Page 24 of Sunset Serenade
Forty minutes into their conversation, Rose decided to push him a bit. “Let me ask you a few questions. Are you looking for a serious relationship?”
He nodded eagerly. “Absolutely. I want someone to share my life with.”
Okay, that was good. She could work with that. “I want you to stop for a second. Don’t answer right away. Why haven’t you found that person yet?”
He looked down and shrugged. “I guess because I haven’t met her yet?”
Rose stared at him. “Why?”
He looked down and rubbed his forehead. “I’m really shy, and – I don’t know. I just don’t feel like anyone would want to date me. I think I give up too easily.”
There it was – fear! “Why don’t you think anyone would want to date you?”
He smiled and rolled his eyes. “I’m a nerd who loves video games and dresses like a dork.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. Rose had to stop her jaw from dropping open.
“Seymour – I mean this in the most platonic way possible – you are a total cutie.”
He scratched his head, squinting up at her. “Thanks.”
She went on. “I mean it. And I don’t think you dress like a dork, but a new outfit could really boost your confidence.”
“I wouldn’t even know where to start. I buy all my clothes from Target.”
There was nothing wrong with Target, but even in the grainy video, she could tell his t-shirt was three sizes too big. “It’s not about designer clothes or spending a lot of money.” She paused. “How would you feel about meeting with me and sprucing up your wardrobe? It won’t change who you are, but it might make you feel a little more confident. What do you think?”
“Are you serious?”
Wasshe serious? She didn’t know why she’d blurted that out. It probably crossed some professional boundary. In fact, it was an unflinchinglyweirdthing to offer.
But she felt bad for the kid – er, guy. She wanted to help him, and her experience getting clothes with Lucy had really boosted her own confidence.
“Of course I’m serious! I’d love to help you!”
“That would beamazing.Really. I’m free all weekend.”
“How about today? At five?” Rose asked. “I’ll personally make sure you meet your match feeling like a million bucks.”
Seymour grinned from ear to ear. “I’m in.”
Chapter Eleven
Things with AptMatch were speeding up. Craig met with Brett three times that week, answering questions and talking numbers. He always insisted on coming into the office with an entourage ten people deep. Craig wondered if it was some sort of flex, if he was trying to intimidate them.
It didn’t take much to intimidate Craig, but he knew better than to show it.
Their last conversation kept edging closer to proprietary information Brett clearly thought Craig would let slip. Instead, he changed the topic, telling him about Rose and the new matchmaking service.
“People are going to go crazy for this,” Brett said, tipping his ten-gallon hat. “Just you wait.”
Craig couldn’t figure out why Brett dressed like that. He wasn’t a cowboy. He’d grown up in Connecticut, but wore that hat and pointed boots like a uniform, and talked with a slight drawl.
“They’realreadygoing crazy for it,” Barney said, taking the lead. “We’re charging ten thousand per consult, and within a week, we’ve had more than three hundred applications.”
Brett leaned in, a toothpick hanging off his lip. “Is that right?” Craig could almost see the dollar signs in his eyes.
“It’s a good problem for a company,” Barney said casually, his voice lightly mirroring Brett’s drawl. “We either have to hire more matchmakers, or we need to increase the price.”
