Page 69 of The Matchmaker and the Marine

“So far, nine, including the one in Toronto.”

“That leaves twenty-two. What’s your plan for hitting them all?”

“I need a plan?” He gave a snort.

Completely serious, she opened the laptop. “Let’s make one.”

“I was kind of hoping to have someone to go with me.”

“I’ll go with you.” Even before the words were out, she wondered how that must sound. She decided to overlook her stupid comment. She tilted her head up and looked at him in dismay. “Why didn’t you mention this when we were filling out your questionnaire?”

“I didn’t think of it?”

Melinda leaned back against the cushions and gave an exasperated sigh. “Adam, really. The more information you give me, the easier it is to match you with the right woman. Is there anything else you’ve neglected to tell me?”

He waited for a moment and then said, “I can’t tell if you’re teasing or serious.”

“This is my business and I take it very serious.” She gave him a smile to soften her words.

Adam said, “I’m sorry. It just seems things that I think aren’t that big of a deal are relevant to this whole dating thing.”

“Hold on a minute.” Melinda rose from the sofa and crossed the front hall into her office. He saw a light glow after he heard a click.

Curiosity got the better of him. Adam followed her. “What’s going on?”

She held up a manila folder. “I wanted to look at your file.”

With a snort he asked, “Why?”

She held up a finger. “Patience.” She scanned the first couple of pages and nodded. “Just as I thought, Beth can’t stand baseball or football or basketball either.”

He leaned against the doorjamb. “That puts a wrinkle in dating her. I’d like my lady to want to go to an occasional game with me.”

Were they now thinking of excuses for Adam to not date Beth?

“We need to go over your questionnaire again. I have an idea that there are some key pieces of information missing.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe I’m a lost cause.”

“No one is.” She dropped the file on the desk.

“I’m glad one of us thinks so.”

“Huh?”

“We’ve circled back to my original question.”

Her brow wrinkled. “I don’t know what you mean?”

“No one is a lost cause so maybe you should make your magic work on you.” He dropped his arms to his sides. “I happen to think you’re amazing. You’re beautiful. You should be enjoying life and have someone to share it with. You should be looking at some of those questionnaires for yourself.” He couldn’t believe he had strung so many words together.

Melinda flicked off the light and said, “First of all, that would be unethical, and you forget, I have a date for Molly and Tim’s wedding. I believe that counts for something.”

“Now I’m confused.” Was she about to say they had a real date, not just each other’s plus one?

“You.” She grinned and poked him playfully in the chest. “You’re my date for the wedding.”

Adam felt his heart thud deep in his chest. If only. “That is not the same thing and you know it.”

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