The Matchmaker and The Marine E-Book

Race Lucinda

• Herausgeber: MC Two Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Enjoy this clean, small town, later in life romance by award winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.

She vowed never to love again. His career in the Marines crushed his ability to love. Can undeniable chemistry and a leap of faith overcome their past?

Widowed matchmaker Melinda Phillips wants everyone to find the kind of love she once had. She's now committed to a solitary life in her small seaside town, and her skill at pairing couples has enabled her business to thrive. But when she trips into the arms of a handsome Marine at a client’s wedding, she can't help but know something has shifted in her life.

Even after a harrowing injury cost him his career in the military, Adam Bell is a Marine through and through. But the loss of his leg is a constant reminder of the men he couldn’t save on the battlefield, and the subsequent loss of his girlfriend as he worked to adapt to his new body left him pledging to protect his heart as fiercely as he had once defended his country. But the chivalrous interlude with the lovely Melinda makes him wonder, if he gave up on love too soon.

When Adam hires Melinda to find the woman of his dreams and as their friendship blossoms, she’s surprised to discover she is his ideal match—and she’s rarely wrong. The tortured Marine believes the emotional toll of his war experience will cost him everything once again.

Can two broken souls let go of their traumatic pasts to give love a second chance?

The Matchmaker and The Marine is a standalone novel. A sweet, clean, later in life romance story with a guaranteed happily ever after. Happy reading!

Leseprobe

THE MATCHMAKER AND THE MARINE

LUCINDA RACE

MC TWO PRESS

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Epilogue

Chapter One

Sneak Peek

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About Lucinda

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

When my muse knocks- I open the door and welcome her inside.

A special thanks to Suzanne

I couldn’t write books and follow my dream without the support of many people:

Rick, Megan, Emily, Cheryl, Shirley and Pete

Your encouragement and support mean the world to me.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2020 Lucinda Race

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Author Lucinda Race.

Edited by Mackenzie Walton

Cover design by Jade Webb www.meetcutecreative.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition May 2020

E-Book Edition ISBN 978-1-7331616-1-9

CHAPTER1

QUICK NOTE: If you enjoy The Matchmaker and The Marine, be sure to check out my offer for a FREE Price Family novella at the end. With that, happy reading!

Melinda flipped her planner shut after drawing a heart next to the two names on the page on the notepaper. Another success. The strains of the “Wedding March” played by a string quartet filled the small flower-filled chapel. Guests rose from their seats to watch the petite bride glide down the aisle toward her handsome groom.

Across the aisle in a pew, a tall, well-built man with blonde hair cropped military style and molten brown eyes locked on hers. He gave Melinda a half nod before his gaze followed the bride. The pastor’s deep voice filled the room as he asked everyone to take their seats. He then turned to the couple to perform the ceremony.

After the newly married couple kissed, Melinda followed other guests in the receiving line to the bride and groom. She beamed. “Stacey and Will, it was a beautiful ceremony.”

Stacey was radiant. Will’s arm was curled around his new wife, holding her close to his side.

“Melinda, this day wouldn’t have been possible without you.” Stacey lovingly gazed at Will. “Thank you for introducing us.”

Melinda kissed her cheek. “It was my pleasure.”

Will lifted Stacey’s hand to his lips, grazing her ring finger. “I will tell all my single friends if they’re looking for love to give you a call.” His eyes twinkled. “You certainly have a knack for matchmaking.”

“You two made my job easy.” She looked over her shoulder. “You have more guests to greet, but I’ll see you during the reception.”

She strolled down the brick walkway to her car, content to see the love between Stacey and Will. Just as it was meant to be.

After making the short drive to the country club, Melinda parked in the crowded lot. As she crossed the parking area to the reception hall she daydreamed of how nice it would be to take off her pumps and walk barefoot. She reached for the brass knob on the carved wood door. Before she could turn the knob, it burst open. She took a step back. Her heel caught a crack in the stone step. She began to fall backward when strong hands caught her and held on tight.

A deep voice next to her ear said, “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”

Melinda looked up into warm brown eyes. It was the man from the chapel.

“Um, thank you.” She smoothed her hand over her simple navy-blue dress and then pushed a curl behind her ear. “I’m not sure what happened.”

“It looks like your heel got caught.”

She gave him a small smile. “It’s a good thing you were there to catch me.”

With a slight stiff bow, he said, “Adam Bell, at your service, ma’am.”

His face held little emotion, almost formal, she thought. People strolled past them into the building, but Melinda couldn’t help but notice he carried himself with a distinct military bearing. Unsure if he was being old-fashioned or teasing her, she said, “We should go inside.”

He crooked his arm and said, “I’d be happy to escort you safely through the door.”

With a small laugh Melinda placed her hand on his arm. In a soft southern drawl, she said, “Thank you, kind sir.”

“So, tell me, are you a friend of Stacey or Will?” he asked.

“I guess you could say both.” She looked at him. “I’m Melinda Phillips.”

His eyes grew wide. “You’re the matchmaker?”

“I am.” As they stepped through the doorway, she withdrew her hand. They made their way to the table with the seating chart. Melinda found her card and saw she was at table six. Adam picked up his card.

“I’m at table eight.” He glanced at her card. “It’s too bad we’re not seated at the same one. I don’t know a lot of people. I haven’t lived here long.”

She looked around the room. “I’ve lived here for a few years and everyone is really nice.”

“Good to know,” Adam said with a smile. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“Thank you, and then I can introduce you to the gang.” Melinda strolled toward the bar. Adam looked around and trailed after her. She understood his reticence. It was hard to get acquainted with a new group of people, especially when they seemed to be really tight knit. She still remembered what it had felt like when she moved to Chester. She fell in love with the small shore town and she had found the people in Connecticut weren’t that much different from Pennsylvania where she lived previously. Heck, they were a lot like her friends back in Beaufort, South Carolina where she had spent most of her summers as a kid.

“Melinda!” One of the bridesmaids rushed over to hug her. “Wasn’t it a beautiful wedding?”

With her glass of wine temporarily on hold, Melinda said, “Molly.” She gave her a squeeze. “You look beautiful.”

Molly stepped back and gave Adam the once over. She kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t you look handsome today in your dark suit? And just look at that lavender tie, spiffy.”

Adam grinned at her. “If I didn’t try to match the wedding colors a little bit, Stacey would have my head.”

Melinda watched as Adam and Molly shared a laugh. It seemed Adam already knew a few people.

Adam watched Melinda accept a glass of wine from the bartender and wandered toward the open French doors. She was dressed in a simple blue dress with polka-dotted heels that made her seem taller than her average height and showcased her legs to their best advantage. He appreciated that she looked fit, a nice hourglass shape. She had just the right amount of curves, at least in his opinion.

Molly had introduced him to every person within a twenty-foot radius. Now it was time to escape for a few minutes and maybe he could talk with, the aloof and beautiful, Melinda Phillips.

“I see you have a glass of wine.” Adam said.

Melinda whirled around. Her lips formed a large O. “You startled me.”

He half-turned. “I’m sorry to intrude. Would you like me to leave?”

With a slow shake of her head, she smiled. “No, gosh no. I was taking a breather.” She looked toward the guests gathering inside the dining room. “Everyone seems to be in high spirits. Just as it should be at a wedding.”

“Do I detect a note of melancholy?” He picked up a small plate and stabbed a square of cheese, then worked his way around the appetizer table.

“Not at all. I love weddings.”

He handed her the plate. “Let me guess, its hard being the single girl in a room full of couples.” She accepted the plate with a gracious smile. Adam continued, “I get it too, as the single guy. There is at least one well-meaning person out there who has already said she’d fix me up with someone’s cousin.” He tried to keep his voice light, but he knew it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Melinda laughed. It sounded musical to Adam, and he had to wonder why her left hand was without jewelry except for a simple thin band on her ring finger. But was she single?

Casually she asked, “And do you want to be set up?” She nibbled on a celery stick.

He couldn’t help but notice her eyes were an interesting shade of green, almost like the waters of the Atlantic in midsummer, with hints of gold and blue. She tucked a stray copper colored curl behind her ear.

“Adam?” She raised a brow.

“Oh, sorry.” He gulped down a drink of his beer. “I was wondering how you got into the matchmaking business.”

Softly she said, her eyes holding his captive, “I love helping people find that special person who adds sparkle and a sense of completeness to their lives.”

He teased, “Is that on your business card?”

“You got me.” She laughed. “But it really can be that simple.” She pointed to the banquet room. “The newly married couple has arrived. We should go back inside.”

“I’ll follow you.” Adam and Melinda stepped into the hub of activity. The lead singer of the band was warming up the crowd by introducing the members of the bridal party.

Finally, he said, “It is my pleasure to introduce the brand-new Mr. and Mrs. Benson.”

Whistles and applause filled the room as the couple sashayed their way to the center of the hardwood floor to have their first dance. As they twirled, Adam could see what Melinda had said—they both sparkled as they gazed into each other’s eyes. With a stab of longing, Anita briefly crossed his mind, but he refused to think about her today. He leaned down to rub his knee, a lingering reminder of the past and the chance he was taking to start over.

As the song concluded, clinking glasses urged the couple to kiss. Adam found his way to table eight and waved to Melinda across the room. She waved back and turned to speak to another guest.

Molly slipped into the chair next to him. “Are you having a good time?”

He nodded and sipped his beer. “I am, and you?”

She gushed, “I love weddings, and since Melinda moved to town, I swear the number of happy events have skyrocketed.” She pointed to a man in a tux talking to Will. “Tim and I were introduced by Melinda. We’ve been dating for almost six months.”

“I didn’t realize that’s how you met Will’s brother.”

“Using Melinda was the best decision I”—she gazed lovingly in Tim’s direction—“we ever made.” Tim waved to Molly. “Looks like I’m needed. Toast time. Tim and I are at your table, so we’ll be back shortly.”

Adam half-stood when Molly hopped up. She certainly had a lot of energy as he watched her sail across the dance floor to Tim’s side.

Tim tapped a knife against the stem of the wineglass. “Excuse me.”

The chatter died down.

“On behalf of Will and my new sister, Stacey, I’d like to thank you for sharing this amazing day with our family and close friends.”

He paused. “I’d like to propose a toast to Stacey and Will.” He turned to look at the couple and in a loud, clear voice he said, “There was a time when I wondered if my older brother, and old being the operative word”—he grinned at Will—“would ever find a woman to stand by his side as he navigates through the ever-changing waters of life. Stacey is just that woman. Not only does she love sailing and spicy food as much as Will does, but she loves my brother with all her heart.” He raised his glass a little higher and he said, “To Stacey and Will.”

Echoes around the room said, “To Stacey and Will.”

The newlyweds entwined arms and sipped pink champagne. After a few more toasts, the bandleader encouraged everyone to enjoy the buffet. Adam’s eyes drifted to Melinda’s table. Her chair was empty. Glancing around the room, he didn’t see her anywhere. Had she snuck out while the toasts were happening? When Will and Stacey got back from their honeymoon, he’d get the low down on the matchmaker.

Melinda took one last glance over her shoulder. The reception was underway and it was the perfect opportunity to slip away, unnoticed. Swinging her small beaded handbag, she strolled to the car. Another happy couple would have the chance to spend their lives with their true love. Twisting the slim gold band on her ring finger, Melinda smiled; it was just like her life with John. She felt blessed to have been well loved, and Melinda had loved her husband with all her heart in return. She couldn’t wait to get home and check her email to see who might be next on the road to happily ever after.

CHAPTER2

It was hard to believe another week had come and gone. Time to enjoy the weekend. The sun was peeking from behind a white fluffy cloud in the bright blue sky. Dressed in a floral skort and pale pink tee, Melinda carried an oversized cooler and carefully picked her way down the well-worn wooden stairs to the sandy beach. The picnic was in full swing. Glancing around, she noticed the hostess Stacey hugging another late arrival.

With a big wave, Stacey hurried over to take one of the handles of the heavy cooler. “You should have left that up top. One of the guys would have brought it down for you.” She grinned from ear to ear. The glow of a faint tan accentuated her light brown eyes and sun-streaked bob. Together they lugged it across the sand and set it under the blue easy-up tent well back from the rising tide.

“It was no trouble…well, until I stepped on the sand.” Melinda kicked off the high-heeled wedge cork sandals. “They look cute, but these shoes were not the best idea for a beach party.” She wiggled her toes in the sun-warmed sand.

Stacey drew her into a hug. “You look great as always.”

“And you’re always giving me compliments.” Using her hand, Melinda shaded her eyes and scanned the group. She laughed. “Did you invite the entire town?”

Stacey slipped an arm through Melinda’s. “Come on. There are a bunch of people dying to meet you.”

“Meet me? Why?”

Melinda saw the look of surprise flash across Stacey’s face. “Everyone I know never thought I’d find anyone who could make me fall head over heels in love. So you did the impossible and now people are wondering if you can do the same for them.”

“You’ve given me far too much credit. I just took some basic information, sent you a few profiles. You’re the one who picked Will. After that, all that was left was for you two to sign the marriage license.”

Stacey laughed. “You mean after you sent me more than a dozen matches. You make it sound like it was so easy.”

“Love isn’t complicated, people make it that way.” Melinda smiled brightly. “So, give me the rundown on who is who.”

In a conspiratorial whisper, Stacey said, “Okay. That tall, well-built man over there?” she pointed to the one person who left a lasting impression on Mel at the wedding. “That’s Adam Bell. He and Will go way back to their Marine Corps days. They were deployed together and have been best friends since basic.” She gave Melinda a wink. “He’s single and Will is trying to get him to sign up with you. He could use a good woman. His ex-girlfriend dumped him after he came back from his last tour of duty.”

Melinda bit back a sharp retort about the kind of woman who would do that to a man who served his country. She quickly reminded herself to not be judgmental. There could be a very good reason why his ex broke it off, but it did sound a bit heartless to do it right after he came back from deployment.

She inclined her head toward a pretty woman about their age. “Who’s that?”

“The girl in the short shorts and crop top?”

Melinda gave a slow nod. “She seems to be a little out of place.” Glancing around, she noticed most of the girls wore longer shorts or flowing skirts and tops that covered up their midsections.

“That’s Mary, one of Will’s other friends from work. I’m surprised you didn’t notice her at the wedding. I saw a picture of her and whoa, I have no idea how she even danced in the dress she was wearing.”

Melinda’s eyebrow shot up. “She’s very pretty.”

Stacey grinned. “Someone said she’s quite the party girl. Like she hasn’t outgrown that stage of life yet.”

Assessing the woman, Mel said, “I wonder if it’s all a front. Maybe she dresses that way to get attention in certain situations but under it all, she’s shy.”

Stacey snorted. “You think so?”

Melinda nodded and continued, “I’ve met her type before and she really wants to belong, but she’s just unsure where she fits in. Instead she goes for the shock value.”

Stacey gave her a thoughtful look. “You’re such a nice person.”

Melinda had to chuckle. “You’re still in the honeymoon glow. I can be a pain in the butt just like everyone else.” She tugged Stacey toward the girl. “Introduce me.”

“Sure, she did say she was interested to meet you.” Stacey allowed herself to be led across the sand. “Mary, this is my friend I was telling you about, Melinda Phillips.”

Mary cautiously reached out her hand, her deep blue eyes round as saucers. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”

Melinda was surprised her voice sounded soft, almost childlike. She shook Mary’s hand. “Stacey tells me you work with Will.”

“I sure do. I’m an accountant at the law firm.”

“So, you deal with numbers all day, I’m impressed.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.” Mary shrugged. “You just need to make sure everything balances at the end of the day.”

Melinda smiled. “There are days I have trouble balancing my checkbook.”

Mary’s eyes lit up. “You can call me anytime, I’d be happy to help you.”

Melinda thanked her. Stacey wandered toward a small group of people, leaving Melinda with Mary. “Stacey mentioned you wanted to meet me?”

With a quick look around, Mary said, “Did you really introduce Stacey and Will?”

Melinda smiled and said, “I did.”

Mary played with a long blonde ringlet. “Do you think you could help me? I can’t seem to find the right guy no matter what I do.”

“Why don’t you call my office?” Melinda withdrew a business card from her pocket. “We can talk about what you’re looking for, and you’ll need to understand my process to see if it works for you. If it does, you can fill out the questionnaire and we’ll go from there.”

Smiling, Mary said, “I’ll call you, maybe on Monday, if that’s not too soon.”

“I’ll look forward to it. Enjoy the picnic.”

Melinda eased away from Mary and the crowd. She enjoyed parties but wondered why no one ever asked her what she was currently reading or if she liked to bike or hike. They always went right to her line of work. Walking along the water’s edge with her head down, Melinda relished the brisk cool breeze as it caressed her face and tugged at her ponytail. She noticed a man approaching her from down the beach. Being social she held up a hand in acknowledgment and stooped over to pick up a wave-tossed piece of green glass.

“Hey, it’s good to see you again.” A deep male voice interrupted her quest for friendly glass on the beach.

“Hello. It’s nice to see you too.” She pushed up her sunglasses and said, “We met at the wedding, right?”

“We did. I’m Adam.” He reached out his hand. “And you’re Melinda.”

“Guilty as charged.” She grinned and scanned the water. “I love the ocean. It’s one of the main reasons I chose to move to Chester. No matter the season, I love walking along the beach, looking for sea glass and drinking in the salty air.”

Adam nodded. “There’s nothing like it.”

“Did you enjoy the wedding?”

He shot her a quizzical glance. “I did, and you?”

“It was lovely. Stacey and Will make a great couple.”

“You didn’t stay long,” he stated with simplicity.

“No. I had work to do, and I also wanted to do some gardening.”

“Flowers?”

“Well, some, but mostly vegetables.” She examined the piece of glass she held in her hand and tossed it back into the ocean.

Adam frowned.

“It needs a bit more polishing before it’s friendly enough for me to take home.” Melinda blushed at her words and hoped Adam wouldn’t think she had said something rude.

“Ah, I get it now.” He bent over and picked up a piece, then handed it to her.

“Thanks.” Melinda noticed he was wearing fishing pants. “Are you going fishing later?”

“Huh?”

She pointed at his pants. “All those pockets are good for storing supplies.”

With a shake of his head, Adam said, “Nope, they’re just comfortable.”

She was mildly disappointed at his short responses. She surmised he wasn’t much of a conversationalist. She looked toward the tents. The grills were smoking.

“Lunch must be almost ready.” She turned inland. “Are you coming?”

“Yes.”

The pair walked in silence with only the sound of the waves crashing on the shore behind them. Melinda wondered about Adam’s story, but figured it was none of her business. Based on her past experience as a therapist, she guessed his brief answers might be a leftover of being in the military.

Blankets had been laid out over the sand as people filled their plates with burgers and salads. Melinda helped herself to a beer from her cooler. Adam was next to her. She held out a beer to him. “Would you like a cold one?”

“Thanks.” He accepted the beer and popped the cap, carefully tossing it back into the cooler.

Unsure what else was left to say, she brought her plate to sit with Molly and Tim—they were never short on conversation.

“I’ll see you around.” Adam called after her.

She smiled over her shoulder. “Sure thing.” Melinda plopped down next to Molly.

“Did I see you talking to Adam?” Molly asked.

“It was pretty one-sided. He doesn’t say much.” Melinda looked at Adam over her sunglasses.

“He’s a super nice guy. But from what I’ve heard, he had a tough time after he came home from his deployment in Iraq. Got hurt pretty bad and had to retire. He planned to be career Marine. Only a few years short of full retirement.”

Melinda set her bottle in the sand. “Sometimes it’s hard to heal after a traumatic event. Hopefully time surrounded by good friends will help him.”

Molly opened her mouth to say something else but closed it. Melinda was relieved. She wasn’t looking to hear any speculation on Adam. Molly was right, he did seem like a nice man. Maybe a little lonely, but at least he wasn’t alone. He was surrounded by an amazing group of people. After all, they had welcomed Melinda into the group, and rarely did she feel alone.

Adam wasn’t sure why he had been at a loss for words when he was walking on the beach with Melinda. He wanted to ask her if she’d work with him to find a date or two. It had been a couple of years since the breakup with Anita. It was time to get back in circulation. Will certainly had been pushing him hard enough to contact Melinda.

But what was it about the melancholy that hovered in her eyes? It was there when he met her at the wedding too. Adam was sure there was a story behind that and the slender ring on her finger. Where was her husband? Did he leave her, and matchmaking was her way of trying to heal a broken heart?

He kept an eye on her and watched as she laughed and chatted with Molly. There was something about her that he seemed to understand but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. One thing was for sure, sometime in the next few weeks he was planning on dropping by her office and get things rolling. He was tired of being one of the only single guys in their group. And if he got really lucky, he’d be walking around grinning like his buddy Will.

Who knows, maybe he’d find someone who would want to have a kid or two, and his kids could grow up with Will and Stacey’s. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants?

CHAPTER3

It had been a long week since the beach picnic. Melinda jerked open a side drawer in her office desk and the bottom fell onto the floor. Annoyed, she tossed the drawer frame onto the small sofa and knelt down to push the paperclips into a pile. Her office door opened. Work boots were in her line of sight. Her eyes slid from the toes to a face. A man leaned over her. He extended his hand.

“Hello, Melinda.” An amused smile played over his face. “I didn’t expect to find you on the floor.”

She took his hand and stood up, tugging the hem of her purple print cotton dress and smoothing the skirt back down.

“Adam Bell.” He paused. “We met at Will and Stacey’s picnic a couple of weeks ago.”

She could hear the teasing in his voice “You’re being very formal.” Paperclips forgotten, she said, “How’ve you been?”

“Ma’am, this isn’t a social visit. I’m here on business, so I thought I’d do a formal introduction.” He chuckled. “By the looks of things, better than you.” He pointed to the square piece of wood on the floor and its companion piece on the sofa. “Having a little tussle with the desk?”

She shrugged. “We had a minor disagreement. The drawer won.”

He bent over and picked up the wood. “I can fix this for you if you’d like.”

“It’s okay, I can call a handyman.” Melinda took it from him and placed it on the side table.

When she looked back to Adam, he was holding out a business card. “It just so happens, I’m in the business of fixing things.”

She grinned. “We can talk, but I’m sure you didn’t just happen to stop by on the off chance I would need a handyman.”

“Well actually I was curious about this whole”—he waved his hand through the air—“matchmaking process.”

Melinda smiled. She knew that sometimes everyone needed a little help meeting someone. “Are you interested in finding a match?” She gestured to the sofa and took the drawer sides from him. “Please make yourself comfortable.” She planted her feet on the floor as she sat in the chair across from him. “I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.”

Adam leaned forward. “Tell me, how is it you got into the matchmaking business?”

Prepared to give her standard answer, she said, “I believe everyone should find their happily ever after and some say I have a knack for helping people find”—she did the air quote gesture—“the one.”

“Will mentioned you moved to town and opened your office roughly three or four years ago.” He looked around her sunlit office. “He didn’t tell me your office was attached to your home.”

Melinda smiled and shrugged. “I needed a change and I wanted a short commute. I always wanted to live close to the ocean. So, here I am.” She shifted in her chair, anxious to turn the topic back to Adam, she said, “But we’re not here to talk about me. Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”

“It’s a short and simple story. Later thirties, retired Marine. Definitely single. When I got out of the service, I decided to hang my hat over my buddy’s garage for a while and figure out what I wanted to do next.”

Melinda nodded. She grabbed a pad and pen from the corner of her desk. “Do you mind if I take a few notes?”

With a slight nod of his head, he said, “Please.” He leaned back and looked around her tidy office.

“Late thirties, a former Marine.” She glanced up from the pad and looked him directly in the eye. “Thank you for your service.”

He dipped his head and corrected her. “Retired Marine.”

With the pen poised over the paper, she was surprised at the clipped tone in his voice. She knew he had gotten injured, but obviously it was not a topic he wanted to discuss further. Changing the subject, she asked, “Tell me about your interests and hobbies.”

“I like kayaking, fishing, spending time with friends, movies, the typical stuff.”

“Adam, there is no such thing as the typical stuff. Each person is unique.” She thought for a minute. “Take me as an example. I love to garden, but you didn’t mention that you do. Since I’m passionate about digging in the dirt and you might find that to be an absolute snooze fest, potentially we would not be a good match. Now that’s a pretty simplistic example, but I’m sure you see what I’m saying, hypothetically speaking of course.”

“I see what you mean.” He tapped his fingers against the arm of the sofa. “So, I should give you a bit more about what I like to do?”

“The more you tell me, the easier it will be for me to give you high-quality matches.”

“Well, for the record I do like to play in the dirt. I haven’t had the opportunity since I lived at home with my parents. We used to have a huge garden, and fruit trees and berry bushes too. My sister and I liked the planting and harvesting the best.” With a laugh, he said, “I’m not very patient waiting for it to grow and all.”

“Ah, that’s the part I love the best, nurturing the little shoots.” She surprised herself by opening up. “So tell me more about yourself. What are your hobbies?”

Adam smiled. “I’m not much of a cook. Maybe someday I’ll learn.”

“That’s good to know. A match might be someone who wants to take cooking classes.” Melinda jotted that down. “Ultimately, do you want to get married and have a family?” She paused. “Those particular topics can be deal breakers.”

He nodded. “Definitely. Maybe even a dog or two.”

“No cats?” she teased.

“Cats are good too.” He grinned.

“I have a few more questions and then we’ll be done.” Melinda ran through her checklist and Adam answered each question. She liked how he seemed to know exactly what he wasn’t looking for, but not sure of what he was looking for. She loved a challenge.

She tapped her pen on the edge of the pad. “The next step will be for me to take your information and a headshot, put the details into a program I’ve created, and check for matches. I need to caution you, it’s not a perfect science. As I send you matches, you can tell me if someone strikes your fancy or not before the woman is contacted.”

He frowned. “You don’t give my profile to any of your female clients?”

With a little laugh, she said, “Of course I do. But it is fairly anonymous. I don’t give out personal information. This way you can read a bio and make a decision.”

“That sounds pretty straightforward.”

“I’d like to give you a piece of advice.”

“Ma’am?”

His restrained grin was almost irresistible and Melinda was confident she’d find him the perfect partner. “Keep an open mind as you go on each coffee date.”

His brow wrinkled. “Meaning?”

Melinda leaned forward. In earnest, she said, “In my experience, some men look at a woman who isn’t a size two and dismiss her without giving her a chance.”

A momentary flash of anger showed in Adam’s eyes, but she wasn’t quite sure why, unless he was one of those kinds of men.

“I’m not shallow. We all have flaws, some are visible and some aren’t. I’ve never been the type of man to judge any book by its cover.”

She laid a hand on the arm of the sofa, very near his hand. She could have touched him, but that would be completely inappropriate. “Adam, I didn’t mean to offend you, but…”

He held up his hand. “No offense. I have been around enough men to know exactly what you’re talking about. Trust me, I’m not that kind of guy.”

Melinda got up and turned away from him. She was relieved. He did seem like a wonderful man.

Adam stood and crossed the small office space. “Is there something I need to do now?” he asked.

She scanned the form on her clipboard. “I just need your email address and payment to get things rolling.”

Adam pulled his wallet from his back pocket and handed her a credit card.

Giving him a broad smile, she said, “You should receive an email from me in a day or two. But if you have any questions before, feel free to give me a call.” She handed him a card.

He slipped it into his wallet. “Thank you. This process was a lot less daunting than I anticipated. Will was right, you are easy to work with.”

Melinda extended her hand. “I’m glad you came to see me. And I promise, this will be fun.”

He shook her hand and glanced at her ring. “Maybe you’ve had so much success because you have a wonderful relationship with your husband.”

She felt the color drain from her face. She pulled her hand away and tucked it into her dress pocket. In a quiet voice, she said, “My husband died five years ago.”

“Melinda, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

She refused to meet his gaze. “Not to worry.” She walked him to the door, anxious to be alone. “I’ll be in touch very soon.”

Adam heard the door close firmly behind him. It was definitely to shut him out. He muttered to himself, “What kind of ass am I?”

He berated himself as he walked to his truck. “This is what I get for making a personal comment.” He paused at the end of the walkway and turned to look back to the tidy house with colorful flowers flanking the stone steps. At the wedding she said she was single. How was I to know she was a widow?She might have been wearing the ring to deter overly aggressive clients. He walked the last few steps to his truck. Chester is a good place to start over for all kinds of people. He had to wonder… Is Melinda running from her past, or has she made peace with it? He pulled open the driver’s door and got behind the wheel, rubbing his left knee. You can never really run from the past.

He put Melinda’s number into his cell, and then eased the truck away from the sidewalk and drove back to the apartment. He was lucky to have friends who gave him a comfortable place to land.

His cell phone rang. He glanced at caller ID, surprised to see Melinda Phillips’ name displayed. “Hello, Melinda. Did I forget something?”

“No, but I did.”

“Oh?”

There was a pregnant pause. “I was wondering if you’d mind coming back to the office. I tried to fix the drawer, but to be honest, I’m attached to my thumbs. I don’t even own a hammer.”

Chuckling, he glanced at the dashboard clock. “I have to meet a client about a new job. Can I swing by after lunch?”

“That would be perfect. Around two?”

“I’ll see you then.” Adam smiled into the phone. “I guess it’s a good thing I dropped by this morning.”

“Timing is everything. See you later.”

Melinda disconnected the call and Adam thought, Timing is everything.

CHAPTER4

Adam pulled into Melinda’s driveway at two o’clock on the dot. After he parked the truck he wandered over to where she was working in the flower bed. “Hey, Mel.”

She looked up and had to squint as the sun was directly behind Adam. “Hi. Sorry, I didn’t realize I was running late.”

He held out a cup. “Lemonade?”

Melinda scrambled to her feet and clapped her hands together. Even her nails had dirt under them, and she chuckled. “I just love digging in the dirt.” She accepted the cup and pulled the paper off the straw. “You didn’t need to bring me something to drink.”

“It’s a hot day and I stopped to get something for myself, so I thought I would get two.”

Taking a sip, her face screwed up and her eyes popped. “Oh, it’s got a bit of a pucker factor.” She laughed. “Just the way I like it.” She took another sip and noticed the logo. “Jules has the best lemonade in the county.” She stepped in front of him and said, “Come on into the office.”

Adam followed her up the walkway and opened the door ahead of her. Holding it, he said, “Ladies first.”

“Thank you.” She stepped into the room, which seemed dark compared to the bright sun. She set her cup on the desk and handed the bottom piece of the broken drawer to Adam. “There’s a groove on the sides. I think that’s where the bottom is supposed to slide in. When I tried to fix it, it just fell out again.”

Adam picked up the drawer sides and turned it over. “See here?” He pointed to the corners. “These are finger joints. I’d hazard a guess the glue is dried out and that’s why it fell apart.” He smiled. “It’s an easy fix, but I’ll need to take it to my shop.” He took the wood bottom from her. “I can have it back to you in a couple of days.”

“Will it be expensive to fix?” Melinda chewed the corner of her lip. Adam wondered if money was a concern.

“No,” he said, “the first job is on the house.” He laughed. “As long as the first job isn’t to build a house.”

She brightened. “That’s a bargain.” She sank on to the brown leather sofa across from her desk. “Have a seat. I don’t often have a handyman here, and I’d like to talk to you about another project if you have some time.”

Adam set the two pieces of the drawer near the door and took the chair opposite her. He was intrigued by what she might have to say to him. Looking around the office, everything seemed well put together and nothing in need of repair. But looks could be deceiving.

Teasing, he said, “So, tell me what do you have up your sleeve.”

A mischievous look twinkled in her eye. “Well, I’ve been thinking…” She laughed. “Once you get to know me better that usually means trouble.”

He rubbed his hands together and chuckled. “I’m all ears.”

Melinda’s gaze drifted to the window that overlooked the backyard. “I have this amazing space out there.” She rose from the sofa and went to stand by the window. “It screams for something, like a dramatic focal point.”

Adam eased out of the chair and went to stand beside her. “How about you show me what you have in mind?”

With a lopsided grin, she turned to look at him. “I thought you’d never ask. Let’s go through the house.” She opened a door for Adam to follow her through her home.

Stepping through the six-panel door, he could see the house was clean and comfortable, just like her office. The rooms were decorated in warm earth tones and there were colorful flowers everywhere he could see. He looked at the large commercial-grade stove and over-sized French door refrigerator. “You have a nice kitchen. Do you like to cook?”

Off-handed, she said, “I love to cook and do a lot of canning in the fall, so this setup works well for me.” She opened a sliding glass door and stepped to a slate stone patio where pots of herbs and flowers lined the edges. She had a small round table and umbrella set up to one side.

Adam noticed the entire backyard was devoid of trees, except on lush maple, but instead was dotted with raised beds of various plants and sunflowers reaching toward the sky. “You have about a half-acre of land?”

“I sure do. And over the last few years I’ve built raised beds and hauled in soil and mulch to have the best possible gardens.”

He didn’t miss the pride in her voice. She wandered over to one bed to pluck a fat, round, deep purple radish from the loamy soil. She pointed to a bucket close by. “If you want, give that a rinse and taste it. I guarantee you’ve never tasted a better radish.”

Adam took the vegetable and did as she suggested, breaking the leafy greens off and crunching down. He could feel his eyes begin to water. “That’s hot. But really good.”

“There’s nothing like coming out here and getting salad right from the garden. Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase from garden to table.”

Adam scanned the wide-open space. “I’m a little confused. What do you think this space needs?”

Melinda turned, her back to the beds and looked at the patio. “The back of the house gets a ton of sun in the afternoon, and it’s unbearable to sit out here and enjoy dinner.” She crossed her arms and after a thoughtful pause said, “I’m thinking about adding a pergola. I could plant some grapevines on one side for a bit of screening and keep the other three sides open.” She shaded her eyes from the intense, early afternoon sun. “It would kill two birds with one stone. I could get grapes and shade, and as a bonus I think it would make the backyard look amazing.”

Adam surveyed the back of her large Cape Cod-style home. “The patio is, what, sixteen by sixteen?”

“Good eye.”