Page 21 of Turbulent Fires

Me:I can’t seem to stop thinking about you, morning, noon, and night. That means something. We’re going to have our first date sooner rather than later.

I hit send before I can change my mind. She doesn’t immediately respond, as I knew she wouldn’t. This message will catch her off guard, and she’ll need to think about it. We’re both so far out of our comfort zones at this point that I’m not sure we’ll ever find them again. I’m okay with it, and I have a feeling she is too. Maybe fate really is involved here, and we’d be fools to mess with it. You don’t want to tick off the fate women. They can be mean. I’ve watched thatSupernaturalepisode when they’re messed with. A shudder runs through me.

I also know we don’t stand a chance if Joseph’s now meddling in our lives. I might as well leap quickly because I don’t think I have a choice anymore. I smile as I put my phone away and turn around, heading back to the bar.

Obsessing about it isn’t going to help tonight. What will help is to laugh with the people I’m closest to in the world. Tomorrow’s a brand-new day to obsess over the woman who I’m sure will visit me in my dreams tonight. I don’t mind that one little bit. As a matter of fact, I’ll be smiling in the morning after dreaming of her. It should scare me, but it doesn’t.

Chapter Eight

Joseph Anderson

Leaning back, I swirl amber liquid in my crystal glass. Sure, I’m feeling smug. I have every right to feel this way as I’ve hit at a hundred percent so far in matchmaking. I get a little too restless when I don’t have someone’s life to meddle with. We’re only as old as we allow ourselves to be. I choose to embrace my youthfulness.

“That boy’s hooked,” I say as I look at my long-time friend, Sherman, who raises his brow as he leans back in the comfortable armchair directly across from me, his expression a perfect blend of smug and curious.

“You’re sure this isn’t just him being bored? Wolf’s not exactly known for staying on the ground.”

“Nope, I’ve been told he’s constantly texting the woman and he’s been smiling more in the past six weeks than he’s ever done before, and not that cocky know-it-all smile, but the dreamy smile of a man falling in love. He simply needs a little push, as does Audrey, who’s a bit gun-shy herself.”

“You enjoy this far too much, my friend.”

I laugh. “So do you. You just don’t admit it like I’m willing to do,” I tell him.

Sheman chuckles. “What are we thinking? Stranded on a desert island? Business emergency at a couple’s resort? Snowed in cabin in the woods?”

I wave my hand in the air. “Nah, too obvious. We need something more organic for these two. Something that pushes them enough to break the tension but still leaves room for denial.”

Sherman grins as he thinks. We both lean back as we sip our fine liquor. We’ve brought a lot of couples together, and we’re good at it. Sherman claps his hands, making me jump. I glare at him as a bit of my expensive liquor spills. It’s far too good to waste, and Katherine keeps an eye on how much I consume, so I have to be careful.

“Spit it out,” I tell him with a low growl.

“A work trip. They both work too much and love it,” Sherman says.

I lean forward, intrigued. This could work. “Tell me more.”

Sherman laughs. “What’s happening in a week?” My eyes widen, and then I laugh.

“You, my friend, are brilliant! We’ll send them both an invite to the Anderson Venture Summit, which happens to be in Maui this year. It’s incredibly exclusive and has all sorts of places a person can hide away.”

“We’re so good,” Sherman says, feeling as impressed with us as I feel. We truly are good. “We should get a lot more praise with all we do for our family and friends. But, oh no, we get told we’re meddlers. Well, we might be meddlers, but it sure as hell works out for all of them. When are they going to show their appreciation?”

Sherman shakes his head. “They don’t know what they have. We’re never going to get the appreciation we deserve.” He pauses for a moment. “I guess I’ll settle for their genuine happiness and all of these beautiful babies being added to the world.”

“Yes, it’s all worth it for the babies,” I agree. I have my favorites, of course, but I don’t need to be saying that out loud. It hurts the other’s feelings. Then again, everyone knows I have a super special bond with my eldest granddaughter, Jasmine. There’s always a bond with the first, though. It doesn’t lessen my love for all of the others. I’m a very blessed man.

“Okay, we’ll send Audrey a message, telling her she’s been selected to feature the event on her blog, an all-expenses-paid insider look at the next generation of hospitality development. We’ll add a few buzzwords such as spa, luxury inn, unique outings, and she’ll be unable to turn it down. This is an invitation she won’t be able to refuse since no reporters or bloggers are ever invited to these exclusive Anderson events,” Sherman says.

“Exactly,” I say. “And we’ll get Wolf there by telling him we’re looking at his family's resorts to host future events.”

“He already knows we’re meddling and won’t buy it, but I think he’ll come anyway,” Sherman says.

“He’ll come because hewantsto date Audrey. I think he’s going to be more pleased by our meddling than he’ll admit to,” I say with confidence.

“I have no doubt about it. Let’s make sure we get them on a private plane to the island so their date can begin right at take-off,” Sherman adds.

“That’s brilliant, my friend. We’ll certainly do that.”

Sherman raises his glass in a mock toast. “To true love, strategic manipulation, and tropical entrapment.”

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