“—The Needlepoint Mafia.” He interrupted, nodding.
“Right. Well, they fancy themselves matchmakers. Every few months they like to choose an unsuspecting victim that they’ve decided should no longer be single and designate themselves, without knowledge or consent from the mark, as said individual’s personal cupid. And I think their bow and arrow is pointed at you.”
“Me?” His brows rose. “Why do you think they’re pointed at me and not you?”
“I’m twenty-eight.”
“Okay…,” he responded, confused.
“They never choose anyone under thirty.”
“Are you…,” he hesitated before continuing, “are you being serious?”
“I am,” Ali answered.
“So there’s no meeting?”
“Nope. And I’m actually a little embarrassed that I didn’t figure it out sooner.” Ali motioned around the room. “I mean look at this place. Dim lighting. Floating candle centerpieces. Linen tablecloths. Live music.” Ali pointed to where Mason Hathaway was sitting at a grand piano playing and singing classic love songs softly adding to the romantic ambiance. “This has date written all over it.”
Keaton scanned the restaurant, taking it all in before turning back to Ali and nodding slowly. “You’re right.”
“I’d love to tell you that this is going to be an isolated incident, but you’re basically about to star in your own season of The Bachelor.”
“For how long?” he asked apprehensively.
Ali nodded. “Until you give out your final rose.”
“My what?”
“Your final rose.”
His expression remained blank.
“Wait.” She lifted her hands. “Have you never seen The Bachelor?”
The left side of his mouth tilted up in a grin. “No. I never got around to checking it out.”
“And you call yourself an American?” she teased.
His smile grew wider revealing a row of perfectly straight white teeth. It was a nice smile. One that made her feel…comfortable. Calm. Not like Kade’s smile which made her feel all kinds of antsy and agitated. In a purely sexual way, but still.
Just thinking about Kade made Ali’s newly diagnosed arousal claustrophobia return. She needed some air.
She stood and grabbed her purse, and said, “Well, I guess since there’s no meeting—”
“Wait.” Keaton reached out and his fingertips grazed her elbow.
They were nice fingertips, but they didn’t send a zip of electricity flowing through her body the way the roughened pads of Kade’s fingers had.
She turned back, hoping her disappointment wasn’t written on her face.
“We’re here,” Keaton pointed out. “We’re hungry. We might as well eat.”
Ali stared at him. The boys were spending the night at Ryder’s tonight, so she didn’t need to go home. So the only thing waiting for her there was…a man that jumped away from her when she commented on the size of his raging erection.
Perhaps sensing her hesitancy, Keaton added, “To be honest, I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a while now.”
“Really?” Even though Jess had mentioned it, it was still a little surprising.