She stopped and turned around. “Friendshelpeach other.”
“I can’t help you with this.” He rose from the booth and strode toward her.
“Why? And don’t give me that bullshit excuse of not knowing any single men.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
With a sound of exasperation, he said, “I don’t have time to play matchmaker. I have businesses that require my attention twenty-four seven. I’m not one of your girlfriends who you can sit around and talk about boys with.”
The way he said it made her feel like a tween all over again. She shook her head and spun on her heels. His physical features weren’t the only thing that had changed these past twelve years. So had his personality. He’d become a gradeAjerk.
“Where are you going?”
“None of your business,” she threw over her shoulder.
“You’re not going to another bar, are you?”
She didn’t answer.
He caught up to her and stood in front of her, blocking her exit. “Don’t go to another bar.”
“Or what? You’re going to run to Ethan and tell on me?” She gave a mirthless laugh. “See if I care.”
“Don’t go to another bar.” he stepped closer, his voice more urgent—insistent.
Her breathing quickened at the heat building between them. “Don’t panic. I’m not going to another bar; I’m going home. I’ve had enough of men for one night, and that includes you.” She stepped around him. “Goodbye, Theo. I better not find you stalking me again.”
Chapter Fourteen
Thenextmorning,Theostared out over the city buildings and streets. The gray skies had opened up, and rain pelted the glass of his office. Blake sat at Theo’s desk going through plans of the building they wanted to purchase from Andrew Vandersluis. He still hadn’t agreed to sell to them, so Theo quietly let an undoctored assessment of the property circulate through the real estate world. He was a man of his word. It was only a matter of time until Vandersluis gave in, and Theo wanted to be prepared.
“So what do you think?” Blake asked.
“Sounds good. Go ahead,” he said, distracted by thoughts of last night. Chloe couldn’t be serious about wanting his help finding her a husband. It must have been the alcohol talking.
“Okay, I’ll offer Andrew an extra two million dollars for the property just because I’m in a generous mood.”
Theo spun around. “What?”
Blake grinned at him. “Mention money, and I finally get your attention.”
“I heard everything you said,” he lied. His thoughts had been consumed by Chloe. They had been for days.
Blake chuckled. “Bullshit. What’s bothering you?”
Theo scrubbed a hand through his hair, took a deep breath, and told his brother everything. “Chloe wants me to find her a husband.”
Blake stared at him with a blank expression. “A husband?”
“Yep.” Saying it out loud sounded ridiculous. She couldn’t have been serious, could she?
“She asked you to find her a husband? Why?” Blake looked as confused as he felt.
“Because she just turned thirty and believes time is running out for her to start a family.”
Blake made a face. “Too old? Man, I wouldn’t be thinking about tying myself down to one woman for the rest of my life and starting a family until I’m at least forty,” he said with a wink. “If Chloe is serious about this, why did you say no?”
Because his stomach churned at the thought of setting her up with potential husbands. Probably because she was Ethan’s little sister, and it just seemed too weird. But he knew the second the thought came into his mind that he was full of shit. He couldn’t delve into the real reason. There was no point. He couldn’t do anything about it anyway. “I said no because I can’t help her. I’m not a fucking matchmaking service.”
“No, but you do know a lot of single men who’d jump at the chance to date Chloe. I can’t see what the problem is. Give her number to a couple of guys, and let her take it from there.”