Page 23 of The Match Faker

‘Trudy.’ I stood up and kissed her gently on both cheeks, deliberately ignoring the fact that she’d just caught me checking out her best friend. Correction: I wasn’t checking Mia out, I was just looking at her… dress. I liked the fit. I had no interest in the body that was wearing it.

‘Mia.’ I nodded to acknowledge her before sitting back down. There was no way I’d attempt to give her a cheek kiss. The way she was scowling, she’d ask the waiter to bring her some bleach and a scourer to scrub her face afterwards.

‘You get in okay?’ I turned to Trudy.

‘Yeah, fine. Thanks for agreeing to meet.’

‘Can I get you both a drink?’

‘I’ll have a vodka tonic and Mia will have red wine. Rioja, right?’ Trudy checked with Mia, who confirmed with a nod.

Once I ordered, we sat in silence. Mia’s gaze dropped to the floor.

Well, this was awkward.

‘So, you said you had a proposition?’ I raised my eyebrow.

‘Yeah, so… we okay to talk here?’ Trudy asked.

‘Sure.’ I scanned the lounge. There were a couple of guys in tailored suits in the far corner, but they were well out of earshot. This place was safe. The club’s reputation depended on it.

‘I’ll cut to the chase.’ Trudy paused. ‘Mia needs your help.’

Mia’s head shot up and her eyes widened.

‘Tell me more…’ I sat up straighter.

‘So…’

‘It’s okay,’ Mia jumped in, her face tight. ‘I can tell him.’ She shuffled uncomfortably in her seat.

‘I’m listening…’ I could tell she hated having to ask me for something and I admit, I kind of enjoyed watching Little Miss Perfect squirm.

‘I’ve been entered for a competition: the Happily Ever After Awards. And you kind of need a partner to stand a chance of winning and so…’ Mia paused and Trudy nodded, encouraging her to continue. ‘So, I wondered if you could help.’ She blew out a breath.

‘I don’t follow.’ I frowned. ‘You’re looking for a business partner? Someone to invest in your company?’

‘No.’ Mia fiddled with the hem of her dress. My eyes dropped to her smooth, toned legs and I quickly moved my gaze back to her face. ‘Not a business partner. A… personal one. A… boyfriend,’ she whispered.

‘Wait, what?’ My eyebrows almost hit my hairline. ‘You want me to be your boyfriend?’

‘Yes,’ she murmured.

‘Sorry, what was that? I didn’t quite hear you.’ The corner of my mouth twitched.

‘I said yes.’

‘I knew you liked me!’ I joked. I wasn’t Mia’s type.

‘I don’t!’ she said through gritted teeth, fighting to keep her voice low. ‘This would just be… pretend. For the competition.’

‘So let me get this straight: you’re a matchmaker, as in you charge people money to find them the perfect match, and you’re asking me to be your fake boyfriend, because you, the professional, expert matchmaker, can’t find someone to date? This is comedy gold!’

I let out a low chuckle. I couldn’t help it. After the way she’d ignored me towards the end of our friendship, I would’ve paid good money to see her knocked off her perfect perch.

And to think I’d considered whether they’d wanted a threesome. Seeing Mia squirm was a hundred times more satisfying than any orgasm.

‘I’m leaving.’ Mia grabbed her jacket and turned to Trudy. ‘Told you he was a dick.’

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