Page 11 of Perfect (mis)Match

“Incoming,” I leaned down to whisper in her ear, then nodded toward Maya. I caught a hint of Piper’s perfume, which, based on the alcohol vapors, was a cheap vanilla-lemon scent. A woman like Piper deserved to be in a top-shelf fragrance, not some watered-down drug store scent. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was so much less than what sheshouldhave. I could already imagine how the top notes ofEvermorewould linger at the nape of her neck.

Dammit, I scolded myself,get it together, Vincent.

I timed our entrance back into the private room perfectly, right as Maya was close enough to spot us but not close enough that she could corner me.

“Now benice,” Piper whispered as we took our seats again.

I forced myself to smile as she took up right where we’d left off, asking the Broadway couple about their getaway location. Jean and Joe relaxed, probably because I nodded along agreeably as everyone chatted. Piper led the conversation like a conductor, and little by little, the tension evaporated. She even managed to get Jean and Joe laughing again.

The band kicked off the dancing portion of the night, and the couples from our table excused themselves to the dancefloor. Larry, the lone solo guest, headed for the bar, leaving me alone with Piper. It was the perfect opportunity for the big ask I’d just worked out.

There was no way she could refuse me—it was perfect.

I leaned over to begin my pitch, and she glared at me.

“Donotask me to dance.”

I jerked away reflexively. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to. I don’t dance.”

She eyed me up and down, silently judging me. “I can tell.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, offended but not sure why.

“You’re too cautious. You’re a watcher, not a do-er.”

“You’re wrong about that. I’m both. And I’m about to do something that’s going to change your life.”

The corner of her mouth kicked up. “Cocky, aren’t you?”

“The word ‘cocky’ suggests arrogance. I’m confident. There’s a difference.”

Piper stared at me for a beat like she was weighing if I was correct.

“I need them,” I said simply as I pointed to the elderly couple on the dancefloor.

“And why would I care?” She smiled sweetly at me.

“Those two hold the key?—”

“Jean and Joe Sullivan,” she interrupted. “Might be nice if you used their names instead of treating them like items on your to-do list.”

I sighed. The way she could knock me off course! I felt like I was debating her, not having a conversation.

“As I mentioned, I need to strike a deal with Jean and Joe to harvest their heliotrope for my new premier fragrance,Evermore, and that’s where you come in.”

She slow-blinked at me. “There is absolutely nothing you can say to me that will make me help you badger those lovely people. Face it, you already blew it by being aggressive. They don’t like you at all.”

I ignored the insult. “But they love you!”

She shimmied her shoulders triumphantly. “Who doesn’t?”

“Help me then,” I insisted. “Put in a good word, mention how lucrative this might be to them if?—”

“Were you even paying attention?” Piper sighed. “These two don’t need your money and, if I had to guess, the last thing they want is some profit-chasing company wreaking havoc all over their farm. And, again, they don’t likeyou.”

“Oh, come on.” I rolled my eyes. “I wouldn’t ruin their farm. We know what we’re doing at Summit.”

“I still don’t care.”

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