Olivia
Date six.
I don’t remember the last time I went on six dates with a man.
Other than when I was with Ross, but that was different.
We met on a dating app of all things; all gas and no brakes.
It has a lot to do with the reason I loathe online dating.
We didn’t have individual dates. We met and almost immediately spent all our time together.
Unfortunately, when you let yourself get love-bombed, red flags can easily be mistaken for Cupid’s heart-tipped arrows.
All that aside, this is new for me. And that’s a bit crazy considering the fact that I am not supposed to be dating Luca Laurent.
I mean, yes, we are supposed to be going on dates, but not dating.
And yet, right now, that’s not really at the forefront of my mind.
The only thing living rent-free in that space right now is this hotel room with its oversized bed, walk-in shower, jetted soaking tub, and pool with a swim-up bar.
I change into my swimsuit, a yellow bikini I bought as soon as he told me we were going to Miami.
I don the suit with an oversized floppy hat, a see-through swim cover, and strappy sandals.
I slather coconut-scented suntan lotion all over my body.
I don’t even care how obvious it is that I am a tourist. I have no idea how long this luxury is going to last, and I intend to take full advantage of it.
Hell, I might even write any of my expenses off on my taxes because technically, since I am doing this for podcast content, it counts as a work trip.
Luca isn’t letting me pay for a single thing, including the trail mix I bought at the airport.
I smile. Being doted on doesn’t suck. Our “relationship” is kind of a reverse Kate Hudson slash Matthew McConaghy scenario.
I’m chuckling to myself as I set my things down on top of one of the lounge chairs by the pool. After that, I shed the hat, the shades, my sandals, and the suit cover before heading over to the pool.
The water feels amazing, cool enough to be refreshing, warm enough not to chill.
I thank Maybelline for waterproof mascara before dipping under the water, popping up near the swim-up bar.
I’m not sure you actually have to swim up to it; most people wade.
Of course, most people have done this before.
I have not. I’m taking advantage of every ounce of the experience.
After ordering some fruity, tiny umbrella-garnished drink that literally tastes like candy, I charge it to the room and make my way back to my things. Just as I sit down, my phone buzzes.
“Hey Sadie,” I smile as I take a sip.
“Hey! How’s it going?” There is enthusiasm in her tone, but it feels sugar-coated. I doubt she’s loving that the research part of this has me sitting by a pool in Florida.
“I am currently lounging by a pool in a bikini with a drink in my hand,” I tell her. “I can’t really complain.”
“Ugh, I hate you,” she mutters, but I just giggle.
“Sorry. I wish you were here.”
“If I were there, you wouldn’t be there because Luca wouldn’t be there,” she says.
“True,” I say, taking another sip.
“So where is Luca, anyways?” she asks.
“Working,” I say. “Introductory meeting, I think. He told me to hang out until he gets back. So that’s what I am doing. Hanging out.”
“Well, just don’t forget why you’re there,” she says.
Ah yes. The plot. Pesky little thing.
“I haven’t forgotten anything,” I say. “We are going out tonight. I am dating him. Going along with everything.”
“Are you?” she asks. “Because in some ways it feels like you’re dating him.”
“I am dating him,” I say. “I’m supposed to be dating him.”
“No. You’re supposed to be letting him believe you are dating so when he puts his guard down you can squash him like a bug,” she says. I can’t help the sigh that escapes my throat. I know she hears it. “You’re still going along with the plan, right?”
“Currently, I am having a cocktail by the pool,” I say. “I’m following his lead, just like we talked about.”
“As long as his lead doesn’t lead you to the bedroom where you’ll forget why we are doing this,” she says.
I’m a little annoyed when Sadie talks about the Luca and Livv situation now. She’s my best friend. I know I’m supposed to be exposing the catfish of the dating world, but I’m not so sure Luca is one. And I’m getting a little tired of being told how to feel.
“I promise that if he is an ass, I will expose it,” I say.
“You mean when he is an ass,” she corrects me, and I bite my lip.
No. I meant if.
“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” she asks.
“Dinner,” I say.
“Where?” she presses, and I laugh a little.
“I don’t know.”
“Is it fancy? Low key? Business? Private?”
“Sadie,” I stop her. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask. If I press too much, he’s going to know something is up. Right now, I am just going with the flow. I’ll let you know where we end up, what kind of place it is, how many people are there, even what I order for dinner if you want.”
“Okay, okay,” she sighs. “Sorry. I’m just jealous, I guess.”
I smile empathetically. “I know. And I’m sorry. I’ll bring you a gift,” I offer.
“Like a sexy man, about six-three, with an impossibly sharp jawline and money to burn on his adoration for me?” she asks.
“I was thinking a shot glass or a shell necklace, but I’ll do my best,” I say, and she lets out another sigh.
“Fine. Just don’t forget about me,” she says.
“Never,” I promise.
We hang up, and I go back to basking in the sun.
It’s amazing how easy it is to leave the world behind you in a place like this.
After my drink is empty and my skin is adequately sun-kissed, I make my way back up to the hotel to shower.
I have no idea what Luca has in store for tonight, but based on everything else, I have no doubt it’s going to be over the top.
As I rummage through my suitcase looking for a dress to wear, the door opens and Luca walks in. His eyes scan over my swimsuit more than once, and something flickers in his eyes. He runs his hand through his hair and turns to set his things down.
“Have fun at the pool?” he asks.
“It was lovely. But I definitely need a shower before dinner,” I say. “I was about to do that now.”
“Don’t bother,” he says, crossing the room to stand in front of me. I swallow hard, suddenly aware of every nerve in my body.
“No?” I ask softly. “Did you have something else in mind?”
I’m not supposed to sleep with him.
Well, I’m supposed to make him want to sleep with me. Then I’m supposed to hunt him down, accuse him of using me, and ask what his agenda is.
Do I care if he uses me?
“Dinner is actually going to be at a beach party,” he says.
“A beach party. Of course,” the words stumble out of my mouth along with a clumsy smile. There is a beat of awkward silence where Luca studies me curiously. His lips twitch in what I’ve come to learn is his version of amusement, and he takes a step back.
“You can shower and change if you want. I’m not going to tell you what to do. But considering we are just going to be in the sand, I think you’re dressed pretty appropriately. If you throw on a dress or a cover or something…”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Luca is stumbling over his words. “You mean I shouldn’t show up at the dinner party in just a string bikini?” I tease.
“I think that would stir up some trouble,” he says with the same tone. The only difference is his voice is lower and grittier, and I swear my nipples grow hard under the fabric of my bikini top.
I’m also pretty sure Luca notices.
In desperate need to pull away from whatever tensions seems to be wrapping itself around us like a boa constrictor, I step back, breaking the invisible contact and snag the sheer, white coverup from my suitcase.
“Either way, I should freshen up,” I say, padding over to the bathroom and praying to God he can’t hear my heart slamming into my ribcage.
Something about this man makes every nerve in my body go haywire, and I need a second to recover. Especially if we aren’t going to do anything about it.
“So, what are you going to wear?” I ask as I touch up the small amount of makeup I am wearing. Just a dewy primer with a little bit of mascara and lip stain. I run my fingers through my hair, which is already taking on the beach wave look.
“You mean I shouldn’t just wear what I have on now?” he asks, and I chuckle.
“It’s a bit warm for black slacks and wing-tipped shoes, don’t you think?” I ask.
“I always wear this,” he says, and I can hear him rummaging around.
“In Boston,” I answer. “But this is Miami.”
“Thanks for the reminder,” he mumbles. I turn to the door to see if he is actually upset with me, only to find him standing in nothing but his briefs.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen him in this little, or less for that matter, yet my cheeks still flush at the sight of his toned arms and legs, his broad shoulders, his hard pecks, his defined abs.
His body is perfect. Profile pic with a filter on, perfect.
Thanks for the reminder.
“Don’t worry,” he says, slipping into a white linen shirt, leaving the top two buttons undone and rolling the sleeves up just below his elbows.
He pairs it with nautical blue slacks that are both semi-casual and fitted.
“I do have clothes for the occasion. Are you ready?” he asks, and for a moment I have no idea how to answer the question.
I know what he means, but it seems to imply so much more.
The dinner party is a whirlwind. Part of the beach is closed off to the public.
It’s set up with white tables and chairs, catering, tiki lights, a live band, and of course, a pop-up bar.
The food is amazing! There is everything from fish to shellfish to chicken and roasted potatoes and fresh fruit.
It’s wild to be here with Luca Laurent as his date, sitting at the main table with other CEOs and their partners, surrounded by other people who work in the industry at partnering companies.
Everyone from dating app designers to authors, online influencers, and even a couple of people I recognize from dating shows.
“Is that Lisa Devrise?” I ask, pointing across the way.
“It is,” Luca answers. “Lisa Hilding now. She and Colton got married a month ago. I can’t believe I know that.”
I giggle at that. “I’m kind of surprised, too. But why are they here? They got together on Love Behind the Voice.”
“I know. And that was all thanks to Realr,” he says and I turn to look at him.
“How so? That’s one of those blind dating shows,” I say. “None of the people know who they’re talking to until they already have a connection.” I use air quotes around the word, and Luca just smirks.
“Well maybe the contestants don’t know, but the producers do. And what tool do you think they use to find people to shove in those rooms who actually match well together?” he asks.
“You?” I ask, and Luca nods with a smirk. “But I thought people try out for those shows?”
“Nah. Too much to filter. We do the filtering for them,” he says, and I go back to staring at the couple again.
“So Lisa and Colton are the product of an algorithm, not a genuine connection.” I say.
Luca looks down at me as he slips his arm around me, and I look back up at him.
“Just because there’s an algorithm involved doesn’t mean it’s not real,” he says and there’s a beat of static in the air around us.
“Get a room, you two!” Luca’s friend Matt’s voice breaks through our moment like a rock through a window. I turn to look over at him, my cheeks flushed. Luca doesn’t let go of me. If anything, he holds me closer.
“We already have one,” Luca says, and Matt laughs.
“That you do,” he says before turning to focus on me. He’s tall, nearly as tall as Luca, with light blond hair and green eyes. He looks a little younger than Luca, but not by much. He also has laugh lines where Luca has frown lines, which I find pretty funny. Not that I mind a brooding man.
“So you are the infamous Olivia Ramone,” he says. “I always wondered what you’d be like.”
“Oh, really?” I ask, “So you’ve heard about me?”
“Of course,” Matt says. “Who in the great wide matchmaker world hasn’t heard of the infamous Olivia Ramone?”
Infamous?
Suddenly it hits me as Matt smiles at me. They know I run the Unmatched podcast. I don’t know why I hadn’t worried about it until now, but if they know about it, they may have listened to it. And if they’ve listened to it, they might also be aware of the latest series.
My lips must be flipped into a frown because he reaches out and clasps my shoulder softly. He’s still got a cocky grin on his face. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”
Won’t tell anyone?
“Matt, don’t you have another woman to bother?” he asks. “One that isn’t with me?”
“Sure, sure,” he says. “You kids have fun.’
With that, he walks off, immediately making small talk with another group of people. Luca shakes his head, and I just swallow hard.
“Sorry about that, he’s a bit wild,” Luca says.
“I see that,” I say with a forced smile and tone to match.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s kind of an idiot,” he tells me, taking a sip of his drink.
“I thought he was your best friend,” I say.
“He is. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a pain in the ass sometimes,” he says and I laugh.
“I get that…” I say, taking a sip of my own drink. It’s only coconut water with fresh fruit.
“I bet,” he says and both of us stop for a moment.
Sadie did say that he knows we are friends.
I stare at him, wondering if he is hinting at anything. To see if he knows that I know that he knows.
But the curiosity in his gaze fades to indifference when suddenly drops of rain begin to lightly fall from the sky.
“Uh oh,” I say, looking up. I hadn’t even realized it was beginning to cloud over.
“I’m sure it’ll pass,” Luca says. Not even two seconds later, it’s like the clouds split in two and the rain begins to fall harder and harder. “Nevermind,” he says, grabbing my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
And honestly, rain or not, I am very glad he suggested that.