Page 15 of Saving the CEO

“Scarlett showed me their profiles. She wanted to make sure I approved of them.”

“Because it’s more important for her to get your approval than mine?” He couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “I make multimillion-dollar decisions on a regular basis. I think I’m more than qualified to pick a woman to date.”

“This has nothing to do with being qualified or not. Of course, she wants your input; that’s why she’s been texting you about it, but you haven’t bothered to reply. I was just trying to help her speed up the process. Her sisters already have their clients’ first dates lined up.”

“Why do I get the feeling Scarlett’s more concerned with winning a bet than with helping me?”

“She wants to do both.”

“Right. Of course, you’d say that.”

“Because it’s true. Scarlett’s the sweetest person I know. She’s total wife material. You’d be lucky to marry her.”

He scoffed loudly. The sound soon turned into laughter, bouncing off the floor-to-ceiling windows and the marble floor. What a preposterous idea! Him marrying Scarlett? He wouldn’t mind someone with similar traits as her, but not her specifically. He balked. “Trust me, sis, that woman is not my type.”

“She’s so your type, especially looks-wise. You like brunettes.”

“No, I don’t. I prefer blondes.”

“Since when?”

“Since always.”

She gave him the eye roll he’d been waiting for. “I don’t know why you’re being so difficult.”

“I’m not being difficult.” He stuffed his mouth with a forkful of pot pie, thankful for a reprieve from talking. This conversation was getting ridiculous. Why was he arguing with his sister about such a nonessential topic? “You’re making this a bigger deal than it is. Like I said, Scarlett is not my type.”

“Okay, if you say so. I suppose it’s just as well, considering you’re not her type at all either.”

Devin paused mid-chew and eyed Bekah. “What makes you say that?”

“That’s what Scarlett said.” She narrowed her eyes at him until a grin curved her lips. “You don’t look so happy, Dev. Are you offended?”

“Offended? Of course not. Why would I be offended? Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, whether it’s accurate or not,” he mumbled under his breath. He tossed his napkin onto the table. “I’ve got some work to do. I’ll be in my office.”

With a single shove of his chair, he pushed back from the table and rose to his feet. He turned to go, leaving Bekah gawking at him. She wasn’t the only one confused. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. Hewasoffended by the news that he wasn’t Scarlett’s type. Why? He didn’t know. But he wasn’t desperate enough to give it any more thought.

And maybe if he told himself that a couple more times, he’d start to believe it.

CHAPTER8

Scarlett

“That’s when he got up and left the table!”

Scarlett listened to her friend describe Devin’s reaction from earlier that evening as they hung out on the couch in the Kendalls’ living room. As Bekah had promised, they were having girls’ night at her place, complete with facial masks, sweets, and pedicures. For the past hour, they had gabbed and giggled like two teenagers. For Scarlett, this was the perfect way to unwind at the end of a long work week. Hearing that her disinterest in Devin had struck a nerve was as satisfying as icing on top of a cake.

Quite literally, too.

Scarlett took a bite of one of the cinnamon rolls she and Bekah had made earlier. She licked some icing off her upper lip and sighed with contentment. “I wish I could’ve seen your brother’s face when you told him he’s not my type.”

“He was so offended! He acted like you’d personally insulted him. Well, I guess you pretty much did.” Bekah’s nose wrinkled beneath her gold-colored paper mask. “But he did insult you first by saying you’re nothistype.”

“I’m not insulted at all. I don’t expect to be every guy’s type. That’s not how people and relationships work. If it were that easy to find someone to be compatible with, my family and I would be out of business.”

“That’s so true. It’s like what we learned in Human Physiology class. Only 7% of the US population has a O negative blood type and can donate blood to anyone. My brother only wishes he were a universal match for all women.”

Scarlett grinned. “Look at you getting all fancy with your science talk. I’m so glad you found something you enjoy studying.”

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