Page 12 of The Charming Checklist
“Do you still need a date to your birthday dinner?”
Ava hesitated. To answer yes implied she had no one else interested in her. Pretty sad.
And Max didn’t have to know that she’d recently noticed he was hotter than Texas asphalt. She’d explained that she only wanted him for his résumé.
“Yes. I’ve had lots of offers, but like I said, I wanted someone toimpressmy family.”
“And I’m flattered that you would consider me.” He gave her a brief smile.
“Why? Are you suddenly available?”
She wouldnotallow herself to believe that Max could like her. She’d known him for over a year and he’d never expressed the slightest interest. But the mere idea sent little slivers of heat pulsing through her.
“I’d love to go to dinner with your family.” He waited a beat. “And I hope you can return the favor.”
“Y-you want me to go to dinner with your family?” Her heart beat hard enough to hear the thudding sound in her ears.
“No, but I have another idea.”
Her palms grew sweaty and she leaned forward. Truth be told, Ava wouldn’t mind a boyfriend. She hadn’t dated anyone seriously in years. A few months ago, she’d been attracted to Cole, who only liked her as a friend. Cole was so approachable, so kind, such a friendly flirt, and so...safe. But Max...well, he scared her a little bit. He wasn’t particularly friendly and certainly not approachable.
Now that fear drummed down her legs in little aching throbs and she recognized it was becoming something entirely different. Excitement.
Magnetic attraction, pure and simple.
“I’m going to drop out of these online dating services. What I need is someone who knows me, and someone I trust. I immediately thought of you.”
Yes, yes, yes!
She wanted to throw herself over the desk, and into his arms, and claim that of course she’d date him! Those arms would be so warm, and she could almost feel the prickly sensation of his skin on hers. The beard stubble against her neck.
“Max...” She cocked her head and smiled, a little shy.
This was happening so quickly, but she’d heard that sometimes love happened this way. Valerie said the moment she’d first laid eyes on Cole, even though they’d been teenagers, she just...knew. And then, a mere fourteen years later, they were about to get married.
The moral? Never give up.
“It just makes sense. You have so many contacts. You’re the heart of this town. And I think you should find me the perfect match.”
If her head was a balloon, this was when it would pop. Her neck jerked back.
“Huh? Wh-what?”
“I’ll go to your birthday dinner, and in exchange, you find the perfect woman to be my future wife.”
“The perfect woman.” She cleared her throat. “There is no perfect woman.”
“You know what I mean. Perfect for me.” He stretched his legs in front of him and crossed his arms. “You’ve seen my résumé.”
Her spine tensed. Spare her from a man who thought he could achieve love like he’d achieved his business success. Max was seriously beginning to piss her off.
“And what does your résumé have to do with finding love?”
“I need someone like me. Driven, ambitious, career oriented. Serious. You get the gist.”
“And will actual affection, or tenderness of any type, figure into this scenario?” If Ava had a pencil, she’d snap it in half.
“That’s the part I’m having a difficult time with. Personality. People are lying on these services and I don’t have time for that.”
