Read Online Not Your Match by Lindzee Armstrong - Free Book Online Page B

limited as Andi poured ingredients and mixed the dough. Ben had to admit, she seemed like she knew what she was doing. He sank onto a barstool and allowed himself to relax as he watched her bake. This felt like Christmas—smiling faces, friendly conversation, and no stress. He hadn’t had this enjoyable of a holiday since his first Christmas with Whitney, when they’d only been dating a few months
    Andi hummed along to the music as she wiped down the counter, then sprinkled flour over it and rolled out dough.
    “Are you going to at least let me help cut out the cookies?” he asked.
    “I don’t know. Are you going to steal the glory when they turn out perfect?”
    He held up his hands. “You get complete credit. Cross my heart and hope to die.”
    “Good.” She pointed her rolling pin at him menacingly. “Rachel is fed up with me lately, and I need these cookies to get back on her good side. Wash your hands and I’ll let you help.”
    Ben rose and walked around the island to the sink. “Why are you on Rachel’s bad side?”
    Andi gave him a sideways glance. “She gave me an interesting Christmas present, and I’m not sure I was as appreciative as she expected me to be.”
    Ben raised an eyebrow. Rachel hadn’t mentioned this gift to him. “What kind of present?”
    “A gift certificate to a matchmaking company called Toujour.”
    Ben should’ve been surprised, but he wasn’t. “That sounds like Rachel. Is this matchmaking like online dating?”
    “No, it’s more of the Fiddler on the Roof variety.”
    Ben whistled. That sounded serious, like the people who signed up were looking for marriage. His nerves twinged uncomfortably. “I didn’t know that was still a thing.”
    “Me neither.”
    “So you don’t want to sign up?” Surely Andi couldn’t want that. Not now, when she’d just gone through a messy breakup.
    “Not even a little. I’m through with love. Seeing Mark today only reminded me of that.”
    Okay, so she definitely wasn’t looking for a husband. Or a relationship of any sort. That was fine, though. He wasn’t either. It made her the perfect friend. “So what are you going to do?”
    Andi sighed. “I think I have to sign up for Toujour. It’s the easiest way to absolve Rachel of her guilt.”
    So she’d be dating again, and soon. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
    She raised a shoulder. “Is anyone ever ready to get back out there?”
    “I guess not.”
    “I mean, you’re not ready to date again, are you?”
    “Of course not.” Not when he kept thinking about that text from Whitney. Not when a part of him longed to call her, just to hear her voice. To know she was okay.
    Andi placed the cookie sheet in the oven and set a timer. “Want to play a game while we wait?” Andi asked. “I got Jenga at the work white elephant gift exchange.”
    “Sure,” Ben said.
    So Andi would date again, and they would remain friends. That was perfectly fine. Better than fine, even.
    He would be the best darn friend Andi had ever had.

 
     
     
     
     
     

     
    Andi flipped through the photographs, her stomach curling at the evidence of infidelity. Her client suspected his wife was having an affair, and the private investigator Andi worked with regularly had found the proof.
    She flipped the photographs over, face-down on her desk so she wouldn’t have to look at the sickening images. She opened the file folder and read through the private investigator’s notes. As usual, he’d been meticulous. Andi had no doubt that with this evidence, her client would get more than his fair share of the assets, and not have to pay alimony to boot. She’d make sure of it.
    Andi picked up the phone and dialed her client’s number. The conversation went better than expected, and she hung up the phone only twenty minutes later. She stretched, looking at the clock. 4:52. In two hours she would be at her parents for a day-late Christmas dinner. Her dad would ask her about work. What would she