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Jazz walked over to him, her smile lighting up her face.

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. I think you’re intelligent, thoughtful, and of course, gorgeous.”

Jazz smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“We have a lot in common, and I’d like to spend more time with you. Will you accept this evidence of attraction?”

“I will,” she said and added the card to her necklace and returned to the bench with the other women.

Al took a deep breath. “Iona.”

Iona stood up and sauntered to the front of the room in a navy-blue strapless dress.

“I think you are unique, and I enjoy how you challenge me. I am very interested in seeing where this relationship can go.” Was he though? Hard to say, but it was one of Marina’s key phrases. “Will you accept this evidence of attraction?”

Iona smirked. “Of course I will.” She lifted her crimson hair and turned around so Al could unfasten her necklace. Slipping the card on the chain, she lowered her lashes and repeated the gesture, forcing Al to touch her again to latch the chain. She pressed her body against his, pushing her ass against the front of his pants. Her dress came up to her mid-thigh, and in another lifetime, he might have enjoyed her efforts. But not now. He stepped back, freeing himself from her touch.

Shane cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Ladies, there’s only one card left. Al, please let the jury know your verdict.”

Al fought the urge to roll his eyes. Their use of legal terms was like those memes of Chinese menus translated into English. The kind where Chop Suey gets turned into Chopped Up Susie.

“I am grateful I could meet each and every one of you. You are all special and have a lot to offer someone. But I have to go with my gut, and my gut is telling me that Mercedes should receive the last card tonight.”

Mercedes jumped from the bunch and flew to Al, throwing her arms around his neck.

Al staggered back, chuckling. “So, I can assume you’ll accept this card into evidence?”

“Si!” she shouted, ripping the card from his hand and jumping in the air. Al stepped back quickly, not wanting to get knocked out by her tits.

Shane stepped next to Al, teeth tugging his bottom lip as he watched Mercedes celebrate.

Pervert.

“Paige. Charlene. Twins,” Shane said, looking at the three-ish women of interest. “I’m sorry but there’s not enough evidence of attraction. Your cases are dismissed.”

Al stepped back and waited. Marina had told him that the longer the show went on, the longer the women would need to say goodbye to each other.

“Loser,” Paige shouted as she stalked from the room, not bothering to say goodbye. “As if I wanted to go out with someone who feeds their date simple carbs!”

“I don’t even know what that means!” he called after her, turning as Charlene walked up to him.

“It was the doughnuts,” she managed to get out between shuddering breaths. “You should have offered her celery sticks.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she ran from the room.

“Right. Well, okay then.” He shrugged.

The twins walked up next, holding hands.

“We had a good time and,” began Desiree.

“We hope you find love,” finished Delilah.

“See you at the reunion!” they said together, waving as they walked away.

If only finding love was the problem. What he needed to do was hide it in a box and bury it so deep that he’d never have to think about it again.

Chapter 26

“Al, we’re down to the final three women. Iona, Jazz, and Mercedes. How are you feeling?” Shane sat across from Al on an oversized armchair.