Page 41 of Once upon a Summer Night

She turned to fully face him and drew her feet underneath her on the couch. “Forty universities.”

“Yes.”

She searched his face. “Why tell me, if you have no intention of pursuing me?”

He understood what she asked. But explaining it to her was out of the question. Aside from his time traveling, her aunt was quite specific in her demands. He chewed on his answer for a moment.

She merely waited, her eyes never leaving his face.

He decided on a partial truth. “When it was just you and me, I wanted to see where it could go. We definitely had a connection. But I’m not a forever man, Ellie. I’m already married…to my company. And my company is too important to me to not make a complete success of your match. So I have to match you with someone who can make you happy forever.” He dragged a hand over his face. “That’s not me.”

She sucked in a breath. “Oh.”

He gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I like you. A lot. And that’s enough for me to want to see you happy not just for my own selfish reasons to do with Celtic Connections, but also for you. You deserve someone amazing. Someone who can appreciate your perfections and imperfections, someone who would move heaven and earth to see your smile.”

She smiled back at him, though it was tinged with sadness. “I see. Thank you for your honesty.” She slowly rose. “I’m to bed. Good night, Colin.”

“Good night, Ellie. Sleep well.”

She nodded, then disappeared up the stairs. Colin relaxed back on the couch and tried not to dwell on the gaping hollowness in his chest.

Colin irritably glancedat the clock. Time was ticking, but he was no closer to finding a date worthy of Ellie.

She needed someone who wouldn’t stifle her smart mouth. He knew she tended to go shy around people shedidn’t know, but she was so intelligent that it would only take the right conversation piece to get her to open up.

“I know you don’t want to hear this.” Candice’s voice over the phone was hesitant. “But I think Reginald might be perfect for her.”

“Hell no,” Colin replied. “He’s had only a handful of second dates in the year he’s been with us, and despite all the advice and coaching we gave him, the man is still a beast to his matches! If we encourage this without giving her another option, it could be disastrous.”

“You know that he’s a British citizen,” Candice pointed out. “And though he lives in Los Angeles most of the year, he still owns a home in England…on his ancestral estate.”

Colin shook his head, though Candice couldn’t see him. “I know what you’re getting at. Still no.”

“Boss, he’s everything that both of them asked for. He’s an as-yet-untitled Brit, who will receive his barony once his father passes. He has a steady job, a very nice income, intelligence, good hygiene, and is an avid reader. I believe that ticks all the boxes on this particular match.”

But he didn’t deserve her smiles. Reginald had done nothing in this lifetime that would ever make him worthy of her.

But Candice couldn’t possibly know Colin’s feelings for Ellie, and she, at least, was acting in the best interest of their client. Of both their clients.

She continued, oblivious to Colin’s inner struggle, “Mike convinced him to take the etiquette courses, you know. You really should consider offering those to more of our clients, they’re a game-changer. And the interpersonal relationship course, too. He’s taking them now and when I spoke with him yesterday, he was pleasant. Polite, even. And Mike said he’s been respectful, too.”

Colin snorted. Reginald was usually an ass on his bestdays. On his worst, Colin wouldn’t let the man anywhere near his staff.

Candice groaned in frustration. “Colin. We have to give the man a chance to prove he’s serious about changing his ways. We’ve been at his matching for weeks, and you’ve denied every potential match for Miss Carberry that Mike and I have sent your way, despite youraskingus to help. You said yourself that you couldn’t find anyone suitable. She’s already agreed to go to Reginald’s mixer. Is she so difficult to work with that there’s no one you’d match her with in our system?”

She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever metwas on the tip of his tongue, but instead he bit it back and closed his eyes. Ellie deserved a man who would treat her well, and love her, and hold her, and make her forget about her worries. His whole world would be devoted to bringing forth her smile and laughter, and he would see how kind and wonderful she was.

And you are not that man.

“See if he’s willing to travel and eventually relocate to England,” Colin capitulated, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. “If so, I’ll see it done.”

“Of course he will be. But I’ll confirm with you in the morning.”

They hung up, and Colin felt an acute pain in his chest. Rubbing it vigorously, he slowly closed his laptop and stared sightlessly at the papers in front of him. He knew he had to let Ellie go. Though it almost killed him to do it, he had other priorities that couldn’t be usurped.

Reginald Montgomery damn well better appreciate the pearl he was being given. Colin would personally see to it that the man was nothing but appreciative.

Ellie closedthe book she was reading and glanced around the library restlessly. Colin was again at the office, and it was raining just hard enough to make her want to stay inside.

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