Page 21 of New Girl in Town
I gulped down a mouthful of wine and then shook my head. “I don’t know…”
“You said you wanted choice. A speed dating event is like a buffet of choice. If you don’t like the guy, then just wait a few minutes and you’re served a hot new dish to try out.”
I opened my mouth to tell Melinda that she was wrong. That a night of speed dating was out of the question. But I stopped before I could say anything.
Whywas it out of the question?
She was right, after all. I had claimed lack of choice was my reason for shying away from Grant, so why was an event aimed at showing me what was possibly a no-go?
“Okay, what’s an event like?” I asked, leaning forward on my elbows. The look of surprise on Mel’s face was enough to fill me with glee.
“Y-you’re really interested?”
Served her right for how she’d gone and talked to Grant without asking me first.
I nodded, enjoying the growing look of confusion on her face. It was true that she could read me, but I was as adept at figuring her out.
Game on, Mel.
I nodded, making sure to keep my expression earnest. “I am. Tell me when and where, and let the buffet begin.”
Melinda sat in shocked silence for a second or two more before she nodded and picked up her fork and knife. “Right. Of course. Well, the next event is later this week. How about I make the arrangements and let you know once I have it all figured out.”
I smiled, feeling pleased with my decision to charge forward and call Mel on her shenanigans. “Sounds perfect,” I told her, content in my ability to turn the tables at will.
My steak had never tasted so good and I was confident there was nothing but smooth sailing ahead, even with a speed dating event on the horizon. There was no way she was going to make us attend an event.
* * *
It tookall of a day for me to realize how wrong I’d been about out-maneuvering Mel and her threat of speed dating. Three days later, I ended up at my inaugural speed-dating event.
I frowned at her as she smoothed her hands over her black dress, which looked amazing.
I gave her a sullen look. “You look hot. Stop rubbing it in.”
She winked at me. “So do you, so stuff it and put a smile on that pretty face.”
I shrugged, running a hand though my hair, which I’d styled in waves any romance heroine would envy. “Don’t try and sweet-talk me.”
“You’re the one who wanted to come here. What happened to having a choice and not falling for the first man who was nice to you?”
I stifled a groan as we stepped forward in line. “I know. You’re right.”
“So don’t threaten me with a good time and then get mad when I deliver, Martínez.”
“All right, then. Let’s get this show on the road.” If I couldn’t get out of the night—a night that I had instigated—then I might as well embrace it as best I could. Mel and I had just finished paying our fees and I was scribbling my name onto theHello! My name istag that had me thinking of nothing but awkward work parties when someone bumped into me.
“Sorry,” a deep baritone voice said.
“No problem,” I said, and looked over my shoulder to see a man giving me...not the apologetic look I’d anticipated, but an appraising one. I might have had issues with it, except I wasn’t mad at the pleasing sight the man cut in his tailored suit, styled sandy blond hair, perfect teeth, and blue eyes.
He had a similar rectangle sticker pasted over his left breast pocket. My estimation of speed dating went up. If this was the caliber of men on hand, then maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad.
“Are you here for the event?” he asked, sidling up beside me when I went back to writing my name.
“I am.” I held up my now completed sticker. “I’m Aurora. Aurora Martínez.”
“Beautiful name...fitting for a beautiful woman.”
