Page 22 of A Cowboy's Claim
“It’s a rare thing to find a love like that. I’m glad you got to experience it, even though I hate that she left so young.” Sydney stole her hand back. “I’ve lost friends young, and if screaming at the universe could change things, my throat would be raw right now. Those are the moments when I pull on my analytical side of the brain and turn off my heart so it doesn’t hurt as much.”
They sat in silence. “Sober thoughts as we head toward something that’s supposed to be fun.”
“Yeah. Sorry.” She glanced over as he found a parking spot along the edge of Main Street. “Declan? Why are we doing this?” she asked, clearly confused. “I mean, I know I suggested it, but it doesn’t really feel like your thing.”
He didn’t answer. Instead he made his way around the truck to open her door. He paused before helping her down, meeting her gaze straight on for a moment. “Humour me. I’ve got the feeling I’m supposed to go in there, but there’s no way in hell I’m going by myself. So, what do you say?”
Sydney shrugged. “If you’re sure. Let’s go see what the kids are doing for kicks these days.”
Declan pressed his lips together to keep from snickering. He was amused though. Almost forty years old and about to head into a speed dating event.
I hope you’re getting some entertainment factor out of this, Sadie.
Inside the pub, music played quietly enough for once he could actually speak without shouting. Madison Zhao bounced up to them, and he dipped his chin politely in greeting.
Her brows winged upward. “Sydney. AndDeclan. Welcome, and I’ll do my best to not let any intrusive questions escape my lips.”
“Appreciate that,” Sydney said with amusement. “Consider us scientists on a research trip. We will, of course, follow your rules to the letter. But both of us are just here to put out some feelers.”
Thank God Sydney spoke for both of them because he didn’t know what he would have said.
“Absolutely.” Madison nodded firmly, her expression dead serious for a moment. “Since the dawn of arranged dating interactions, the best of them have always been clearly about entertainment, consent, and feeling at ease.”
“The ease part,” Declan said. “That’s the thing I’m worried about.”
Madison snickered. “I hear you. Which is why I’ve been doing a lot of research to come up with different activities rather than some of the traditional ones where one group sits at a table and one group switches every five minutes. It’s never going to be completely smooth, but I’m glad you’re here to give it a try. And if it the end of the night, you had a couple of good conversations and nothing else happens, that’s fine as well.”
She turned to the table behind her for something. Declan took advantage of the opportunity to examine their surroundings a little more thoroughly.
There were more than a dozen people in the room, including a group of women out on the floor doing some line dance moves. He recognized a few of the men from the community, and shockingly, he wasn’t the oldest there. The youngest participant looked a little too young to be in the bar in the first place.
Sydney bumped his shoulder lightly with her own. “You okay?”
“Sure.” For now he was, except the men in the room had noticed Sydney, and there were far too many admiring glances and outright stares in her direction.
Dammit, he’d messed up. He’d thought if she came along, he’d be able to charm her a little and make her reconsider his offer. Instead, he was going to have to watch a dozen men fall under her spell. And it wasn’t as if he could deck someone for looking—right?
Which meant when Madison handed him a set of cards, he wasn’t really paying attention. Instead, he was shifting through a dozen game plans of how to keep the sharks from circling Sydney all night.
“At the end of your time talking together, I’ll change up the music so you will know it’s time to move on. Say a quick goodbye and continue your journey around the room.” Maddy finished her instructions. “Then if that person is someone you’d like to get to know better, take their name card and put it in your right pocket. Or fold it in half, or something so you know which cards to give to me at the end of the night.”
“And no one receives the contact information for the other person unless both parties are interested, correct?” Sydney clarified.
“That’s how it works,” Madison agreed.
Good. Declan would have exactly one card to hand over.
“If you don’t have any other questions, you should both grab a drink from the bar. It’s included in your fee. FYI, we have a two drink limit for the night so no one gets out of hand.”
Declan grabbed a beer and the orange juice and soda Sydney asked for, handing it to her where she waited at the side of the room. “Ready for this?”
She raised a brow. “Are you?”
“I guess.” God help them both.
Maddy spoke up and did a quick recap, then the music started and Sydney shrugged. “Time to go socialize.”
“Wait.” Declan pulled out his cards and shuffled through them quickly. “May as well start by talking to each other.”
