"All right, I think that's everything," Cupid said. "We'll be in contact when we have a potential match for you, or if we have any questions about anything you've told us."
Hades nodded once and got up to leave.
I leaned back in my seat and let out a relieved sigh that the whole thing was over. "Is it always like this with high-profile clients?" I asked.
Cupid chuckled. "No. Hades is just Hades. You get used to him."
"Oh."
"You did well," Cupid said. "Though that tactic won't work on everyone," he warned me.
"I didn't think so, I just thought he'd respond to the reassurance." It had been a gut feeling in the moment, but it had still been a risk.
"Which is all part of matchmaking," Cupid responded. "You need to read the client's wants and desires, especially those that aren't what they think they are. So, what's your take on Hades?"
"Erm..." I looked down at my notes, trying not to think too much about the fact I was in a room with my boss talking about the same matchmaking process that had saidwewere compatible. There was no doubt that Cupid was my type, athletic but not bulky, and a soft face with piercing sea-green eyes. But that wasn't what the system had matched us on. It was something more than that to do with our desires for the future and our personal lives. I cleared my throat. "What he didn't say, but clearly wants, is someone intelligent and caring. Particularly when it comes to animals."
"He has a strong bond with Cerberus," Cupid acknowledged.
"The three-headed dog?" I'd wanted to ask when Hades had brought him up, but that didn't seem to be the smartest direction in which to take the conversation.
"Kind of, it's not important. Whatisimportant is that Hades would never be happy with anyone who doesn't want a dog."
"Right. That makes sense." I looked down at my notes. "And the system takes all of this into account?"
A small smile quirked at Cupid's lips. "All of that and more. Have you taken the matchmaking questionnaire we give out to clients?"
My cheeks flushed red and I searched for how to answer his question without revealing that I'd not only taken it, but it had matched me with him.
"You should, if you haven't already," he suggested, his gaze lingering a little longer than was fully necessary.
"I took it," I whispered.
He raised an eyebrow. "What did you think?"
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, hoping he wasn't noticing the flush on my cheeks. "I thought it was good."
"Good?"
"Yes." I cleared my throat. "It was very thorough, there were some questions on it that I wouldn't have thought to ask."
"Such as?"
"I guess small things, like whether you liked people to wear shoes in the house," I admitted. "That was a good one."
"It is," he agreed. "I prefer shoes to be taken off at the door, otherwise, they just drag dirt through the house."
"Exactly," I agreed. "I can see why it's a useful question for matching people up, but I wouldn't have thought to ask it."
Cupid nodded. "Did you run a dummy search or did you submit yourself to the system properly?"
Was he asking because he already knew the answer, or because he was genuinely curious? Either way, it was better if I didn't lie to him.
"I submitted myself properly, I didn't know that was a problem."
"It isn't," he assured me. "Your contract allows you to make use of the matchmaking services that Jinx has to offer. All of them. So if you wanted to set up a date with anyone you matched with, you can do so. Including the date planning services."
I sucked in a sharp breath. Was he implying that he wanted a date?