Page 36 of Perfectly Matched

“Thanks, I’m happy too. Which is why I know this is going to sound weird, but I need a favor,” Payson said in a low voice.

“Okay.” Tegan bent forward. “What’s up?”

“Can you make some calls and run a background check on Hannah?”

Tegan cocked her head. “On Hannah?” She leaned back. “What’s this about?”

“I just want to be a hundred percent sure about her before I fall any harder.”

“Hannah isn’t Julie,” Tegan said in a,why are you doing this, kind of tone.

“I know that, I just…it’s just…” She lowered her voice. “I’m seeing her later tonight, and if it’s anything like last night, by tomorrow morning, I’ll be in too deep to turn around.”

“Is she not coming in today?” Tegan asked.

“No, something came up, which is why we’re seeing each other later.”

“You sure you want me to do this? If she ever finds out you requested a background check, it could be a bit awkward.”

“She’s not going to find out. Besides, I’m sure everything will be fine, and you won’t find any red flags. Just say you’ll do it so I can put my mind at ease.”

“Of course I’ll do it. But for the record”—She hopped off Payson’s desk—“I don’t feel comfortable running it on Hannah. I like her. My gut says she’s a good person.”

“So does mine, but I want to make sure I don’t make another mistake. I think I could really fall for her.”

“As if you haven’t already.”

“I owe you dinner.”

“I’m going to take you up on that.” Tegan waved a finger.

“I’m counting on it.”

“Okay, give me everything you have on her. Last name, age, where she works, cell number.” Tegan grabbed a pen and paper off Payson’s desk.

Payson paused when she realized how little she really knew. “Her last name’s um…uh, I actually don’t know her last name.” A twinge of anxiety was triggered as she thought about her ex and how little she really knew about her. About all the times Julie had sidestepped and changed conversations dealing with parts of her past. “Corporate sent her, so they’ll have it, and she’s staying at Gimbauld’s in room 623, so they’ll probably have info on her as well. And oh.” she snapped her fingers. “She also does some work for an online dating service, but I’m not sure which one. Their motto has something to do with guaranteeing the clients fall in love.”

Tegan frowned. “Please tell me you at least exchanged numbers.”

She shook her head. “We, uh, we never did.” Come to think of it, she couldn’t remember seeing Hannah with a phone. Goose bumps formed on her skin as an uneasy feeling gripped her, but just as quickly, she shook it off as ridiculous paranoia. “Oh, wait a second. She adopted Tucker after last night’s puppy segment, so I’m sure Brandon had her fill out some forms.”

“Okay, give me a few hours, and I’ll see what I can find.”

Payson waved her off as she sat in silent thought. She was falling for someone she had only known a few short days, and it was apparent the wordknownwas loosely defined. So much for her promise toreally get to know someonebefore jumping headfirst into another relationship. She thought about the saying that lightning never strikes twice as she tried to dismiss her growing concerns. Even so, she would have to remember to get a little more information from Hannah when she saw her tonight.

“Payson,” Jason called from his office.

She rolled her eyes as she grabbed her notepad. She glanced again at Hannah’s empty cubicle as a surge of anticipation for the night shot through her. Even Jason couldn’t dampen hermood today. Although, she thought as she shuffled to his office, the day was still young.

* * *

Several hours later, Payson was touching up a promotional plug for the annual celebrity charity poker tournament that the station sponsored when Tegan dropped a manilla folder on her desk, startling her. “What’s this?” Payson reached for the folder.

Tegan slapped a hand on it. “It’s Hannah’s background check, and I suggest you open this after the show tonight.”

“What? Why?” She slowly pulled the folder out from under Tegan’s hand.

“Payson…”

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