Page 22 of Once upon a Summer Night

“You don’t?”

“No. It means that you can talk to me, candidly and honestly. That’s going to help a lot in finding your perfect partner.”

Her heart constricted into a tiny fragment of itself, then cracked. He added quickly, “We had a great conversation. And a kiss, of course, but it was only a single kiss. Nothing that can’t be overlooked for the sake of the greater good, right?”

She nodded vehemently, as though that would dislodge the acute (and wholly unnecessary) pain in her chest. She fought to form words, but again came up blank.

Suddenly, the why of her attraction became very important. Why was she so drawn to him? What was it that made her look at him and see a future?

And how was she to let it go, since it clearly wasn’t reciprocated?

Colin cleared his throat. “Well, I’m glad that’s settled. It was a real surprise seeing you sitting at my table with your aunt. I’m very grateful you’re not the type of person who would hold something like this over my head.”

Finally,finally, she found her voice. “Right. If you weren’t willing to forget about it, that would’ve been terribly awkward. I’m quite thrilled you feel the same way. So, the answer to your question is yes, of course, I’m certainly readyto find love.”Already did.She mentally slapped herself, carefully unclenched her hands, and forcefully relaxed her shoulders, then gave as much of a smile as she could muster.No, I didn’t. I just found a handsome man with charm and kindness.

He let out an audible breath. “Excellent.”

She smiled back, but it felt hollow. It figured that the first man that made her feel anything in years wanted to help her find love…with someone else.

“So when do you expect I’ll go on the first date?” she asked, twisting her hands in her lap. “You should probably know that I’m a little, um…not good at first dates.”

Colin paused. “Not good at first dates?”

“Nope. In fact, I am terrible at them. I always say the wrong thing, or trip up the stairs, or break lightbulbs with my head. Don’t ask,” she advised when he opened his mouth. “Even if you were to find the perfect man for me, I’m about a thousand percent certain I’ll run him off without even trying.”

“We can fix that,” Colin replied, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “Etiquette classes.”

“Excuse me, but I was raised British,” Ellie exclaimed, affronted. “We know our etiquette quite well.”

He laughed then, the sound reaching into her soul and wrapping around it. “No, Ellie. I meant dating etiquette. Help for those who might need a little more guidance as to what to say, how to act. That sort of thing.”

A knock sounded, and Emma poked her head in. “Can I come in?”

Colin nodded, and she slipped back in. “Where were we?”

“Mr. O’Rourke is offering up dating etiquette lessons,” Ellie said, slightly peevish.

Emma clapped her hands together in delight. “Oh, Col, that is amazing! Candice told me all about it. Was it Bri who figured it out first, or did you work on it together?” Sheturned back to Ellie. “Sorry. Candice works for Colin as one of his matchmakers, and Bri is…washis cousin who started Celtic Connections. If Colin offered you etiquette lessons, you’ll be fighting men off with a sword!”

“Don’t you mean stick?” Ellie asked. “And I don’t need his lessons.”

“The company’s dating lessons—” Colin started to explain.

“Right, stick! Ha! Being in England, and especially this office, makes my mind go right to medieval things. I studied it quite a bit at university,” Emma said.

“How lovely,” Ellie exclaimed. “I don’t know very much about medieval anything, but the time period seems so romantic. Candlelight makeseverythingromantic.”

“Not everything,” Colin grumbled. He cleared his throat. “Back to our discussion. I’m not going to be—”

Emma’s cell phone rang again, the sound trickling in from the reception area. She grimaced. “Sorry. It’s probably Mike. Their flight from Los Angeles is canceled, and it looks like they won’t get back to Boston until next week.”

Emma hurried back out into the reception area.

Colin let out a frustrated sigh and shoved some papers toward Ellie. “Sign the contract and we’ll get underway.”

Ellie raised her brows. “If this is all too much trouble for you, I promise, I have no issue returning to my quiet life, free from all this.”

“And admit failure? Never.”

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