Mismatched

8. Ebony

When Ebony arrived outside Sinclair's, Jake's bike was already parked out front and he was nowhere to be seen. Exiting her car, she glanced at the carpark. It was sandstone, surrounded by native plants that had been carefully landscaped. The view to her left was breathtaking. It was so high that she could see the vast stretch of forest below, the suburbs beyond that, and the outline of Melbourne's cityscape against the dwindling twilight.

Ebony turned towards the restaurant. The main building was rendered with cream walls, while glass rooms sat on either side, bordered by dark timber. The second floor was all tinted windows and immaculately set tables. Patrons would have a prime view of the scenery. Ebony thought it strange that there were no customers, until she noticed the opening hours on the doors. The restaurant had closed at three and it would reopen at six. With half an hour to opening time, she imagined Jake to be rushing around with preparations. If she walked in now, it would only add to his pressure. She shouldn't have been nervous as she'd seen Jake ten minutes ago, but there was so much she didn't know about him—and so much she wanted to know about Jake Sinclair.

Taking a breath, Ebony smoothed her navy pencil dress and set her shoulders back, then marched through the doors.

A waiter dressed all in black approached, his smile putting her at ease. "You must be Ebony!"

She paused, shocked that the staff knew her by name. "I am. And you are?"

"Hi, I'm Johnny, and I'll be your waiter tonight."

"You will?" Ebony almost had a heart-attack. What had Jake told his staff? That they'd be having dinner? A date?

Sheepishly, Johnny rubbed his shaven head. "Disregard that last statement. Force of habit."

Ebony laughed. "That line just flows out of you every time someone walks through the door?"

"Pretty much."

"Good to know. You had me worried for a second. I'm not here for the food." She couldn't afford the food!

"I'll go find Jake for you."

"I'm after Bailey, actually." The less she saw of Jake the better.

Johnny frowned slightly, then he strode towards the back of the restaurant.

Bailey exited the kitchen. It was strange to see him in a different uniform, black shirt and pants, black apron with Sinclair's printed in the corner, his dreads tied back roughly. His smile was broad, charming, and she wondered if it was the same smile he'd used on her female clients while luring them from their dates. She was almost in two minds about her plan. Bailey was meant to be the nice guy—the perfect match for Zara. What if she was wrong? What if he turned out to be as bad as all the other men?

"Ebony!" he said, bracing her shoulders and kissing her on the cheek.

She stepped back, wondering when they'd become so familiar.

"Let me guess, you finally want to go on that date?" he asked, eyes glinting.

Ebony couldn't decide whether he was joking or not. "No. I'm here to ask a favour."

Slipping into business mode, he offered Ebony the nearest seat and rounded the table. Jake took the seat opposite—she hadn't seen him approach. Bailey gave Jake a dark look and sat in the next available chair. Having the two men across the table, Ebony felt as if she had walked into an interview.

"A favour always comes with a price," Bailey said.

Jake lifted a brow.

Ebony shifted her attention to Bailey. "I need you to join Kismet. Go on at least two dates with the woman you drove to the hospital."

"Zara's cute, but I can't afford that."

"It's free." Free for him, but it would cost Ebony a fortune.

"I'll do it as long as Jake joins up with me."

Jake looked as if he was about to protest, but Ebony cut in first, "I can't afford that. One of you, yes. But not both." Besides, she really couldn't stomach setting up Jake with another woman.

"Not to mention there is no frickin' way I'm joining a dating agency," Jake said.

Ebony sat taller. "It's a matchmaking agency."

Bailey slapped his friend on the back. "C'mon, man!"

"No," Jake said.

"Here's an idea," Bailey said, smiling at Ebony. "I join, but Jake has to go on at least the free trial date with somebody. He has to do the questionnaire at your office and be put into your database. If his trial date is a failure then we will move to clause two."

With a steely gaze, Ebony leaned forward. "And what is clause two?"

"For every date I go on, you have to go on a date with Jake."

She jolted back in her chair. "What?!"

A sinking feeling weighed in her stomach.

Jake leaned back in his chair, resting his hands behind his head. He seemed awfully comfortable with this deal. "I can agree to that."

Ebony couldn't believe her ears! She turned her mother's bracelet, then looked at Bailey. "I will only match dates with Jake that you've been on with Zara. If it turns out that Zara isn't for you, you're welcome to go on dates with other women, but our deal will be over."

"Agreed." Bailey reached over the table and shook Ebony's hand. "Jake and I will be at your office first thing tomorrow morning."

Jake's smile disappeared. "We do have work, remember?"

"You're the boss. I'm sure you can figure something out."

"Fine. Fine." Jake rubbed his brow with a sense of regret. Or maybe it was foreboding.

Ebony felt the same way, as she said to Bailey, "Tomorrow morning. And thank you."

Bailey laughed, waving it off as a bit of fun.

Jake was out of his chair as fast as Ebony, walking her to the exit as if he intended to leave, too. "You don't have to leave right away. You could have dinner..."

"Eating alone in a restaurant would feel a little weird."

"My shift ends in—" He glanced down at his watch. "Five minutes. I could join you."

Dinner with Jake... No. She had to remain strong. Her vow was at stake!

"Not a good idea," she said. "Not when you'll be joining the agency's database in the morning."

"You really want me to join Kismet?"

Ebony shrugged. The last thing she wanted was for Jake to join Kismet, even for a measly trial date. "You seemed happy with Bailey's deal a moment ago."

"Did I?" Jake rubbed his jaw, his eyes hardening. "Let's say I'm happy, then."

"Good."

"Good."

As Jake swung open the door for her, they were drawn closer. The tension between them grew as his gaze darkened, daring her to make the next move. Ebony clenched her fists, annoyed that she wanted to close the distance. Before she knew it, she was stepping closer, bringing her inches from Jake. The surprise in his eyes made her step back. She felt stupid, like she was stumbling around in the dark. As she began to walk out the door, his hand brushed hers, but she wasn't about to look back. She kept on walking, out into the night.

The door closed behind her with a thud.

Jake had given up.

Ebony should have been relieved, but as she drove home she wondered how the night would have unfolded if she'd stayed at Sinclair's. All scenarios ended with Ebony breaking her vow.

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