Page 47 of Imperfect Match (Imperfect Match 1)
Me: Sure.
* * *
Willow: I’ll come out to the hall.
Frowning, I put my phone away. For a second, I think maybe she’s come around, but not if she wants to talk in the hall. She probably just doesn’t trust me in her apartment.
Her door opens, and she appears in a robe securely tied at the waist. Her hair is wet and combed, as if she’s just showered, and her face is puffy but clean. She looks so pretty and sweet, I have to cross my arms over my chest to keep from embracing her.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“I wanted to apologize about tonight. I was out of line to show up like that.”
I shrug. “I’m used to it. At least you didn’t hide behind a plant this time.”
Her cheeks go a little pink, and she looks down, shuffling her bare feet. “I guess that was out of line too.”
“Maybe just a little.”
We laugh together, and it feels good. God, I’ve missed her.
“Did you have a nice evening?” she asks.
“It was okay.”
She nods and tucks her hair behind her ears. “So, I’ve been thinking about it, and I understand why you’ve stayed away this week. Under the circumstances, a little space was probably the best idea.”
No, it wasn’t. But I don’t want to argue with her.
“Anyway, I was wondering if you could do me a favor.”
“What?”
“I know you said you had no interest in going on any more dates, but would you—”
“No.” Turning around, I stick my key in the lock again. “Goodnight, Willow.”
“Wait a minute, Reid.” She takes me by the elbow and forces me to face her again. “I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t important. I know how you feel about being set up, and I respect that. But this would mean everything to me.”
“Why?”
“Because if I don’t at least appear to succeed with you, my mother is going to sell the business out from under me. I might not be the best matchmaker in the world, but I’m not ready to give up yet. I like my job. I need it. And besides.” Her eyes light up, and she gives me a shy smile. “I have a feeling about this girl.”
“A feeling?”
“Yes.” She puts a hand over her heart. “You know me. I don’t get feelings like that—the ones you can’t explain that seem to come out of nowhere and stick in your gut.”
“No, you don’t.” It’s exactly how I feel about being with her, and more than anything, I wish she felt it for me.
“Well, I have one now. Please do this for me. Just meet her. If she’s not your perfect match, I swear to you I will give up this fight, tell my mother I was wrong, and accept defeat.” She clasps her hands beneath her chin and gives me an adorable, pleading look, her brown eyes wide and shining. “Please, Reid? Give me one last chance?”
I groan, knowing I can’t resist her when she makes that face. I’m too crazy about her. “Fine. I’ll give you an hour tomorrow night.”
“Yay! Thank you!” She claps her hands and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll text you details tomorrow.”
It makes me glad to be the one to put a smile on her face again, but I wish the circumstances were different. There is no woman alive that compares to her, as far as I’m concerned. “I want it on record that I said from the start this is hopeless.”
She lifts her shoulders. “Maybe you’re wrong.”
