The Billionaire and the Matchmaker

“Ah, yes.” She stood up straight, her eyes sparkling. “This way, young man.”

He followed her through the tables and into a dark corner where a small table, just big enough for two, stood lit with a tea candle in a glass votive. A vase with a single rose lay next to it. He paused when he saw that his date had already arrived.

Sitting at the table was Emily Sevenson in a pair of pale blue jeans and a tight black turtleneck. She’d pulled her curly hair back from her delicate cheekbones and into a low bun. It was a far cry from the sweaty, frustrated woman he’d met just a couple days ago.

“Your date is here, my dear.” The waitress pointed to the opposite chair. “Have a seat, young man.”

Emily tore her gaze from the menu in front of her to look up at him. Her eyes opened wide as shock coursed over her face. A pink blush formed in her cheeks and Michael had a hard time not laughing at the comical sight. Clearly, she hadn’t been expecting him, either.

“Mr. Knight.” She slammed the menu on the table. “I...I didn’t know...”

“Do you often date your clients, Ms. Sevenson?”

He took the seat opposite her and tried not to grin as she stuttered her reply.

“Absolutely not. I haven’t been on a date in over a year.” Her blush turned beet red and she waved her hands in front of her face. “Not that I don’t date. I mean, I date. Well, I used to. It’s just that lately I haven’t found the time.” She huffed and crossed her arms. “This is all Lydia’s fault. She set me up.”

“Yes, your secretary.” The waitress dropped off two glasses of ice water and he smiled at her before raising the glass to his lips for a sip. “She’s an interesting character.”

“She’s my best friend, but that isn’t going to stop me from killing her,” she muttered as she picked up her own glass.

Michael threw his head back and laughed. It felt good after a long, tedious day at the office.

Emily blushed again and tugged uncomfortably at her turtleneck. It was a strange thing to see a woman wearing a turtleneck in the late August heat. Michael had the sneaking suspicion it had been for her date’s benefit. A subtle sign that she had been forced into coming here and would reject any physical intimacy with a hard no.

He couldn’t help but be intrigued. This was not the kind of date he’d expected. There was no denying that Emily Sevenson was a beautiful and intelligent woman. Add to that the chance to really get to know the insides of Sevenson Selective’s matchmaking process, and this was quite the opportunity. He wouldn’t squander it.

They spent the next few moments immersed in awkward small talk about traffic and the weather. Emily kept glancing at the exit as if planning to bolt for it. He kept his answers light and cheery, not wanting to scare her away. She had a quick wit and a ready sense of humor. Even small talk with her was entertaining.

“Ah, Miss Emily.” A short, round man with a thick Italian accent came rushing toward them, interrupting the conversation. He grabbed Emily’s hand and kissed it swiftly on the top. “What can I get for you this evening?” He beamed down at her as if she were his own daughter.

“Lorenzo, you didn’t have to come out here to wait on us.” Emily smiled up at him, her blue eyes softening. “I know you’re a busy man.”

“I always have a minute to spare for my best customer.” Lorenzo crossed his thick arms across his round belly and over his black suit. “And your mama would be disappointed in me if I didn’t get a good look at your date. He is very handsome, no?”

Her eyes darted in Michael’s direction and she squirmed in her seat. Michael tried not to grin at her discomfort. He could feel their immediate attraction as much as her reluctance to admit it. It almost felt like a challenge. See who gave in first.

“Yes, I suppose you could say that. This is Michael Knight.”

Lorenzo shook his hand warmly. “Welcome to my restaurant. Anything this pretty lady wants, she gets.” He leaned in close, smelling of red wine and aftershave. “Including my protection. You hurt her, you answer to me and my boys.”

A jolt went through Michael and he gazed up at the bubbly man to see if he was serious.

His smile didn’t falter. “What shall I bring the two love birds tonight? Maybe our special?”

“That would be lovely.” Emily handed over her menu and looked at Michael expectantly.

“Um, yes, the same for me.” He also handed over his menu, still trying to make sense of what had happened. Surely, Emily Sevenson wasn’t connected to the Italian mob in some way. That would really be the cherry on top of this latest investment project.

“Sorry about that,” Emily said as Lorenzo walked away. She watched the man go, fondness clear in her eyes. “I’ve been coming to this restaurant since I was in pigtails. Lorenzo is like a father to me. My mom and I ate here every week until she got sick.”

“He’s protective of you.” Michael cocked his head to one side and studied her. “It’s nice to have people like that surrounding you. And I’m sorry to hear about your mother.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes misted over and she blinked rapidly. “She passed six months ago. I’m afraid I’m learning how to live all over again. It’s strange, picking up the phone to call her and realizing she’s no longer there. I’m in the middle of going through her stuff and getting her house ready to sell. I never realized how badly it was going to hurt. Like I’m losing her all over again.”

He wanted to reach across the table and cover her hand with his own. There was so much pain in her voice, he couldn’t stand it. But he had to remind himself not to get too invested. This was just a business transaction, after all.

“I’m so sorry.” She dabbed at her eyes with a linen napkin and gave him a sad smile. “I barely know you. You don’t need to hear my sob story. Lydia would kill me if she knew I was talking about this on a first date. You’re probably already thinking of your escape plan.”