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“Do you mind stepping over here with me for a moment?” Marissa asked.
They went into a corner to talk. Tonight, he was clean-shaven and wore a different cologne. The stronger scent contained leather undertones and made her want to lean closer. To touch the wall of his hard chest again. She quickly dismissed those feelings and focused on preparing him.
“Before we get started, I want to remind you of the rules for the evening. We’ll make a brief introduction, and then you’ll have private time with each woman. Ten minutes with each of them, and at the end of the evening you’ll let me know your top three. Then we’ll arrange the dates.”
“Sounds good.”
“All right. Let’s get started.”
Marissa called the women together and introduced Bruno, and they immediately started flirting and practically staring at him with heart eyes. She couldn’t blame them. The man was stunning. Since their first meeting she had been searching for an adjective to describe him, and her mind finally gave her the vocabulary tonight. Bruno was debonair, with an urbane sense of suave.
He was also a natural in this environment. Charming and friendly, he cracked a few jokes and made them all giggle. How was he still on the market? It had to be by choice, because any woman he’d dated before should have sunk her claws into him already.
His first ten-minute session was with one of the blondes, a woman named Casey. Twenty-eight years old and currently working as the manager of a department store, which she had confided she hated. She would have no problem quitting to devote time to supporting her spouse.
Marissa led them to a table in the corner of the room where they could speak in private. A few minutes in, she and Wanda were comparing notes at the bar when Casey let out a peal of laughter. Marissa twisted her head in the direction of her and Bruno. Casey’s hand landed on his biceps as she leaned in closer, as if he’d told the funniest joke she’d ever heard. You’d think he was a damn stand-up comedian the way she was laughing.
“I want to know what that joke is,” Wanda muttered out the side of her mouth.
Marissa snorted. “Me too.”
After three rounds of conversation, Marissa checked in with Bruno to get his feedback. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
“So far so good.” He had removed the jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing corded hair-sprinkled forearms. He held a drink in his hand, looking relaxed and at ease, as if he was the host at a party in his own home.
“You did a good job picking the women. I’m going to have a difficult time deciding which ones to go on a date with.”
Normally, a comment like that filled her with excitement and pride. Not this time, however. Her excitement was tempered. “I’m happy to hear that. It’s important to us that you find a good match, and we pride ourselves on listening to your needs to make sure we don’t waste your time or the time of the women we choose for you.”
Leaning his shoulder against the wall, Bruno took a sip of the amber liquid in his glass. She hadn’t been present when he ordered, but if she had to guess, something about his demeanor suggested he was a bourbon man.
“I appreciate how thorough you are. Considering how difficult the dating scene is, I should have done this before.”
“Our goal is to make the entire process easier. That’s why you hired us.”
“Have you ever used a matchmaking service?” Bruno asked.
“No,” she replied.
“Why not?”
“Mr. Santa?—”
“Bruno, remember? Why do you have such a hard time saying my first name? I’m starting to get offended.” With an expression of amusement on his face, he didn’t look the least bit offended.
Why did she have such a hard time? Maybe because using his first name evoked a level of intimacy that she wanted to avoid.
“I’m sorry. I’ll make the effort to remember moving forward.”
“I would appreciate it. Now, back to your answer. Why haven’t you ever used a matchmaking service?”
“If you must know…”
“I must,” he said.
She had the distinct impression he was secretly laughing at her.
“Dating isn’t a priority right now.”
