Page 2 of Jake

The four of them all turned toward Ryker, the only one that was sitting there in a black shirt. Ryker was the most quick-tempered of them, too. He hadn’t even wanted to be a part of their group at first. Evan had managed it when Cade, Jake, and Evan were ready to abandon him.

Their group had been a bond that had helped them all manage the politics and financials of their growing companies. Every man at this table had a net worth now of over seven figures, and with that they only found additional problems.

“What about blind dates?” Evan offered Jake as the game continued.

Ryker snorted and Luke straight laughed.

“No, really, there’s that new place now that does actual blind dates. You don’t even get to see each other.” Evan placed a bet after checking his cards.

“It’s not a terrible idea,” Cade said at his turn.

Jake raised an eyebrow in question. Of all the people to be on board with that, it wasn’t Cade he would have suspected.

“See?” Evan smiled.

“It’s the perfect solution to our problems.” Cade shrugged. He was selling it but was far from enthusiastic about it.

“I’m not here for spectacles.” Jake folded again.

“How can it be any worse that what you’re going through right now?” Luke asked.

Jake looked to Ryker for help, who only shrugged. It seemed it was up to Jake to explain how ridiculous the idea was.

“What would happen the moment she sees my name? She’d look me up and we’d be right where I am now. No difference, just more hoops to jump through.” He’d remembered reading about the blind date restaurant opening up but hadn’t really looked into it.

Evan took the pot, and the game paused as he shuffled cards. “That’s the beauty of the place. I’m considering investing in it.” He started dealing. “They don’t give any of your information to each other. You can elect to chat in their app before the date if you want, or you meet them in the dark at the restaurant and you get to decide when to reveal yourselves or to stop dating.”

“You know entirely too much about this.” Cade, like the rest of them, had been staring at Evan since he launched into the explanation.

Evan was unbothered by the scrutiny. “I told you I was thinking about investing in it. Regardless, it solves all the problems that Mr. Hottest Man of the Year is having.”

Jake groaned. He couldn’t wait until the magazine that had called him that came out again in six more months to give someone else that name. His life had gotten even crazier since then and the media never left him alone on a date.

“It has merit,” Ryker added, looking over at Jake.

“Not you too?” Jake was growing more irritated. “Can we talk about something other than my love life?”

“Not that you have one,” Cade muttered.

“Low blow,” Luke scolded.

“How is Luke the only one on my side?” Jake stood, knocking the chair out from under him.

“He’s still enjoying the meaningless sex,” Cade answered for the group.

Jake ran a hand through his dark brown hair, messing its usually perfect style up. “Fine, if I agree to one date, can we just get back to the game?”

“Nope, one from each of us.” Evan smiled.

“Four dates then?” Jake conceded.

“Plus any you choose through the app,” Evan added again, still grinning.

“I can guarantee you that won’t happen.” Jake had no intention of looking through a dating app of any kind, not to mention one with even less information than the normal ones. “Four dates and then no one else butts in again with stupid suggestions.”

“I’ll set it all up. Men, email me your picks by end of next week.”

They nodded as Jake picked his chair up, sliding it under the table and taking a seat. This was going to be interesting for sure.

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