Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(52)

I hate to admit it, but my uncle was correct when he said if the price is right, people will always talk, and turns out the architects at Morrison and Holmes are loyal to a paycheck rather than a person.

Their lack of integrity absolves me of any guilt I’d feel from lying to them about my Vittori Holdings connections or the made-up project they’ll get to bid on.

“We look forward to working together,” the woman says.

“We’ll keep in touch.” I hang up and wave Manny into my office.

My campaign volunteers are used to Manny stopping by unannounced, so they ignore him as he walks past their desks and heads straight toward mine located in the back of the office space. The little chip on his front tooth is on full display, and his brown eyes crinkle at the corners from how wide he smiles at me.

He holds a bouquet of flowers out for me to grab. “Here.”

“Don’t tell me these are for me,” I deadpan before assessing his choice of flowers like he’s a contestant on some show.

“You owe me seventy-five bucks.”

“What for?”

“Your girlfriend’s flowers aren’t cheap.”

“She should’ve charged you double for bothering her.”

He laughs as he takes a seat beside my desk. “I didn’t bother her.”

I shoot him a look. He’s been hounding me about her for the last few weeks, and I’ve avoided planning any kind of outing together.

“At least I hope I didn’t. But I needed to take matters into my own hands since you haven’t introduced us yet.”

“Have you forgotten that you two already know each other from school?”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t know me as Manny, your best friend.”

“I prefer to call you Manny, the pain in my ass.”

“Well, at least you always have stand-up comedy if the political stuff doesn’t work out.”

I glare.

He grins. “Kidding!”

I lean back in my desk chair and cross my arms. “So how did it go?”

“Great! She suggested we all go out for drinks tomorrow.”

“We?”

“You, me, Lily, and that sweet employee of hers, Jane.” He says her name in a wistful way.

I pull out my phone and text Lily, who unfortunately confirms Manny is telling the truth. To avoid him for a little longer, I reply to her message.

ME

Isn’t it a bad idea to invite your employee on a double date?

LILY

I can tell you didn’t grow up in a small town.

ME

What does that have to do with anything?

LILY

When you see two people hit it off, you do everything possible to make it happen.

ME

By “it,” you mean…?

LILY

Love, Lorenzo. Do try to keep up with me here.

ME

Florist. True-crime junkie. Matchmaker. What’s next?

I don’t catch myself smiling at my phone until Manny punches me in the shoulder.

“What was that for?” I rub the sore spot.

“Being rude and ignoring my company.”

I exhale, relieved he didn’t see her latest text. “Now that I have a date planned tomorrow, I should get back to work before I fall behind.”

“Can’t you take a break?”

I motion toward the stack of earnings reports I have to review from a dentist who would like to sell her office in town and retire. “Only if you want me to cancel.”

“In that case, stop being lazy and get to it! My soulmate waits for no one.”




Manny decided to park his car at my house so I could drive us both to the Historic District, where Lily and Jane are meeting us at a new speakeasy bar. They’re making a big deal out of celebrating the end of strawberry season with special drinks and a live band who also played last weekend at the festival.

The drive is a short one, especially when Manny spent the entirety of it going over answers to possible questions Jane might ask him. I’ve never seen him this nervous before, and I have no idea how to calm his fraying nerves.

“How do I look?” Manny asks as I park in a lot not too far from the bar.

I have a hard time responding to his question because his short-sleeve, button-down shirt is one I’d never be caught wearing. The tiny strawberry pattern might be on-brand with the rest of the town’s favorite fruit, but that doesn’t make it a fashionable choice, so I stick with a basic “You look fine.”

He gapes at me. “Fine? Might as well tell me to go change while you’re at it.”

I squint at the busy pattern. “I mean, I wouldn’t be against it.”

His eyes turn to slits. “Can we swap?”

“Swap what?”

“Shirts.” He motions toward my white button-down with the sleeves rolled up.

I shut my car off to end the conversation. “No.”

He holds his hands up like he’s praying. “Please, Lorenzo? You have a girlfriend already, so it’s not like you need to impress anyone, but me…”

He stares at his shirt like he can’t believe he ever thought it was a good idea.

“I can’t go in there and embarrass myself.”

“It’s not that bad.”