Page 50 of Match Me If You Can (Chicago Stars 6)

Dean returned his attention to Annabelle. “Something about your name rings a bell. Wait a minute. Aren’t you Heath’s matchmaker?”

“How did you know about that?”

“Word gets around.” A Rollerblader whizzed by, brunette hair flying. He took his time enjoying the view. “I never met a matchmaker,” he finally said. “Maybe I should hire you?”

“You do know my business doesn’t have anything to do with lighting campfires, right?”

He folded his arms over his chest. “Hey, everybody wants to meet somebody special.”

She smiled. “Not when they’re having so much fun meeting all those un-specials.”

Dean turned to Bodie. “I don’t think she likes me.”

“She likes you,” Bodie said, “but she thinks you’re immature.”

“I’m sure you’ll grow out of it,” Annabelle said.

Bodie slapped him on the back. “I know it doesn’t happen very often, but it looks like Annabelle’s immune to your movie star face.”

“Then somebody better get her to the eye doctor,” Arté muttered, which made them all laugh.

Dean wheeled his bike off the path and leaned it against a tree while the four of them chatted. Dean asked Arté about Sean, and they talked about the Bears for a while. Then Bodie brought up Dean’s search for an agent. “I hear you’ve been meeting with Jack Riley at IMG.”

“I’m meeting with a lot of people,” Dean replied.

“You should at least hear what Heath has to say. He’s a smart guy.”

“Heath Champion is number one on my do-not-call list. I’ve got enough ways of making Phoebe unhappy.” Dean turned to Annabelle. “How’d you like to come to the beach with me tomorrow?”

She hadn’t seen this coming, and she was stunned. Also suspicious. “Why?”

“Can I be honest?”

“I don’t know. Can you?”

“I need protection.”

“From overtanning?”

“Nope.” He flashed his glamour boy smile. “I love the beach, but so many people recognize me that it’s hard to chill. Usually, if I’m with a woman, people give me a little more space.”

“And I’m the only woman you can find to go with you? I doubt that.”

His eyes twinkled. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but it’ll be more relaxing if I invite somebody I’m not planning to sleep with.”

Annabelle burst out laughing.

“Poor Dean needs a friend, not a lover.” Bodie chuckled.

“You’re invited, too, Mrs. Palmer,” Dean said politely.

“Honey, not even a hottie like you could get me out in public wearing a bathing suit.”

“What do you think, Annabelle?” Dean cocked his head toward the lakefront. “We’ll go to the Oak Street Beach. I’ll bring a cooler. We can hang out, swim, listen to music. It’ll be fun. You can lower your standards for a couple of hours, can’t you?”

Her life had gotten so weird since she’d met Heath Champion. Chicago’s hottest young jock had just asked her to spend Sunday afternoon lying on the beach with him when, only two days ago, she’d been feeling sorry for herself because she didn’t have any plans for the Fourth of July weekend. “As long as you promise not to ogle younger women while I’m with you.”

“I’d never do that!” he declared, apparently forgetting the brunette Rollerblader.

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