I face Burke in time to see the usual frown he’s wearing deepen. “Fall in love? I thought this was about the money. Not romance.”
“Of course, it is. You know what I mean.” I shake my head at him. “Do you want me to promise not to fall in love with whoever they set me up with tonight?”
“I didn’t say?—”
“Because you don’t have to worry about that. We both know I’m not interested in love or romance.” Now it’s my turn to frown. “Those only lead to heartbreak.”
“It doesn’t always.”
“Doesn’t it?” I shrug. “Besides, who has time? We’re building a business. That’s the only reason we’re here.”
“Right. That’s the reason.” He sighs. “You still haven’t explained yourself.”
“I told you why I’m wearing makeup.” Though, my reason should have been pretty obvious. Even to someone who cares as little about looks and fashion as him.
“No, not that.”
I shake my head, not understanding. “Then what?—”
“You said, and I quote, ‘I don’t know about this.’”
“Oh. That.” I did say that. “I meant that I don’t know how smart it was for us to carpool here.”
His brow furrows. “Why wouldn’t we? We were coming straight from the office.”
“But we’re meeting dates. It’s a little weird to show up for a first date with your best friend in tow. Unless it’s a double date and you’ve set each other up. Like inWhen Harry Met Sally.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“You totally do.” I give him a pointed look. “I’ve made you watch it with me at least five times.”
“I probably fell asleep during it.”
“Whatever.” I blow a rogue curl away from my face. “The point is, we’re both going on dates tonight, and I’m not sure it’s a good look to our prospective companions that we came here together.”
“I don’t see the problem.”
“Because you’re a guy and I’m a girl.”
“I don’t see the problem because I’m a guy and you’re a girl?”
“No,” I cry in frustration. I swear, sometimes I think Burke is being this dense just to drive me nuts. “I mean that your prospective date—a woman—will think it’s sweet that you brought your best friend as a wing woman. It’ll show your softer side.”
“Since when have I had a softer side?”
I glare at him. “Meanwhile, a man is going to feel threatened.”
Burke stares back at me silently for several seconds. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?”
“It’s almost as ridiculous as the fact that we were both somehow chosen for this contest. And—somehow—we both had our dates scheduled here in Anchorage on this night.”
Burke blinks. “Yeah. It’s all one hell of a coincidence.”
“Exactly.” I release a breath, pleased he’s finally showing the signs of understanding what I’m saying. “My mom always said there’s no such thing as coincidences.”
“Your mom also said you should never leave one man until you have the next one lined up.”
I wrinkle my nose. My mom did say that. She also said you should always follow the money. Which is how we ended up moving to Alaska when I was in middle school. So she could meet and marry the lumberjack she met online.