Page 55 of Marrying Off My Husband

“Well, Louise likely knows best,” I answered, wondering if my plane would get off the ground with both ladies’ luggage stowed.

“Right. Well, I don’t think she’ll take no for an answer, anyway. I’m just a little worried that she’s going overboard with these gifts.”

I glanced sideways at her as the scenery zipped by on our way to the restaurant. Her features, etched with concern, seemed to reflect her turmoil. Many people would have gladly accepted Louise’s generosity and probably bilked her for more.

Eve was concerned she’d already been given too much.

“Lou’s pretty generous. She likes spoiling her friends. And it’s been a while since she’s had a good friend.”

She snapped her gaze to me, pulling a lock of hair away that had blown across her face. “Really? She’s so outgoing, I expected she’d have dozens of friends.”

“Mmm, dozens who would love to use her for her money. Not many genuine ones.”

Eve bobbed her head as I whipped into the restaurant’s driveway. “Oh, that’s a shame. I suppose you’re in the same boat, aren’t you?”

The perception she had was impressive. As we climbed from the car and I offered her my arm, I corrected her. “Well, somewhat, although…I’m sort of awkward, so that’s why I don’t have many friends.”

She giggled, patting my arm. “Don’t say that. You’re not awkward.”

I let out a chuckle as we made our way down to the beach with a view of the outdoor seating area. “Tell that to all the other people who don’t want to hang out with me.”

She smiled warmly, meeting my eyes. “Well, it’s their loss.”

The words sent heat rushing through me, sending a fleeting smile across my face as I tried to come up with something witty to say, but failed. Which was why most people found me awkward.

We reached the beach, and I changed the subject. “We should be able to see Louise easily with the table I made sure they’d get.”

“Aw, that was sweet,” she said. “How did Louise take the match? Did she seem interested?”

“Well, she wasn’t thrilled with the choice, but she did say she’d go on the date.”

“There’s Lou.” I pointed up at the table overlooking the ocean, and we settled onto the sand to take in the show.

“What didn’t she like? Did she say? In case we have to revise for another date.”

“Uh, I don’t think she found him very attractive,” I answered. Neither was I by my standard, but I’d always hoped someone wouldn’t judge me by that only. Not many had.

“Oh,” she answered with a tilt of her head. “Well, she has a point, I guess.”

My heart sank as I realized that Henry, by my standards, had been what most women found handsome in a man. If Eve found him unattractive, I didn’t stand a chance. Good thing we were only fake dating. I was lucky she’d agreed to go out with me at all. “Not to sound weird, but…by conventional standards he’s…handsome, right?”

Eve narrowed her eyes at them from our hiding spot. I dug a pair of mini binoculars from my pocket and passed them over. “Here, give him a good look.”

She laughed as she tugged them from my hand and used them. “Like I said, he’s passable.”

“Passable?” I grimaced as I took the binoculars back and studied him through them. “He has a chisel jaw, perfectly styled hair, looks fit, perfect smile.”

“He’s too pretty,” she complained. “It looks like he spends more time on his hair than I do.”

“Oh,” I answered, still confused.

“Do you really think all women are attracted to the same look?”

“That seems to be consistently proven, yes.”

She giggled at me. “That’s ridiculous. I would honestly say most of us don’t have a type.”

“No,” I answered. “I can’t believe that. You love chiseled jaws and beefy muscles. A confident stride. Beard maybe?”

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