It's Complicated

By J. S. Cooper

My big Greek family wants me to find a husband. I have a year to find a boyfriend or my grandma is going to ship me off to Greece to marry a fisherman in a small village. And I do not want that to happen.

 

I decided to use up all the money on my credit cart to  join a high-end dating service in the hopes of meeting Mr. Right.

 

I wasn't to know that my Mr. Right might very well not be looking for his perfect match, but not that's not going to stop me. I'm going to find love, no matter how complicated it ends up being.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. S. Cooper
• Release date: Dec 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393952008

J. S. Cooper

J.S. Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of multiple indie-published books, including the Ex Games series, the Private Club series, and the Martelli Brothers series. Born in London, she now lives in the US, where she is currently working on the next book in the Swept Away series.

Book preview

Prologue

I, Gemma Doukas, never expected to be the girl in the middle of a love triangle. I certainly never expected to be in the middle of two guys who didn’t realize they were competing against each other. And I certainly didn’t expect to be in a house with both of them at the same time, waiting downstairs for me to come and join them. I was in hot water. And I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.

There’s something really special about New Year’s Eve. It holds the promise of a million dreams coming true in the new year. It signals a new beginning, a fresh start, and endless possibilities. New Year’s Eve signals that everything is alright in the world and you’re just one day away from having the most exciting year of your life.

I looked out of the window and stared at the sky above. In just a couple of hours, there’d be fireworks going off. Reds, blues, greens, yellows, and purples setting the night sky on fire while the dewy lawn was filled with people cheering, kissing, holding hands, and jumping around in excitement. And here I was, sitting in this room, hiding out, nervous, worried, and if I was honest, just a little bit terrified.

Just a couple of months ago, I’d been single and hoping to meet one nice guy to date. One sweet, charming, handsome guy that would sweep me off of my feet. And I’d done just that. I’d met the best guy in the world, the sexiest guy in the world. But the only problem was, I hadn’t just met one, but two great guys. I didn’t even know how it was possible that two such amazing men existed, let alone both of them wanted me. My heart hadn’t skipped so many times in one night. I looked down at my watch, time was running out. I’d never expected for my dating adventure to lead me to this place. I never expected both of my men to know each other. And now they were both here in this house with me tonight.

I swallowed hard. I was in a world of trouble.  A big, big world of trouble and I didn’t know how I was going to get myself out of it. I sat there for a couple more minutes thinking about what I was going to wear for the evening. Before I’d come on the trip, I’d had a plan, a beautiful silky silver dress that emphasized all the right spots that was sexy and sweet, that would drive any man crazy. The problem was I’d been only meaning to drive one man crazy, not two.

As I looked at the different dresses in my suitcase, I heard a knock on the door. I froze. I didn’t want to speak to anyone right now. Before I knew what was happening, a note was slid under the door. I walked over to the door slowly, bent down and picked it up. I walked back over to the bed, nervous to open it. Who was it from? And what would it say?

I was just about to open it when I heard another knock on the door and this time a familiar voice said, Gemma, are you there?

I held my breath. I didn’t even want him to hear me breathing. Of course, they both knew I was in the room, but they thought I was taking a nap.

And then one more knock. Gemma?

I heard him try to open the door, but I’d locked it. Thank God for that. The handle turned a couple more times, and then I saw another note slip under the door. I waited a little longer before I went to retrieve the new note. After a few minutes, I thought it was safe. I walked over, bent down and picked up the note and walked back over to the bed. I looked at the two notes in my hands, one in my left and one in my right.

I opened the note I’d gotten first and read it quickly. Gemma, I’m looking forward to tonight. What made you decide to come over? Let’s go into the new year with a bang. All my love and kisses, Lucas. P.S. I hope there will be kisses other than in pen. I smiled at the note and laughed to myself. He really was a sweet guy.

I opened the second note and it read, Gemma, I hope you’re feeling okay. I think I know what’s going on. I’m going to make you mine all night long. So get ready. Connor.

Oh shit. I dropped both of the notes on the bed. I didn’t know what I was going to do, who I was going to choose. And if Lucas and Connor found out exactly what was going on, would either one of them want me after this?

Chapter 1

DATING AGENCY PERSONALITY FORM

Name: Gemma Doukas. I will not reveal my middle name, it is too embarrassing.

Age: 28. I’m a Virgo. Would prefer no Aquarius, Pisces or Gemini please, though I’m not super picky. 

Job: I work at a museum in research. I know that makes me sound boring, so feel free to say I’m a model. Catalog though, not runway. I’m not tall or skinny enough for the runway.

Description: I’m 5’6", a slightly curvy 150lbs, hoping to lose 20lbs before my first date. Aiming to start keto on Monday, so feel free to say 140 if you think that will help. Long brown hair, green eyes. Natural golden olive tan, due to my Greek heritage. Yes, the Greek heritage means I’m a bit hairier than most, think a lot of daily plucking, but that’s just between us. I get a wax weekly and yes, ouch. No need to tell any potential mates that though. 

Likes: history, books, movies, tennis, long walks on warm beaches, wine bars, comedy clubs, flowers, surprise gifts (think Tiffany’s and not Dollar General), cupcakes (a date at Magnolia Bakery would just be the sweetest, pun intended), concerts (I’ve seen both Ed Sheeran and John Legend five times, but feel free to state varied music tastes), hot sex (don’t include that if it makes me seem easy or slutty, I really am a classy girl).

Dislikes: Cauliflower (who the hell likes it), leather pants (I wear them because they make my ass look hot, but no, they are not comfortable), back seat drivers, anything related to politics, anal plugs (haven’t tried one, but just doesn’t seem like it would feel good), normal dating apps that don’t take my wishes into consideration (yes, I’m sucking up for some great matches please).

What are you looking for: Love, sex, intelligence (imagine me singing, ha ha). All joking aside, I’m looking for a long-term relationship with the right man. I know I might have to kiss a lot of frogs, but I’d rather not have to kiss any toads, please. Would also like a man that doesn’t feel intimidated being around a large Greek family, as my family is large and Greek and will be in all of his business. I would like to have kids one day, so someone open to that. Other than that, I’m pretty easy and flexible. Just make sure he’s hot, above 5’11", earns a good wage (this is Manhattan, so you know what that means), and has a great sense of humor. Oh yeah, someone that is also monogamous. I’m not looking for any players. Just a one woman guy, please.

They say you should be really careful what you wish for, and I never really understood that sage advice until recently. Christmas wishes are my favorite and not just because I absolutely adore the Christmas season. Yes, it’s my favorite time of the year, but that’s because it’s also the best, and most wonderful time in my family. We love to celebrate Christmas as one big loud boisterous unit, but now that I’m older, I’m a little bit fed up with my uncles and my aunts, my grandparents, my parents, and even my siblings asking me why I didn’t have someone to bring to the many annual Christmas parties that we Doukas clan host. 

If another relative asks me, Gemma, why are you still single? Or makes a comment like, A beautiful girl like you, she should have a man. Do we have to go to the old country to find you someone?

I always rolled my eyes and laughed, but I knew they were serious. Time was running out for me. Both of my grandparents still had a lot of relatives in Greece, and I knew if I gave them the word, they’d hook me up faster than I could say yes Papu and Yaya.

That was the only negative part of coming from a big Greek family. They were always in your business, and when I say they, I mean every single family member; down to the Yaya’s dog Minnie, who couldn’t see or hear anymore.

But now I’ve taken my dating status into my own hands. One, because they were right and two because I didn’t want to find myself engaged to some old fisherman in some Greek village. I wanted someone to take home for Christmas to show my family that I’m not as pathetic as they think I am. I also want someone to spend Valentine’s day with. Someone who’d fly me to exotic places, kiss me under countless stars, buy me lots of thoughtful presents. Yes, I know that sounds a little superficial, but who didn’t like presents? Yes, I could afford to buy myself a tennis bracelet if I used my credit card, and it would only take me about five years to pay it off, but how much nicer (and cheaper) would it be for some tall strapping handsome man to say to me, Here, Gemma. Merry Christmas or Happy Valentine’s Day, this gift is to show you how much I value you. Yeah, I know. I like to daydream, but my daydreams (as well as the Doukas clan) were the impetus that got me to sign up for an exclusive dating agency to send me my perfect matches.

I live in New York City, and while there are plenty of men, there are not plenty of good men. I’ve been on all the usual free dating sites, and well, let’s just say free doesn’t always equal good. I’ve gone on a lot of dates with a lot of really crappy guys, hence the reason I’m still single. I’m relatively attractive at five-foot-six, one-hundred-fifty pounds. I have a pretty nice body. I’m not a supermodel, and I don’t have a six-pack and never will, but I think I look pretty good. I’ve got very long brown hair that is my pride and joy. My eyes are an aquamarine green, that I highlight with the blackest mascara I can find. I’ve been known to spend forty dollars on a tube, but there’s no price too high for beauty, am I right? The mascara seems to work because I’ve been told I have beautiful eyes. Okay, that’s what my dad says. He calls me his beautiful green-eyed girl, but I’ll take it. I need all the compliments I can get. 

I decided to sign up with One True Love dating agency, even though the prices were exorbitant. It cost me two thousand dollars. Yes, you read that correctly. Not twenty. Not two hundred. Two thousand dollars. Yeah. I don’t really have that kind of money to pay for a dating agency, but I do have a credit card.

Instead of buying myself that diamond bracelet for Christmas, I decided to treat myself to this membership because hey, if I did wind up with a boyfriend before next Christmas, it would have been worth it. And my new boyfriend would take me on a shopping spree at Tiffany’s or Cartier and it will all work out. I sound like a gold digger, don’t I? Like I only care about meeting a rich man who can buy me expensive gifts. That’s the furthest from the truth. I would date just about anyone. Well, that’s not exactly true. He has to be tall. I’m thinking five-foot-eleven or above. Yeah, I’m only five-foot-six, but I’d like a tall guy. He has to be in shape, and when I say in shape, I mean, abs that go on for days. I know that’s totally superficial of me, especially seeing as I have no abs to talk of myself, but hey, there’s nothing like running your fingers down washboard abs that can turn you on in seconds, no matter what type of day you’ve had.

I want him to have beautiful eyes. I didn’t care about the color. Just so long as they were sparkly, and whenever they looked at me I felt something tingling inside. He had to have nice lips of course, and strong muscular arms. I wanted him to wrap his arms around me, and make me feel like no one could ever hurt me. Yeah, I was asking for a lot, but hey, if the dating agency said they could deliver, who was I to say no? I uploaded about five different photographs of myself. All of them very good shots. I didn’t believe in uploading any fugly pics to show my true side. He could see that the next morning after we had hot sex, thank you very much.

Nope, I went with five very natural staged shots. I asked my best friend, Sarah to take them for me. She couldn’t believe that I was going through so much trouble for a dating agency profile. Maybe because she’d never been on one herself, but I think that’s because she’s got a thing for her best friend. Her other best friend, the male one, not me; but that’s another story.

Sarah is a gifted photographer and took some very flattering photos of me that I uploaded, and then I filled out the dating profile. I looked at the long list of questions, and took a deep breath. Answering these questions would take all night, but I knew I could do it. After I filled out the questions, I hit submit and waited, wondering how soon it would take for me to start receiving some match emails. What I liked about the site was that it used an internal algorithm that matched you up to potential matches almost instantly, Then the guys checked out their matches and decided whether they had an interest in you, or not. If they had an interest in you, you would receive an email from them and you could express whether you had an interest in them. Then the company would actually set up a date for you, which I thought was pretty cool because let’s be real, most guys do not know how to plan a good first date.

No, I don’t want to go for another coffee at a crowded coffee shop with no pastries and listen to you chat up the barista. No, I don’t want to meet you in a seedy bar for a drink, so you can try and get me drunk and run your greasy hands up my thigh, and no, I’m not coming over to your place for a free massage with coconut oil you bought in Thailand. Yes, these have all been previous dates. And that’s why I didn’t want to stay with those cheap dating services anymore. Yes, I’ve met some nice guys, but I’m also not about to get down and dirty with any guy that’s sharing a studio apartment with five other guys. It would be really nice to date a guy that lived by himself. I was too old to date a guy with roommates. At twenty-eight years old, I was looking for a guy older than me, and any guy older than me should have his own place, and preferably not a studio. I know it’s expensive to live in Manhattan, but a one-bedroom isn’t too much to ask for, is it?

And yes, I would prefer for him to live in Manhattan. I definitely wasn’t going to date a guy in Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island. They were out for sure, but I may be ok with some parts of Brooklyn. There were some nice parts, maybe if he lived in Prospect Park, Williamsburg, or Park Slope. That could work. I wasn’t a fan of Dumbo or Bed-Stuy. I’m not picky. Yeah. I know. I sound rather picky. Now you’re saying to yourself, I know why she’s single, her expectations are out of this world. I know you’re thinking that because that’s exactly what my grandparents tell me every time I visit them and have to tell them I’m still ringless. They say I’m far too picky. They say, Hey, if a guy brings you some olive oil, and some olives, and some sardines, and some bread, who are you to say no? Thank God for me. No guy had ever brought me any of those things, because if they had my grandparents would have me married off before you could say agape three times, which is love, in Greek.

But I, Gemma Doukas, am ready to find Mr. Right. That’s my Christmas wish. And I promise not to be too picky or judgmental. I just want one good man. Is that too much to ask for?

Chapter 2

S o Gemma, you’ve actually done it? Sarah grinned at me as we ate our lunch of Caesar salads and rolls. I’d really wanted a pizza, but if I was going to be headed out on dates I needed to look my best and pizza wasn’t going to get me there. You joined that exclusive dating agency?

Yeah, I did it. I know I said I wasn’t going to join because I said I wanted to save money, but hey what do savings matter when it comes to love?

Yeah, love is much more important than money.

I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m willing to be a bad girl for love. I laughed, while ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach at the thought of my credit card bill.

Hey, you’re not really bad. I can think of far worse things. Sarah laughed. And this is an awesome step. I’m so proud that you finally joined a dating app that you think can really work. Reach for the stars, girl.

I mean, I just hope it works. It better work for two thousand dollars. That is just so much money! I shook my head. I’m so broke now.

Don’t worry, girl, I’ve got lunch today. Sarah took a sip of her water. So feel free to order whatever else you want.

Oh, you don’t have to do that. I shook my head. I’m not that broke. I can afford lunch.

No, I want to. And I owe you anyway. You promised you’d help me, right?

What did I promise to help you with again?

You promised you would help me with my makeover.

Oh yeah, of course, I’m definitely on top of that. I will find the best makeup artist for you and a hairdresser. I looked at her dull, long brown hair. I think some highlights would really make you pop.

What do you mean, make me pop?

I think they’ll warm up your complexion. They’ll make you look gorgeous. I stared at my friend, who was very naturally pretty but didn’t know how to make the best of what she had. And after I get my man, we’ll get you a man too.

Oh Gemma, you’re the best! Sarah grabbed another roll and chewed happily. I knew she wanted a boyfriend as badly as I did. So have you had any responses from any guys yet?

Actually, I’ve had twenty-five responses in one day, I said ecstatically. Can you believe it? These are all top-notch guys, not like some Joe Schmo that works at Starbucks.

What’s wrong with working at Starbucks?

Come on now, Sarah, would you date a guy that works at Starbucks?

Maybe. Then he could hook me up with mocha Frappuccinos every day.

You’re the last person that needs to be hooked up with mocha Frappuccinos. You’re loaded. I smiled at Sarah and tried not to be envious of the fact that she was the only child of millionaires and as such had more money than she knew what to do with. She never tried to make me feel bad about the fact that she had so much money though. She was practically American royalty along with her other best friend, Harry Parker Huntington, who, if I was honest, I didn’t really like. I wanted to tell her to ditch him because he was an arrogant, cocky asshole, but I knew that would never happen.

So let me hear about some of these guys’ profiles. Any winners?

Well, I don’t know if we have time, right now. I haven’t even looked at them myself, and I have to get back to the office in about twenty minutes. We’ve got a video meeting this afternoon with a Danish guy that’s in the Amazon right now. He has discovered some new artifacts from one of the Amerindian tribes in Brazil. I think the Arawaks.

Oh cool. She looked interested. I’d love to hear more about that as well. Maybe we could grab dinner sometime?

That sounds like a plan to me. I would absolutely love that.

Okay, perfect. And you said I could also come to your Christmas office party, right? She looked at me, hopefully. You know, I would absolutely love to get a job with you.

Really, Sarah? I raised an eyebrow. I work at the American Museum of Natural History. You love British history and I’m not sure you’ll enjoy what we do. I paused. I didn’t want to burst her bubble. Sarah was one of my best friends from grad school. We’d both studied history and been in a couple of different classes together, though I was more focused on anthropology and she was more focused on Tudor England. I’d gotten a job right away, but she had struggled to find any work and I knew that she was upset and worried about her prospects. Granted, she didn’t have to worry about a paycheck like most of us, so she wasn’t that worried. But I knew she wanted to be able to stand on her own two feet and not keep accepting money from her parents.

Maybe. She shrugged. But let’s talk about my job woes another time. So what are you looking for in a man?

You know what I’m looking for? I’m looking for a man that is tall, dark and handsome. Someone who’s really good in bed, who can make me come all night long. I giggled as her eyes widened. I loved to say things that got a reaction from people. Maybe it was because in my family, nothing ever shocked anyone.

Oh my God. 

Sorry, Sarah, I know you’re a virgin. I grinned at her shocked face. I’m just being honest though. I’m too young to be with a man that goes for ten minutes and then starts snoring.

Shush, she whispered at me, looking around the restaurant, her face going red. I want a guy that’s good in the bedroom as well. You’re not the only one.

I know, but I need it so badly right now. I’m in a drought. It has been over a year since I’ve had sex. Can you believe that? I shook my head. It’s absolutely ridiculous. I need to meet a man and I need to meet a man like right now. I laughed. The hope is that one of these twenty-five men will be the lucky guy to take my born again virginity.

Oh, Gemma.

I know, I know I’m crass, aren’t I? I grinned. I blame it on my Greek heritage.

You can’t blame everything on your Greek heritage, Gemma. Sarah giggled.

Oh yeah? You wanna bet? I had a sip of water. Okay. So do you want to meet for dinner tonight then? You can come over and then we can look through some of these profiles.

Yeah, that sounds great. She paused. Though Harry said he might wanna—

Nope, I interrupted her. Unless he’s already made plans with you, you’re coming over. You don’t have to sit around and wait for him to come over.

I know, I know. But you know, he’s—

No, Sarah, you’re not his doormat, okay? He really takes you for granted.

I know. She let out a long sigh.

I’m going to help you find a good guy. I smiled at her. Or you know what? Maybe you’ll meet a hot guy in England. You know the curators in the British museum have an interest in you. Remember our old professor McGuiness said that?

Yeah, that’s true. She looked thoughtful. I guess I’ll see what happens. So your place tonight?

Yeah, come over to my place, maybe seven, then we can look through the profiles and you can help me set up some dates.

Oh wow, so once you say yes, the next step is automatically going on dates?

Well, basically all of these guys indicated an interest in me and sent me messages. So the guys that I like, once I say I like them back, will automatically set up dates. Which the guys automatically pay for. So I don’t have to worry about any of those age-old dating questions of what should we do and should I go Dutch? This dating agency is very old-fashioned and they believe that the man should pay for the first date.

Oh, that’s really cool.

Yeah, I’m pretty excited, like supposedly some of these guys set up some really cool first dates. Like one girl went on a hot air balloon ride, another girl got flown to Paris.

No way!

Yeah, I mean, I don’t expect to get flown to Paris or anything because it’s not like I’m going to be giving it up, but hey, I wouldn’t mind someone flying me to LA. Maybe go to like a movie premiere or something.

That would be really cool. Do you think there’s like a lot of A-list actors and directors on there then?

Oh, I’m sure. It costs two thousand dollars for the women, but it was about ten grand for the men to join, so you know the sort of guys that are going to be paying ten grand. Directors, movie stars, musicians, hotshots, you name it, Wall Street bankers. Shit, I wouldn’t even be surprised if the President was on there or something.

The President’s married, Gemma.

I know, I know. Maybe not the President then, maybe the Vice President or you know, any other politicians, whatever, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re on there as well.

I thought you said you weren’t into politics?

I’m not into politics, can’t you tell? So I would give those politicians a big no, but hey... I shrugged. You just never know if they’re hot and they’re interested in me.

Oh Gemma, you’re too much.

I know, but all I need is one guy that thinks I’m just enough, and then it will be all fine and dandy. I was eating another roll when I heard my phone ping again. I grabbed it and looked at the screen, I had a message from my boss who was asking me where I was. He wanted me to come in so that I could finish getting a presentation ready for the next day.

Oh my God, I am so fed up with work, I groaned. I feel like all I’m doing is researching and writing, researching and writing.

But that’s what you love.

Yeah, I love it but I mean, all research and writing makes Gemma a dull girl. I groaned again. I have to look for cute clothes for my dates. And I also wanted to get my hair done, and I wanted to get some new makeup. I mean, if I have a date this weekend, I have nothing to wear.

You have loads of outfits, Gemma, you go shopping almost every weekend.

I know, but I don’t have anything special to wear. I mean, I want to look hot. I twirled my hair in my fingers and smiled at her. This is when you say you look hot already, Gemma.

I know, but you know that’s true. She grinned. You are one of the most gorgeous girls I’ve ever seen in my life, and you’re naturally beautiful. It’s like you don’t even have to try. She looked wistful. I mean, you could be a model.

Actually, in my profile, I put that. I laughed.  If the agency didn’t want to say I worked in a museum, I said they could say that I was a model, but I had to clarify, catalog not runway because there’s no way I could strut my stuff on the runway. I mean, I’d love to but there’s no way that I can. I laughed. Though hey, I blame my parents for that. If my mom had married a taller guy, then not only would I be beautiful, I’d be super tall as well, I stared at Sarah’s laughing face. The girl was practically in hysterics. Oh my God, I sound like a total and utter bitch, don’t I?

You don’t sound like a bitch, just someone who’s confident.

Yeah, I guess. But if I saw someone talking like me, I’d think they were a bitch. I should rein it in because I don’t want to scare any guys off. You know how guys take everything so seriously. They might not realize I’m joking around.

That’s true. You want them to think you’re all sweet and nice and modest.

I mean, I am sweet and I am nice, but I’m not the most modest person in the world. But then with a family like mine, I can’t afford to be because if I don’t blow my own trumpet, no one else is going to do it.

"That’s true. So are you planning on going on a date this weekend?"

Well, let’s see. I’d love to. If a guy wants to take me out, I’m down.

What if multiple guys are into you? She grinned. What will you do then?

I mean, I’m only in the beginning process. I’m going to go on plenty of dates and if multiple guys are into me, hey, that’s cool because then I have lots of options and I can see who is the best guy for me.

Would you have sex with all of them? I could tell that she was really curious about my answer the way her blue eyes were gazing into mine.

I don’t think I’d have sex with all of them, I said softly, lowering my voice, I didn’t want anyone at the next table to hear me. I mean, that would be kind of weird. And you know how I feel about being protected when I have sex.

Yeah. She nodded. You always say that’s a big thing.

Yeah, I’m very careful, especially in this day and age. You really do need to be careful. So I don’t know that I’d have sex with all of them, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t do certain things. I winked at her.

Oh Gemma, what would you do?

I mean, of course, I’d make out. Making out is nothing.

Of course, she said.

And, you know, maybe I’d let them have a little hand action.

Oh yeah? She laughed. Up or down?

Maybe both. I laughed, feeling slightly guilty. Is that bad? Would I be a slut if I let a guy, multiple guys touch me in intimate ways? I whispered across the table to her.

No, I don’t think so. I mean, how many guys let many different women give them blow jobs, right? Do we judge them?

Exactly. I’m sure these guys most probably get blow jobs and hand jobs all the time. Maybe a different blow job or hand job from a different girl every night. No one’s judging them. So why should I be judged if I let a guy grope my breasts or even finger me? Oops! I glanced at her red face. Am I making you embarrassed, Sarah?

No, I’m not a total child, you know, Gemma. I have done things. Yeah, I haven’t done everything but not because I don’t want to but because I’ve been so focused on my studies. You know how it is?

Yeah. I guess that’s true. Sarah was one of my best friends, but she was also slightly younger than me. Sarah was twenty-three while I was twenty-eight and she’d never really had a serious boyfriend. Though I was going to help her change that.

Yeah, so I wouldn’t go all the way. I mean, would I let multiple guys go down on me? Hell, yeah. I grinned. I realized that I’d been slightly too loud because I heard a gasp from the table to the right. I looked and an old lady was glaring at me, judging me with her eyes. Oops! But yeah, let’s continue this conversation later tonight. I don’t think I want to get us kicked out of here just yet.

Sounds good to me. She looked excited. I can’t wait to hear all about these dates. I bet you’re going to have the most amazing time. This is going to be the best Christmas ever.

You know what, Sarah? I was thinking just the same thing. I was thinking that I’m going to be on Santa’s naughty list for sure, but I really don’t mind.

Chapter 3

Top Five Dating Match Candidates

Candidate #1

Name: Lucas A

Age: 32

Message: Good Afternoon Gemma, I saw your profile on the app and I have to say you’re stunning. I would very much like to take you on a date. I am a corporate attorney, though I promise you that I’m not as boring as that sounds. How do you feel about a cupcake and hot chocolate date?

Candidate #2

Name: Mark F

Age: 33

Message: Gorgeous. You are absolutely gorgeous. Please thank Zeus for letting your profile cross my screen today. I’m 33, an ex-football player, now I dabble in stocks. I’m ready to start a family and ready to start practicing to start a family as well. Would love to travel the Greek islands with a goddess such as yourself.

Candidate #3

Name: Pierre L

Age:35

Message: Bonjour, I am originally from Marseilles, France, but have lived in the USA for 15 years. I enjoy fine wine, rare steaks, dark chocolate and the love of a good woman. Your profile told me you are a woman of substance and if you would like to be swept off of your feet, allow me to take you on the date of your dreams.

Candidate #4

Name: Connor A

Age: 30

Message: Hey there, I’m still laughing that I’ve been matched with a woman that loves Ed Sheeran. I can’t stand his shit music. There, I said it. I hope you like honest men. I won’t pretend to like things you like just to make you happy, but I promise I can expand your world view and I’d start by taking you to a jazz club to introduce you to a whole new world of real music. If you