Perfect Match

by Fern Michaels

  “And she’s going to take it. I’ll make sure of that,” Arnold said.

  “You all go ahead. I’ll meet you in the lobby. I want a few minutes with John.”

  When the door closed behind the gaggle of people who had been in the room, Beth ran to the bed and planted a big kiss on John’s lips. “Oh, God, John, I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you. You’re the reason I get up in the morning. You’re the wind beneath my wings. I know that’s what you always say to me, but now it’s my turn to say it to you. Oh, and another thing. I want us to get married in February, right after we cut the CD. Jake will just have to do overtime on his therapy so he can walk me down the aisle. I’m going to have a regular parade. Gizmo leading, then Arnold, and then me, Jake, and Moose heading down that aisle. Gracie is going to be my maid of honor. I think you should have Jim Mack be your best man. Who cares if it’s politically correct or not as far as weddings go. My mind is made up. I hope you heard all that, John Rossmon, ’cause I’d hate to have to say it all over again in the same order.”

  “I heard you. Now go home, so I can go to sleep,” John muttered, just as Beth clamped her lips over his. This time he responded in kind.

  “You big phony!”

  “Takes one to know one.”

  Beth almost swallowed John’s tonsils when she drew a deep breath and pulled away. He couldn’t know. Could he?

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Beth Masters decided she was happier than she’d ever been in her entire life. Her world was what she called just perfect, and she made no bones about saying it over and over to anyone who would listen.

  John had healed quickly, and except for a stitch in his side from time to time, his harrowing experience didn’t keep him from being as happy as Beth was. If there was a fly in the ointment, as Arnold put it, it was that he couldn’t handle his celebrity status. He almost blacked out when he saw his picture on the front page of the local newspaper that reported on his attack. People came into the Cozy Corner Café and left him outrageous tips. Not because of the attack but because of his celebrity status at Rootie Tootie’s. These days, it was standing room only, with fire marshals at the ready.

  The best part of everything was the new family they had acquired via Arnold Stonebridge. As Beth said, “This is where we belong and where we are going to stay.” John agreed.

  They were all counting down the days to Christmas Eve, when Arnold would close up so they could all be together. Beth was so giddy she could hardly stand herself. Everyone she held dear to her heart would be here, and they would all be together. She was so excited about seeing her brother, it was all she could talk about.

  Beth and John moved back to their first apartment the day after Luke Olsen was taken into custody. She helped Arnold at the club, then went home to finish up all the last-minute details needed for the February studio date. She didn’t know who was more excited, she or Arnold, who promised to attend. John just took it in stride. Little did he know he was going to be the star.

  Afternoons were spent looking for a house that could double as a satellite office for Perfect Match. That was her true calling, and she knew it. She was a little antsy about developing what she thought of as her “specialty groups,” specific segments of the population who wanted to date each other. Gracie was all for it. The minute they went viral, they had been inundated with requests from prospective clients. The usual trash appeared on sites saying Perfect Match was exploiting various groups. That got Beth’s dander up and she dived in full bore. Everyone deserved to be as happy as she was. So what if some guy had a club foot and was shy and afraid to put himself out there. There was someone for him. Beth just had to find that perfect person. And it was working. Now all they had to do was fine tune her plan and arrange a big get-together. Free of charge. Because she wasn’t taking money from anyone unless they trusted her and committed to the plan.

  Her first big test, which only she and Gracie knew about, were the little people. They sent out the inquiries one right after the other. One tentative response led to another, then another, and now they had a roster of twenty little people who were interested in meeting others like themselves. Beth was on it night and day. As was Gracie.

  Moose had called two days after Jake’s surgery with a suggestion that he said came from Jake. Jake saw a need for handicapped people to get together, for the same reason the man with the club foot had reached out to them—he was afraid to put himself out there for fear of rejection. Moose went on to say Jake wanted to work on that and felt he would be an asset. Beth’s fist shot in the air when she heard that.

  It was all coming together. It was all about caring and details.

  Beth’s arm snaked out to grab her cell phone when it pinged to life. It was Gracie. “Just so you know, we’re getting some bad press from the company I used to work for. I want your permission to get down and dirty with those guys. Do I have it?”

  “You got it. They’re jealous, Gracie. They see us raking in piles of money by specializing. They should only know we’re doing it for free. A yearly membership of a hundred dollars divided into twelve payments. Eight dollars and thirty-three cents a month. Yep, we’re raking in the bucks. Do what you gotta do, say what you gotta say, and don’t look back.”

  “You okay, Beth?”

  “Better than I’ve ever been. Have you been to see Jake?”

  “I go every day and take Gizmo. He really likes Jake.”

  Beth laughed. “Well, that’s as good of an excuse as any, I guess. Are you two getting along?”

  “We are. I like him, Beth. He likes me. We’re friends. That’s it, okay? If something is meant to happen, it will. No matchmaking here. I mean it.”

  “I hear you. You’re on your own. So everything is good, no more blowback from the hacking?”

  “Good to go. Artie and Andy have it contained. I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas. Four more days! I’ve missed you, girl!”

  “Yeah. I’m going to be staying on, Gracie. I love it here. I think I have a lead on a cozy little house not too far from here. John loves it as much as I do, and we both feel like we have this really big family that we have to look out for. I think I was meant to be here. Just took me a while to figure it out.”

  “I’m glad, Beth. I gotta run. Giz is ready to go, and when he’s ready, he’s ready, so I’ll call you when I get back from the rehab center. You sure you don’t want me to tell Jake he’s going to Nashville?”

  “Not until an hour before. That’s the plan, so let’s stick to it. Can I hang up knowing February is when we go live? Valentine’s Day!”

  “Absolutely! I have to be honest, Beth. When you tossed that out to me, I didn’t think there was a snowball’s chance in hell we could make it work in your time frame. But, things just magically fell into place. So, yeah, it’s a go.”

  Beth trilled with laughter. “See, you just gotta believe. When something is meant to be, then it’s meant to be. I’m off now to pick up Jake’s Christmas present. I had them engrave his name on the skateboard.” She could hear Gracie laughing as she broke the connection.

  “Four more days to Christmas! Four more days to Christmas,” Beth sang to herself as she bundled up to go out to finish her Christmas shopping and take one last look at the little house she planned on buying. How alive she felt! How happy! She said a silent little prayer that things would always be this good.

  It was four o’clock in the morning when Moose Dennison opened the door to Jake’s bedroom. Gizmo was on his feet in a second. He tilted his head as he waited for an explanation. “We’re going to Nashville, Sergeant. Gracie, too. She thought Jake might need you this morning. You’re getting this, right?” Gizmo yipped.

  “Up! Up! Up! C’mon, Jake, we’re going places today!”

  Jake rolled over, grumbled something, then rolled back over.

  “Get him up, Sarge!”

  Gizmo was on the bed and ripping at the covers as he pushed and shoved Jake to the end of the bed. Moose
turned on the shower, all the while yelling “time was of the essence” and “time was money” and anything else he could think of to wake up Jake.

  “What the hell! Have you lost your mind, Moose? It’s only four o’clock! Go away!”

  “If I tell that dog to bite your ass, you know damn well he will. What’s it going to be?” Moose bellowed.

  “Why? Just tell me why you’re getting me up at four o’clock in the morning.”

  “We’re going to Nashville! For Christmas! Beth invited us! I rented a Gulfstream and used your credit card. I didn’t think you’d mind. The shower is running, and this here dog has to go out to pee, so are you gonna move, or do I have to drag your sorry ass all the way into the bathroom? Tell me you aren’t going to blow this gig!”

  Jake was suddenly wide awake. “Are you lying to me, Moose? Did Beth really invite us to Nashville?”

  “She did, and she arranged everything except for the Gulfstream. Calvin even arranged for a therapist, so you won’t miss a thing. We’re staying three days. Move your ass, son!”

  Jake reached for his canes and almost ran to the shower.

  Moose and Gizmo headed for the stairs. They had all the time in the world because the pilot had told him wheels up would be eight o’clock. Jake did move a tad slow in the mornings. Moose firmly believed the early bird got the worm.

  Forty minutes later Moose blinked when he looked up to see Jake standing in the doorway. He was what he called so spruced up it was hard to believe it was Jake Masters. And he smelled mighty damn good. Gizmo barked either at Jake’s appearance or as a reminder to Moose that he was waiting for the bacon and sausage sizzling on the stove.

  “Lookin’ pretty fancy there, son,” Moose drawled.

  “Yeah,” Jake drawled in return. “You want to tell me how this all came about, or are you going to make me pull it out of you?”

  “It was all Beth’s idea. I think she’s ready to forgive you. Now, that’s just my opinion. On the other hand, maybe this up-close-and-personal gig is so she can give you one final kick in the butt.”

  “Whose idea was it to rent a private plane?”

  “Well, twern’t hers. That was all my doing. So don’t go blaming her.”

  “Where are we staying?”

  “I rented us all rooms at the Best Western. And they said Giz can stay or he can stay with Beth. Guess it’s up to the dog. Seems to me that dog makes all the decisions around here. I grant you, they’re good ones,” Moose said, one eye on Giz and the other on the frying pan.

  “Did you know Gracie put him out for stud a while back? She told me that last week. One of the officers at the rehab center said the K-nine leader contacted him. The government paid her a bundle of money, and she got pick of the litter. She said the pup would be ready to be picked up after the New Year.”

  Moose pretended amazement. “You mean there are going to be two of them there killer dogs out there! Well, woo hoo and all that!”

  “I’d be careful what you say around Giz. He takes things personally,” Jake said, trying not to laugh.

  Moose bent over and looked the big dog in the eye. “So then, big fella, what do I call you, Sergeant or Daddy?” Giz dropped to the floor and buried his face in his paws, as much as to say “I can’t deal with stupid so early in the morning.” Jake laughed till he choked.

  “Just toast and yogurt, Moose,” Jake said when he got his laughter under control.

  Giz was on his feet and nudging Moose’s leg. He was ready to eat.

  “It has to cool off first, Sarge. The eggs are ready, though.” He set the plate on the floor, but Giz didn’t go near it.

  “You just don’t get this dog, Moose. He wants it all on the plate at the same time. If it’s too hot, he’ll wait till it cools. Gracie said that’s how smart he is. And she should know.”

  “You two are getting kind of . . . close, I’m thinking.”

  “I wish. I like her a lot. I still think she has . . . I’m not sure she’s over Giz’s previous owner. I’m patient.”

  “Sometimes, a man just has to be patient,” Moose said dryly, his head bobbing up and down.

  Both Moose and Jake watched Gizmo as he sniffed his food. He took a cautious lick and then dived into his human breakfast of six eggs, four links of sausage, and four strips of bacon. “Don’t look at me like that, Jake! Gracie said the dog’s vet said he was in perfect health, and if that’s what his handler fed him, then it works. And when something works, you don’t mess around with it. Sometimes he gets dog food, but he won’t eat it, so Gracie said he knows she’s just messing with him.”

  When the dog finished, he walked over to the door, and Moose let him out.

  “It’s just six-thirty. Now what are we going to do, play cards or something till it’s time to leave for the airport? You could have let me sleep a little longer.”

  “I wanted you bright eyed and bushy tailed,” Moose grumbled as he cleaned up the dishes and turned on the dishwasher.

  “Now that we have this . . . togetherness thing going on, this might be a good time for you to tell me what else you and Beezer have been keeping from me. Well?”

  “Nary a thing, son. Sorry. You might as well read the morning paper online. I have to get my gear ready.”

  And that was that!

  The sleek, silver Gulfstream touched down at Nashville International Airport precisely on time. Travel time—one hour and four minutes. The minute the powerful engines shut down, Giz unbuckled his seat belt and hopped into the aisle. He waited for Gracie and her carry bag before he marched to the front of the plane. The hostess held out a treat that Gracie had slipped to her earlier. She handed it over. The pilot leaned out to see who was first in line. Then he stood up. Gracie winked at him and mouthed the words, “He’s waiting for you to salute him. It’s the uniform.”

  The pilot, a tall, handsome, gray-haired man, grinned as he offered up a snappy salute. Gizmo returned one that was just as snappy, along with a sharp bark. “It’s been a pleasure having you on board, Sergeant. You can fly with me anytime.” Giz barked to show he’d consider the offer, then they were going down the portable stairs, where a long black limousine waited for them.

  Jake eyed the limo and turned to Moose. “You really had a good time spending my money, didn’t you?”

  “I purely did. Wait till you get the bill for all the presents I bought.”

  Jake laughed out loud. He was loving every moment of this last-minute trip he’d been kept in the dark about.

  Finally, all on his own, Jake made it to the bottom of the stairs and all the way to the waiting limo. Giz was at his side the whole way. Gracie beamed her pleasure as he also managed with only a little difficulty to get into the back of the limo on his own.

  “Jesus! I did it! I did it! I feel like I just ran a ten-mile minimarathon! I did it!”

  Gizmo was all over him, licking his face, nudging him everywhere to show his approval. “I want this dog! Do you hear me, Gracie? I want this dog!”

  “It’s a package deal, Jake,” Gracie said in a tickly kind of voice. Oh, be still, my heart.

  Oh, man, did this woman just say what I thought she said? For a moment, Jake thought he might black out.

  “Yeah, I kind of thought that might be the case,” he replied. “Okay, I’ll take you, too.”

  They bantered back and forth for the whole hour’s drive to Rootie Tootie’s.

  When they arrived, Jake admitted to the fact that while he got into the limo by literally falling in, he wasn’t sure he could get out the same way. The driver and Moose made it happen, with Giz dancing around to make sure nothing went awry.

  The door to the club blew open, and Giz raced to Beth, who stood rooted to the spot. She wanted to run to her brother, but she knew it was the wrong thing to do. He had to walk to her. To prove he could do it. She sucked in her breath while she waited. Her eyes on Jake and only Jake, she could feel but not see that John and Arnold were at her side. She could also feel her heart pounding insid
e her chest as her eyes filled up. She wanted to run to help this giant of a big brother, but she didn’t move. She watched as he gritted his teeth and made sure the two canes were secure on his elbows before he crossed the short distance to where she was standing in the doorway. She could see that his eyes were as wet as hers.

  “Beezer!”

  “Jake!”

  Beth’s arms shot out. Moose and Gracie moved quickly to get in place behind Jake so he didn’t topple backward. For a little girl, Beth was surprisingly strong. She held him so tight Jake thought she might crack his ribs, and he loved every minute of the pain he was enduring.

  “Beezer . . . I’m so sorry. Jake Masters, also known as a lazy laggard, whiny puke, and a king-sized pain in the ass, reporting in,” he said, his voice gruff and garbled.

  Beth smiled. “Yeah, but that was then. This is now. At this moment in time, you’re just Jake Masters, the big brother I love and adore above all else. Brother and sister again, okay?”

  “Yeah. But, Beezer, I need to hear you say the words. I really need to hear you tell me you forgive me. If you don’t, then I have to turn around and leave.”

  “Jackass! Of course I forgive you. Do you think I did all this for nothing? Sometimes, you are dumber than dumb.” She lowered her voice, and whispered, “Did you hit on Gracie yet? She’s ready to be hit on.”

  “Uh-huh. Sort of. Kind of. Hell, yeah, I did.” Beth giggled at the shocked look on her brother’s face. “Crap, you set me up. You knew that would happen! I’ll be damned!” Beth just continued to giggle.

  Then they were inside the club and out of the cold. Jake gulped in air as he looked around at all the trees and garlands and the people standing there waiting to be introduced. He almost lost it and probably would have, but he felt Giz behind him and knew he’d bite his ass if he didn’t man up right now. As in right now!