Page 34 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

This can’t be happening. Please tell me he’s not suggesting what I think he’s—

“My agent Finn has a reputation…” David’s words taper off, and he sits slowly on the bench next to me. A lopsided grin on his face.

I’m glad one of us finds this situation amusing. Because I am humiliated beyond belief. My heart is pounding like a relentless drum, making it hard to focus. I shake my head furiously and firmly say, “No. There is no way I’m trapping someone into a loveless marriage.”

My hands shoot up toward my face, but he gently grabs my wrists, leaving me feeling completely exposed.

“Look at me, Cat,” I glance at his hand, trying to ignore the warmth running through me like the summer sun coming out from behind a cloud, sending tingles up my arm. The gentlenessin his voice calms my swirling stomach, cutting through the pain still lingering. But it’s not until he places his thumb under my chin and gently applies pressure that my eyes flick to his. “What if it was a mutually beneficial arrangement?”

My eyebrows shoot past my hairline, my mouth falls open, and a gasp escapes me. His eyes are earnest and clear. I don’t see any hesitation or doubt in whatever thoughts are running through his head.

“Mutually beneficial?” I repeat, swallowing hard. My gaze bouncing back and forth to his. Hope, mixed with uncertainty, springing to life in my chest.

What if this situation could kill two birds with one stone? Ugh, bad metaphor.

Marriage isn’t a death sentence—at least, it doesn’t have to be like my parents’. My guarded heart, broken in the past, pulls back at the idea of getting married for convenience—and yet…

David stands up and starts pacing back and forth in front of me interrupting my ramblings. I can almost see what he’s thinking, floating like bubbles over his head. “I can talk to Finn. Get some ideas. I know he helped Duncan and Ava, but that was just dating—”

“Wait! What?” I cut him off, surprise lifting my voice. My rising panic screeches to a halt—gossip about Finn’s matchmaking is a much safer topic. He stops in front of me and grins broadly, his dimple popping. “Duncan and Ava don’t love each other?”

Shock lines his face. “Oh no, they do. Duncan’s been in love with Ava forever, but the reason they started ‘dating’,” he puts air quotes around dating, and chuckles. “Is because of Nathan.”

Movie star Ava Norris’ break-up with famous action star Nathan Vaughn, and the scandal that followed regarding her co-star Sean O’Connell, was all over social media. Listening to himtalk about it so casually is a bit surreal. But to learn that Duncan and Ava started out ‘faking it’ is mind-blowing.

“So the rumors about Finn are true?” I whisper, breathing in sharply. A slow smirk creeps across my face, completely forgetting why we’re having this conversation in the first place. I need to know more about Finn Mitchell and his matchmaking.

“What about Josh Owens and Adam Daniels? Was he involved in their situations? Oh!” I point at him, all but hopping on my toes. “Is he the reason for #Briosh?”

An excited squeak slips out, and I excitedly reach out, touching his arm. A spark lights his eyes, making my pulse skitter. He lifts a shoulder in a shrug; a playful grin slips across his lips. “I’m not sure. We don’t really talk about his extracurricular activities. I only know about Duncan and Ava because they told me, but honestly, I wouldn’t doubt if he was.”

“Extracurricular activities?” I raise a brow questioningly, a giggle breaking free. Heat flows through me as I realize I’m still holding onto his arm. My breath catches, and I rip my hand away.

“How else would you describe setting up your clients?” He narrows his eyes and crosses his arms. Giving me the cutest scowl.

“Ummm… matchmaking?” His brows shoot up and his mouth forms a tiny ‘O’ making me laugh out loud.

Twisting my hands together, I ask, “So you think I should talk to Finn about a match?”

David pulls a hand down his face, holds it on his chin, and moves it around before squishing his mouth, his brow furrowed. He deeply inhales before forcefully pushing it out and slowly nodding. “I do.”

“You really think this is a good idea and not completely far-fetched?” I chew my lip and run my hand through my hair nervously. “I mean, it seems insane.”

“Oh, it’s wild,” he says, my face pulling together and my mouth dropping open, heat creeping up my neck. I blink slowly a few times, staring at him. “Like totally nuts.”

Turning away from him, I wrap both arms around myself, shoulders sagging. The back of my eyes start to burn, and my stomach sinks. I try to swallow past the lump in my throat.

“But I think you should do it,” he says, resting a hand on my shoulder, his touch igniting a warm glow down to my toes.

I whip around to face him, searching his face. “I don’t understand, you just said it was insane…”

“It is.” He nods, his mouth curling up. “Really—”

“Don’t say it.” I point at him, pressing my lips together and narrowing my eyes. “If it’s ‘wild’ then why should I do it?”

Flashing across his eyes are a million emotions I can’t decipher, and my stomach flips. His head drops to his chest, and he lets out a sigh. A minute passes before his head lifts and he meets my gaze. Looking away, he rakes a hand through his hair. “I can’t believe I’m suggesting this.”

“Yeah, join the club,” I spit out, annoyed. Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare at him. This washisidea. Why did he bring it up if he felt this way? I don’t understand.

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