Counting on You (Amarillo Sour, #1)

by Laura Chapman

  Almost.

  It was no secret Haleigh had avoided dating throughout most of her twenties. She’d pretended it was because she was too busy with work. There was more to it, though. And it was at the heart of why Greg had dumped her. It was why she hadn’t tried to have another connection like that again.

  She always figured she’d work through her issues eventually. There hadn’t seemed to be any rush. Not till now.

  But maybe Nina was right. Maybe Haleigh just wasn’t the kind of person who was supposed to be in a relationship.

  That weighed on her mind until they’d finished their last move. Wanting to ask the instructor where she’d bought her leggings, Nina abandoned Haleigh and Dexter while they rolled up their mats.

  “Don’t let Nina get you down.” He wiped the sweat from his brow with his T-shirt. She averted her eyes, because seeing his bare abs definitely fell on the side of inappropriate. “She’s been married for years. She doesn’t remember how hard it is to date.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “You could try online dating. That’s what I do.”

  “I don’t—”

  “It can be kind of fun,” he interrupted. “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself about this. It’s not like you need to fall in love or get married before the reunion. You just want a date.”

  She opened her mouth to put an end to the conversation but paused. He made a good point, actually. While she’d never given much thought to online dating, she did have a line on a new app. She’d even have access to the person who built it.

  If only she could come out of the experience with a guaranteed date.

  She considered the issue on the drive home. Online dating might not have been her preferred method for finding a plus-one to the reunion. But it might not be the worst thing ever. Plus, it offered some anonymity. Her one evening at Amarillo Sour had proven she wasn’t great at setups. At least this way she could go on a blind date without worrying about offending a friend when it didn’t work out.

  Like Dexter had said, she wasn’t shopping for a soulmate. She just needed a date for one night.

  The app might deliver the perfect candidate. If not . . . well, there might be another way to make sure she didn’t leave the experience empty-handed.

  All she had to do in exchange was give Ian a little feedback on the product. What did she have to lose?

  Pulling her car into the driveway in front of her house, Haleigh searched through the contacts on her phone for the most recent addition. She punched in the message.

  Were you serious about the app?

  Completely. You give it some thought?

  I did. I have a few questions.

  Free for a drink tonight?

  They arranged to meet at Amarillo Sour at eight to go over the specifics. It had been easier than she’d imagined. She hoped securing a date for the reunion would be as easy.

  Chapter Five

  The doors to Amarillo Sour swung open, and Haleigh stepped through. Ian let out a sigh of relief. She blinked those bewitching gray eyes, adjusting to the light as his heart rate quickened.

  She’d come. She’d said she would. But after the apprehension in her texts—and his lecture from Taylor—he hadn’t been positive she would.

  Haleigh’s eyes scanned the room, and when they landed on him, she waved. He motioned to the empty seat at his side, and she made her way around the bar.

  She looked . . . nervous. The overly rigid posture and the tight-lipped grin she’d forced were dead giveaways. It was up to him to calm her. Make her see there was nothing to worry about, because there wasn’t. If only he could figure out what to say and how to say it.

  Apps were a lot easier to troubleshoot than people.

  “Hello, again.” He pulled out the stool he’d been saving. “Glad to see you found your way back to Amarillo Sour.”

  He hoped he sounded friendly and casual. Not like the crazed, desperate man he was becoming.

  “You know, one look wasn’t enough. I had to make sure I remembered it correctly.” She gave the room a cursory study. “Yep. This place definitely takes a second visit to truly appreciate. I can’t decide what I like more. The chandelier.”

  “Or the fine artwork.”

  She gave a genuine smile then. The tension between them grew with each passing second. This might not be a disaster after all. They could talk about his proposal later. For now, it was enough to clear the air with easy banter.

  “You know . . .” Her brow furrowed. “It reminds me of my uncle’s basement.”

  “That could be why some of us have made it our home away from home.”

  “Apparently. We’re not the only repeat patrons.”

  He followed her gaze to the other side of the bar. Teacher Lucy and her crew-cut date were back. Tonight, his arm was draped around her shoulders and she was practically talking into his mouth. There was no questioning what had passed between them in the last twenty-four hours. The sexual energy between them was explosive, even from twenty feet away.

  “I guess they’re going for round two.”

  “That’s not much of a one-night stand. Going out with the same person two nights in a row,” she rushed out, her cheeks darkening bright pink.

  She was blushing. He hadn’t seen someone blush in . . . a long time.

  It was sweet and endearing without being entirely naive. And it was oddly appealing. Like, he wondered if her cheeks would turn an even darker shade of rose if he leaned in and kissed her. He shook the idea out of his head. It wasn’t how he should—or wanted—to think about the woman he needed to help him impress investors.

  “No,” he said at last. “It’s more like a weekend romance.”

  “Is that like a vacation romance?”

  “Probably. I haven’t had either.”

  “Oh?”

  There was a lot more behind that one word. Her gray eyes lit with interest. For the second time in as many minutes, he wondered what would happen if he . . .

  “I don’t date much.” He cleared his throat, silently writing code in his head to clear it of other ideas.

  “That’s kind of surprising.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you seem to know everything. Enough to build your own app.”

  “That’s different.” He looked around for Sidney, wishing the bartender would appear with their drink order and redirect her attention. “That’s all research. Done by a study group of some sort.”

  At least, that’s what Taylor had said when she’d presented him with the information almost a year ago. For all he knew, she could have fed him her own opinions. She’d certainly have them, what with the string of broken hearts she’d left behind her. But that didn’t seem like her style. When it came to work, she was all business and facts.

  “Everything you know comes from research not experience.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t say that . . .” He’d dated. Some. Not much in the past eighteen months and never seriously enough to introduce to his mom. But he knew a thing or two. “I do just fine.”

  “That’s better than me. You’ve seen that for yourself.” She leaned forward. “Which brings us to why we’re here.”

  Apparently, enough time had passed to broach the subject. And—somewhat surprisingly—Haleigh was taking the lead on this subject.

  “Have you thought about the app?”

  She nodded. “I still have some reservations.”

  “That’s fair. You can ask me anything you want.”

  “And I want to make a couple conditions of my own.”

  “Okay.” It was all he could manage. He hadn’t considered the possibility that she would come back with negotiating terms.

  He hadn’t realized there might be any.

  “I’ve never given much thought to online dating. I’m not opposed to it, but . . .”

  “It’s not how you expected to meet someone?”

  “Exactly.” She let out a shaky laugh. “Of course, I haven’t done much to think
about meeting anyone lately. Going online wasn’t even on my radar. There are some . . . aspects that make me nervous.”

  That was also fair, he supposed.

  “You mean, like what if the guys turn out to be kidnappers and your life ends up being the inspiration for an episode of Law and Order?”

  “Not in those exact words.” Her eyes widened. Damn. He shouldn’t have put those ideas in her head. “But close enough.”

  “We haven’t had any issues to date. But I can appreciate your concern.” Those were the same words he remembered reading on one of the FAQs the sales and marketing team had put together. He wished he’d paid more attention so he could recite them all now. “Is there anything we can do to make you feel more comfortable?”

  “I wondered—and I understand if it’s a hard no—but maybe . . .” She turned her gaze to the top of the bar. Using most of his patience reserve, he kept quiet, waiting for her to figure out what she wanted to say. Whatever it was, he’d find a way to make it work. “We don’t know each other, but . . . I feel like I can trust you.”

  “You can.”

  “So, I was thinking maybe you could come on the first few dates.” She looked up then. He caught the fear plainly written in her eyes.

  “You want me to come on your dates?”

  “Not literally on them, but you could be at the next table or down the bar. You’d be able to see how the app matches work for yourself. You’d be able to witness them first hand.”

  Actually, it wasn’t a terrible idea. They’d have to work out the logistics. He’d also still want to go over some questions with her after each date—to make sure he had all the information they’d need. But firsthand observation might be good when reporting back to Taylor and the founders.

  It would have the added benefit of making sure she made it to the dates. He had no reason to believe she wouldn’t, but it would be extra insurance.

  “That could work.”

  “Oh good.” She let out another breathy laugh. “Because there’s another part to this.”

  Of course, there was. “I’m listening.”

  “You might say you don’t know much about dating, but you know more than I do. It’s a fact,” she added before he could muster up a contradiction. “While you’re being my bodyguard, maybe you could make sure I don’t say anything stupid. Make sure I act like a human.”

  “I’ll tell you to stop talking about your ex how, with hand signals?”

  “Or texts. We’d figure out a system.” Her shoulders slumped. “I’d feel a lot better about this if I knew I wasn’t going to make a complete idiot out of myself each time. If I had someone who could offer me tips and suggestions . . .”

  She was on the verge of agreeing. What choice did he have? “Okay. I’ll be your dating guide or coach. Or whatever you want to call it.”

  “Dating coach. I like it.”

  She perked up then. He almost felt bad for being annoyed. He’d be getting what he wanted, but it wouldn’t be quite as easy as he’d hoped. Still, it was better than cold calls. And the story he could tell the investors . . . not even Taylor could find fault with whatever happened.

  “Do we have a deal?”

  “Just one more thing.”

  He almost hated to ask. “What? My car? My phone? A kidney?”

  She shook her head, the gold waves brushing over her shoulders. “No, my kidneys are fine. I don’t even know your blood type. Though, maybe you’d rather give up one of those than this.”

  “Come on.”

  “Well . . .” She shifted in her chair, but she never broke eye contact. “I’m still not sure I’ll be able to meet someone out of this. At least not with the amount of time and my lack of game in this department.”

  “Okay . . .”

  “It’s not your problem. It’s mine. But, how about this? I’ll meet as many of the matches as I can in the next few weeks. If after that point I haven’t met anyone to take . . .” She twisted her hands in her lap. “Would you go with me?”

  “To the reunion?” He waited for her slow nod. “You want me to go to your reunion with you?”

  “Only if the dates end up being a bust. I’ll do my best to make sure they aren’t. And I’ll give you all the feedback you could ever want.” She raised her linked hands to her chest, almost like she was making a plea or saying a prayer. “I just . . . need to know I’m coming out of this with a date.”

  She was asking for her own insurance.

  That was . . . smart. Brilliant, even. She’d agree to be the best beta tester she could, granting him all access. In exchange, she wanted his promise he’d keep her safe and make sure she had a date when it mattered.

  There could be worse terms.

  “How about this? You go on twelve dates. If none of them work out, I’ll go with you.”

  She released her hands and extended one to shake his. “We have a deal.”

  He accepted her hand, pretending not to notice how warm and soft it felt in his. “Deal.”

  Now, he just had to hope this crazy plan gave them both what they needed: her chance to save face at the reunion and his promotion.

  ***

  She must be crazy. While she’d cut someone out of her life for calling her that, it was the only logical explanation Haleigh could come up with as she downloaded a beta copy of XO On Demand onto her phone.

  Only the day before she’d been set up on her first blind date ever. Now, here she was, giving online dating a shot.

  What a difference a day made.

  She’d been completely serious about never considering online dating. She knew people who had tried it—and successfully. Not that she judged, but it seemed like such a direct and confrontational way to meet someone. By putting your profile out there, you were proclaiming to the world that you were on the prowl.

  In another five minutes, she’d be one of those people. After she finished the setup and the survey Ian assured her would be fun, she’d have her first string of potential dates. Brought to her through the magic of technology.

  All because she couldn’t stand the idea of her classmates judging her.

  If she was one of her own students, she’d tell them it didn’t matter. That after high school, no one cared what people thought. And she’d be lying.

  The download completed, and the app opened on her screen. She followed Ian’s directions to create her account. His play-by-play wasn’t entirely necessary. The directions were pretty self-explanatory, but he seemed eager to help. It eased her nerves. Some.

  “This where it gets interesting.” Ian clicked a button, taking her to the next page. “Instead of having you answer fifty questions about who you are and what you want, we’ve created a quiz of sorts. Would you rather go camping or stay in a five-star hotel? Which breakfast looks most appetizing? What—”

  “I’ve got it.” She flashed him a grin to soften her tone, but she needed to concentrate.

  There were so many questions. None of them were too complicated or earth-shattering, but she had to choose correctly. Her future lineup of men depended on it.

  Question One: Which of these dishes would you order right now?

  She selected a basket of chicken strips with fries.

  “That’s what I’d pick, too,” Ian said. “What do you use for dipping?”

  “Honey mustard.”

  “Barbecue.” He shook his head. “I knew there had to be something wrong with you.”

  At least his teasing made this a little less nerve-racking. “You guys aren’t going to use these answers and sell my information to restaurants now, are you?”

  “Of course not.” But he tapped his chin thoughtfully. “It isn’t a bad idea, though.”

  Question Two: Where would you rather spend a Saturday afternoon?

  She didn’t even have to consider this one. She picked “Binge-watching TV in my bed.”

  “What’s your go-to show?”

  “You heard that one last night,” she reminded him. “Doctor Who. B
ut I’ve been known to do a Lord of the Rings or Star Wars marathon from time to time”

  “Which episode is your favorite?”

  “Five.” That’s what everyone always said. There was probably something about the bad knocking down the good at the end of the Empire Strikes Back that made a person seem deep. After Greg had explained that to her years ago, she’d made it her customary response.

  Only when she was being totally honest, she’d admit she liked Return of the Jedi best. She loved those Ewoks.

  “Okay, you’re forgiven for the honey mustard.” Ian drank from the pint that had been delivered a few moments before. “But I’ll admit, I’ve never seen Doctor Who.”

  She tore herself away from the phone. “Seriously?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “It’s not because I’m opposed to it. I just haven’t watched.”

  She muttered about how sad it was that some people never truly lived as she returned her attention to the quiz. It took her longer than five minutes—particularly with Ian chiming in on almost every question—but eventually she reached the end.

  Are you ready to get matched?

  Was she?

  If she was answering, “Do you want a date to your reunion so Nina and your former classmates can shut up and Greg can suck it?” the answer would be yes. Absolutely. With bells on. As for whether or not she actually wanted to date anyone . . . that was more complicated.

  Was she taking the whole thing too far? It was one thing when it was an abstract idea, but this would involve real people. And not just a random guy a co-worker set her up with. She’d be auditioning men who were online looking for love. Or a hookup. They weren’t looking for drama and baggage.

  Then she remembered one of the comments freshly added to the reunion event page today. “What’s the high-low on Haleigh showing up at all?”

  She clicked “find me a date.”

  Hold tight. We’ll be back with your next date in a few.

  “The app is compiling your data to create a profile,” Ian explained while a pair of animated lips blew kisses on the screen. “Then, the algorithm will compare your answers to the pool to create your first set of matches.”