Page 2 of Perfect (mis)Match

I laughed in his face. “Oh my god, do you think I’m that dumb? If you owned this building, you wouldn’t be fighting for a parking space in this subterranean hellhole—you’d have a chauffeur. But you know what? I wish that was true, because then right now you’d be whisked right to the entrance to head straight to your private, no-peons-allowed elevator, andIwouldn’t be running late for my very important appointment.”

“You’relate?” he scoffed. “What could you possibly be late for? It looks like you’re living in your car. If that’s the case, don’t even think about trying to camp out in this garage.”

He pointed at the equipment-filled car, and I fidgeted a little. Okay, maybe it looked a little hoarder-adjacent, butIcertainly didn’t look like one. I was dressed for physical work, but I’d put make-up on and attempted to tidy up my hair for a change. I’d felt cute when I left my apartment, but the way this demon was staring me down made it clear I must’ve sweated my mascara off during the drive.

I mean, the way he was watching me was downrightunnerving. He never took his eyes off me, like he thought I was going to try to carjack him.

As if I’d ever want a car so stupid-small. Where would I put groceries? Hell, where would I put mypurse?

“I’m late for real work,” he continued before I could defend myself.

“And what’s your ‘real work’?” Something that let him collect souls as payment, no doubt. “Divorce attorney? Crisis PR for athletes with drug problems?”

“Not even close.” He smirked at me. “In any case, this conversation is over. I’m having security sent down to deal with you.”

He pulled out his phone and punched the screen, then walked away without another word.

“Excuse me!” I screamed at his retreating form. “You’re just leaving your car smashed into mine? I need your insuranceinformation. Don’t you dare walk away from me! What’s your name? I’m Piper Doyle; who are you, for fuck’s sake?”

I reached him right as the elevator doors opened.

“My name?” The stranger’s smile looked downright sinister. “Why don’t you walk your pretty little self out to the sidewalk and look up at the top of the building you’re standing in. It’s right there.”

Pretty? Did he just call mepretty? I felt a flush spread over my cheeks.

Then the crash test dummy in black had the audacity towinkat me, right as the elevator doors closed.

Vincent

I could finally breathe again. Now that security was on the way down to deal with the legally blind driver, I could focus on the rest of the stressors in my life. They could sort out who was in the wrong—I didn’t have the time or inclination to worry about it.

I’d given my driver Billy the day off, and I’dthoughtdriving to work in my brand-new baby would be a nice kickstart to my day. So much for that. Instead of showing up to work with my head clear, ready to take on the world, I was worked up, pissed off…and horny as hell, all thanks to the freakishly gorgeous blonde spitfire who’d hit me and had the nerve to blame me for it.

I replayed the moment of impact in my mind. I was distracted, sure.MaybeI’d backed up without looking, but I wasn’t about to admit that to her, or anyone.

Vincent Forde didn’t make mistakes. Or rather, Vincent Fordecouldn’tmake mistakes. Especially not now, when everything felt so up in the air.

Truth be told, it wasn’t just the wildcat in the Toyota throwing me off balance today.

I sighed and stared at the floor. I couldn’t stop beating myself up for not visiting Nana Dee in the hospital. She wasn’t my blood relative, but after half a lifetime of her looking out for me it sure felt like she was. My Cornell buddy Trent, her actual grandson, had sworn she had round-the-clock company, and her luxurious private hospital room was packed, but I still felt bad about not being there.

She’d been rushed to the hospital after a fall the night before, and I’d been worried sick about her all morning. Nana Dee had been in my life since Christmas of freshman year, when she’d opened her home to a trio of teenagers—only one of whom was related to her—after a baggage handlers’ strike had closed all of the airports. That holiday in Long Island with Nana Dee and my friends Trent and Aiden remained one of my most cherished memories.

So not driving out to check on her last night? Yeah, that was a mistake.

A text came through, and I clawed at my phone to check it.Finally, the news I’d been waiting for from Trent.

Trent

All of Nana Dee’s scans came back clear. It’s just a bad sprain. She thinks she fell because she skipped breakfast and was lightheaded. They’re going to keep her till tomorrow just to be safe.

I let out a sigh of relief. Now that I knew she was okay, the tension in my temples eased a bit.

I finally reached the top floor and strode off the elevator. Summit Fragrances buzzed with activity, no doubt because we were on the cusp of a major reveal.

Well, if I could do my goddamned job we would be.

My assistant Linda was waiting for me. She frowned as she studied me, like she could tell I’d already had a rough morning.

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