“You want me to—” Melanie started to stand.
“I’ve got him.” Sophie set the questionnaire down on the metal worktable and glanced at the calendar above the order desk. A twinge of sadness slipped around her heart but didn’t dim her smile. “It’s his anniversary,” she whispered to Melanie as she went to greet her customer. “Mr. Felenti, good afternoon. Happy anniversary.”
The stooped old man’s raisin-wrinkled face stretched into a wide grin as his eyes welled. “Would have been sixty-two years today, missy. Tell me that wouldn’t have been a K-Bay record.” His gnarled fist reached out and clasped Sophie’s hand. “My Edie did so love any reason to celebrate.”
And now Mr. Felenti celebrated anniversaries alone by taking his wife a bouquet of flowers and sitting on the bench he’d had placed near her grave; a flask of Edie Felenti’s famous hooch for toasting in his jacket pocket.
“Do you have anything specific in mind you’d like to take her?” Sophie nudged him toward one of her two-door refrigerated floral cases along the far wall. “Other than baby white roses,” she added. Edie Felenti had loved miniature roses.
Her heart sighed at the thought of spending that many years with someone. Loving someone. Mr. Felenti clanked his way across the showroom and stared into the displays behind the glass. “Lovely, as always.” But he shook his head and dismissed the selection of prearranged bouquets and filled vases. “I don’t see anything that looks like my Edie.”
“How about I have Melanie fix you a nice cup of tea and I’ll put something together for you. Come on.” She caught his arm and led him over to one of the chairs on the other side of the work counter. She’d always liked the idea of customers being able to see what she and Melanie did when it came to arranging, maintaining or creating the perfect floral accent for their chosen occasion. Flowers were social, and she liked making the choosing of them a social event.
“I’ve got lemon-zinger tea, Mr. Felenti,” Melanie called as she abandoned her bonsai. Meanwhile Mr. Felenti hefted himself onto the high chair and hooked his cane on the edge of the counter.
“Sounds zesty.” Mr. Felenti cackled. “Two sugars, please. Don’t tell Doc Maxwell,” he said to Sophie as she gathered up a handful of baby’s breath. “He’s been going on about my blood sugar.”
“He’s just concerned. We want you around as long as possible, you know.” Sophie touched the back of his hand before she wound her way through the displays of vases and stuffed animals, Mylar balloons bouncing along with a rainbow of less-expensive items. She tried to keep a good gift selection in stock, from artist offerings of jars and boxes to delicate jewelry designed and handcrafted by a trio of sisters who lived just outside town.
She ducked inside the larger floral case, the blast of cool air reminding her of her quick walk to the bank and the surprised expression on Gideon’s face when she’d asked him about finding her a romantic match.
She shouldn’t care one whit about what Gideon thought. As if he sat in that sterile bank of his, thinking of ways to irritate or get under her skin. She doubted Gideon Walker gave her two winks of thought aside from her Friday-deposit visits.
She’d hold what was left of her family together. She had to. She’d promised their mother. She just never expected that promise to have to include a secret stash of cash she could use for bail money if needed. The peanut-butter jar on top of the refrigerator—safest place for it given Dillon’s peanut allergy—was her failsafe. Her brother had a good heart, but his last bail had been set so high, she’d almost come up short for her rent at the store. Maybe someday he’d realize that and make the changes he needed to, but until then, she would plan ahead.
She plucked out five pristine white miniature roses out of their container before adding some pittosporum, freesia—she stopped to take a deep sniff—and lavender. At the last minute, she collected a few healthy vines of ivy.
This time of year she all but bounced on her toes in anticipation of spring. Sure, winter flowers were lovely, but she couldn’t wait for her greenhouse at the back of the property to start producing those that she currently had to ship in from other parts of the Lower 48. Winter had the same flattening effect on her bank account as it did her plants. But things would turn around quickly enough once the chill eased.
She found Melanie and Mr. Felenti with their heads together when she returned to the counter, realizing too late they were commiserating over her dating questionnaire. Uh-oh.
“You throwing in with those hockey boys?” Mr. Felenti said as he jabbed a crooked finger at her negligible answers. “Don’t know what got into their heads thinking about matchmaking. Darn silly business, if you ask me.”
The K-Bay matchmakers were indeed serving as one of the more unusual mysteries about town these days, but given Sophie saw a few more happier couples circling the Bar & Grill—Ty and Coop with their new significant others included—what did she have to lose?
“It would be nice to meet someone with similar interests,” Sophie said while trying to find a way to snatch the papers out of Mr. Felenti’s hands without being rude. “This place eats up a lot of time. I’m happy to take a shortcut.”
CHAPTER TWO
“IT’S A LITTLE spooky how well you’ve taken to daddyhood.” Gideon lowered himself into the chair across from Coop Hamilton, a man he’d known for nearly as long as he’d been alive. Ever the serial dater, Coop had fallen fast—and hard—for Nora Perry, a whip-smart, determined woman who called life as she saw it.
Little Zoe, all big eyes and soft baby-fine blond curls, had been a life-altering surprise, the result of Coop’s brief encounter with Nora. Though looking at his friend, he’d never seen Coop seem so... What was the word? Content. “Nora’s got you on Zoe duty, huh?”
The combination of clacking pool balls, frying oil and on-tap beer sent his senses to singing and his stomach to growling. The brass bell hanging over the bar seemed larger of late, as if taunting him with its desire to be rung to signal a match made in...K-Bay.
“She drove Dad to his doctor’s appointment today. They stopped for dinner on the way back.” Coop’s expression carried a hint of disappointment that disappeared when he looked down at his daughter. “I’m afraid they might be plotting something.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Gideon reached for a spiced peanut as he signaled Coach for a beer. He watched Ty Porter stroll in from the kitchen where he’d been working, a lazy smile on his scarred face and—was that a skip in his step?
Of course it was. It wasn’t every day a woman rang a bell and declared her love, very publicly, for a man. Lucky son of a gun.
“At least with our new jobs—” Gideon raised his voice so Coach could hear his boast “—you’ll be able to flesh out that bank account of yours and not rely on how many cars you sell in a week. Financial stability is only two couples away.”
Coop shrugged, his lack of enthusiasm pressing heavily on Gideon’s shoulders.
Gideon prided himself on being a practical kind of guy. Logical, reasoned. He didn’t subscribe to the notion of love at first sight or dreamlike happily-ever-afters. The only time he’d ever felt the spark witnessed recently in his friends was courtesy of Friday afternoons at the bank. Observing the emotional upheaval and surrender of his two best friends had both entertained and terrified him. So much was changing, and yet he couldn’t imagine losing himself to anyone that fast.
An image of Sophie’s beaming face burst into his head.
Or could he?
Gideon clenched his hand. He was leaving and the last thing he needed—or wanted—was to put Sophie in the position of choosing between him and staying. Growing up he’d seen his mother having to make that choice, sometimes daily. She’d left her socially overflowing life in Anchorage to follow his father to K-Bay and become a staid banker’s wife; a life that had ended far too soon thanks to one too many ma
rtinis and a midnight drive. Gideon only remembered seeing his mother smile in photographs taken from before K-Bay. Gideon set his jaw. Sadness. Depression. Regret. For what? For love?
Sophie Jennings belonged here. All the more reason to help her find someone appropriate in K-Bay. A guy who was safe, secure and interested in giving her everything she wanted in the place where she felt at home.
Coop and Ty seemed so mired in domestic bliss, Gideon was determined to cement their successful futures by fulfilling his part of the bet. Two matches, he reminded himself. That was all that stood between them and...their dreams.
Gideon thanked Coach for his beer as he stared down at the froth streaming over the edge of the glass.
“Hey, someone’s crashing the party.” Ty pointed to Gideon’s beer to indicate to Coach that he needed one of his own. “My shift’s done, Coach, and by the way, did you lower the age requirements in this place?”
“That little one is more than welcome,” Coach said with a wink. “She’s got better manners than the three of you put together.”
“Kelsey finally get tired of looking at you?” Gideon asked Ty as his stomach growled for more than peanuts, pretzels and salt.
“She’s working on that new website of hers. Wants to get the blog up and running by Valentine’s Day, and apparently my hovering over her shoulder with suggestions isn’t productive. No need to rush home just yet.” Ty grinned, leaned across the table and held out his hand to Zoe. She wiggled excitedly and grabbed hold, then stuffed Ty’s fingers in her mouth. “Now, that’s a grip. I’m impressed.” Ty chuckled and scrubbed a hand over his recently shaved beard that used to hide the scars of his youth.
Zoe wasn’t the first female to slobber on Ty, but she might just be the last. Ty was as far gone over Kelsey Nash, onetime reporter and reputation ruiner turned dream come true, as Coop was over his instant family. It all made Gideon feel not only like a third wheel, but that he wasn’t even on the same vehicle.
“I’m thinking she’s going to have a wicked slap shot once I get her on skates.” Coop jostled Zoe in his arm just enough to make her giggles echo through the bar. “What do you think, Zoe? You want to play hockey with your dad one day?”
“Mmfha!” Zoe blinked curious eyes up at her father.
“Jeez, let the kid start walking before you put her on ice,” Gideon said. All this baby stuff shifted him to this side of nervous. Time to get to work. “Now, look, I’ve got a new round of questionnaires to go through.” He reached for his laptop. “We’ve got more than a decent shot at winning this bet. As usual, we need a few more female applicants to start matching up couples.” His gaze strayed to the door in anticipation of Sophie’s arrival. Gideon took a long drink of beer. The idea of seeing Sophie twice in one day filled him with more anticipation than the start of hockey season.
“As you said, I need that job now that I have a family to support. Not that I’m relishing telling Dad about the possibility of us moving out of K-Bay.” Coop shoved Ty’s hand away from his daughter and glared at him. “Get your own. She’s mine.”
“Hey, she needs to get to know her uncles. Come on.” Ty held his arms out for her. “Hand her over.”
“Guys—” Gideon sighed.
“Yeah, yeah.” Coop hefted Zoe up and over the table, her pink winter romper with what Gideon thought were ears on the hood making her look as if a pastel bear had gobbled her up. Coop frowned when she settled into Ty’s arms as easily as she had his, but then his expression shifted and a knowing smile crept over his mouth. “Listen, Nora and I could do with a date night. You and Kelsey want to babysit?”
“Can we please talk about your social life after we get this matchmaking business settled?” Gideon pleaded and looked to Coach for support as he delivered Ty’s drink. Zoe aside, he longed for the days he spent with Coop and Ty lounging at the bar with nothing better to do than commiserate about...nothing. “Coach, come on. Help me out.”
“No can do,” Coach said with a slow shake of his head as he, too, fell under Zoe’s charming spell. Coach tickled her under her chin. “You three made the bet, you three see it through on your own. You know, it might be time to work on a more expansive kids’ menu for this place.”
It was all Gideon could do not to gnash his teeth to dust. “It’s as if you two are okay leaving your future in my hands. That the case?”
“He’s got a point. We both saw what can happen with Gideon’s plans.” Ty settled Zoe into the crook of his arm. “But first, we order. Burgers? Applesauce?”
Gideon grunted his agreement. He’d have gone with raw bison meat on a stake if it meant getting these guys to focus.
“Extra cheese on mine,” Coop said.
“Done and done,” Coach told them and disappeared behind the bar.
“Everyone good?” Gideon ground out. “Drinks okay? Zoe, you happy?”
Gideon took her gurgle as a yes.
“What’s our current ratio of applicants?” Coop asked and drank down the last of his water.
“We’re about two to one, men to women. No big surprise,” Gideon answered. “Our next group outing is in a week—”
“February the thirteenth,” Ty said. “Fingers crossed this Polar Dip idea of yours doesn’t go, um.” He cringed and glanced at Zoe. “Feet up.”
“It’s not going feet up,” Gideon grumbled. He wasn’t worried they’d fail. Not much anyway. “We’ll win the bet and this time next year we’ll be settled down south. Did we finalize the bus rental?”
“Booked and deposit paid for thanks to the applicants’ registration fees. We’re renting a bunch of chairs, too. Coop and I will go early to set up. You can babysit the couples on the journey there.”
“A lot of women love nothing more than to sit and sip hot chocolate and watch a bunch of nearly naked men jump into freezing water,” Coop said.
“Proves which is the smarter sex,” Gideon quipped.
“That’s a reality show I’d watch,” Ty said. “At least the weather is supposed to be clear. You really believe this is a good date idea? Will we need liability insurance?”
“If we didn’t have it for the ATV trip, we should be fine. And I’m looking at this as a test-of-character outing,” Gideon said, loosening his tie. Ah, now it felt like Friday. “How each reacts to the other during this trip can either solidify or destroy a potential relationship.” Listen to him, as if he’d actually taken Psych 101 in college.
“I hope I’m not too late to be included.” The female voice that broke into the conversation stopped Gideon cold. Seeing Sophie standing beside the table, bundled in that down jacket of hers, eyes as steady as a forest of dormant redwoods, had him shoving to his feet and sloshing his beer over the edge of his glass. “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said, backing away as beer dribbled along the table.
“You’re not,” Gideon said. Without looking he knew Ty and Coop well enough to suspect they were exchanging confused expressions. “We were just going over details for the bus trip. We’re calling it the Polar Dip Date.”
“Hmm.” Sophie pressed her lips together, but it didn’t stop the smile from appearing on her face. “I’ve often thought ice water and men in bathing suits was a combination for romantic success.”
“Clearly she’s never seen our swim trunks,” Ty said. “Mine have glow-in-the-dark smiley faces.”
“Mine don’t,” Coop said.
Sophie laughed. “Here’s my questionnaire.” She handed over the papers Gideon had given her with something akin to a wince. “I did the best I could. I’m betting there won’t be many who share my opinion of Lumberjack Loons.” The fact she even knew about the Alaskan-based reality show quirked a smile on his lips. “I wish you the best of luck matching me, fellas.”
“I’m sure we’ll find you someone.” Wow. How coherent of him. His stomach was doing all kinds of
flip-flops. It was as if his plan to leave town had kicked his fledgling attraction to Sophie into overdrive.
“Your little girl looks a lot happier than when I saw you changing her diaper at the grocery store checkout, Coop.” Sophie circled the table and dipped down beside Ty as one of Coach’s waitresses swooped in and cleaned up the spill Gideon had made. “She’s beautiful.” She reached out and caught Zoe’s foot in her hand.
“Her name’s Zoe. She looks like her mother,” Coop said, and earned a heartfelt sigh from Sophie.
“I was relieved you had some questions about family and future plans on your questionnaire,” she said to Gideon as he lowered himself into his chair. Her eyes flicked to his tie, and a smile emerged on her lips as she met his gaze.
“Yeah, well, it seemed appropriate.” His fingers itched to flip through her answers and see what her plans included.
“That’s code for he’ll be handing out new forms in a few days,” Coop said. “So, Sophie. Entrusting us with your foray into the dating world. We’re honored.”
“You’ve made me curious,” Sophie said and backed away as their burgers were served.
“Can we get you anything?” Coop asked, aiming a sidelong glance in Gideon’s direction. “Why don’t you join us?”
“I already ate, thanks. But I can take her off your hands while you eat if you want.” She held out her arms.
“That’s an offer I’ll gladly accept.” Ty hefted Zoe into the air and Sophie grabbed hold, placing the little girl over her shoulder in an effortless motion. Gideon stared and realized apart from the questionnaire, she’d barely looked at him.
“So tell us, Sophie,” Ty said as he dug into his dinner. “What is it you’re looking for in a man?”
“You mean me telling you what my favorite type of boat is doesn’t give you enough information?”
“Sometimes we like to explore things a bit further.” Coop blew on a thick fry and, breaking it in half, held it up to Zoe.
Make Me a Match Page 17