Page 91 of Matchmaking the CEO

Natalie smiled at me, then at Maddox. "Jeannie tells me all three of you are quite busy too, but it's still great of you to offer help.”

Cade cleared his throat. "I think this is a good time for me to interject and point out that neither Colton nor Jake is exactly the type who would admit needing help.”

“Just so you are all aware, keep your eyes open and read the signs, but don't expect them to come out and say it," he added.

Colton laughed. "I’d contradict you, but you have a very good point. But I can't remember a time when I actually needed help."

Cade rolled his eyes. "Yeah. You know how now you're working from early morning to late in the evening to get that drug through? This would be the time to ask for help. Not from us because neither of us are brainiacs, but you know, hiring someone else would probably do you good."

Colton lowered his arms, crossing them over his chest. "Interesting. We went from analyzing Jake to me."

"Are you going to do it to every member of the family?" Natalie asked.

Maddox whistled. "Natalie, I like that idea. Might give me a chance to find out more about these brothers. Not that Gabe isn’t a good enough source."

"Hey, dude," Gabe said. "You weren’t supposed to tell him that. Besides, Spencer and Cade are valuable sources of information too."

"True," Maddox said. "But Gabe takes the cake.”

I’d always had a feeling I was missing out on a huge part of my life because I wasn't in Boston, but I'd never felt that as intensely as I did now.

I'd never seen my younger brothers interacting like this with our half brothers—there was so much ease and banter. I hadn't even known this type of relationship had formed between them. What else was I missing out on?

"By the way, Natalie," Maddox said, "Gran said you want to add more clients."

"Oh yes, I do."

"Well, here's the thing. Our event coordinator is taking time off to care for her mother. She left two weeks ago. She’ll be gone for six weeks, and we need someone to step in until then. We have some interviews with potential candidates, but you're more than welcome to throw your hat in the ring. In fact, I can consider this party your application."

"Oh, that's so thoughtful," Natalie exclaimed. “So, your company does event planning?”

“No. We design, and most often redesign, office spaces. We regularly throw events for customers after they inaugurate the space we worked on. They typically invite their partners, and we get more business that way.”

What the fuck?She'd balked when I suggested I ask my brothers for a job.

"What qualifications do I need?” she asked. “I don't know if Jeannie told you, but I haven't been doing this for a very long time."

Was she seriously considering working for Maddox when she'd flat-out told me she wouldn't want me to ask my brothers?

"We’re not looking for someone who's been running an event agency for decades. Obviously they'd be completely overqualified. And we only need someone temporarily, which works for you too.”

"Thank you. I’d like to apply for the job. I’ll send you my résumé, pictures of events I’ve helped with, and things like that."

What the actual hell?

Natalie turned to look at me. Her smile was bright but immediately fell when she saw my expression.

"If you all will excuse me," she said, "I should go and check with that DJ. We've got some things planned for the next two hours."

She went back to her desk with determined steps.

After a minute or two, I excused myself and rose from the table, heading straight to her. I thought perhaps she did that on purpose so we could talk, but she was actually engaging the DJ in a lively conversation. I waited by her desk, staring at her and tapping my foot. She joined me a few minutes later.

Her brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

"Obviously I have no idea, or I wouldn't ask."

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