Page 5 of Twist of Date

My heart skips a beat at the name I see in the heading.

Cole Reed.

That’s a name I haven’t seen or thought about in years, but now that I see it, I can’t help but smile.

I knew Cole from college and while we were never more than friends, I always harbored a little crush on the man. He was a bit of a player, but his smile was known to melt panties and his flirt game caused me to giggle. I think back to the last time I saw him and realize it’s been since graduation and I don’t recall if I’ve ever found him on social media since.

Biting my lip, I click on the meeting to see if there are any details that Ruth may have entered. Of course there aren’t. She’s not a fan of the digital age, so she’s probably got a handwritten page or two already started for him.

What is he doing in Indy?

I thought he was going back to NYC to work for his dad’s restaurant group.

Why does he need a matchmaker?

Clearly, that means he’s single…

“Here you go. I think it might be better than an actual snickers bar,” Hazel says, interrupting my thoughts.

I shake my head, clearing the thoughts of Cole Reed from my mind. Smiling up at Hazel, I take the small pate from her and glance down at the chocolaty, peanut, and camel delight in the middle of the plate.

It’s for the best. The last thing I need right now is to dwell on the man I always wanted to date but never had the chance to more than a decade ago. Hell, I bet he’s started to go gray or even lost some hair and gained a bit of a belly on him. No way is he still the stunning man who turned heads everywhere he went.

Chapter 2

DATE WITH THE COUGAR

COLE

“Enjoy your date with the cougar,”Travis yells through the opening that separates the spoiled chef’s kitchen from the fancy dining area.

Lifting my hand, I give him the bird but chuckle all the same.

“Not a date, asshole. The correct term would be Sabertooth. But it’s not a date.” I smirk at my best friend as I yank the black leather glove on.

“Yet you know the difference between the terms used to define older women who seek out younger men.” He’s leaning on the counter, most likely prepping for the night. He’s the chef of my most popular restaurant, LACE. It’s only open during the dinner hours, starting at three.

“I make it my business to know the types of women who fall at my feet.” I grin back at him.

He rolls his eyes. “You poor thing.”

“It’s my cross to bear, my man.” I try to say it with a straight face, but even I know my words are full of shit. Grabbing my other glove from my coat pocket, I remind him of the truth. “Ruth is my grandmother’s best friend. It’s not a date.”

“If she’s anything like Miss Dorthy, she probably thinks it is.” I shake my head. My grandma is one hundred percent what you would call a Sabertooth. She’s in her seventies and she loves to seek out younger men. And when I say younger, the last time I was at home in NYC visiting her, she couldn’t stop talking about the twenty-something maintenance man.

“Well, here’s hoping I don’t have to break any hearts today.” I chuckle. “I’ll be back. Don’t burn the place down.”

“Fuck off,” he yells at my retreating back. This place is his sanctuary. Making a comment referring to him that he does not take the utmost care of this place is a true insult. One I take delight in delivering on the regular.

Pushing out the massive front door, I’m greeted with the sun and then a burst of cold air across my face. Late February in Indy is at its best unpredictable. I’ve only been in the state for a few months now and I have to say, the winter months have been interesting. There were a few days in January when it was in the fifties, then a snowstorm a few days later. Needless to say, you don’t move to the Hoosier state for its winters. The day is bright, thankfully, but the chill isn’t all that delightful. I scrunch my neck into the bunched up fabric of my coat and head toward the end of Mass Ave.

The street is a well-known location just adjacent to the heart of downtown Indy. Full of history, the five-block area is ripe with culture, restaurants, bars, and shopping. Most of the buildings are three to four stories high. The bottom levels cater to the public while the top range from office space to even a few apartments. When I was scouting the location to open up LACE, I knew I wanted the coveted Mass Ave address, but when the building also donned a second floor perfect for offices, I snatched it up quicker than you could say a witch’s titty.

New to the area, I quickly learned how lucky I was to own the building, as rent has skyrocketed over the past year. But it was my requirement when finding the location of the Reed Restaurant Group’s new Indianapolis location. We now have three locations, and I am proud as well that I was able to start my newest division owning our building. My brother, Stanley, who oversees the Chicago division, can’t say the same.

My humble grin grows wide at the thought of the call we had with my father when I pointed out that little nugget of information. The thing about brothers is they’re constantly in competition even when the other doesn’t know it.

But with RRG rocking and rolling in Indy, I am just now able to breathe a bit. Which is why I finally called Ruth, my grandmother’s best friend, to meet. While our meeting wasn’t a date, I wasn’t completely forthcoming with Travis about it. Ruth is a matchmaker, and while I find the whole idea of matchmaking really quite fascinating, I’m not sure I’m matchmaking material. I’m a busy guy, overseeing two restaurants that are open to the public and one in the works. I only have time for quick hookups. I’ve got a phone full of women who are ready for fun when I have a hot minute to myself. And I guess I kinda like it this way.

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