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“No, Miss Davis. I will explain shortly,” she says with a lovely smile that disarms me. “I just needed you to show up first.”

“You lied to me.”

“I didn’t lie,” she says. “I reframed the context. I said we had a meeting. I didn’t tell you why.”

“I’m a florist, so I rightfully assumed you wanted my services in that area.”

Nova nods agreeably. “You’re definitely not wrong to think that.”

Jack scoffs. “Of course. Like we would need a florist from a village off the map if we actually need flowers. Step outside, Mia. There’s a floral shop every two blocks.”

“Wonderful.” I smile. “Then this meeting is over.”

“Miss Davis?” Nova rises to her feet, the smile still on her face. She’s tall and forceful. I like her, but not enough to put up with Jack.

“Miss Davis, you went viral,” she says. “A member of our team showed us your video, and I can tell you that what you do is beautiful. Connecting people in love, it’s not an easy job.”

“I’m happy you know that,” I say. “Firstly, it’s not my job. It’s not something I do professionally. I’m a florist, but even if I wanted to, it wouldn’t be for Jack Calloway; I’m sorry. Especially based on my reviews about him.”

“Let’s hear it,” Jack chirps from beside me.

It’s still weird that I’m standing next to one of the most famous men to ever exist on screen; it’s even weirder that I seem to have hurt his feelings, and he’s exchanging words with me.

“We don’t need to hear any of that, Miss Davis,” Nova says.

“No. I’m bored. Humor me,” Jack insists.

I turn to face him head-on, because he won’t get the satisfaction of intimidating me. “I have nothing good to say about you, Jack Calloway. You’re in this position because you put yourself there; I don’t have to go out of my way to help you. You’re just getting what’s coming to you, seeing as you have no respect for women. At all.”

He doesn’t seem the least bit affected by my words. Instead, he shrugs and leans back in his chair. “You’re so judgy. How do you join people in love with such a disagreeable attitude?”

“Disagreeable—what?” I whirl to face Nova, who’s studying us both with a weird look in her eyes. “Miss Chambers, I’m only standing here because of you. But at this point, there’s no needto drag this on. It won’t work. There’s no way I’ll set up a poor girl with this man.”

Nova is about to respond, but once again, Jack beats her to it. “You can drop the act now, Miss Davis. I know what you’re doing. Act uninterested, so I’ll notice you.”

He sounds so ridiculous, I laugh.

“It’s overdone and, frankly, irritating,” he continues. “Don’t act like you’re not stoked to be in this room with me. Any girl would kill to have this chance.”

His words set off an annoyance so deep in me that I know I must leave before I get out of character. Or murder him.

“Okay,” Nova cuts in, clearly sensing I’m two seconds from launching a stapler at his head. “Jack, why don’t you step outside for a bit? Give us a moment.”

“Oh, gladly.” He rises to his feet. “I need a cup of coffee because this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.”

He walks past me, and for a second, I breathe in his cologne. Gracious heavens. It’s the sweetest-smelling aroma I’ve ever sensed. For a moment, it douses my anger. But the door swings shut so hard the embers flame to life again.

“I’m sorry,” Nova says. “That was not the smoothest introduction.”

“You think?” I narrow my eyes. “If you had told me, I wouldn’t have come.”

“Miss Davis. Please have a seat. You’ve been standing since you came in.”

I take a deep breath and lower myself onto the leather chair across from her. How did I let myself get so worked up?

“I’m sorry, Miss Chambers. I’m not usually angry, but you brought me here to play matchmaker for Hollywood’s biggest cautionary tale.”

“He’s not that bad,” Nova laughs.