Page 29 of Game Changer

It took a few internet sleuths invested in potential love stories less than two hours to identify the women in Brandon’s picture. Her name is Brynleigh Eszes.

That’s when my work started.

I helped Brandon by offering advice on how to handle the crucial first message. Since she wasn’t receptive at first, I dropped myself into Brynleigh’s orbit, only to discover that Brandon had captured a picture of her at what she viewed as the worst moment of her life.

She had just been dumped by her long-term boyfriend at the restaurant, but over the next few months, with some guidance from me, Brandon endeared himself to Brynleigh, and now, they’re getting married next summer.

Chuck rakes a hand through his blond hair. “I get the sense that you charge an arm and a leg to help men like that guy.”

He’s right about that, so I nod.

“I need all of my arms and legs because this job requires it,” he jokes. “Tell me what kind of advice I can get for, say…sixty bucks.”

He shoves the money I just gave him back at me, but I brush that off. “Put that away, Chuck. Tell me what’s going on.”

He glances past me to the front of Turquoise Crown. Since the last time I was here, the bar’s sign has been installed over the door, and looks phenomenal.

“I’ve been dating this woman for a few years.” He grins.

“What’s her name?”

“Jan.” The corners of his eyes crinkle as a broad smile takes over his face. “My Jan.”

That hits me just the right way because Chuck isn’t looking for advice on grabbing hold of a woman’s heart. It doesn’t take a genius to see that he’s already got it.

“I want to ask her to marry me,” he whispers, shaking his head. “I bought the ring. I have to find the right words to wow her. I need Jan to understand that I’d do anything to make her happy every day for the rest of her life.”

“That’s a start,” I tell him.

“I want the proposal to be epic,” he explains. “I don’t have the budget for loads of flowers or a string quartet, but I still want it to be a solid memory for her. I need the words I say to do her justice. Am I making sense?”

I pluck a business card out of the inner pocket of my suit jacket and slide it into his palm. “Text me. We’ll set up a time to meet for a coffee or a beer. I’ll help you with the proposal.”

He glances down at the card. “I appreciate it, William, but there’s no way I can afford you.”

“No charge,” I say without an ounce of hesitation. “I can tell you’re a good man, Chuck. Hell, you spread cheer throughout this city every day. Let me give you something back as a thank you from every person on your route.”

“Are you serious?” he asks. “You’d do that for me? You’re not even on my route. We only met because of Opal.”

There’s something poetic in that. Opal’s presence in my life is the reason I crossed this man’s path. How can Inothelp him out?

“Text me,” I remind him. “I need to get back inside.”

“I will.” He nods. “I don’t know Opal very well, but I can tell you make a great couple.”

“We’re not a couple,” I say in a rush.

“Oh, sorry.” He bows his head. “I saw the way you look at her, so I assumed.”

In my business, that’s a huge red flag. I’ve never had a stranger notice the way I look at the woman a client is interested in. There’s a good reason for that, though. I’ve never wanted a woman a client wants.

I take a deep breath. “No worries. We’ll talk soon.”

I end it there and turn back to see Opal through the glass door of her bar.

Jesus.She really is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. If I keep that to myself and learn how to bury it beneath the promise I made to Percy Haines, I may just be able to honor my contract with him.

17

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