Page 25 of Love Expert

I care.

“Did you see Ramone and Calais left together already?” Dara inches forward and inadvertently reveals a chest glowing red from all the alcohol she’s swallowed tonight. “I saw them sneak out about an hour ago.”

“Yeah?”Yeah, I saw them.“At least the numbers are still even. One guy, one girl. It won’t mess Maggie’s schedule up too much.”

“Maggie.” She exhales a small, not-very-ladylike burp, which only results in a brighter blush staining her skin. “I don’t even remember her from school. Seems everyone else does, but I…” She shakes her head. “Nuh-uh.”

“She was two grades ahead of you.”Ramone and Maggie had a moment back in the day? He never said a damn thing about it.“You’ve had a few drinks tonight. How are you planning to get home?”

“Oh… I, uh…” She stares down at her empty glass with a frown. “Hmm… I drove here.”

“You’re not driving home.” I snatch her keys from rightbeside her phone faster than her mind can process my movement. “You got someone you can call to come get you?”

“Calais and I came together.” She licks the rim of her glass. “I could walk. It’s not so far.”

Walk.

While drunk.

For fuck’s sake.

“I’ll drive you home in my car. Leave yours here. When you wake up tomorrow, you can walk back and get it.”

She searches my eyes. Hers are sweet and tired and way too fucking drunk to see straight.

Fortunately for me, the buzzer sounds and frees me from this shit.

“And that’s it.” Maggie strides along the line of tables and chairs, her trusty microphone gripped in one hand and a glass of water in the other. She makes her way toward her little podium, her expression wearier than it was four hours ago. “I want to thank you all. From the bottom of my heart,” she turns at her stage, sets her water down, and presses her hand to her chest, “truly, thank you for making Plainview’s first Magnolia Sava event a wild success. Alana has agreed to keep the store open for an additional thirty minutes for any last-minute purchases on your way out the door. All book sales are fifteen percent off the marked price for tonight only, and if you purchase something, you’ll receiveanotherfifteen percent off coupon for next time. I saw a handful of you drinking a little more than the initial glass of champagne offered at the door, so I’ll remind you all to drive safely and legally. Other than that…” Finally, her face lightens with a gorgeous smile. “I’m in the business of love, and I sincerely hope love has blossomed for at least a few of you tonight. Thank you for coming, and I hope to see you at the next?—”

“Wait.” Fox bounds to her feet, unperturbed by the hundred sets of eyes swinging her way. “You forgot your lucky door prize.”

“Oh! Right.” Maggie turns and snatches up a bowl filled to the brim with tiny slips of paper. “I totally almost forgot.”

Troop’s hand shoots into the air with body-rolling enthusiasm. “What’s the prize, Miss Sava? You said it was worth five thousand big ones.”

Maggie’s cheeks flame with a blush. Something sheneversends my way.

She dips her hand into the bowl and mixes the slips of paper. Circling them. Playing with her rapt audience. “Tonight’s lucky winner will receive a complete Magnolia Sava dating package. From date selection to outfit advice, from talking point prep, and after-date discussion. My job will beto find your one true love.” She casts her eyes around the crowd. “I’ll help the winner speak to women. I’ll provide guidance on how best to approach her, from asking her out to deciding where to take her. Flower selection, restaurant bookings, even meal choices if that’s what he needs. If the winner lacks confidence when approaching the ladies, I’ll guide him through that. If he already has a lucky lady in mind, I’ll build the bridge and get him where he’d like to go. My entire life is wrapped around love, and I pride myself on finding matches that’ll last a lifetime.” She exhales a soft snicker. “And then I’ll gently needle for an invitation to the wedding.”

Everyone laughs.

Ha ha ha. She’s so cute, so funny, so charming.

Bleh!

“This will become a partnership of sorts, between our winner and me, and I won’t stop until I’ve created the perfect match. Second dates. Third. One-month anniversaries, and more. I’ll walk side-by-side with him until, eventually, a wedding planner steps in and takes over.”

“Arrogant?” Tommy quips. “Or confident?”

“I have a one-hundred percent success rate so far,” she declares.

The noise in the room grows, private conversations and side chatter buzz from one end of the long bookstore to the other.

“This is more than mashing two human beings together and hoping for the best,” she continues. “This is psychology and chemistry and connection. It’s happily ever after, which,” she gestures toward a smiling Alana, “makes tonight’s venue even more extraordinary. Take out your tickets, gentlemen. Tonight’s winner is about to become my best friend.”

Dudes frantically search their pockets. Half of them panic, because maybe they lost it at some point between champagne number one and now, and the other half stare at the small slip of paper like it’s a lottery ticket worth millions.

Maggie takes her hand from the bowl, sans-ticket, and extends the lot toward Alana. “Would you do the honors, Mrs. Watkins? This is your store, and your happily ever after is already so exquisite.”