Page 16 of The Mr. Right Checklist

“Not like that. You must have sixty things listed. How is any man supposed to live up to all that?”

“I know a man won’t meet all my criteria, but I believe my soulmate is out there, and he’ll meet most of them.”

“With a list like that, how do you even date? Do you prescreen your guys? Send them a questionnaire? Interview their friends and family?”

“No. Do you prescreen the women you go out with?”

I shake my head and turn it back on her. “Tell me something. If you go on a good date, do you come home and doodle your first name with the guy’s last name to see how they look together?”

She lifts her chin. “Maybe I do, with stars in my eyes and hope in my heart. Mark my words, Ryry, I’ll find my Mr. Right, and when I do, you’ll be begging me to help you turn all that negative love energy around, so you can find your match, too.”

“I’ve seen your matching skills. They cost me an hour in a police station and made me bother school administrators on a Saturday.”

“I didn’t match you guys. Wackadoodle did.”

I can’t decide if she’s as flighty as the wind or a determined dreamer, but one thing is for sure. There’s something enticing about this spunky little Georgia peach, and I have a feeling I’ve only scratched the surface.

DESTINY

“Are you going to help me or just tease me all afternoon?”

A slow grin lifts his cheeks. “I’m kind of enjoying teasing you.”

I try to give him a serious look, but I’m too amused by this lighter version of him to pull it off. “You might want to be careful. Paybacks could come at awkward times, like rehearsal dinners or weddings.”

“A’right. Let’s get down to business. Should we start with your man checklist? Because I could show you which items are unreasonable and knock fifty or so off of it.”

I’m not happy that he saw my checklist, but it’s hard to be mad at a guy who looks hella hot in basketball shorts and a tank top. His muscular thighs are one thing, but I never would have guessed he had sculpted abs under his dress shirts or that he was capable of sharing a warmer smile like the one that’s coming out to play right now. “My checklist is none of your business.”

“You’re right. I don’t want any part of that.” He takes a drink of his coffee. “I checked out your website last night. It’s well done. Inviting and uplifting.”

“I’m glad you think so. I hired a friend back home to put it together for me, but I chose all the colors and pictures.”

“You did a good job, but I noticed your contact form only asks for a name, email address, and phone number. It might be helpful to ask for specifics, like the location and date for their anticipated proposal, so you can see if they’re nearby and can check your calendar before you reach out.”

“I don’t care if I have to drive two hours to meet them. It’s not like I have people beating down my door right now.”

“But one day you hope to. You’ve got big dreams, sunshine. The best way to achieve them is to never doubt it’ll happen and pave the path in a way that nothing will slow you down.”

I was pretty sure he only offered to help me out of pity because I blubbered about losing my parents, but it doesn’t feel like that now. The way he calls me sunshine feels so natural, it’s like he really sees me, not just my screwup, and genuinely wants to help me. It’s been a long time since anyone other than Ruby worried about what I wanted. “I never doubted myself until Cecilia showed me the errors of my ways.”

“We’ll chalk that up to a learning experience and make sure it never happens again.”

“I still can’t believe you don’t hate me for it.”

“I’m a naysayer, not a jackass. I have to ask you something before we get down to business. Why are you using notebooks instead of your laptop or an iPad?”

“They’re easier for me. I’m not very computer savvy. I used them in high school, but as a hairstylist, I never had use for one beyond the apps for showing clients how different hairstyles might look, and a few other things. I haven’t looked at an office program in, gosh, nine years.” That number hits me hard. “Wow, I can’t believe I’ve been out of high school that long. My mama would say I’m getting long in the tooth.”

He chuckled. “If that were true, it’d make me ancient.”

“Maybe you are. How old are you?”

“Several years older than you.”

“Come on, Ryry. You know my life story.”

His brows slant. “I’m going to kill my brothers.”