Page 19 of Matched with the Hollywood Heartthrob (Matched for Love #4)

JACK

I t’s been a few days since the cursed dinner at Mia’s family’s house, and I can’t stop thinking about her.

I haven’t been able to think about anything else since that night.

Mia. The way she sat at the table like she would rather be anywhere else.

How she stiffly ate her food. How she deliberately avoided Ryan.

It may seem like she’s not keen on him, but I can tell there’s something there.

She’s putting so much effort into avoiding him, which means he’s still on her mind.

And then there’s Ryan. I’ve never hated someone on the spot. Okay, I’ve hated a few, but Ryan takes the top spot.

Every time I think about Ryan, I can feel my blood boiling. I saw the way he looked at her tonight. The way he stared into her soul. Like he’s trying to claim her again. It annoys me more than I can say. And the worst part? I don’t even know if Mia wants him back. Maybe she does, who knows?

For some reason, the thought of her with Ryan sets off a fury in me that I can’t explain. The fury increases when I realize I have no business being furious. I mean, it’s Mia we’re talking about. I don’t care! I shouldn’t care!

And should I report her to Nova? Because I’ve been here for almost two weeks, and she’s only been here a handful of times. She’s starting to mix personal feelings with business, and I don’t like that at all.

My date with Denise is soon, and I still don’t have my itinerary. I know it’ll be at an art exhibition in the next town over, but I literally don’t know where it is or what to expect. How am I supposed to go on such a date?

I’m sitting there, mindlessly flipping through TV channels, when I hear the door open.

I glance away from the screen, only to see Brody walk in, looking excited and carrying bags.

His face is all lit up, and I wonder why, since he’s returning from grocery shopping.

He’s probably got a girlfriend or something in town. I won’t be surprised.

“Guess what, man?” he says, dropping his bags onto the couch. His excitement is so obvious, it practically vibrates the air around him.

I raise an eyebrow. “What’s got you so worked up, Brody?”

“I had a fun time in town today,” he says. “I hung out a bit in Mia’s flower shop and then went to the park. Have you been there? It has a wonderful view,” he sighs. “Oh, and Mia has a message for you.”

I don’t know why, but the mention of Mia sends a strange pulse of tension through me. I sit up. “What?”

He hands me the envelope. “She says to give this to you. It’s everything you’ll need for your first date.”

I take the envelope from him, a slight hesitation in my movement. My gut tightens as I open it. Inside, I find a picture of Denise. She’s pretty. Blonde, blue eyes, soft smile. She looks sweet, but I don’t feel anything.

I push the photo to the side and pull out a folded sheet of paper. The address of the studio where the art exhibition will take place is written down, along with a few other minor details—Denise’s favorite flowers, what she likes to talk about, that sort of thing.

I read over the details. It’s everything I need, but something about the whole thing still feels off. It’s like I’m going through the motions, checking off boxes without actually being invested in any of it. The thought of being there with Denise feels distant—like I’m just pretending.

I glance over at Brody, who’s watching me carefully. I know he’s dying to ask about the date.

“Did she say anything else?” I ask, keeping my voice neutral.

Brody shrugs, clearly not reading my mood. “Nope. That was it. Just the details, and a picture to get you ready for the date.”

I rub my face, still trying to shake off the nagging frustration inside me. I look at the photo again. Denise is cute, I guess.

Brody grins at the picture. “She’s pretty.”

“She is. But I’m not sure I’m feeling it.”

Brody sighs, clearly sensing the change in my mood. “You’re not even giving her a chance. You might surprise yourself.”

“Maybe,” I mutter.

But as I keep staring at the picture of Denise, I can’t help but think about Mia. I’m supposed to be focusing on this date, on moving on, but everything I do just keeps bringing me back to her.

I let out a breath, trying to shake off the thought. “Calm your horses. I’ll go through with it.”

For the plan. For my father.

Brody claps me on the back. “That’s the spirit. But just remember—if it’s not the right fit, you don’t have to keep pretending. There are still plenty of options.”

I nod, not really listening. I’m already back to thinking about Mia. Again. She’s avoiding me. It’s obvious now. I wonder why. She’s already made it clear that the kiss is not happening again—not like I plan for it to. But she’s made it very clear.

As I’m still staring at the envelope, trying to make sense of the whole situation, my phone rings. It’s Harry. I almost don’t want to pick up because, honestly, the last thing I need right now is to deal with him. Or to deal with anyone, for that matter.

But he’s my best friend, so I answer anyway. “Yeah?”

Harry’s voice is cheerful, almost too cheerful for my mood. “Hey, man! How’s the dating thing going? Have you found anyone yet?”

I roll my eyes. “Like it’s that easy. The first one’s soon. Her name’s Denise.” I try to make it sound casual, but Harry isn’t buying it.

“Ooh, Denise?” Harry sounds intrigued. “Is she pretty?”

I glance at the picture of her again, trying to remember what I saw. “Yeah, she’s pretty,” I say, my voice flat.

“Hmm…” Harry drawls, as if he can hear the lack of enthusiasm in my voice. “So why do you sound like someone just asked you to go to the dentist?”

I suck in a breath, my jaw clenching before I realize it. The mention of “dentist” sets me on a treacherous path to thinking about Ryan. The jerk! He likes Mia. I know he does.

I run my hand through my hair again, frustrated with myself. “I don’t know, man. I just… I’m not feeling it. I’m trying to find it, but I’m not there yet.”

Harry laughs, and I can practically hear the grin on his face. “Come on, Jack. You’ve been a professional flirt for years. You’re telling me you can’t drum up some excitement for this?”

“I can’t force it,” I mutter, still unsure why I’m having such a hard time with this.

He’s right. When it comes to women, I’m a natural flirt.

It doesn’t matter if I find a woman attractive; I can make her feel like the prettiest girl in the world with just a smile.

But right now, I’m not so sure about this.

“Maybe you’re just not into the whole ‘matchmaking’ thing,” Harry suggests. “What do you think?”

“You’re probably right. It’s just… weird. I’ve been on dates before, but this whole ‘setup’ thing is different. But I promised my father I’ll behave.”

“All right, man,” Harry finally says, his tone shifting to playful. “I’ll let you figure it out. But hey, I’m sure you’ll find your groove.”

I snort, trying to laugh it off. “I’ll try.”

“Well, while you’re sweating it out with Denise, I’m going golfing with your dad,” he says. “We still have the bet going on. He thinks he can beat me. He never learns.”

Now this makes me laugh. My dad and Harry have been betting on golf for as long as they’ve known each other, and Harry beats him every time.

My dad can’t fathom that he just sucks at it.

Just because he’s in a golf club doesn’t mean anything.

And the best part about my relationship with Harry is how much he loves my dad.

He knows how much my dad means to me and doesn’t joke with our relationship.

“You’re not going to let him win, are you?”

“What?” Harry scoffs. “His son is a millionaire. He can afford a thousand-dollar bet.”

“Harry!” I swallow another laugh.

“What?” Harry chuckles. “Talk later.”

He hangs up, leaving me with a smile on my face. Left to the silence of my thoughts, I pick up Denise’s photo again. Maybe if I stare at it long enough, I’ll convince myself that this is what I really want.

“ U gh, there are no good songs on this radio,” I mutter, reaching over to switch it off. Silence fills the car, and now it’s just me and my thoughts.

It’s finally the day of the date, and I’m on my way to meet Denise.

I’ve been texting her, letting her know I’m almost there, but I can’t seem to shake the nerves.

I should be excited. I mean, this is what I agreed to—what I promised.

A simple date, no strings, no complications.

Just two people getting to know each other.

But I can’t stop thinking about… her. Mia.

It’s been lingering in my head, the way her lips felt against mine.

That kiss. God, I still can’t shake it. I still haven’t seen her since that dinner at her parents’ house, and you know what?

It’s fine. It’s not like I want her around. I don’t like how she makes me feel.

I shake my head, trying to focus on the road ahead. The art exhibition isn’t far from Bardstown, just an hour’s drive. But this drive feels endless. Every mile feels like a reminder that I’m about to step into a world where every decision matters, and I don’t enjoy it.

I grip the steering wheel, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. This date with Denise—it’s what I promised. It’s what I’m supposed to do. It’s what I will do.

My phone pings, and I glance at the screen. It’s Denise.

ETA? The exhibition starts in 10.

I check my GPS and respond through the car’s hands-free system.

Be there in 20.

Okay.

The hum of the engine fills the quiet, but it’s not enough to drown out the thoughts swirling in my head. I try to distract myself by looking at the road, the passing scenery, but it’s futile. Mia’s face keeps drifting in and out of my mind.

Why am I so fixated on her? I’m supposed to be here, with Denise, doing the thing I said I would. But with every turn, every mile, I can’t stop wondering what it would be like to be at the exhibition with Mia instead.