“Trust me, there is. I know. I’ve seen it.” And though she was still upset with her parents, she knew they had found true love—even if they hadn’t been married on the island.
“What’s the matter?” Xander’s voice drew her out of her thoughts.
“What?”
“You were frowning. Was it something I said?”
She shook her head. “It wasn’t you.”
“Then what’s the matter? If it’s something I can help with, I will.”
Really? He wanted to help her? The thought of not being in this game called life all alone sounded nice. Sure, she had Popi, but right now her best friend was very distracted with the baby she was carrying for her sister and brother-in-law.
She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
Xander sent her a look that said he didn’t believe her, but he thankfully let the subject drop. “Can I take one of your surveys?”
“Why would you want to do that?” She arched a brow. “Are you planning to get married soon?”
“I’d like to learn more about your process.”
She noticed how he ignored her question about him getting married soon. She wondered if she should read something into that...or not. Still, the thought of him being involved with someone sent a burning sensation in her stomach. She refused to let herself accept the reason for such a reaction.
“I don’t know—”
“I just can’t believe such innocent questions can predict a lifetime of happiness.” He turned the chair around to face her, causing her to jump back. “Have you ever taken the survey?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never had a reason to.”
“Not even out of curiosity to see how exactly it works?”
“Not even then.”
“Well then, I want to take the survey. I’m curious to see what sort of results this mysterious and accurate system produces.”
“But you can’t.” When frown lines bracketed his lips and eyes, she added, “I mean the system is geared for two people to take it. One person can’t do it alone.”
“Then you can take it with me.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Is that because you know all of the right answers?”
“There are no right answers. It’s a compatibility test.”
“Then take it with me.”
“But we already know that we’re not compatible.” And then her mind flashed back to that amazing weekend they’d spent together. For those few days, they’d been quite compatible.
“I’m not so sure about that. Why don’t we take the test and see?”
He knew as well as she did that their weekend together was just a fluke. A momentary suspension of reality. There was no way they would ever get along that amazingly in real life. It had been an illusion—a moment of deep infatuation.
“I don’t think so,” she said, turning to the pile of mail on the side of her desk. “I still have a lot of work to do.”
“I think you’re afraid to take the survey with me.” His eyes challenged her. “I think you’re afraid of what the results will say.”
She pressed her hands to her hips and stared at him. “I’m not afraid.” When he continued to stare at her with a look of disbelief in his eyes, she said, “I’m not.” And then with a dramatic sigh, for his sake, she said, “Fine. Let’s get this over with. I really do have work to do.”
A small smile of victory pulled at the corners of his mouth. Happiness was a good look on him. It eased his frown lines and made him look more handsome than any man had a right to.
She walked over to a cabinet where she kept some digital tablets that she used when working with the bride and groom as well as the wedding party. It was always so much easier to show people what she meant rather than explain everything.
She pulled up the website and then handed Xander one of the tablets. She kept the other one. She moved to one of the chairs opposite the desk. The added space between them made it easier for her to think clearly.
“I thought we were supposed to do this together,” he said.
“We are.” She stared at her tablet because every time she stared into his eyes, it felt like a swarm of butterflies was set loose in her stomach. “I have both tablets set up so that we are on the same survey. Just follow the questions.”