Failure to Match: An Enemies to Lovers Billionaire Matchmaker Romance

It took another eight days for me and Jackson to finalize the terms of our non-agreement agreement, partly because he insisted on being unreasonable (in what world did I need a personal bodyguard???), and partly because we couldn’t be alone in the same room for more than ten minutes before I attacked him mouth-first, or vice versa.

We were insatiable. It was honestly exhausting. Thirty percent of my muscles were sore at any given time and in seemingly randomized batches. Still, no matter how many times I had him, it never seemed to be enough.

Most of the household staff had learned to steer clear of whichever section of the house Jackson and I were hanging out in, and all the security cameras he’d installed before my arrival were disconnected.

Oh, and the Harrison sisters were losing their actual minds over the whole thing. The two of them were ticking tear bombs. You never knew when one of them was going to break into sobs of inconsolable joy.

The first time Jackson told me he loved me in front of Molly, she burst into tears and did not stop for a solid thirty minutes. They were over the moon—kept baking me treats and offering to help me shop for a dress. You know, for the wedding ceremony.

… The one I still hadn’t told Ria about.

She was going to murder me when she found out. So… in less than ten minutes. But hey, at least my parents knew. They’d been skeptical at first, just until Jackson had turned on the charm. I was kind of hoping tonight would go the same way.

I was restless, my fingers fumbling with the zipper of my jacket as I watched the city lights blur by from the back of the car. When Jackson noticed, he gently slipped his hand over mine.

It helped. Always did.

“Can I ask you something?” he said.

“Please.” I needed a distraction.

“Why is Cat coming with us?”

Toebeans was currently loafed up on Jackson’s other side, purring softly as my soon-to-be husband (!!!) scratched the sweet spot behind his left ear.

“He hasn’t seen Adrien in two months,” I said. “If he smelled him on us when we got back, he would… I don’t know, actually. This is the longest the two of them have been apart since they met. Plus, Adrien asked me to bring him.”

He’d already taken his allergy medicine and everything. The two of them were ridiculous together.

“I don’t know if I ever told you the story, but Ria lost her mind the first time Adrien and Toebeans met.” I bit down a smile as the memories rushed back.

“Why?”

“Her and Adrien absolutely despised each other. And Toebeans… well, you’ll see.” It was the strangest thing. I still couldn’t make sense of it.

When the car finally slowed to a stop, I scooped Toebeans up into my arms (he still wouldn’t let Jackson hold him) and practically bolted into the building, a fresh rush of nerves and excitement going straight for my knees.

I was bouncing on my heels by the time the elevator doors finally groaned open, and before I’d even had a chance to step into Ria and Adrien’s foyer, Toebeans had wiggled out of my hold and sprinted. He knew exactly where we were. There was no stopping him.

“Jamie?!”

“Ria!”

Where was she? I stumbled out into the foyer trying to locate where her voice had echoed from. Fucking Adrien. There were so many goddamn plants in their penthouse that I couldn’t⁠—

She tackled me.

It came from my left, and I hit the rug with an oomph as Ria squealed with utter delight, squishing all the air out of my lungs.

I may have also squealed.

There was a lot of squealing.

“Hi!” she exclaimed as I giggled through the tightest hug to have ever been hugged. It was going to cost me a couple of ribs for sure. Well worth it.

“Hiii.” I’d forgotten how good she always smelled. Like my best friend. Like home. “I missed you, Ree.”

“Missed you, too, angel.” She gave me one last squeeze before pulling away.

“Holy shit, you’re so tanned.” I grabbed her freshly freckled face for closer inspection. Her skin was perfectly sun-kissed, making the slash of honey-gold cutting through her left iris even more striking. Pride bubbled up my chest as she grinned. My best friend was so beautiful. I’d missed her so much.

“I look great tanned,” she said.

“You totally do,” I agreed. “Did you have so much fun?”

“It was fucking incredible, Jams. Some of those islands were surreal—and the diving. Honestly, I’d take it up as a hobby if we lived somewhere that allowed it. I’ll take you next year when I’m on break, I swear you’ll love it. I wasn’t expecting to become so obsessed with it, but the sharks, Jamie. It’s insane! Oh, and have you ever tried—” She cut off, blinking up at something behind me that made her brows pinch together and her grin falter.

I twisted on the floor to find Jackson hovering a few feet away, his posture somewhat stiff and awkward, as though he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself.

He was nervous. Adorable.

I gave him a small, comforting smile as he cleared his throat. “Hello, you must be Ria. I’m Jackson.” He held out his hand, but since we were sitting and he was standing, he had to sort of bend to do it. “Jackson Sinclair.”

Her eyes flared as they darted to me, then narrowed. She didn’t take his hand.

Uh oh.

“Ree, let’s go sit and chat for a few, yeah?” I suggested softly.

“What’s going on?” Her gaze slid between us, trying to piece it together.

Before I could respond, Adrien rounded the corner through a whole bunch of exotic plants I couldn’t begin to name, holding a very purry, very cuddly Toebeans Maguire. My slutty cat was rubbing his head all over his favorite human’s chin, eyes closed. He sounded like a fucking motorboat.

“Hey, Jams,” Adrien said, shooting me a dimpled grin. I barely heard him over the purring.

Jackson had gone still, his mouth hanging open as he watched the two of them. Poor guy. The amount of effort he’d put in just to be allowed within touching distance of Toebeans.

“Seriously, what is going on?” Ria asked again, whispering this time.

“I’ll tell you in a bit, just⁠—”

PPPPRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Oh my god. I couldn’t hear myself think.

After quickly introducing himself to Adrien, Jackson helped me to my feet. The gesture—the exchanged private smiles and too-close proximity of our bodies—did not go unnoticed by Ria. Her eyes flared with understanding, her jaw falling slack.

I helped her up before she could comment, slung my arm around her shoulders, and guided her to the living area. She continued to gap at me.

“In my defense regarding the conversation we’re about to have, just remember, you haven’t had proper reception in almost two months,” I whispered.

“You’re sleeping with Jackson Sinclair?” she hissed back.

“It’s not as inappropriate as it sounds,” I assured her. “He’s not my client anymore. I quit my job.”

“What?”

“Oh, don’t worry, I start my new one next week at RUMI. I’m pretty excited about it, actually. Great pay, great benefits… a boss that doesn’t believe I should be blacklisted from the entire industry for accidentally falling in love with a client…”

“What?!”

I couldn’t remember why I’d been so nervous. This was fun.

“Yeah, I know. He even went as far as to send us flowers to celebrate the engagement, and I haven’t even started there yet. Vivian would never.” I flashed her my ring. White gold, princess cut. Mabel and Molly had helped Jackson pick it out. “Pretty, no?”

“What?!”

“It’s not what it sounds like, I swear.” I gave her a reassuring smile. “We’re only getting married so we can date. Like that movie with Sandra Bullock and one of the Ryans.”

“Gooseling,” Jackson supplied from behind us.

“Yup. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Gooseling. Except our situation’s actually realistic. Even Jackson’s aunt’s psychic agreed it was the best course of action. We’re all set.”

“WHAT?!”