Page 28 of Stick Side
Ben gave her a considering look. “In the event you wondered, you don’t snore, either.”
Her eyes went round with surprise. By this point, her cheeks were likely cherry red.
Ding!The bell sounded.
“All right, gentlemen,” a woman’s voice—likely Maureen’s—instructed. “It’s time for you to advance to the next table. Please say goodbye to your lady and move along to the table on your right.”
“Tell me something,” Ben said as he leaned forward and dusted his thumb over one of her no doubt still-rouged cheekbones. “Is all of this blushing normal for you, or is it me?”
Melody could feel her blush deepen, if that were even possible. “It’s you,” she admitted softly.
Ben’s smile grew until he was the textbook image of masculine confidence. “Good,” he said as he gently swept his thumb over her cheekbone one more time before getting up to move to the next table. “Now, don’t let any of these guys make too good of an impression on you until I have a chance to take you out and sweep you off your feet, okay?”
Melody could do no more than nod.
She was still feeling a little dazed when the next guy, a pleasant-looking blond of average height and build, sat down in front of her. “Hi, Melody. I’m Todd. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His smile was cautious, but genuine. “Shall we?” he asked, as he pushed the cards slightly toward her. “Ladies first.”
Taking his suggestion, Melody reached for the next card and inquired, “What was the last CD you bought?”
And so it went for the next hour and a half. She conversed with all ten guys, most of whom were very pleasant and interesting. None, however, managed to capture her attention and send her pulse racing the way Ben had. So much for this event expanding her romantic horizons.
“All right, people,” Maureen announced once the final bell had sounded. “This concludes our evening. Gentlemen, please follow George back to the room you were first in. There, he will ask you to fill out a form indicating which ladies you would like to get to know better. My team and I will tally the results this evening and send out your matches as promptly as possible. Thank you for choosing Cupid Connections. Have a lovely rest of your evening.”
Seemingly of their own accord, Melody’s eyes were pulled in the direction of Ben’s departing figure. He must have been watching her because their eyes connected, causing a jolt of awareness to pulse through her body. He waved goodbye with a simple open and close of his hand before he passed through the doorway and out of the room.
“Whew,” Annie said as she rushed over to Melody’s table and took the seat her last speed dater had just vacated, “that was so much fun!” Annie bobbed up and down with excitement. “I think I met a few real possibilities.” Her wide smile was contagious. “How about you?”
“I definitely met someone,” Melody admitted.
“Who? Who?” Annie asked, sounding rather much like an excited owl.
“Ben,” Melody disclosed.
“Ah. Handsome Ben,” Annie said with a sigh. “He was very pleasant and polite—not to mention gorgeous—but I didn’t get the impression he was into me.”
“It sounds like I have Shawna and Pam to thank for his presence here tonight,” Melody revealed.
Annie’s eyes widened so much they looked like they were at risk of bugging out of her head. “Pam?” Annie shook her head as though to clear it. “Wait.Wait!Are you telling me that tonight’s Ben was Benjamin Logan, NHL God?”
Melody nodded. “The one and the same.”
“Eeee! That Pammy!” Annie screeched. “I spoke to her just before I came here and she didn’t let on at all.” Annie huffed. “Someone has some ’splaining to do!” The last was said in a credible imitation of Desi Arnaz.
Annie marched back to her seat, eager to pull out her phone and text her sister for details, Melody guessed.
“Please tick the box beside the name of any of the gentlemen who you would welcome hearing from,” Maureen called out asshe handed out the match-up cards. “Once you have indicated your interest, please leave your cards with me at the front desk before heading out.”
As Melody looked at her card, she saw her name neatly printed at the top followed by the first names of all the gentlemen who had been present tonight. No last names were listed. For privacy, no doubt.
Melody felt her phone vibrate inside of her purse as she looked over the names. Curious to see whether it was Pam or Shawna letting her in on the details of their matchmaking scheme, she pulled out her phone and read her text. She was surprised to find it was a picture text from Ben.
What she saw was a picture of his match-up card with a single name ticked. Hers. He’d also taken the liberty of drawing a smiley face beside her name.
She felt her insides warm as she followed his lead, ticking off his name and no other. She hit reply and snapped a picture of her card.
Her phone vibrated with his reply. She smiled at his emoji text response of a trophy, a high ten, and fireworks.
She shook her head in acceptance. She was such a goner. They hadn’t even been out on a real date, and she was already starting to fall for him. At this point, she couldn’t help but wonder whether she would even recognize a different Mr. Right if he were to cross her path.
