Page 8 of Bargain Match

“Of course, we have.” I shake my head. “He’s my best friend.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh. Oh my.”

I dart a glance at Burke, who—true to form—has no reaction on his typically stoic face. “Is there a problem?”

“No, not a problem, per se. It’s just… this has never happened before.”

“What hasn’t happened?”

“I’ve never had a couple know each other already.”

My stomach twists and my suspicions are heightened. “What do you mean… ‘couple’?“

“I mean, the Matchmaker has paired you up together. You’re each other’s dates.”

FOUR

BURKE

The shock on Hadley’s face makes me wish I had a camera.

She’s usually the one dropping bombshells and shocking the hell out of unsuspecting people, like me. It’s nothing short of a joy to see her stunned for a change.

“The Matchmaker has a video message for you,” Jessie, the woman leading our date, says revealing a tablet. “She’ll explain things more clearly for you here.”

That seems to snap Hadley out of her stupor. “The Matchmaker. The Matchmaker matched me with him?”

“I’m sure she has her reasons. She’s never wrong.”

Hadley opens her mouth as if to protest, but I put a hand on her shoulder. She turns to look at me.

Her electric blue eyes are wide and wild. My heart hitches at the panic clearly etched on her face. I can practically feel her fear churning inside of me.

“Maybe we should hear what the Matchmaker has to say.” I squeeze her shoulder and look deeply into her eyes. Silently trying to assure her that everything will be okay.

“I know it’s not what you expected, but there’s no reason it should change our plans.”

She blinks, and second by second, the panic seems to melt away. She nods slowly as if realizing that maybe this surprise isn’t the worst thing ever.

I lean forward to whisper, for her ears only, “After all, who better to pretend you’re in love with than your best friend?”

That does the trick. Pulling back, a look of determination on her face, she takes the tablet.

“You’re right. Let’s hear what the Matchmaker has to say.”

Jessie leaves us with the tablet to give us some privacy. Scooting closer to Hadley, my gut tightens as I brush against her soft curves.

Apparently not bothered by the contact, Hadley hits play.

Whimsical music plays through the speaker as clouds part and a woman with a highly patterned, robe-like dress appears on the screen.

“Hello, Burke and Hadley. Welcome to your date.” She pauses as if waiting for us to respond.

“I suppose you’re wondering why I matched the two of you together.”

There’s another pause. “In my years, I’ve guided thousands of couples to their happily ever afters, and I have no doubt the two of you will be the same. It was clear to me as soon as I read your entries. The two of you would make quite a pair.”

Hadley snorts. I slide my arm around her shoulder and give it a squeeze.

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