. I’m not ready to date. She tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen. You didn’t care.” Wes snatched the phone from Blaise. “Not about me. Or Dash. The only thing that matters to you is winning the bet.”

  Guilt coated Blaise’s mouth. Not even the expensive bourbon could wash it away. “I’m sorry.”

  “Are you?” Wes’s voice was harsh.

  “Yes. I only wanted…” To win. “What I want doesn’t matter any longer.”

  “You haven’t lost the bet.”

  No, but Blaise had lost something else.

  He reached for the bottle and refilled the glass.

  Wes shook his head. “So that’s how tonight will be? Drink until you puke?”

  The less Blaise remembered of today, the better. This time, however, he only sipped from his glass. The liquor had warmed his blood. His buzz was getting stronger. He just needed…more.

  Wes sighed. “While your brain is still halfway functioning, tell me who you have on Hadley.”

  Blaise blinked. “Huh?”

  “Security.”

  He glanced at Lex and Rizzo. “No one.”

  Wes swore under his breath. “Where is she?”

  “Don’t know.” Blaise took another sip. “Don’t care.”

  He didn’t want to care. A few more drinks and he wouldn’t.

  “Stop being an idiot.” Wes grabbed the glass away from him, splashing bourbon on the table. “You’re not the only one on the video that’s gone viral. You mention her company’s name. You can see her face. A simple search will tell everyone who she is. If the media wants to find her…”

  The press might accost her, try to get a sound bite or an interview. Blaise had just seen their kiss. He could almost feel her lips against his. And…

  His heart plummeted to his feet.

  Anyone seeing Hadley’s face would know she cared about him. Someone out there—someone not so nice like the person who filmed them—could hurt her to get to him.

  “I have to find her.” He stood, swayed, fell back against the booth.

  “You’re in no shape to go after her.” Wes had every right to laugh at Blaise, but he didn’t. Instead, he motioned to Lex and Rizzo. “Find Hadley and bring her to Blaise. We need to make sure she’s safe.”

  “Blaise?” Lex asked.

  The club moved like a boat. Maybe he’d drunk too much too fast. Blaise closed his eyes, willing everything to freeze for a minute, including the alcohol wreaking havoc in his bloodstream. “What Wes said.”

  “We’ll get you to your hotel first,” Rizzo said.

  “I’m…” Blaise wasn’t fine. He was hurting, and all his money couldn’t fix what was wrong. “Go. Now.”

  Wes stepped forward. “You heard him. I’ll get Blaise back to his hotel suite, and I’ll make sure he stays there until one of you returns.”

  Wes was a good friend.

  Blaise wasn’t. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know.” Wes helped him stand. “Let’s get you out of here.”

  Blaise reached for the bottle.

  Wes pulled him away from the table. “Nuh-huh. The only thing you need is water and Hadley.”

  “She chose you over me.”

  “No, you big old lump. Hadley wasn’t choosing me.”

  Wes walked him toward the exit, each step took effort and more than once Blaise thought he would stumble, but Wes kept him upright.

  “She was doing the right thing, trying to help you realize what’s important,” Wes continued. “It’s not the bet, in case you missed that.”

  Blaise groaned. “I screwed up.”

  “Big-time.”

  “I need to know she’s safe.”

  “Once we’re at the hotel, I’ll get my security on it, too, but Lex and Rizzo will find her.”

  If she was still in town. Blaise couldn’t see Hadley throwing herself a pity party. He doubted she was in Las Vegas because he’d given her no reason to stay.

  He swayed, his world kept tilting. But all he could see was the video, playing in a continuous loop in his drunken mind.

  He’d fired her. Told her everything between them was pretend. Kicked her out of his life.

  All he’d wanted was to win, but he’d lost.

  Lost so much.

  Lost…everything.

  * * *

  Could this day get any worse?

  Not even ten o’clock on a Saturday, and five clients had told Hadley her matchmaking services were no longer required. All requested refunds because she had a money-back guarantee. In seven years, no one had asked for their money back.

  Until today.

  She squeezed her eyes shut to keep from crying.

  Audra and Ryder sat on the couch, watching a cartoon. Their cereal bowls were on the coffee table next to half-full cups of orange juice. The smiles on their young faces told Hadley they were oblivious to how awful she felt.

  Good. She wanted to keep it that way.

  Ten more emails sat in her inbox. Four voice messages had been left on her cell phone. And she was afraid to open or listen to any of them. The courage she used to start the business had deserted her.

  She hated that.

  Hated that she didn’t know how to bravely face what was happening. But no matter how much the optimist in her wanted to believe those clients who’d emailed or called wanted to support her, she couldn’t.

  Because of Blaise and that video clip.

  Then I’ll hire someone else.

  You’re firing me?

  I am. 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.

  Her life’s work destroyed in seconds by a badly filmed video shot. She only wished she could laugh.

  Maybe someday.

  But not today.

  Blaise Mortenson had stomped on her heart and decimated her business with the precision of a neurosurgeon with a robotic scalpel. Even if Hadley wanted to defend herself, she couldn’t because she needed to protect her clients’ privacy even if in doing so she hurt herself and her livelihood.

  The same word of mouth that had made her business a success was now destroying it, tearing down her years of hard work. By the end of the day, she might not have any clients left. That would mean the end of the Matched by Lowell.

  Hadley glanced out the condo’s living room window to the street below. Matched by Lowell was sinking faster than the Titanic, yet she had a black SUV parked in front of her building with at least one, possibly
two, bodyguards inside.

  “Should you take the guys cups of coffee?” Fallon asked.

  “I don’t know bodyguard protocol. Who knows if the same guys from last night are here this morning? I want to tell whoever it is to leave,” she said. “That we don’t need protection.”

  “You don’t know if that’s true or not,” Fallon countered. “After what happened at the airport…”

  Two reporters had been waiting for her when she got off the plane in San Francisco, but so had Jackson, who introduced himself as the head of Blaise’s security team and explained concerns over her safety following a video going viral. He’d whisked her out of the airport and into a waiting SUV driven by Kai, another man she’d never seen before. Yet, she was grateful for them getting her home safely.

  “I know, but I can’t afford—”

  “Blaise is paying. Isn’t that what Jackson said?”

  Which was the problem. The thought of Blaise spending a penny on Hadley made her stomach churn. “I don’t want to feel obligated to Blaise.”

  “Then don’t. He’s the one who put you in this situation. I watched the video.” Fallon sounded almost guilty. “The guy acted like a jerk. He slammed your business. He owes you.”

  The kids giggled at something on the TV.

  Hadley didn’t want to bring up her work—or what could soon be the lack of it—in front of them.

  “He doesn’t owe me anything. I should have pressed harder for us to talk privately. I didn’t, so the video is on me, too.”

  “Nothing should be on you, sis.”

  Except it was. Hadley stared at Audra and Ryder, who laughed at their show. If anything happened to the kids…

  Hadley forced herself to breathe. “This doesn’t involve only me. Until we know more of what’s going on and if there will be any issues, having someone watch the condo is smart. Once it’s over, nothing will be left tying me to Blaise.”

  Not that there had been anything between them.

  We got carried away pretending to be together. That’s all.

  At least not on his side.

  Her eyes burned.

  She stared up at the ceiling and blinked.

  Hadley’s cell phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen.

  Blaise: You ok?

  Hadley laughed. It was do that or cry. Her heart ached. Her eyes hurt. And she needed a bodyguard outside the condo building.

  None of this was okay.

  She took a breath and another before turning over her phone so the screen didn’t show.

  “It’s him,” Fallon said. “I can tell by your expression.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I have nothing to say to him.” Hadley had refunded his six-figure retainer when she woke up this morning. Not that two hours of sleep was much.

  Her phone buzzed again.

  She ignored it.

  The buzzing continued.

  Hadley sighed. “I’ll read his text so it stops trying to notify me.”

  Blaise: Can we please talk?

  That seemed like the worst idea in the world. She knew where she stood with him.

  Nowhere.

  Another buzz.

  Blaise: I’m sorry. Please, Hadley. Call me.

  Despite everything, a part of her wanted to talk to him, but she couldn’t. Not after what he’d said.

  There was only one thing to do.

  She blocked his number.

  Hadley stared at her niece and nephew, each covered with a fleece throw. Her sister had her laptop open and stared at the screen.

  This—these three people and Tiny—were all Hadley needed. She might have dreamed of a happily ever after, but what she had with her sister and the kids would be enough.

  It had to be.

  * * *

  The first time Blaise had woken up in his hotel room, Rizzo was sitting in a chair watching him. According to the bodyguard, Hadley was safe in San Francisco and being watched. The news brought relief but also regret because she was supposed to be with Blaise.

  He must have fallen asleep again because he woke up again with Lex in his room instead. The bodyguard handed Blaise a glass of water and acetaminophen. Neither of which did much for his pounding head so he closed his eyes again.

  The third time Blaise woke up, he felt as if someone was jackhammering his brain. He was also sober enough to know he’d made a huge mistake. Several, actually. But the biggest one he needed to fix.

  Now.

  So he’d sent texts.

  He didn’t blame Hadley for not replying, so he called. It went straight to voice mail.

  Was she asleep?

  Or ignoring him?

  Probably the latter, but he would try again. He sent another text. Maybe she would reply to this one. Except…

  It didn’t go through like the others had.

  His stomach roiled.

  Blaise threw his phone. It bounced off the bed and landed on the carpeted floor.

  “Did she block you?” Wes asked, who was now sitting in the same chair as Rizzo and Lex had earlier.

  “Yes, she blocked me.” The dark circles under Wes’s eyes suggested he’d slept little, but his hair was damp. “Were you here all night?”

  “No. Your security team babysat you after they returned to the hotel. They needed showers and food this morning, so I’m here.”

  “Lucky you.” Blaise studied Wes, but the guy’s stoic expression gave away nothing. “Does you being here mean we’re still friends?”

  “I don’t hate you if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “You’re disappointed.”

  “Very.”

  Hate might have been easier to deal with. “Have I apologized?”

  “More times than you want to know. Dash turned off his phone after you drunk dialed him a hundred times.”

  “A hundred?”

  “Twelve.”

  That wasn’t much better.

  “Everyone will be here soon,” Wes said. “Henry and Brett, too.”

  Blaise stiffened. “Why?”

  “Because they’re worried. I am, too.” Wes rested his elbows on his thighs and leaned forward. “You’ve never acted the way you did yesterday. With Hadley. Or at the club.”

  “It was a bad day.”

  “You’ve had those before and never been like this.”

  “One time, I bought a helicopter.”

  “And I’ve bought toys, too. But you’ve always guarded your privacy. The Blaise I know would have never kissed a woman out in the open like you did.”

  “I was nervous about the panel, and I missed her so much. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Which isn’t like you.”

  That was true. He nodded.

  “The Blaise I know wouldn’t have fired her or anyone so publicly.”

  “She said something that reminded me of my parents.” An excuse, yes, but the truth. He’d lost control and lashed out, not caring who got hurt. “I couldn’t think or see straight.”

  “The Blaise I know would never have set out to get blackout drunk on purpose. I’ve never seen you drink like that. Given your parents…”

  Wes’s worried tone shattered Blaise. “That was the first time. I’ve never done anything like that before. I don’t plan on doing it again. Again, I wasn’t thinking straight. No harm done.”

  “To you.”

  “What do you mean?” Blaise asked.

  “You single-handedly destroyed Matched by Lowell.”

  “How?”

  “The video.”

  The video. Right. His chin dropped to his chest. “I only remember parts of it.”

  “You called out her company. Fired her. Rumor has it clients are leaving in droves and asking for refunds.”

  Blaise buried his face in his hands. Hadley had trusted him. She’d told him about her exes, but he’d done the same thing. No, he’d hurt her more, destroying the business she’d built. “I can’t believe I did that. What was I thinking? I wasn’t. That’s the problem. I need to help h
er.”

  “Blaise.”

  He lowered his hands to look at Wes, who stared at him with an unreadable expression on his face. “Breathe.”

  Blaise did.

  “Why do you need to help Hadley?” Wes asked.

  “This is my fault. Helping her is the right thing to do.”

  “Giving her money is an easy fix.”

  “It is, but money can’t repair her business’s reputation.” Blaise knew what could. “I need to go to San Francisco and make this right. I think…I love her.”

  Wes’s eyebrows rose. He tilted his head. “What are you going to do?”

  “I have no idea.” Blaise brushed his hand through his hair. “I’m afraid to make another mistake. Yesterday, I let the past with my parents and my jealousy of you get in the way. I acted like a madman. Now, I’ve lost the woman I love and ruined her business. I don’t deserve her. I’m sure I’ve blown my chance with her, but I have to help her. She might not want me back, but I can’t leave her with nothing.”

  The edges of Wes’s mouth curved slightly. “You don’t have to do this on your own. I’m in. The others will be, too.”

  Blaise swallowed. He wasn’t used to accepting help. He never wanted help. Hiring Hadley had been a necessity to win the bet, but now…

  He doubted he could pull this off without the others. “Good, because I need help.”

  Wes smile spread. “That’s what friends are for.”

  Blaise had the best friends in the world. They were his family, and he loved each one of them—Adam, Dash, Kieran, Mason, Wes, Henry, and Brett. They weren’t the calvary though they each could buy one if needed. Blaise smiled. “It might take all of us to figure a way to get me out of this mess.”

  “But we will. Because that’s what we do for each other. Especially when one of us is in trouble.” Wes winked. “Of his own making.”

  Blaise laughed. He had no idea what would happen next, but he wasn’t in this alone. His friends would do what they could to help him with Hadley. And those same friends would be there for him.

  Whether he succeeded or failed.

  But Blaise hoped he succeeded because, despite how he’d hurt Hadley, he had a feeling she needed him as much as he needed her.