Matters of the Heart

by Vanessa Devereaux

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2013 Vanessa Devereaux

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-361-3

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: JS Cook

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  For Jeff

  MATTERS OF THE HEART

  Perfect Pairing, 4

  Vanessa Devereaux

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter One

  Lucy slipped the newspaper under her arm and then pulled on the tab of her soda can. She glanced at the clock. Almost three. She’d have time to enjoy her drink and catch up on the local news before heading over to Perfect Pairing the matchmaking service she’d started when she’d been assigned to the Department of Love. Today she was off to their office in downtown Helena. There she’d complete the paperwork and be one step closer to finally landing her dream cowboy.

  She sat on the couch in the nurse’s lounge, took a sip of the lemon-lime drink, and opened up the newspaper. Nothing new going on in the world. Same old, same old, in fact. She turned to the community news page and her heart skipped a beat. There was Bryce Connors' photo staring back at her. That wasn’t so unusual because whenever she looked at him her knees went weak. However, this time that wasn’t the reason. He had a beautiful young woman on his arm and the words Drydale-Connors printed under the photo jumped out at her. Through her tears, she was just about able to read that they’d been married two days ago by a judge at the courthouse, and were now on a Hawaiian honeymoon.

  She couldn’t breathe. This had to be a nightmare. Bryce hadn’t even told her he was dating anyone, let along thinking about getting married. Had he done so, she might have gotten the courage to tell him exactly how she felt about him.

  “This can’t be happening.” She threw the newspaper on the ground but hadn’t realized she’d shouted those words out loud until two other nurses turned to look at her. Jodie, who worked in cardiology, came over to her as tears ran down Lucy’s face.

  “Whatever is it? Is it bad news?” asked Jodie. She sat down beside her and put her arm around Lucy’s shoulder, pulling her in close.

  “I’m too late.”

  “Too late for what?”

  Lucy reached down and scooped up the paper, its pages now falling out of order as she placed it upon Jodie’s lap and sobbed some more.

  Jodie took it and read the page Lucy had handed her. “You’re too late for the sale at the mall?”

  If it was only as simple as that.

  “No, Bryce Connors, Montana’s best-looking cowboy got married yesterday. I’ve been in love with him since we were in kindergarten. I’ve always dreamed I’d be his wife. I’d even arranged to sign up with Perfect Pairing and have him sign up too. The owner was going to pair us together. Who can I ever love now?”

  ****

  Brad yawned as he drove his truck into the parking lot of the sheriff’s headquarters. He’d been up at five a.m., now the sun had set, the wind had picked up, and he’d smelled snow in the air. The ideal time to call it a day. He turned off the ignition and yawned again. Once he’d finished with his paperwork, he was going straight home to sit in front of the TV, watch a movie and enjoy a beer. Maybe he’d even make himself some popcorn and settle down for some peace and quiet for the evening.

  While getting out of the truck, he noticed something on the steps of the entrance to the building. From this distance he couldn’t quite tell what it was, but he was guessing that dear old Mabel Parker had left him yet another box of her freshly made apple butter. She meant well, but he’d already been the recipient of two previous boxes and there were only so much of that stuff a man could eat or even look at.

  Brad walked toward the steps but then stopped in his tracks. Holy shit, there was something moving inside the box. Maybe a raccoon or someone’s cat had crawled inside it to keep warm. He picked up his pace and as he got closer he realized there was a tote sitting next to it, and the box wasn’t a box after all, but a baby carrier. And inside sat a real baby.

  What sort of person leaves a baby on a doorstep?

  Okay it was out of the cold and under the eaves and protected, but nevertheless, once he found its mother he’d give her a piece of his mind and have her charged with child neglect.

  Kneeling down beside the carrier, he pulled the blanket away from the baby’s face. It made a babbling sound as if it was trying to talk to him. He stroked its cheek which surprisingly felt warm.

  “Well, aren’t you the cutest thing,” he said.

  He wouldn’t be going home as soon as he’d planned. He’d need to call social services and hopefully they’d find the baby a foster home while they located the mother, or even the daddy.

  Brad lifted the tote bag and placed it on his shoulder, opened the door to the offices, bent down to lift the baby carrier, and then went inside the building. He walked back to his office and placed the carrier safely on his desk while putting the bag on the chair.

  “I bet that feels better than being out there in the cold. I think we’re going to get some snow.”

  He glanced around, checking that the rest of the staff and his deputy had already, as he’d assumed, gone home for the night. He’d hate to think anyone had overheard him talking to a baby like it was an adult.

  The baby made another babbling sound and then kicked its legs against the carrier. By the look of the pink snowsuit and the length of the hair, he guessed it was a girl. He peeked inside the tote and saw some diapers, a bottle with a box of formula, a blanket, some clothing, and a tattered cloth doll.

  He turned back to look at the baby again and noticed she’d kicked the blanket off her legs and it now sat on the ground. He bent over to pick it up and noticed an envelope wedged in the side of the carrier. His name was written on it. Not Sheriff Riley, but Brad with three lines drawn underneath it.

  Intrigued that the baby’s mother or father obviously knew him by his first name, he slid his finger into the back of the envelope and opened it. He pulled out a letter.

  Dear Brad,

  I know this is going to be a terrible shock to you. I mean finding a baby on your office doorstep. I intended to bring her to you personally but I lost my nerve. In case you’re wondering why I’ve left her with you…okay prepare yourself for this big one…Presley is your daughter.

  Brad’s hand shook as he looked at the baby again. It couldn’t be true.

  “I didn’t know I was pregnant until after I’d left town. I guess The Pill isn’t as reliable as everyone thinks. Shortly after Presley was born I met a wonderful man and we got married last week. Bottom line is I’m not cut out to be a mother and he has no interest in being a father, but I think you are, so I thought it best that you take your daughter and raise her. I know you’ll do a great job.

  Nevie.

  Brad looked at the baby again. Her name was Presley and she was his. No, Nevie was pulling a fast one on him. And her thinking he could raise a baby on his own. That was crazy. He moved the bag from the chair so he could sit down before his legs gave out on him.

  He swung the baby carrier around so he could look at the baby again. He was sure she’d just smiled at him. He crumpled the letter in one hand and threw it onto his desk. If this was indeed his daughter, then Nevie
was more of a bitch than he’d initially given her credit for. One, for not telling him that she was pregnant, and two, for being heartless enough to dump her own flesh and blood on a doorstep like she had.

  He rubbed the baby’s right calf. Even though the thickness of the snowsuit it felt cold. He reached down on the floor, picked up the blanket and secured it around her, tucking it into the sides of the carrier, hoping that would keep her warm. Obviously he’d made his first mistake as a parent because she began wailing at the top of her lungs.

  Brad took a deep breath. Heaven help him, and heaven help her. He didn’t know the first thing about looking after a baby.

  Chapter Two

  “We’ll find you another perfect man. I promise you, Perfect Pairing has never let a client down.”

  Sadie’s heart went out to Lucy. The poor girl had kept her appointment even though the man of her dreams was now a married man. Sadie had guessed something was wrong the minute the new client had worked through her door. Her eyes were bloodshot, and the skin underneath them was both puffy and dark.

  She slid the box of tissues over to Lucy’s side of the table.

  “I guess I should have told him how I felt about him sooner, even asked him out, but he’s always considered me to be like a sister, so I didn’t have the courage. That’s why I thought Perfect Pairing was my answer.”

  She blew her nose.

  “This is the worst day of my life and not just because of Bryce’s surprise marriage. Can you believe that just as I was about to leave work I was called into human resources. They told me they’re going through budget cuts and my job is being eliminated at the end of the week?”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “A nurse, of all things, getting laid off.”

  Sadie felt her pain and knew she’d have to help her in any way she could.

  “How about you sign up with us? There will be no charge. This one’s on the house.”

  Lucy shook her head. “That’s very nice of you Ms. Sutton, but my heart belongs to Bryce. Always has, always will. And I just came along to tell you that I won’t be needing your services now.”

  Sadie took a deep breath. She knew that Bryce wasn’t supposed to be with Lucy and that’s why the universe had let this happen. There was someone else out there for Lucy. All she had to do was convince the girl to sign up and she’d find him for her.

  “Lucy. I know you have great faith in Perfect Pairing or you wouldn’t have called me in the first place, so will you at least give me a chance to change your mind about Bryce being your one and only love? Give me a month and if I haven’t found you another cowboy who steals your heart and takes your breath away, then we’ll call it a day.”

  Lucy dabbed the corner of her right eye with the edge of a tissue. Her mascara had started to run down her cheeks, which made Sadie feel even worse for the poor young woman.

  “I should say no, but what have I got to lose?”

  “That’s wonderful, and I promise you won’t ever regret this.”

  “Okay, and maybe while you’re at it you can find me another job. I’m getting one month’s severance pay and that will cover next month’s rent, but after that I might be waiting tables.”

  She knew Lucy had meant it as a joke but finding her a new job would also be on Sadie’s to do list.

  “I’ll definitely keep my ears open. And I’ll be in touch once I have a match for you.”

  Lucy stood.

  “Now go and buy yourself a large tub of ice cream and eat every last bit of it. Have one last cry, and then think about that perfect man who’s going to sweep you off your feet.”

  Lucy smiled. “You’re optimistic. I’ll give you credit for that, Ms. Sutton.”

  Sadie tapped her fingers on her desk. She wouldn’t let Lucy down. Now all she had to do was find a match for her. She looked at her watch and realized she was running late. One of her old buddies from the Witch’s Academy lived twenty miles from Helena and Sadie had promised to drive there and visit with her for a couple of days. She glanced outside. It was starting to snow so it was about time she headed out before the storm made driving treacherous.

  ****

  Brad put the carrier down on his couch. The baby had cried all the way home. He didn’t know if she needed her diaper changed, wanted feeding, or she was simply crying for her mother. How you could miss someone who’d dumped you on a doorstep was beyond him, but maybe babies, as innocent as they were, were also non-judgmental.

  He took the blanket off her and placed it on the back of the couch. Presley looked clean and well looked after so he’d give Nevie credit in that department. He fumbled with the strap that secured her in the carrier and finally figured out that he needed to press the plastic circle in the center to release it. It popped open and as he reached in to lift her out, he suddenly froze. This was his daughter and he was about to hold her for the very first time. This was going to be a special moment so he wanted to do it right. What was the correct way to hold one? He didn’t know and there was no one around to ask. He’d just go for it and hope for the best.

  Brad put his hands on either side of her ribcage, lifted her free of the carrier and then pulled her close to his body almost as if he was afraid he’d drop her. She felt heavier than he’d imagined and was actually warm. Maybe she was too hot in the snowsuit now that she was indoors. Her cheeks looked flushed, but never having seen her before perhaps that was normal for her. Now that her face was mere inches from his, he was sure he recognized those big blue eyes of hers. They were so much like his late mother’s that it was uncanny. Yeah, and his, too.

  “You too hot? Let’s get you out of that suit.”

  Just how would he do it? Sit her on his lap, or lay her flat on her back on the couch?

  Shit, he only wished his mother was still alive because she’d know exactly what to do. Still this wasn’t rocket science. This was looking after a baby. Everyone did it every day without any problem. He sat down and placed her flat on the couch and unzipped the suit. As he peeled it away from her body, he saw she was wearing pink floral leggings and a solid pink knitted top. He gently eased her arms out of the top of the snowsuit and then pulled it from her legs. She cried again.

  “Okay, let’s see if I can figure out what the fuss is all about.”

  He lifted her up and sat her on his knee, immediately feeling a wet patch eating into his pants.

  “I’ll take a peek in here for your diapers.”

  With one hand, Brad unzipped it and rummaged through the contents until he found a stack of them at the bottom. He lifted one out and sat it down beside him. This would definitely be a first for him. He set her back down on the couch, pulled down her leggings and then figured out that her diaper was secured with two Velcro-like strips on either side. He pulled them apart and the diaper fell away from her body.

  Geez, if the guys at work could see him now, he’d never live it down.

  He opened up the clean diaper and assumed that the best way to get it under her butt was to lift both her legs together with his other hand. He pushed it under her bottom, remembering how the old one was secured, and was relieved that his first attempt at a diaper change had been one hundred percent successful.

  “There you go. That wasn’t that bad.”

  She started crying again.

  “Now what?”

  She kicked her legs against the couch.

  “Food. I bet you’re hungry.”

  He looked in the bag again and found a bottle and a container of formula.

  Yeah, Nevie, that would be too easy to have written down what I need to do, and how much she needs. Shit, I don’t even know how old she is.

  Wait a minute, Nevie had exited his life just over a year ago which meant Presley was probably around three months old.

  He looked at the chart on the container, and then ran his fingers through his hair. Maybe he should look this sort of thing up on the Internet or call Dr. Willouby, the local doctor.

  Presley cried lo
uder and soon she was sobbing.

  “Okay, okay. I guess you take after your mother in the demanding department.”

  He put her back into the carrier and took her out to the kitchen where he attempted to mix a batch of baby formula.

  Brad guessed it needed warming and hoped that baby bottles were okay to use in the microwave. He mixed some of the powder with water, shook the bottle a few times, and placed it in there for a couple of minutes.

  He tested a few drops on the palm of his hand before offering it to Presley who sucked on the teat with vigor. He thought how cute it was when one of her fingers curled around the bottle. So tiny and fragile. He smiled at her and couldn’t help but notice that her nose and forehead looked a lot like his. Her eyelids began to flutter which he guessed meant she’d be asleep very soon.

  Damn, that was something else he hadn’t thought about. He didn’t have a crib so what was she going to sleep in?

  ****

  Sadie put the bread rolls and cheese into the cart and looked outside. It was still snowing. She was supposed to be back at the Perfect Pairing office later today but the roads were slick so her friend had suggested that she stay another day. She’d offered to go to the store and pick up some items for their lunch. As she stood in line she reached for one of the tabloids in the rack beside her and paged through it while she waited.

  According to one report, former Perfect Pairing client, Evie Summers, had been spotted with what looked like a baby bump at one of the recent award shows. Sadie smiled while slipping the magazine into her cart for later reading. If it was true, it meant that Evie and Kyle’s offspring would officially be the first Perfect Pairing baby. Maybe she’d start a collection of photos on the wall. Which reminded her she still needed to find a match for Lucy.

  Come on universe send me someone for her.