Page 11 of Matched with the Hollywood Heartthrob (Matched for Love #4)

MIA

I walk briskly out the front door, my steps quick, my mind racing.

Jack’s words echo in my head like a broken record—ordinary.

Should I be hurt by that? A small part of me definitely is.

But there’s another part of me that didn’t want to be seen as just another one of his city girls he could dismiss with a glance.

There was a look in his eyes when he said it.

That moment of vulnerability, of something unguarded flickering beneath the surface.

It was like… he meant it, but not in the way I thought.

He said it like a compliment. Like I didn’t have to be someone I’m not.

Like he saw me, really saw me, for the first time.

I hate how much I want to let that thought settle in my chest.

Ordinary.

Ugh, I hate that I was thinking about it. I have work to do. I shouldn’t care about what Jack Calloway thinks. I shouldn’t care about him at all.

I force my focus to shift. Focus on the task at hand. He’s not the priority here. Matchmaking, Mia. That’s what you came here for.

As I leave Jack’s cottage, I notice the car parked just outside, shiny and sleek.

It’s a rental—the one I asked Emma to provide, so Jack and Brody can move around town easily.

I decide to borrow it for a short while.

Maybe I can take it back to the flower shop and have someone return it later. I could use the drive to clear my head.

I slide into the car, the leather seat cool beneath me. The engine purrs to life with a soft hum. I put it in drive and pull away from Jack’s cottage, my hands gripping the wheel with unnecessary force.

As I drive, my thoughts drift back to the conversation.

I keep running over it in my head, trying to figure out if I’m reading too much into this.

The fact that he wants an ordinary girl is surprising, especially since I know his dating history— thank you, Emma —and none of his numerous exes were ordinary.

Is Nova right about him being ready for a change?

By the time I get to the flower shop, I’m in a much better headspace. It’s familiar here. It’s where I feel like myself. I slide out of the car and make my way toward the door, my thoughts briefly clouded by the weight of the morning.

The bell above the door jingles as I step inside. Emma’s already there, humming along to the soft music playing in the background. You’d think she owns the shop. She glances up at me as I walk in, a smile pulling at her lips.

“Hey, Mia! How’d it go with Jack and Brody? Everything okay?” she asks, looking genuinely concerned. “Are they fully settled?”

I nod, forcing a smile. “Yeah, everything went fine. They’re both settled in. Ugh, I missed this place.”

Emma rolls her eyes as I slide onto the next stool. “You needed the break.”

“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 the spotlight. 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.”

She gives me a wink, then turns to Emma. “My sweet Emma.”

“Hi, Dotty.” They exchange a hug. “How’s that handsome husband of yours?”

Emma blushes. “He’s fine.”

It’s funny how Emma still blushes at the mention of Sam’s name. Sam is the same way. He likes to act tough, but when you talk about Emma, he folds like a pretzel. Love is a beautiful thing. I suppose.

“When are you going to be done with matchmaking others and focus on yourself?” Aunt Dotty turns to me again. “You should enjoy this love you share generously with people.”

“I’m good.” I roll my eyes. “I’m already surrounded by love.” I glance pointedly at her and Emma. “Love doesn’t have to be romantic.”

“Hmm, hmm.” Aunt Dotty scoffs. Soon, we shift the convention into our book club, where I confess I haven’t read the book of the month. Aunt Dotty implores me to read it before our next meeting. Then she’s off, saying she has to meet Riley at the hardware store.

She’s barely gone when another whirlwind drifts into my store in the form of my mother.

I groan so loud that her brows pull down in a giant frown.

“You’re back in town, and your mother is the last person to find out?”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Don’t ‘hi mom’ me,” she snaps and then turns to Emma with the sweetest smile. “My darling. How are you?”

The two of them exchange a hug. Then Emma decides it’s time to leave, leaving me alone with my mother.

“Mom, I texted you I was coming before my flight took off.”

“But you didn’t tell me you were in town.” She stops at my desk. “Are you so grown now you don’t need your mother anymore?”

I can’t help but smile a little, even though I know I’m in trouble. “I’m sorry, Mom,” I say, raising my hands in mock surrender. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

“Of course, you didn’t.” She inches close. “So what was the meeting about?”

“Um…” I haven’t told my mom about my new job, for obvious reasons.

“You know Jack Calloway?” I ask, knowing very well she doesn’t know him. My parents are kind of old-fashioned. They only watch the news.

“Who is he?”

“He’s just a guy,” I answer. “So he’s in a really weird situation right now and on the verge of losing his job…”

“Oh, what did he do?”

Good question, Mom! What did he do? Because Jack has done a lot. For sleeping with a married woman, he kind of deserves this, but I don’t know.

“I have to find him a suitable match and help him find love so his fans can see that he’s changed.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I know, it’s all very complicated.” I take her hands. “Don’t worry your head about it, Mom.”

“Hold on.” She frowns. “What I do get out of this is that you’re matchmaking someone. Is that right?”

“Yes… but for business…”

She gasps, as dramatic as she can be. “What did Lily ever do to you? You don’t want to help her.”

I groan again. “Mom… I already agreed to help. Why are we still on this?”

“When? I can have her call you when I?—”