Page 7 of Fierce-Matt

“So she’s like a little sister to you also,” she said. Hmmm, interesting.

“Sure. I guess. I always liked her.”

“She’s a beautiful woman. So happy all the time and friendly.”

“Let me guess, you’ve decided to see if you can push her and Brendan together. That has fizzled. Anya shoulder blocked him into the friend category with the precision of a linebacker. We all knew it would happen and warned Brendan, but he didn’t believe us.”

She pursed her lips. She didn’t like the sound of that.

It was as if Anya was mean or rude. Yeah, that wouldn’t work for her so she had to gather more intel.

“That’s too bad,” she said. “Poor Brendan. Did he feel led on?”

Jolene had to play this close to her chest. She had no intention of pushing Brendan and Anya together.

Nope. She was more interested in the brief dance Anya had with Matt and the fact Ben’s younger brother had his eyes on the Fierce employee most of the reception.

“Anya doesn’t have it in her to lead anyone on. I’m shocked she told him she wasn’t interested. The girl I remembered always got run over and was afraid to speak her mind for fear of hurting someone’s feelings.”

“She doesn’t come across that way to me,” she said. Getting better in her mind. Someone who came into their own.

“She’s not now. At least not with Brendan, but she let him down nicely. Who do you have in mind for her?” Ben asked, lifting his eyebrows. “Let me know. Maybe I can help.”

“Really?” she asked. No one ever wanted to help her matchmaking.

“Sure. I know my men well. I know Anya. I’ll let you know if it’d work.”

How to play this?

Ben always acted laid-back and funny with her.

He’d tell her the way it was too. She could trust that.

Would he back his brother though?

Maybe now that he was happily married.

Sometimes you had to take a risk.

“I was thinking about Matt.”

“Matt Whistle?” Ben asked. “Nah. I don’t see them together.”

She didn’t even know who that guy was. “Your brother, Matt.”

Ben burst out laughing. “Yeah. No. Anya can’t stand Matt.”

“Why is that?”

“Because he was an asshole to her when they were younger. He always had to joke and pick on Phoebe and her friends and Anya seemed to get the brunt of it. Never in a million years. If she’d decked him at my wedding, I would have applauded her.”

“That’s a no then,” she said. “Thanks. I won’t waste my time.”

Ben snorted. “Yes, you will, but don’t claim you weren’t warned.”

Just as she thought. Ben saw through her and called her out on it.

“Are you going to tell Matt?”