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“No one you’d know.”

His brow furrows. “I know almost everyone you know. Wingman, remember?”

“She’s new in town. S-Sebastian mentioned she was looking for some company.”

His lips form a tight line. “Since when is Sebastian encouraging you to date?”

“He doesn’t have a problem with me dating. So long as it isn’t at his house.”

“Or with his houseguests,” he taunts.

“Touché.” I hate lying to my best friend. But decide to lay some groundwork. I mean, if things go the way I hope over the next few days, he’ll need to buy into this. “I don’t know. I think it might be time I start thinking about settling down. I’m not getting any younger.”

Shep’s jaw falls open. He blinks his shock as if sending me Morse code.

“What?”

“Did you get mugged on the subway in New York? Hit your head on something heavy?”

“Stop. What’s the big deal? People meet women and settle down all the time.”

Shepherd places his balled fists on his hips. “Sure. Other people. Ones who haven’t been telling me for years that it’s never going to happen.” He makes air quotes as he mocks me, “Ain’t no way in hell I’m sleeping with just one woman for the rest of my life.”

My head falls forward. He’s right. This is definitely going to be a tough sell. “C’mon, man. Hasn’t there ever been a girl you could see yourself settling down with?” This question is unfair. Because I know good and well, he had it bad for Summer Kinkaid back in high school. I’m almost certain if her family hadn’t moved to North Carolina, they’d be hitched with a house full of rug rats right now.

He points in my direction. “We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. And I know there was only ever one woman who could get you to walk down the aisle. And I’m pretty sure if you were on fire in the middle of the road, she wouldn’t piss on you to put it out.”

My forehead wrinkles at the visual.

“I’d give anything to know how you let the prettiest girl in school end up going to Homecoming with Chad Lewis.”

I can feel steam start to build between my ears at the memory. And it was my own damn fault. I’d already started pushing her away before this. Reaching for my phone, I head for the door before this trip down memory lane gets any bumpier. Because I have no time for chitchat.

Each night as soon as I clock out of here, I need to begin work at my new side hustle.

Finding Mrs. Right.

Chapter Ten

Sam

“Here you go.”

My head springs up from where I’ve been mindlessly staring at my phone to find the hostess extending her hand toward the table. Her intense brown eyes are fixed on mine as a striking blonde moves into view. My shoulders relax as relief washes over me, realizing I haven’t been catfished. I’ve never lacked for female companionship, so resorting to technology for this date has been unsettling. Yet I’ve had little success with meeting a woman I could foresee a future with.

So here we are.

“Sydney?”

“Yes. Sam?”

I jump up, moving to Sydney’s side, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek. Holding her chair out for her, I wait to make sure she’s settled before returning to my seat. The server starts to walk away, so I quickly interject, asking my date what she’d like to drink before she can escape. Julie, the flirty hostess, had been quite attentive before Sydney’s arrival, delivering my scotch with a side of coy hair twirling, her phone number scribbled on the corner of my cocktail napkin.

“I’d love a glass of Merlot, please.”

“Yes, ma’am. Coming right up.” As if she can’t help herself, Julie looks back in my direction once more, a deep blush staining her cheeks as she bats her eyes at me. I suppress the chuckle trying to escape at her continued attempts at seduction. Hell, I’m not going to complain about having a batter on deck if this date goes downhill.

Hoping Sydney isn’t picking up on the interaction, I ask, “Do you enjoy wine tasting or just grab a glass with a meal once in a while?”