Imperfect Match Read online

  Then, right when I’m about to turn around and run the hell home, I see him.

  And he sees me.

  It feels like one of those moments where the music should sound behind me, lights brighten, and everyone in the background shimmers away.

  He looks incredibly hot. His hair is pushed to the side, his jacket is off and his shirtsleeves are rolled up to his forearms, which I find sexy as hell. I watch as his eyes find mine, drinking me in as my heart pounds in my chest. My feet refuse to move.

  And then he stands. He doesn’t look at the blonde at his table, who is now turning around to see where he’s going. He just walks. Right to me.

  I want to scream, cry, throw something at him. Why has he turned me inside out like this? Why am I standing in a bar, dripping wet, like a crazy person? He’s got me all mixed up and I don’t know what to do.

  I’m dying to kiss him. But that’s what got us in this mess.

  “What are you doing here?” he asks me quietly.

  “I’m … panicking,” I blurt.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m scared!”

  “Of what?”

  “Of losing you, Reid.” Tears fill my eyes and I swipe at them with the back of my hands. “This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.”

  “You haven’t lost me, Wills.”

  “Then why have you been ignoring me for three days?”

  He folds his arms over his chest. “I was just giving you some space to breathe.”

  A sob catches in my chest. “I can’t breathe without you.”

  “And I can’t be with you all the time and not want you.” His voice is low and serious. “So we’ve got a problem.”

  Crying openly now, I bury my face in my hands and wish he’d put his arms around me. That’s what a friend would do, right?

  But instead of embracing me, he sort of rubs one arm like he’s petting a cat. A sad, damp cat. “You should go home, Willow. People are staring. And I should get back to my table.”

  I lift my tear-streaked face. “Who is she?” I demand, trying to peek around him to see the woman he was with.

  “Someone from work, not that it’s any of your business.”

  The remark stings. “Is this your first date with her?”

  “It’s not a date. It’s a work thing, and I have to get back to it.”

  “Leo said it was a date.”

  “Leo can be a fucking idiot sometimes.” He pins me with his gorgeous blue eyes. “And so can you. I don’t want anyone else, Willow. Why can’t you get that through your head?”

  With that, he turns around and leaves me alone in the middle of the bar, stranded in an emotional maelstrom. I’m happy he’s not on a date, angry he just insulted me, turned on by his handsome face, torn by his words, and terrified I’ll never feel his arms around me again.

  I leave the building and walk home in the chilly drizzle, weeping softly the whole way. I miss him. I ache for him. I need him in my life.

  By the time I reach our building, I know what I have to do.

  I have to risk it all.

  Thirteen

  Reid

  I’m unlocking my apartment door, ready to let loose on Leo for telling Willow I was on a date, when my phone buzzes in my pocket.

  Willow: Hey. Are you home?

  * * *

  Me: Just getting in.

  * * *

  Willow: Do you have a minute?

  * * *

  Me: Sure.

  * * *

  Willow: I’ll come out to the hall.

  Frowning, I put my phone away. For a second, I think maybe she’s come around, but not if she wants to talk in the hall. She probably just doesn’t trust me in her apartment.

  Her door opens, and she appears in a robe securely tied at the waist. Her hair is wet and combed, as if she’s just showered, and her face is puffy but clean. She looks so pretty and sweet, I have to cross my arms over my chest to keep from embracing her.

  “What’s up?” I ask.

  “I wanted to apologize about tonight. I was out of line to show up like that.”

  I shrug. “I’m used to it. At least you didn’t hide behind a plant this time.”

  Her cheeks go a little pink, and she looks down, shuffling her bare feet. “I guess that was out of line too.”

  “Maybe just a little.”

  We laugh together, and it feels good. God, I’ve missed her.

  “Did you have a nice evening?” she asks.

  “It was okay.”

  She nods and tucks her hair behind her ears. “So, I’ve been thinking about it, and I understand why you’ve stayed away this week. Under the circumstances, a little space was probably the best idea.”

  No, it wasn’t. But I don’t want to argue with her.

  “Anyway, I was wondering if you could do me a favor.”

  “What?”

  “I know you said you had no interest in going on any more dates, but would you—”

  “No.” Turning around, I stick my key in the lock again. “Goodnight, Willow.”

  “Wait a minute, Reid.” She takes me by the elbow and forces me to face her again. “I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t important. I know how you feel about being set up, and I respect that. But this would mean everything to me.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if I don’t at least appear to succeed with you, my mother is going to sell the business out from under me. I might not be the best matchmaker in the world, but I’m not ready to give up yet. I like my job. I need it. And besides.” Her eyes light up, and she gives me a shy smile. “I have a feeling about this girl.”

  “A feeling?”

  “Yes.” She puts a hand over her heart. “You know me. I don’t get feelings like that—the ones you can’t explain that seem to come out of nowhere and stick in your gut.”

  “No, you don’t.” It’s exactly how I feel about being with her, and more than anything, I wish she felt it for me.

  “Well, I have one now. Please do this for me. Just meet her. If she’s not your perfect match, I swear to you I will give up this fight, tell my mother I was wrong, and accept defeat.” She clasps her hands beneath her chin and gives me an adorable, pleading look, her brown eyes wide and shining. “Please, Reid? Give me one last chance?”

  I groan, knowing I can’t resist her when she makes that face. I’m too crazy about her. “Fine. I’ll give you an hour tomorrow night.”

  “Yay! Thank you!” She claps her hands and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll text you details tomorrow.”

  It makes me glad to be the one to put a smile on her face again, but I wish the circumstances were different. There is no woman alive that compares to her, as far as I’m concerned. “I want it on record that I said from the start this is hopeless.”

  She lifts her shoulders. “Maybe you’re wrong.”

  “I’m never wrong.” I unlock my door and push it open, needing to get away from her before I do something stupid like kiss her again. “Goodnight, Willow.”

  I enter my apartment and shut the door behind me without looking back. Leo is on the couch watching an old episode of Batman and Robin and eating a burrito.

  I grab the remote and turn the TV off, and he looks up at me in surprise. “Hey! I’m watching that.”

  “Why did you tell Willow I was on a date?”

  He takes another bite from his burrito, chews, and swallows, like I’ve got all the time in the world. “Because she needed a push, but not from you.”

  “You upset her, you asshole.”

  He shrugs. “This is a very upsetting situation. But the two of you are being stubborn and ridiculous, so I figured I’d step in to help.”

  “Well, you didn’t. You made her cry.”

  “Pretty sure you made her cry,” Leo says with his mouth full. “That’s the longest you two have gone without speaking in years. Did you talk to her?”

  “Yeah, we talked.” I run a hand over my hair. “And I agree
d to go on another date with someone tomorrow night.”

  Leo swallows. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because I can’t say no to her. Because it made her happy. Because if I can’t be with her, I don’t really care what the hell I do with my nights.”

  “And she’s picking the girl?”

  “Yeah. She claims she found my perfect match.”

  “Dude.” Leo shakes his head. “You guys are so fucking weird.”

  The following afternoon, I get a text from Willow with details about my date.

  * * *

  Willow: Please be at Geja’s at 7 PM tonight. Your perfect match will be waiting for you at the table. Reservation is under your name.

  * * *

  Me: Fine.

  * * *

  Willow: Thanks, Reid. I hope she’s everything you’re looking for.

  She can’t possibly be, because she’s not you, I want to text back.

  But I don’t. It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that I need to give up this fight and admit I might have been wrong about her feelings.

  I fucking hate being wrong.

  So I’m not in a great mood when I arrive at Geja’s, a fondue restaurant in Lincoln Park I normally love. I’m kind of surprised Willow chose it for tonight, since it’s a place I’d consider ours. We always come here on our birthdays, and stuff ourselves until we’re positive we’re going to burst.

  Inside the dark, candlelit restaurant, I give the hostess my name. While she’s checking for the table number, I glance around, and it occurs to me that not only do I have no idea what this girl looks like, I don’t even know her name.

  Goes to show how much I care about this date, I suppose.

  But when the hostess smiles and asks me to follow her, I run a hand over my hair and make an effort not to look sad or angry. It’s not this girl’s fault things are such a mess with Willow.

  The hostess leads me toward a wall of cozy, intimate booths lined with red curtains. “Here you are,” she says, gesturing toward the last one.

  The woman seated there turns to look at me, and my knees nearly buckle.

  It’s Willow.

  “Hi,” she says softly, with a smile that melts my heart like butter. Then she holds out her hand. “Reid Fortino, meet your perfect match.”

  I’m dumbfounded. For a full ten seconds, all I can do is stare at her. Finally, I take her hand in mine. “It’s you.”

  “It’s me.”

  Without letting go of her hand, I slide into the seat across from her. “I don’t understand.”

  Her smile widens as she shrugs. “You were right. I do have feelings for you. I was just too scared to admit it.” Then the grin turns mischievous. “But you were wrong too.”

  “I was?”

  “Yes. You said your date tonight would be hopeless.”

  I laugh. “I did, didn’t I? Well, fuck it. I was wrong.”

  “I love hearing you laugh. I missed it this week.”

  “I missed everything.” I reach for her other hand and squeeze them both. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Me too.” Her forehead creases. “But Reid, I’m still scared. I don’t know where we go from here or what we’re doing or how it will work.”

  “I don’t either,” I admit.

  “I mean, we still have all the same issues. Those aren’t just going to go away because the sex is good.”

  “The sex is better than good. The sex is fantastic. It will fix all our problems, wait and see.”

  She giggles. “I’m being serious. Tell me that no matter what, I’ll never lose you.”

  “Come here.” I tug on her hands, and she comes around to my side of the booth, where I pull her onto my lap. Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss her lips and rest my forehead against hers. “No matter what, you will never lose me.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.” I kiss her again and feel my dick coming to life beneath her perfect round ass. “But do we really have to stay for dinner? I haven’t seen you naked in like five days, and I’m getting a little impatient.”

  “Yes, we really have to stay for dinner,” she scolds. “I want a romance, Reid. Not just a fuck buddy. Can you give me that?”

  “I don’t know,” I tell her honestly. “I’ve never been any good at it in the past, but for you, I’ll try.”

  Her smile is worth everything. “That’s all I ask.”

  Fourteen

  Willow

  He said he’ll try.

  As I take my seat across from him again, my heart is racing in my chest and it’s hard to breathe. I’m on a date—with Reid. I hoped he’d react this way. All day long I agonized over whether he’d show up or I’d be sitting here at the table alone. Now, I’m sort of dating my best friend.

  Please God, don’t let this be a mistake.

  “So, our first date.”

  Reid grins. “Our first date.”

  The waitress comes over, smiles at him and then bites her lip. “What can I get you?”

  This used to be amusing, the way women react to Reid—now, not so much. I clear my throat. “We’d like a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon please,” I say with a condescending tone.

  He seems to understand what has me prickly and extends his hand across the table. I smile as I place mine in his. He doesn’t even look at her.

  “And you say you’re not good at the romance stuff?” I tease as she walks away.

  Reid grins. “I’ve watched enough of your crappy shows to know a few things.”

  “So, what I’m hearing is that they were not only emotionally riveting, they were educational.”

  “No.”

  “Well, look at us here. I’d disagree.”

  “You underestimate the power of me wanting to see you naked again.”

  “You know that just because we had sex once, doesn’t mean we’ll have sex tonight.” Then I have to bite my tongue to keep myself from laughing at the pathetic look on his face.

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Nope.” I shrug and place my napkin on my lap. “I mean, this is our first date. What kind of message would I be sending if I gave it up so soon?”

  “That you have pity on me and want to make me happy.”

  I tap my chin and look over to the left. “Pity sex, hmm. Doesn’t sound too hot.”

  Reid chuckles once. “I wouldn’t worry about that, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, now I’m sweetheart?”

  “You can be anything you want.”

  A shiver of happy disbelief makes my spine tingle. “What I want is to enjoy tonight.”

  “Me too, Wills. I still can’t really believe you’re here.”

  “Who did you think was coming?”

  Reid leans forward. “You know what, I didn’t fucking care. I was praying for a no-show because I couldn’t believe you were going to try to set me up after everything.”

  “Yeah. No matter what I tried to tell myself, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I may end up working for my sister, but I couldn’t endure seeing you with someone else, let alone arranging it. And we both know I’m not too good at the whole matchmaking thing.”

  “I think you did just fine.”

  I laugh. “I ended up setting you up on a date, hiding in the ferns—with my sister as my accomplice—and then sleeping with you.”

  His eyes fill with warmth. “Again, fine by me.”

  “Seriously, the sex again?”

  “Always.”

  Such a man. A sexy, smart, amazing man I can’t get enough of. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “No, I’ve just missed you.”

  “I missed you too. That was the hardest part. Knowing you were right there, across the hall, and yet you felt miles away. I had to fight the urge to knock on your door every night.”

  “I knew you’d come around.”

  I can’t even argue with that. He probably did know. However, I wonder if he’s not plagued by the same fears that I am.

  W
ill we be okay if this all falls apart? Can we really endure taking this relationship further only to have it go up in flames?

  “Hey.” Reid squeezes my hand. “Stop that.”

  “Stop what?”

  “That being in your head and making up worst case scenarios.”

  Jesus, this is going to be annoying. “You stop being in my head.”

  He shakes both hands gently. “Listen, if you doom this from the beginning, guess what’s going to happen? We’ll fail. Not because we’re not good together, but because you already put that shit out into the universe.”

  Now I laugh. “You sound like Aspen with your universe talk.”

  “Well, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Maybe she’s got a point, and that’s why she and your mom get this whole matchmaking thing.”

  “And why I suck at it?”

  “I didn’t say that. And look—you did match me. We’re sitting here, holding hands, on a date that neither of us planned to be on.”

  “Well, I kind of planned it.”

  He grins. “I’ve got plans too.”

  “Mind out of the gutter, Reid.”

  “Wills.” He sighs. “This is the best first date I could ever hope for. First, we know that we like each other, we’ve been friends for a long ass time. I don’t have to pretend I want to know all about your family, your cat, or whatever the hell crazy shit you’d say.”

  “I don’t have a cat. I have plants.”

  “I’m saying that we get to skip all the things that men really hate. I already know that you’re smart, funny, you can cook, and we don’t have a thing to worry about in the bedroom. Do we have shit that we need to figure out? Yep. Am I worried about it? Nope. Just relax, please. Don’t start going ten steps ahead of this. Let’s take it day by day.”