Page 96 of Matchmaking the Rival

"Hi. I'd like to buy one of the bottles you have on display in the fridge by the door."

"Sure thing. Want us to package it as a present?" the bartender asked.

"Not necessary," I said. I was certain we were going to pop it open tonight. It was even chilled, though it would warm up by the time we got to the brownstone.

Five minutes later, I was downstairs in front of the building. Jake and Cade were already here. Natalie and Jeannie were inside Jake's car.

“Wow. You guys got here fast," I said, clutching the bottle of champagne in my arms.

Jake smiled at me, noticing my purchase. "Good thinking. This one just told me he made it to the next round."

"Oh yeah. We’re going to celebrate, don't you worry." I winked.

Cade put an arm around my shoulders. "Come on, let's get inside the car. Your teeth are chattering." And they were.

“It's way colder than when we went inside the bar earlier.”

"Have a good evening," Jake told us.

Cade opened the door for me, and I slid inside, practically melting into the warm seat. I was still holding the champagne bottle.

Let the fun begin.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cade

We arrived at the brownstonetwenty minutes later.

"I'm going to put this in the freezer real quick," she said, shimmying her hips through the house. “Oh, you got more wood delivered?”

“I prepared everything to start a fire.”

"And I thought this evening couldn't get any better," she said. Her energy was addictive.

She busied herself in the kitchen while I started the fire. I was much faster with the whole process now.

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