Miss Match (17 page)

Luke smiled stiffly. “Looks like it’s my turn to order.” He turned away from the reporter, and the man left with a grumble. Luke bought two nachos, two hot dogs, two hot chocolates, a giant bag of popcorn, and four candy bars. He hoped it was enough food to last the last half of the game, and he hoped Tamera didn’t start hurling until the date was over. He asked one of the stadium employees to help him bring everything back to their seats.

“You missed it,” Tamera said. “The halftime show was phenomenal.” She flung her arms out, nearly toppling the bag of popcorn Luke held. “They shot cheerleaders out of a cannon.”

“Wow.” Luke thanked the stadium employee, taking the food from him and giving a big tip in exchange.

Tamera’s eyes widened. “You got all this for us? Oh my gosh, I love candy bars.”

Luke passed over her food and took his seat. “I was hungry, and figured you probably were as well. Nachos alone are hardly a meal.”

“Oh.” Tamera’s eyes narrowed. “Thanks.”

Brooke had mentioned dinner as a possibility after the game, but said if the date didn’t go well he wasn’t obligated. He
hoped Tamera wasn’t expecting dinner, or she’d be sadly disappointed.

The quarterback called out the first play for the quarter. Luke turned his attention back to the game. He hoped he could be done with this whole matchmaking thing soon. This was painful.

The quarterback threw the ball, and the receiver struggled to hold on to it as he went down. He landed hard on one shoulder and the ball slipped loose. A player from the opposing team jumped on it.

The ref threw a flag. “Down by contact,” he exclaimed. The crowd roared.

Tamera jumped to her feet. Luke reached forward and steadied her cup of hot chocolate before it could spill all over her shoes. “What is wrong with you?” she screamed at the refs. “That was clearly an incomplete pass.”

Luke sank a little lower in his chair. He wished the press wasn’t here. He could see at least four photographers clicking away. Tamera was . . . well, she clearly took sports very seriously. So did he. Or he thought he had, before seeing her in action. If he acted anything like this, no wonder Brooke hated it when he drank.

The third quarter dragged. Luke tried to block out Tamera’s insults and focus on the game, but it was impossible. The girl was totally sloshed, and for a moment Luke wished he could join her. Maybe if he was drunk, he’d find this date enjoyable.

But he would keep it to the one beer he’d already had. He hoped Brooke appreciated the sacrifice.

The fourth quarter began. Luke prayed it would go quickly. Tamera was getting more and more unruly as the game continued, and had progressed to yelling obscenities at the referees and players.

“Pass it,” Tamera screamed. “He’s wide open. Pass it!”

The player threw the ball and it was intercepted by the other team, who started running it down the field. The frat boys sitting behind them jumped to their feet with a roar, cheering on the opposing team. The player successfully avoided three attempts to tackle him, sprinting down the field and into the end zone.

“Touchdown!” the row behind Luke and Tamera yelled.

Luke turned around. The four guys were all on their feet, pumping their fists in glee. Their faces were painted the other team’s colors, and one of them even had a foam finger. Luke grinned. His team was still up by sixteen. He could afford to be generous.

“Idiots,” Tamera yelled. She turned to the frat boys. “Don’t get so cocky. You got lucky.”

One of the guys held up his hand. “Hey there, lady. We’re just enjoying the game.”

“Well don’t.”

One of the other guys scowled, folding his arms across his chest. “You need to pipe down.”

Luke closed his eyes.
This cannot be happening.

“Don’t tell me to pipe down,” Tamera said.

The third guy leered at her. “Then at least sit down. It’s hard to watch the game when all we can see is your butt in our face. We drove five hundred miles for this game.”

Oh boy.
Luke had never fully appreciated Brooke’s commitment not to drink until this moment.

“Are you freaking kidding me?” Tamera said.

Luke stood. Time to take matters into his own hands. “Sorry to bother you,” he told the frat guys. “How about I buy you another round?”

Tamera whirled on Luke. “They insulted me, and you’re buying them drinks.”

“Maybe you should stop buying drinks for people,” Frat Boy #1 said. “Looks like your girlfriend’s had more than enough.”

The photographers were going nuts with their cameras. Luke lowered his voice, speaking to Tamera. “Please. I don’t want to cause a scene.”

Tamera pointed an accusing finger. “They’re the ones causing a scene.”

The frat boy stood, and the half full cup of beer sloshed in his hand. “Now listen here, lady. We went to a lot of trouble to make it to this game.”

“Luke!”

How did I end up here?
Luke took a deep breath. There hadn’t been anything like this mentioned in Tamera’s profile.
How would Dad approach this situation?
“I’m sure we can resolve this somehow.”

The crowd jumped to their feet with a roar. Tamera whipped around. “What did I miss?”

One of the men swore. “Another touchdown, you stupid woman.”

Tamera’s face was 49ers red again. “Take it back.”

“No.”

She launched herself at the man. Luke threw himself between them. He wasn’t sure who needed protecting more—Tamera or the frat guy. Or him.

And that’s when the cup of beer went flying. All over his hoodie.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“So tonight’s Luke’s first date, huh?”

Brooke sank onto the couch beside Zoey. “Yeah.”

“Who’d you set him up with?”

“One of Kendra’s clients. I wanted to give him something easy for this first date, and the girl loves
sports.”

Zoey frowned. “Sounds like a match made in heaven.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Zoey tucked her feet up under her. “I’m shocked, actually. I thought you might try to sabotage his relationships and set him up with girls that were all wrong for him.”

Brooke’s mouth dropped open. “What on earth would make you say that?”

Zoey shrugged. “What if this actually works? You’re a phenomenal matchmaker. If you find him the perfect woman, then it really is all over for you.” Zoey leaned forward, her eyes intent. “I know the system said you and Antonio are highly compatible. But what if the computer’s wrong?”

“You’re a matchmaker, Zoey. You know the computer isn’t wrong.”

Zoey sighed. “I don’t know. You and Antonio feel off.”

“There’s nothing off about us. You’re just so used to it being me and Luke that it’s hard to adjust your thinking.”

“What happens when you get offered the promotion and Antonio still wants to move to Italy? You have to know his career will always come first.”

Brooke clenched her jaw. She knew Zoey was right, and it didn’t sit well. “In Italy, we both get our dream careers. I might have to wait longer to get promoted, but it will still happen. It might be a struggle the first year as we adjust. But we’ll get through it. Love means making sacrifices.” And she was willing to make those sacrifices. Antonio was worth it. He loved her, despite their culture clash, and he always made her feel loved. Like the way he’d left a single red rose on her car windshield for her to find after work today. Or how he sometimes surprised her with breakfast in bed on Sundays.

“Okay, I get that love means making sacrifices. But what about Luke? You’ll break his heart if you move.”

Brooke’s heart twisted at the thought. She knew Zoey was right, but she also knew she couldn’t make her decision based on that alone. “This can’t be about me and Luke. There isn’t a ‘me and Luke’ and never has been. Not like that. We’ll miss each other, sure. But I’m going to find him a girlfriend, so he’ll be fine.”

“That man only has eyes for you, and you know it.”

Brooke folded her arms across her stomach.
Don’t cry, don’t cry.
She willed her voice to be steady when she spoke. “If he has eyes only for me, then why does he keep hooking up with Los Angeles’ finest skanks?”

“Give him a chance. You two are so perfect together.”

Brooke held up a trembling hand. “Stop. I can’t keep having this conversation with you.”

A knock at the door silenced them both. “Are you expecting someone?” Zoey asked.

Brooke shook her head. “You?”

Zoey headed to the door. “Nope.” She looked through the peephole, then turned the deadbolt. “It’s Luke.”

Brooke scrambled to Zoey’s side. “What?”

Zoey flung the door open, a smile on her face. “Hey. We weren’t expecting you.”

Luke entered the room, his face grim. He wore his Ryder Communications hoodie like he’d told her he would, but a stain covered one sleeve and most of the front.

“I need to talk to you,” he said, shutting the door behind him.

Zoey sat down on the couch, grinning. “Oh, this is going to be good.”

Brooke glared at Zoey, then turned back to Luke. He stood so close she could smell the stale beer. How many had he had? “Nice hoodie. If I’d known it was stained, I would’ve told you to go with the white tee and leather jacket.”

“Oh, the stain wasn’t there when I left the house. No, that happened when I got between Tamera and the frat boys she started a fight with.”

Brooke’s eyes widened. “Okay, that needs an explanation.”

“Turns out Tamera is quite competitive. And a loud and obnoxious drunk.”

Panic bubbled up in Brooke, and she covered her mouth to hold in a horrified laugh.

“Tamera spent the entire game yelling at the refs. When the frat boys behind us celebrated a touchdown by the opposing team, she turned crazy,” Luke said.

“That doesn’t sound like Tamera,” Brooke said. How would this impact her plan to save Toujour? Surely he was exaggerating. “None of her other dates have given that kind of feedback.” She’d been so careful in her selection. Tamera and Luke were sixty-two percent compatible, and she’d spoken with Kendra extensively before they’d decided to set up a date between the two.

“Maybe the paparazzi stressed her out or something, I don’t know. All I know is the date ended with me being doused in beer.”

Zoey howled with laughter. “Good pick, Brooke.”

He’s not drunk.
Relief swept through Brooke at that knowledge. The beer was on his shirt, not his breath. She hoped. But the relief was quickly replaced with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Luke. I had no idea. Nothing in her psychological profile or previous dates indicated this kind of behavior might occur.”

Luke rolled back on his heels, folding his arms across his chest. “Seems to me like you picked the first girl who popped up in your database. The press will love this.”

Brooke swallowed hard. Had she just ruined any chance Toujour had with one bad date? “I’m sorry. I’ll choose better next time.”

“Good. Because there definitely isn’t going to be a second date with Tamera. I can’t help you save Toujour if you don’t give me women I can work with.” He spun around. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He slammed the door, gone as quickly as he arrived.

“What was that about?” Brooke asked Zoey.

Zoey grinned. “Maybe you aren’t choosing as carefully as I thought. Did you know that was going to happen?”

Brooke sighed in exasperation, plopping down on the couch. “Of course not. I’m not psychic.”

“No. But you do know people. It looks to me like you don’t want to pick the perfect woman for Luke.”

“Stop it. None of our clients have dated a celebrity before. I should’ve anticipated that it might bring about different results than previous dates. I’ll pick more carefully next time.”

“
Right.
”

“If you’re going to act like this, I’m going to bed.” Brooke left the room and slammed her bedroom door shut. Zoey’s laughter floated in from the living room. Brooke sank onto her bed, and couldn’t help but wonder—
is Zoey right? Did I pick Tamera, knowing it wouldn’t work out?
And if she did, what did that say about her feelings for Luke?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The media was quick to report
on the date. By morning, articles had flooded the Internet. Tamera was painted as a crazy drunk, whereas Luke came off as something of a hero. More than a few articles had questioned Brooke’s judgment, Toujour’s likelihood of success, and whether or not Brooke had intentionally picked a bad egg for Luke’s first date out of jealousy.

Maybe she wasn’t as good a matchmaker as she had thought she was.

Brooke walked into Toujour that afternoon, her stomach knotted with dread. She hadn’t slept well last night. Charlotte was sure to be furious. Brooke had no doubt a reprimand was coming.

“She can’t possibly blame you,” Zoey whispered as they booted up their computers at their desks. “How were you supposed to know Tamera is a mean drunk?”