The Dating Game. Shirley Jump

guy in a navy suit stepped forward. His face reddened before he opened his mouth. “Pleased to…ah, pleased to…ah, well, I’m Bill.” He blushed again and slipped back into line.

      Mattie gifted him with a smile. “Nice to meet you, Bill.”

      The second guy, Rick, had more composure but offered up a lame opening line about hoping she’d be his destiny. David saw Mattie visibly pale at that. Tim gave her a smile and a sexy wink, implying more would be following from him than just his name. Then he blew his whole intro by telling her she looked even better than the fifty grand he could win. Gerry, the shortest of the bunch—and at five foot six, just about Mattie’s height—didn’t bother with an introduction, just coughed out his name and stepped back to his place.

      There was some guy named Brock who flexed his right bicep as a way of showing off his best assets. Another named Rob who seemed all right enough, David supposed. Gave Mattie a compliment about her dress, shook her hand and then told her it was nice to meet her. Tom, who could have been blond Tim’s twin, rushed forward with a hug that nearly bowled Mattie over.

      Mark produced a flower—clearly stolen from the rose garden beside them—from behind his back and gave it to her, accepting full credit for his thoughtfulness. Three others whose names David didn’t catch gave Mattie a salute and called her ma’am. Jim followed suit.

      Larry ambled forward. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Larry and I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”

      “Thank you, Larry,” Mattie said. David could see she was relieved Larry didn’t try the half nelson that Tom did or the overblown intro of Rick.

      Then it was Kenny’s turn. He stepped forward, lifted Mattie’s hand in his and raised it to his lips. “I’m eagerly anticipating the journey ahead,” he said, his voice low. “My name is Kenny, but I don’t expect you to remember it tonight. Later, I hope we have time to get to know each other. You, my dear lady, are already unforgettable.” Then he lowered her hand and stepped back into place.

      Just as David thought. Rico Suave on the outside, Cro-Magnon Man underneath.

      The cameramen took a couple steps closer to capture the last introduction. David smiled at her as he moved forward and when she returned the gesture, something within his gut tightened.

      How long had it been since a woman had made him react like that? With his instincts instead of his head? Already he was treading onto dangerous territory. Very dangerous. He could feel his objectivity slipping away, like water out of a sieve.

      “I think you’ve made your impression already, Mr. Simpson,” she said when he reached her.

      Did she mean that in a good way? Or bad? He envisioned his head on the bachelor chopping block. “And so have you, Miss Grant,” he replied. “As I said earlier, I expect this to be a very interesting adventure.”

      She grinned, cast a quick glance at the cameramen, then returned her gaze to him. “You have no idea how interesting it can get.”

      With that, David had no doubt he’d get his story. And maybe a lot more than he bargained for.

      Mattie stood in a circle surrounded by a pack of men, feeling like the lone zebra at a hyena family reunion. She sipped from her champagne glass and made small talk.

      And hated every second of it.

      This wasn’t her. This made-up woman with a crystal flute of bubbly and a Ralph Lauren dress. She’d feel more comfortable in a gorilla suit. In fact, she had been a gorilla once when she’d been the team mascot and donned the costume at games, running around the field and tossing bananas to the crowd. That had been fun. This was torture.

      “Enjoying yourself?” Larissa asked, pulling Mattie to the side for a moment.