“Reviewing a dating app is not market research. I don’t have time to visit my own family let alone have a girlfriend.”
“That’s my point. You’re the best person to trial Crazy Love. If the coding works on you, it will work on anyone.”
Daniel didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted. “Just because my business develops apps, it doesn’t mean I want to spend my time testing yours.”
Blake pushed his cup of coffee out of the way and leaned forward. “What are you more worried about? That it will work or it won’t?”
He looked around the busy café. Bozeman wasn’t the place most people would expect to see two billionaires having coffee. After half a dozen phone calls, Blake had given up using the telephone to convince him to be on his trial team.
Daniel thought he’d given up entirely until a helicopter had landed in his front yard at eight-thirty this morning.
“I don’t want a girlfriend. Whether it works or not isn’t relevant.”
“You could be missing out on meeting the love of your life.”
“The love of my life wouldn’t go online looking for me.”
Blake grinned. “You work with digital simulations, computer algorithms, and programming applications every day. Don’t you think it’s a little shortsighted to discount a woman because she uses technology to find her perfect match?”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“Yes, it is. Your company creates apps that make it easy for people to integrate technology into their lives. What’s so different about what you’re doing and the Crazy Love app?”
Daniel snorted. “My apps save people’s lives. Rating the quality of someone’s drinking water or comparing their heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure against predetermined safe zones is not the same as a dating game.”
Blake’s smile dimmed. “It’s not a dating game. We’re talking about one of the most basic human needs. Everyone wants to love and be loved. My app makes it easier to find someone who will make you happy.”
“I’m happy already.”
“Working eighteen hours a day might have been exciting when we were in our twenties, but it’s not when you’re nearly thirty-five. You’ve bought a home in the middle of nowhere, you don’t date, you don’t even have a cat to come home to. If you’re not worried about yourself, you should be.”
“Emerald Lake isn’t the middle of nowhere. It’s forty minutes from downtown Bozeman and we’re connected to the rest of the world by an international airport. It’s a great place to live.”
“I read the publicity on my way here,” Blake said dryly. “If you thought it was hard finding a girlfriend in New York, it will be worse here.”
“So what’s your excuse?”
“What for?”
“Not having a girlfriend? If New York is the dating capital of the world, why are you sitting here with me talking about your app? You should put yourself on the trial.”
“I developed the program. It would be a conflict of interest if I were one of the participants.”
Daniel sat back in his chair. “It looks to me as though the pot’s calling the kettle black. Unless you’re hiding a superwoman in New York, you haven’t been on a date in months, either. And last time I checked there were no furry paw prints on your Porsche.”
Blake’s eyes turned a frosty shade of gray. “I’m thinking about getting a dog.”
“In New York?”
“There’s no law that says I can’t.”
“You should move out here.”
Blake laughed. “Not likely. I’ll leave cowboyland to you.”
The conversation around them dipped to a whisper.
Daniel looked at the tables either side of them. “I’d keep your voice down if I were you. Those cowboys’ wives and girlfriends have us surrounded. I don’t like your chances of getting out of here alive if you make fun of their men.”
Blake’s gaze shot to the table closest to them. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
The woman sitting at the table scowled. “My gran used to say that the measure of a man is in the words he uses. If you’ll excuse me, I have work that needs doing.”
Her soft Irish accent took the sting out of her words, but not the meaning.
Daniel watched the tall brunette leave the café. “I think you’re right,” he said half-seriously. “Bozeman might not be the best place for you.”
“No kidding,” Blake muttered. The café door closed and he turned back to Daniel. “If you won’t help me because I’m your friend, I’ll have to play hardball. Sam told me you’re working on an app that keeps track of how much aid is going to Third World countries.”
Daniel frowned. “Sam talks too much.” Sam was a good friend, business mentor, and closer to him than his father, but some things were confidential. “What else did he tell you?”
“That it identifies whether aid is reaching the people who need it. He also said the United Nations don’t want to trial the app. I can help.”
“How?”
Blake leaned forward. “The Red Cross team leader in the Sudan owes me a favor. One word from me and they’ll trial the app across all of their field operations. I’ll provide a team to compare the trial results to the way they distribute supplies at the moment. Within four months you’ll have the data you need to present a case to the United Nations.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve been working with the Red Cross for the last three months. They’re not interested.”
Blake’s mouth turned up at the corners. “You know what they say. It’s not what you know, but who you know. If you networked with the right people you might have found your own way out of the mess you’re in.”
“It’s not a mess.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
Daniel forced himself not to react to Blake’s words. He’d sunk a lot of money into taking the app from complex coding theory to an application that could be used in the field. So far the app had been trialed with an American medical logistics company and a large online clothing retailer. Neither company had been delivering food, shelter or clean drinking water, but it wasn’t the product that he was interested in. It was the efficiency of the app.
“Why do I feel like I’m being blackmailed?”
“Because you are.” Blake looked around the café. “This might be quaint, but it’s not exactly a thriving metropolis. You’re hiding here and it’s not healthy.”
Daniel picked up his fork and ate a piece of rhubarb crumble pie. While he ate, he gazed at his best friend. “There’s no rush hour traffic and I’m not surrounded by thick smog. Who wouldn’t want to live here?”
“Everyone I know except you.”
“That’s because they don’t know what they’re missing. Something else is going on. The last time you needed my help was when we were in college. What’s wrong?”
Blake looked down at his coffee and frowned. “My reputation is on the line. The Crazy Love app is different from anything I’ve done before. You know how apps work. You know the structure and the algorithms behind the human interface. You’re the best person for the job.”
Daniel nodded. He didn’t want anything to do with Blake’s app, but he did want to get his own product in front of the United Nations. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll go on your trial and meet the woman I’m matched with. But I’m not promising to go out with her more than once. If the app has a flaw, I’ll work on it from here.”
Blake sighed. “What if it takes more than one date to work out if she’s perfect for you?”
“It won’t.”
“Four dates and I’ll call my friend in Sudan this afternoon.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes. “Three dates and I’ll fill out the application form now.”
Blake dropped a business card on the table between them. “Here’s the link. While you’re signing your life away, I’ll call Sudan. It’s great doing business with you.”
Daniel wasn’t sure he could say th
e same.
***
Holly Miller walked into Angel Wings Café and waved at some people she knew. When she’d first returned home after eight years away from Bozeman, she’d felt like a stranger. It had taken a while to make new friends and catch up with people she used to know, but she was finally beginning to feel like part of the community.
She headed toward the back of the café and waved at a petite brunette.
Mia smiled. “Your hot chocolate arrived a few minutes ago.”
“You must have read my mind.” She pulled out a chair. “How does the catalog for the charity art auction look?”
Mia slid a copy across the table. “Tell me what you think. It still needs a few changes, but we’re almost there.”
Holly opened it to the first page. “This is amazing. Did Molly O’Donaghue take the photos?”
Mia nodded. “We were lucky. She had a couple of days between assignments and was able to fit us into her schedule. People would buy a copy of the catalog just for her photographs.”
She looked at the next few pages. The painting that Mia had been working on was featured in the center of the catalog. It was one of Holly’s favorites. Dark purple swirls of color mixed with burnt orange and emerald green created an abstract view of the Bridger Range. It was the kind of painting she could look at for hours. “The photo of your canvas looks incredible.”
Mia blushed. “Thank you. It photographed really well.”
“It photographed really well because it’s a beautiful painting. How’s the next one in the series?”
“It’s taking a lot longer than the first one. At the rate I’m going I’ll only have one painting ready for the auction.”
“You could always take some time off work?”
Mia shook her head. “Definitely not going to happen. We’re short of staff. The head of the art department doesn’t want any of his teaching assistants taking time off work. Are you okay? You look a little unhappy.”
Holly took a deep breath. “I’m fine. Tell me about the auction. Have you had any inquiries from other artists wanting to donate their work?”
Mia looked at her closely. “The answer is yes, but I’m worried about you. Have you heard from Rourke lately?”
Holly bit her lip. She wanted to forget her ex-boyfriend, almost fiancé — and the reason she’d left New York. “He called last night to say he was getting married. I told him not to bother contacting me again.”
“Good for you. You deserve someone better than him.”
Holly sent Mia a wobbly smile. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t called the day after we broke up.”
Mia reached across the table and squeezed Holly’s hand. “That’s what friends are for. Rourke would sell his grandmother to the highest bidder if he thought he could make a profit. You don’t need someone like that in your life.”
“You’re right. Next time a tall, dark, handsome investment banker comes along I’m going to ask him to complete a pop quiz about his personality. It’s got to be better than second-guessing myself all the time.”
“It was your subconscious telling you what an idiot he was. Next time you need to listen to the voice screaming inside your head.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mia blew on the top of her drink. “We’ve got more important things to discuss than Rourke. Right now, fifteen artists are going to be featured in our auction. I’m not sure it’s the best idea we’ve ever had, but it should raise a lot of money for Tommy’s operation.”
“It’s a brilliant idea. I’m sure Tommy’s family will be grateful for any help we can give them.”
“Were you able to see his parents yesterday?”
“I did better than that. I saw Tommy, too. He’s such a cute baby. If I didn’t know he had a life-threatening condition, I wouldn’t be able to tell. His skull only looks a little misshapen.”
“What did their specialist say?”
Holly leaned closer to Mia. “The good news is that he’ll probably only need one operation. The bad news is that they can’t book a date until their finances are in place.”
“Don’t worry. The auction is going to be a success.”
Holly hoped so. For Tommy’s family’s sake she wanted to raise enough money to cover most of his medical expenses.
Mia picked up the catalog. “You missed Claire and Hannah’s paintings. People have already been making inquiries about them.”
Holly looked at the pages Mia had found. Two big, bold, oil paintings stared back at her. She remembered the first time she’d met the two sisters. Six months ago she’d started the Bozeman Art Collective with Mia. Other artists had joined them including Claire and Hannah. They met most weeks, sharing their painting techniques and enjoying each other’s company.
“You haven’t looked at your painting.” Mia turned the page to the photo of Holly’s canvas. “Granddad thinks it could sell for more than fifteen thousand dollars.”
“Nick is biased. He’s selling my paintings in his gallery.
“He’s seventy-three years old. He knows an incredible painting when he sees it.”
Holly ran a critical eye over the photograph. “I hope it sells for a good price.”
The café’s doorbell jingled and Mia looked over Holly’s shoulder. “Claire and Hannah have arrived. Wait here while I order them a hot chocolate each.”
Claire sat down beside Holly. “Another artist wants to join our group, but that’s not the most exciting news we have.”
“Wait until Mia gets back from the front counter,” Claire said. “She’s nearly finished.”
Holly looked at each sister. “You haven’t quit your jobs have you?”
Claire laughed. “Not this time. The retirement village wouldn’t be the same without us.”
“This is more exciting than our jobs,” Hannah said. “It could change our lives forever.”
Mia arrived at their table with two cups of hot chocolate. “What could change our lives?”
Claire glanced at her sister before replying. “Men. For all of us.”
Holly’s mouth dropped open. “What have you done?”
“Nothing yet.” Hannah pulled a newspaper out of her oversized tote bag. “Claire saw this advertisement in today’s Bozeman Chronicle. Someone’s looking for single men and women to trial a new computer program. It’s supposed to match you with the love of your life.”
Holly leaned forward and read the small advertisement. “You’ve got to be joking?”
Claire and Hannah shook their heads.
“We’re all single,” Hannah said, “and we’re not getting any younger. If we want to meet someone special, we need to try something different.”
Claire nodded. “It’s better than singles night at the bar or speed dating at the library.”
Mia read the advertisement. “It sounds like fun. You can count me in.”
Holly stared at her friend. “You told me you’re happy being single.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to meet someone amazing.”
“But a computer won’t find you someone amazing. It will find someone who’s the closest match to the person you think will be amazing.”
“It’s the same thing,” Hannah insisted. “At least this way you know you’ll have at least one thing in common.”
Holly sipped her hot chocolate. “Answering an advertisement doesn’t count as having something in common. A computer can’t choose the perfect person for you. Who’s to say the person you’re matched with isn’t a criminal or someone with a disturbing past?”
“Some of the guys I meet in bars are already disturbed.” Hannah’s smile turned to a frown. “We have to be quick if we want to be part of the trial. Registrations close tomorrow.”
Holly couldn’t believe anyone would want to apply. “It could be dangerous.”
“Maybe in New York,” Claire said, “but not in Bozeman. We could all register.”
Holly shook her head. “Not me. You can sell yo
ur soul to a computer program if you want to, but I’d rather be single.”
Mia nudged Holly’s arm. “What if you met the love of your life? It wouldn’t be so dangerous then. If someone’s found a way to match people with their perfect partner, the program would be worth a fortune.”
“It might be worth a fortune to the developer, but I’m still not doing it.”
Mia gave Hannah back her newspaper. “You shouldn’t let Rourke scare you off men, Holly. What if this was the best chance you had of meeting someone who loved art and music? Someone who appreciated who you are and bought lots of expensive gifts to make you happy?”
Claire grinned at Mia. “I want one of those perfect men. Come on, Holly. If you don’t like the person you’re matched with, don’t go out with him. What have you got to lose?”
“My sanity. And before you think of another ten reasons why I should add my name to the trial, my answer’s still no.”
Hannah sighed. “Is that a definite no or a possible no?”
“Definite,” Holly said firmly before Claire or Mia tried to change her mind. “We need to talk about how we’re going to promote the auction. Does anyone have any ideas?”
Hannah pulled her iPhone out of her pocket. “Just one. If I’m going to concentrate on the auction I need to register for the trial first. I’ve got a good feeling about this.”
Claire and Mia didn’t need any encouragement to follow Hannah. Before Holly could blink, all of her intelligent and creative friends were filling in the online registration form.
She just hoped Hannah’s good feeling was better than the last one she’d had.
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF
CRAZY LOVE TODAY!
Other Contemporary Romances by Leeanna Morgan:
(All series are linked)
Emerald Lake Billionaires:
Book 1: Sealed with a Kiss (Rachel and John)
Book 2: Playing for Keeps (Sophie and Ryan)
Book 3: Crazy Love (Holly and Daniel)
The Bridesmaids Club:
Playing For Keeps (Emerald Lake Billionaires 2) Page 24