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“Thank you, Emma.” I hug her close, needing her warmth. “I don’t know how you’ve been managing to combine showing up for me here with your clients at the office.”

She waves me off. “It’s just been a few days. And I have capable assistants.” She pulls slightly away, her gaze roaming my face. “So what’s up with Jack?”

She’s staring at me like she can see right through me. I feel my heart skip a beat, like I’m caught in something I don’t want to admit.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” I say, pretending to be indifferent. “Jack said he wants to date an ordinary woman. Like me.”

“Those were his exact words?”

“Yup.” I shrug like I don’t care.

“Wow,” Emma sighs, clapping her hands excitedly. “He likes you.”

“What?” I huff. “Did you just hear me say he called me ordinary?”

“That was a compliment.” She waves me off.

I scoff, trying to brush it off. “A compliment? Yeah, right.”

But Emma shakes her head, her tone firm. “No, seriously. He probably meant that he didn’t want some high-maintenance woman. He’s not looking for someone who’s all about thespotlight. If anything, he’s seeing something in you that’s real. He probably just doesn’t know how to say it properly.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect. I blink, swallowing the lump in my throat. She’s right, isn’t she?

I didn’t want to be one of those women who gets upset over a guy’s words, but there’s something in her reassurance that makes me feel a little lighter. Maybe Emma’s right. Maybe Jack didn’t mean it the way I took it.

“I don’t care.” I glance at Emma. “I’m just going to compile a list of eligible women for him based on his needs, and we’ll go from there.”

Emma gives me a knowing look but doesn’t push any further.

I’m about to speak when the door opens with the soft jingle of the bell. I glance up, excited to see Aunt Dotty come in. Aunt Dotty is an older woman whom I can call a great friend. We run a book club together and, in a way, she’s a matchmaker like me—but only because she refuses to mind her business. I can’t take full credit for how Ethan and Riley got together.

“Dotty!” I cry, rising to my feet.

She crosses the room and wraps me up in a warm hug. “Mia! My dear, I’ve been waiting for your return,” she says, her voice soft, full of affection.

I laugh and squeeze her back. “Dotty, I missed you, too.”

She pulls back, grinning at me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Emma told me all about your new matchmaking scheme. Tell me all about it, dear. I need the full scoop!”

I laugh, expecting her excitement.

Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of this whole thing yet. But with Aunt Dotty, it feels easier to talk about. “Well, it’s… been an interesting few days,” I start, trying to keep the frustration from creeping into my voice. “I’m working with this guy, Jack Calloway. You know, the actor.”

Her eyebrows raise, and she leans in a bit closer, clearly intrigued. “I know him. He starred in that soap opera I loved years ago. Stellar actor,” she says, her voice full of playful disbelief. “Oh, you’ve got yourself quite the project, don’t you?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, well… the thing is, he’s not really the guy I expected. He’s… difficult. But here I am, trying to match him with someone. It’s a lot more complicated than I thought it would be.”

Aunt Dotty nods as if she understands exactly how complicated matchmaking can get. “I see. I see. And this Jack—does he have any idea what he’s getting himself into?”

“Well, the thing is… he doesn’t want to do this.” I do a quick rundown of everything to ensure Aunt Dotty understands this is more than a task. When I finish, she laughs softly.

“Oh, dear Mia, you’ll have your hands full with that one. But if anyone can make it work, it’s you.”

Her words bring a smile to my face. I needed to hear that, especially today. “I don’t know, Dotty. I’m just trying to figure him out. It’s not as easy as I thought it would be.”

Aunt Dotty pats my arm affectionately, her smile warm and genuine. “Don’t you worry, Mia. You’ll figure it out. Just remember, in matters of the heart, the most ordinary people can make the biggest difference. Just trust yourself.”

I nod, feeling a little lighter. Her words sink in deeper than I expected. “Thanks, Dotty. I’ll try to keep that in mind.”