The Dating Experiment (The Experiment, #2)(50)

I paused. “Would it be acceptable if I did have business cards?”

Dom paused, halfway through opening some rice. “You have business cards with you?”

I patted my purse. “I always keep business cards with me. You never know when you might need them. Like now.” Another sweet grin stretched across my lips.

He put down the tub of rice and stared at me. With a completely straight face, he said, “You know what? If I wasn’t already in love with you, this would go down as the worst date ever.”

I pointed at him. “You started that when you showed up early.”

He waved his hands. “Still not acceptable to hijack someone’s date to tout our business.”

I pouted.

“If she leaves first, chase her. If he leaves, grab one of the donuts from the other bag and drop it so you can slip a card in her purse.” He grinned, reaching for the other bag. He pulled out a small, brown paper bag. “Just in case.”

I opened the bag and saw a bunch of mini donuts inside. My lips curved to the side as I peered up at him through my lashes.

Huh.

Maybe this wasn’t so insane after all. I mean, he got me, didn’t he? He understood how my mind worked. And maybe it was totally crazy to tout our services to a random woman on a bad date—all right, there was no maybe about it—but it was fun.

“He’s leaving,” Dom muttered. “Quick, get me a card.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to flirt the card into her purse.”

I bristled. “You are not.”

He grinned. “Does that annoy you?”

I glared at him. “I have a better idea.” I dug through my purse to find the stack of cards I kept in a holder. I slipped one out and, holding it between my fingers, wiggled it at him. “I’ll be right back.”

“Weirdest fucking date ever,” he said under his breath as I jumped up.

“Heard that.”

“Good.”

I shook my head and tentatively approached the young woman on the bench. “Hi,” I said.

She turned toward me, her frustrated look turning to one of confusion. “Hi. Do I know you?”

“No…Do you mind if I join you for a moment? Or is your date coming back?”

“Lord, I hope not.” She motioned to the bench and smoothed her dark, frizzy hair back from her face. “Take a seat.”

“Thanks. Bad date?” I sat down.

“The worst. All he talked about was his ex-wife. How she’d claimed custody of the dog he owned before her, how she was claiming support she wasn’t entitled to, how he knew she cheated on him but couldn’t prove it and yadda yadda yadda.” She rolled dark eyes. “Whatever. I’m so over this, you know? How hard is it to find someone who can have a nice dinner with you?”

“Well, that’s actually why I approached you,” I said hesitantly. “I overheard your conversation with him, and I felt so bad for you.”

She eyed me skeptically.

“My name is Chloe, and I own the dating company, Stupid Cupid.”

Her mouth opened. “Oh! I’ve heard of you! My friend used you, but I was wary.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Here. Take my card. Just say I spoke to you in the park, and I can book you in for a free consultation.”

“Really?” Her face lit up.

“Really.”

She took the card. “Thanks. That’s so kind. I’m Hannah.”

“Nice to meet you.” We shared a smile. “I have to get back to my date, but we’ll speak soon?”

“You skipped your date to give me this?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “He’s my business partner. He had a vested interest in this.”

She laughed and nodded. “We’ll speak soon, then.”

I got up, waved, and went back over to Dom. He had a mouthful of shrimp when I joined him.

“’Ell?” he asked me.

I wrinkled my face. “Do you always speak to your dates with your mouth full of food?”

“Only the ones I’ve slept with,” he said, smirking at me. “Well? Did she take it?”

“You didn’t watch?”

He scoffed. “No. I was hungry, and you were taking too long.”

“Your manners suck.” I picked up another tray of shrimp and a plastic fork. “Yes, she took it. I offered her a free consultation if she said we spoke in the park. Her name is Hannah.”

“Hey, that’s not a bad idea,” Dom said, pointing his fork at me. “Free consultations.”

I inclined my head toward him. I had a mouthful of food, and I wasn’t nearly as rude as he was. I swallowed, then said, “You know what would be fun?”

“I don’t think I want to,” he replied slowly.

I put down my food and leaned forward. “We should look for people on bad dates and give them our cards!”

“That sounds like a terrible idea.”

“Why? We give them free consultations, but they have to pay to be matched if we can find them a date. It’s genius, Dom!”

“I wish I’d never said the consultations were a good idea,” he groaned. “Chloe…”