Page 36 of The Singles Club

A good feeling that wasn’t quite dopamine flowed through me. I wasn’t sure what chemical my hypothalamus was releasing, but it reminded me of curling up next to a fire with hot tea on a cold day. Justin was sweet. A genuine Jimmy Stewart… and all the more reason I couldn’t let myself lose control with him again like I had with that kiss.

“If you fall in love and find your life partner, it won’t matter how you met. What will matter is that you found her. That’s what you’ll tell your kids.”

His eyes met mine, and they were filled with nothing but warmth. “I thought you didn’t believe in love?”

“I don’t, but you do.” I pointed to the video. “And you can choose whether to have your profile private or public. Fill out the questionnaire, and they send select matches to you.”

He nodded. “Alright, I’ll do it.”

“Okay.” I slid the laptop in his direction. “When you’re done with the questions, let me know, and we’ll start on your profile.”

“If you’d like to watch TV, the remotes are in the left cabinet, and there are some movies in the bottom drawer and in the right cabinet.”

Although I wasn’t much in the mood to watch anything at the moment, I was curious about his collection. I sat down on the cool hardwood floor and opened the drawer.To Catch a Thiefcaught my eye, as well as about ten other Hitchcock classics. I loved that he didn’t ownPsychobut did have a copy ofNotoriousandRebecca. Of course he hadCasablancaandIt Happened One Night… and about seven Katharine Hepburn movies. I did take out one I hadn’t seen before—My Man Godfrey. Tucked in the back was another movie still wrapped in its packaging. I pulled it out and choked on a laugh.

“Um, Justin?”

“Yeah?”

“Now, this is a movie I haven’t seen…” He turned, and I held up the DVD for him to see. “Saving Ryan’s Privates?”

He scratched at his temple, wincing. “That’s a gag gift from my best friend Brock. Like you, he thinks I need to, uh, ‘get back in the saddle again.’” The man’s face turned a few shades of red, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

I tossed it on the table next to him. “You should probably find a better hiding spot for that just in case you do bring a woman home, and she looks through your movies.”

He went back to his laptop. “Good idea.”

My phone chimed with a text from Crystal.

C: Feel like some light shopping? I need new shoes.

V: You don’t need shoes. You have plenty.

C: Okay, who are you, and what have you done with Vivian?

V: Funny. I can’t now. Busy.

C: Work?

V: Not exactly.

C: A man?

I didn’t answer.

C: OMG. You are not with Isabella’s boss, are you?

V: It’s not what you think.

C: Did you sleep with him?

V: No!

C: Kiss him?

I pulled at my necklace, hesitating on how to explain that one.

C: You kissed him!