Page 23 of Falling for My Matchmaker

He chuckled, clearly thinking I was joking. “This place is wild.”

He touched the small of my back lightly as we moved through the room, and I couldfeelit: Nate watching. His gaze tracked us like it was passive, like it didn’t matter, like he wasn’t reading every micro-interaction and filing it away for some eventual report.

I smiled too hard. Laughed a little too loud. Steered Brad toward the photobooth just so I wouldn’t have to see Nate’s face. Brad hesitated—just for a second.

Then: “Let’s circle back. Lighting’s weird right now.”

He said it casually, but he’d already turned us toward the bar.

Fine. Maybe he hated bad lighting. Or couple shots. Or looking documented.

We turned a corner near the bar, and there he was again.

Nate.

Standing beside Rob, still holding a drink, still in that infuriatingly neutral charcoal button-up, still looking like someone had programmed him for maximum restraint and minimum reaction.

We made eye contact.

He didn’t blink.

I did.

“Diana,” he said, with a nod so professional it made me want to throw a canapé at his chest.

“Nate,” I said, aiming for breezy and landing somewhere nearstrained cocktail waitress on her third double shift.

“This must be Brad,” he said, turning with smooth precision.

Brad extended a hand. “That’s me.”

They shook—too long, too firmly—like two men pretending not to be measuring each other’s threat levels in calories burned.

“Nice to meet you,” Nate said, all smooth civility.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Brad added with an easy smile.

Nate’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—a calculation? Appraisal? Appreciation?

Oh God. Nate was checking Brad out.

That explained everything. Of course.

Hot guy shows up, Nate goes into quiet gay meltdown. Very relatable.

I briefly considered the odds that Brad was bi and instantly regretted everything.

Please stay straight,I thought.Just for tonight.

“Oh,” I cut in quickly. “Just the occasional warning label.”

Nate smirked, but it was subtle. Professional.

Rob smiled at me from Nate’s side, oblivious and lovely. “You look great tonight, Diana.”

“Thanks,” I said. “You too. Love your tie.”

It was the kind of compliment you give when you're trying not to imagine your matchmaker potentially flirting with your date.

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