Weirdest night of my life, thought Jake. He smiled across the table at his date Sarah, then glanced back at Bailey several tables away. Bailey looked bitter. His date was laughing so loudly that it carried over the chatter of thirty tables. Ebony was standing between them. Her dress showed off her curves in a tantalizing way that made him want to skim his hands over waist, as did the lace panel that gave glimpses of her shoulder-blades. As for her hair, it was tied in a pretty up-do that left wisps over the back of her neck.

To kiss Ebony's neck... Jake thought. Not that it would happen. Not when he was on a date with another woman.

"Your friend seems unhappy," Sarah said, bringing his attention back.

"He does."

"Hard to imagine why. His date looks like a supermodel."

Jake laughed. "She does. But I think I got the better deal of the two."

Sarah blushed. Her cheeks were rosy against her tanned skin. The blush didn't quite have the same effect on him as a certain matchmaker's, he realised. But Sarah was pretty. Very pretty. Sandy ringlets that were pulled up in a ponytail, brown eyes, and a big smile. And so far the conversation had been surprisingly good. It made him wonder why Ebony had chosen this girl. Maybe it was a test. Or maybe it was a way of ensuring that her 'no men' vow stayed intact. There was also the annoying possibility that she wasn't interested in him at all. Either way, Jake was baffled.

"And I think I got the better deal out of you and your friend," Sarah said.

"Oh, how so?"

"We both share a passion for architecture. I am an architect and you've dabbled in it."

More than dabbled, he thought, but he wasn't going to correct Sarah.

Jake jumped a fraction as Ebony appeared at the table, pressing the screen of her iPad to her chest. What was she hiding? Information on him and his date?

"You both seem to be getting along well." Ebony smiled.

Jake made a point of smiling, too. "We are. Sarah has been telling me all about her work. It's been very fascinating."

"Really?" Ebony asked.

"Now I see why you paired me with Jake," Sarah said. "His knowledge about architecture is impressive."

Ebony squinted at Jake, as if he were in trouble for omitting details on his survey.

"You really are a gifted matchmaker," Sarah added.

"I am?"

Jake tried not to laugh at the horror on Ebony's face, or the way she tried to conceal it a second later.

"You shouldn't look so surprised, Ebony," Sarah said. "Believe in yourself more."

Ebony appeared mortified as she coughed then smiled. Jake wanted to save her, but that would mean being rude to his date.

"Thanks," Ebony replied to Sarah. "Would you mind if I steal you away for a quick chat?" When Jake frowned, Ebony showed the iPad screen with a list of questions. "At Kismet, we like to do a first-date survey to find out how your date is progressing."

"Sure." Sarah's eyes brightened at Jake. She looked so hopeful. "Excuse me a moment, Jake."

He smiled weakly, then watched as the two women walked through the glass doors and onto the back balcony. Other than a serious nod now and then, Ebony was not her usual animated self. On the other hand, Sarah was like a sparkler on a birthday cake—bursting with happiness. Jake considered sneaking over to one of the white translucent curtains that were suspended at random points around the room to give some tables privacy. He could listen in... Or he could ask a friend...

He texted Bailey: Hey, Bails. I need a spy. Any chance you would eavesdrop on Ebony and Sarah while they're having their first-date interview?

Bailey lifted his phone from the table and tapped at the screen. Who's Sarah?

My date. They're out on the balcony. Go. Please. I need details.

Bailey glanced from Jake to the balcony, but Zara reined him back into the conversation. She had stopped laughing and had begun tapping her fingernails on the table.

Bailey peered over at Jake and shook his head slightly, then mouthed the words, "Can't. Trapped."

Jake laughed to himself. He was sure that if there was a stairwell in The Peach Tree it would lead to the pits of Hell, and Ebony's Aunt Rose would be sitting on the throne. In reality, Aunt Rose was standing on a small stage near the front windows, surrounded by a large dance floor that was empty. A jazz trio were positioning themselves on the stage, the three men armed with a double bass, drums, and a saxophone.

Aunt Rose turned on the mic and tapped it, the feedback thudding and squealing across the restaurant. "Good evening, couples. Welcome to The Peach Tree. We have now come to the part of the night when new couples must have their first dance. Don't be shy. If your dancing is below par, not to mind. First you must try, only then will you find your feet."

As couples glanced warily at each other, Aunt Rose scanned the tables and waved her arms up in a 'Out of your chair now' motion. The woman would not be happy until every couple was on the dancefloor.

"Oh, good. I was worried we would miss the dance," Sarah said, returning minus a matchmaker. Jake was about to search the restaurant, but Sarah was already pulling him up by the arm and leading him towards the dancefloor. Jake did not like to dance. The last time he'd danced in a setting like this it had been his wedding day. Mel had been his, then. And when she'd walked down the aisle he'd been sure that she would remain by his side forever. He would never be so gullible again.

Sarah positioned her hand on his shoulder and waltzed Jake around the dancefloor. Jake tried to smile, but he was searching for Ebony. The dancefloor was crowded, couples almost colliding now and then. Sarah wanted to be spun, and Jake lazily turned his date under his arm and back again. She clung to his waist and shoulder as if they had been dating a year, not a night. Jake tried to put some distance between them, only for Sarah to sway him back and forth.

"Where did you learn to dance this well?" She laughed.

He swirled her under his arm, deciding on the best answer. There was no good answer. "For my wedding. My bride had insisted on six months of dance lessons."

Sarah's eyes flashed with anger. "You're married?"

"Was."

She rubbed his shoulder sympathetically. "It's her loss, Jake."

He grunted and glanced over at the jazz band, his vision blurring as he remembered fragments of his year after Mel. Work consumed him. The business was all he had left. The pain was like a toxin that lingered in his blood.

Sarah turned his face to hers. "She really broke your heart, didn't she?"

Jake stopped dancing. This was why he never officially dated. Questions of his past would inevitably arise. Ever since Ebony's questions at Kismet, Jake had thought about his Ex far too often. For a good year now, Mel had been put firmly in the past. He did not want to think about Mel, let alone speak her name aloud. "Excuse me," he said, dashing through the crowd with the exit in sight.

As he strode off the dancefloor, there was Ebony leaning against the bar, her eyes lowering as she spied Jake. Slipping on her glasses, she tapped at her iPad, as if taking notes of the event. Jake wanted to rip that iPad from her hand and throw it to the floor. Didn't she know that he was only here for her?

"Jake!" a woman called behind him. "Jake!"

He turned to find Sarah cutting through the crowd to get to him. By the time she reached him, she looked distraught.

"I shouldn't have asked that. I crossed the line too early," she said, whacking herself on the forehead. "I always do that! It's probably why I'm single."

In his current mood, Jake would have agreed but Sarah seemed to be beating herself up plenty. Really, he could tell she was a very sweet person. Genuine.

"Is there a problem?" a light voice said, startling Jake. He turned to find Ebony, whose gaze was shifting cautiously between him and Sarah.

"No problem," he said. "I was just getting a drink. Can I get you another wine, Sarah?"

Sarah let out the breath she was holding. "Yes—"

Ebony removed her glasses, peering up at Jake. "Actually, do you mind putting the drinks on hold? We still need to do your interview."

The interview... As if the night couldn't get any worse, now he was subjected to this!

Ebony excused herself from Sarah and led Jake through the restaurant. The moment they stepped out onto the balcony and the cool air hit his face, he could breathe again. Jake clutched the rail and looked out over the shadowy gardens, waiting for Ebony to speak. She looked down at that infernal screen of hers, then asked, "Out of ten, how well do you think your date is going? One being the lowest and ten the highest."

Jake shook his head and laughed emptily.

"Why is that funny?"

"Ebony..." He peered across at her. "I can't give a number."

"So, you do think this is all a joke?"

"Can we just answer five to everything? Sarah deserves that much, at least."

Ebony nodded, the motion slow, pensive. She stared down at her screen like it would shield her from the world. "Let's just skip to the second last question. Would you like to see Sarah again?"

Jake was taken aback, but he recovered with a smile. The question might be useful to gauge Ebony's feelings. "Do you think I should go out with Sarah? That is if you think she's my match..."

Gripping her iPad, Ebony shot him a steely look. "That is entirely up to you, Jake."

"Don't get me wrong, Sarah's great, lovely in fact, but she's not my match."

Ebony nodded, a small smile gracing her lips as she peered at the screen.

Did Ebony want my date to fail? The thought gave him hope. He wanted to reach out and lift her chin so she would meet his eyes again. Until she read, "Now that your trial is over, will you be signing up to the agency?"

Jake tensed.

"I have to ask! It is a formality of Kismet," she said, showing him the last question on his profile page.

Glancing at the screen, Jake stepped closer. "I think my time with Kismet has come to an end."

"I see." She placed a cross in the box beside the last question.

With the tip of his finger, he lowered her iPad. "Ebony?"

She looked up, removing her glasses. "Yes?"

"I'm waiting to hear back about clause one."

"Oh."

As he reached out to brush the hair from her eyes, Ebony drew in a sharp breath. Her lips parted, and he took this as a sign to draw closer. Ebony glanced through the windows of the restaurant, her gaze skipping around to the people inside. Anyone would think that she was committing an adulterous act—not standing on the balcony interviewing a client. Then Jake lowered his hand—she was right. If his date saw this, it would look treacherous. One word from Sarah to Aunt Rose and Ebony's job would be lost. He smiled casually and retreated, hoping to put Ebony at ease. She still appeared astonishingly nervous.

"Bailey's not sure about Zara," she said quietly. "He will let me know tomorrow if he wants to see her again. I don't think they clicked as well as they had that first night. At the hospital."

"You might be right about that."

"See!" Ebony's hand flailed in the air. "I am a poor matchmaker. Even an emergency room created more chemistry than what I can produce."

Jake tried not to laugh. Ebony seriously had bad luck when it came to her job.

"Are you laughing at me, Jake? Silently?"

"No? No."

Ebony glared at him, and the urge to laugh fled as she held up the bracelet on her wrist. "Did you find it funny when you added your name to my bracelet?"

He captured her hand and turned the beads with his thumb. "Honestly? I can't explain why I did that. I guess I found it amusing at the time, but—"

"Ha!" she said, pulling her hand from his and prodding him in the chest. "I knew this was just some prank!"

"No. Not a prank." How could he explain this to her? It would sound ridiculous.

She turned and clutched the rail, looking over the fairy lights throughout the back garden. "Then why?"

"Our paths crossed for only a few minutes and I already knew that wasn't long enough. I only did it because I wanted you to think of me," he said, stepping closer. "I knew I would be thinking of you long after you were gone. It seemed fair."

"Fair..." she whispered, leaning her elbows on the rail. "None of this is fair."

Jake wasn't sure if she was talking to him or to herself. "Ebony, give me the bracelet. I'll fix it, the way I should have the first time."

He watched the side of her profile, the way she lowered her head and shook it, as if the world had gone crazy. She laughed once, softly. He took that as a sign that he was forgiven, but when she peered across at him tears shone in her eyes. "I will take it to Mrs Harrostone. I trust that she won't put hidden messages in my jewellery."

Okay. I have completely blown this. If she can't trust me with her mother's bracelet, how will she ever trust me during our dates?

What dates? Bailey is probably going to back out of the whole deal!

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