by Amira Rain
Jill paused to knock back the rest of her wine, which had been maybe her second or third glass, I wasn’t sure. We’d opened a second bottle. I’d finished a second glass myself and was starting to feel as buzzy as Jill was, if the way her speech had become slightly slurred was any indication.
After setting her glass on the table, she frowned briefly, muttering about having lost her train of thought, before suddenly lifting her gaze to my face with a smile. “I know what I was going to say. I was going to say that no matter if Commander Wallace has doubts about this whole thing being a love match, or if even you do, just wait until the two of you meet in person. If my feelings about the two of you are right, I think major sparks are going to fly.”
Just then, Jake jumped up from the floor, woofing quietly, and began trotting out of the dining room toward the hallway and the kitchen.
Jill laughed. “Well, perfect timing. We’re all pretty much done with dessert, and something tells me that Jake’s psychic powers just told him that the commander just got home.”
*
Suddenly, my state of relaxed, wine-induced buzz was gone, or at least the relaxed part of it was.
A moment after Jill said what she did, I flew up from the table, smoothing my long hair with one hand and smoothing my long, tunic-style top with the other. “Do I have any food on my face or anything?”
Getting up from her chair, Hillary shook her head, giving me a comforting smile. “No. You look perfect.”
A bit unsteady, Jill got up from her chair and began striding out of the dining room, teetering just a little, like she was wearing high heels, despite the fact that her shoes were ballet flats. “I’ll go say hi. You guys come out in exactly sixty seconds. This way, I’ll be the matchmaker and the official introducer, too.”
I turned my gaze from her to Hillary. “What do I do? I have no experience in meeting a man who’s going to be my husband in within twenty-four hours. Should I offer to fix him a plate of dinner, or…or what?”
Maddeningly, Hillary looked like she was actually trying to suppress laughter. “That might be a good way to start, but first, take a deep breath. Just remember, the commander is just a man, and you both want the same things…family and babies. Everything else will work itself out.”
“Okay.”
“Jill and I will take off soon; ask the commander if you can fix him a plate and then maybe sit with him while he eats and nibble on something yourself. Have an extra fruit kebab, or an extra helping of dessert, or a little more wine or something. Just share a little bite to eat with him so that you can get to know each other a little better.”
“Okay.”
“Take a long, slow, deep breath, Julia. You’re really white as a ghost.”
I did as Hillary had instructed, willing my heart rate to slow, and she came around to my side of the table, her amused expression turning a bit more serious, and spoke in a low voice.
“Just so you know…most of the ‘population growth partners’ who’ve already arrived have been sleeping in guest rooms the night before their weddings, and last week, Jill and I put the boxes you shipped in a guest room next to the commander’s room. I’ll put your duffle bag up there, too, before I go. Just know that this isn’t because you can’t sleep in the commander’s room with him tonight—you definitely can if that’s what you the two of you mutually decide you want to do—it’s just more of the ‘no pressure’ thing Jill was talking about. The men here don’t want anyone to feel rushed into anything, especially since a lot of you newcomers arrive after very long days of travel. Even on your wedding night tomorrow, although it’s assumed that both partners in the marriage will want to start trying for a baby right away, it’s not like anyone is going to attack anyone else to make that happen if that ‘anyone else’ isn’t quite ready. Do you understand what I’m probably very clumsily trying to say? The men all seem to be very quality around here, including the commander. If you go on up to the guest room tonight to go to sleep, he won’t be upset, and although there may be expectations for the wedding night, I highly doubt that the commander is going to pressure or force you into doing anything if you feel like you need another day or two to get to know him a little better. Okay?”
“Okay. I understand.”
I did, although that understanding wasn’t doing much to slow my racing heartbeat.
Hillary gave me a small smile. “Good. I consider it my job as a member of the ‘selection committee’ to make all newcomers feel at ease about things. Now, let’s head out to the kitchen. Once you get past introductions, you’ll be just fine.”
She took me by the elbow and began leading me away from the table. I let myself be led, hoping she was right about that last thing she’d said.
When we arrived in the kitchen, Jill was standing at the island talking to the most handsome man I’d ever seen in my life. By far. By miles. He was younger than I’d expected for some reason, maybe in his early thirties. His thick, dark hair glinted in the golden glow of the track lighting, which also made his gray eyes sparkle a bit. Dark eyebrows, a wide forehead, and a strong, square jaw completed the picture of his almost impossibly handsome face, or nearly completed it, because the real masterstroke was his sensuous, full lips. The man’s masculine beauty wasn’t just limited to his face, however. His physique was like a work of art as well. Long, lean, and muscular, it was like statuary clad in battered jeans and a navy blue t-shirt.
With my heart racing a bit faster than it had been out in the dining room, I thought back to the email Jill had sent me, when she’d predicted that I’d be grateful to her for matching me with Commander Wallace. She hadn’t been wrong.
Jake had been on his hind legs, pawing at the commander’s side and reveling in his attention while the commander rubbed his ears and head with both hands, looking over at Jill while she spoke. The moment the commander saw me, though, his hands stilled, and I couldn’t be certain, but I thought I saw his eyes widen a degree or two. Seeming to notice this instantly, Jill suddenly ended what she was saying mid-sentence and whirled around to look at me with a smile.
“There you are, Julia. Come on over. I’d like to introduce you to Commander Wallace.”
On rubbery legs, I made my way over, smiling politely at her and the commander. Or maybe I was more like grimacing because of my nerves. I was trying to smile politely, anyway.
“Julia, this is Commander Ryan Wallace. Commander, this is Julia Watson.”
Now I was sure his eyes were widening slightly. I hoped he wasn’t horrified by me for some reason. I hoped he didn’t find me ugly or unappealing.
Clearing his throat a little, he extended a hand to me. “It’s very nice to meet you. Please call me Ryan.”
Deep and rich, with just the faintest hint of gravel to it, his voice was heaven. I couldn’t think of any other way to describe it. It was just heaven to my ears. I thought that it was the kind of voice I wouldn’t mind listening to, even if it was just reciting the phone book.
I took Ryan’s hand with more than a little heat rising to my face. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Ryan. Please, call me Julia.”
While Ryan began shaking my hand with his own firm, warm hand, the touch caused a wave of butterflies in my stomach. Jake suddenly barked, jumping down from his stand with his front paws on Ryan’s hip. Barking again, he then jumped to stand with his front paws on my own hip, nuzzling his snout into the side of my stomach.
Ryan frowned. “No, Jake. Get down. That’s rude.”
Smiling and petting Jake’s knotty, golden, little head with my left hand, I shook my head. “No, he’s fine. I don’t mind at all. We’re good friends already.”
“Well…okay. Good. But if his jumping up on you ever does bother you, don’t be afraid to tell him no in a firm voice.”
I looked up from Jake to Ryan with my heartbeat finally starting to slow a bit. “Okay. But he’s fine, really. I think I’m actually going to love living in the house with him. I’ve always loved dogs, but I could never h
ave one growing up because my mom disliked them. And since I’ve been living on my own, I’ve never lived in an apartment building that allowed dogs. So I’m really happy to have Jake for a buddy.”
Jake barked, as if in approval of what I’d said, before finally pushing off my hip to stand on the hardwood floor on all fours again.
On her way out of the kitchen with my duffle bag over one shoulder, Hillary said she’d be right back. “And, Jill, while I’m taking Julia’s bag upstairs, would you mind clearing the dining room table really quickly? Then we can be on our way.”
Jill nodded. “No problem. After witnessing the handshake of the century here, I’m pretty sure my work as matchmaker and introducer extraordinaire is done anyway.”
Mortified, I suddenly realized that Ryan’s hand and mine were still clasped. “Oh.”
My face had just about burst into flames. With his lightly tanned skin also pinking a little, Ryan cleared his throat, releasing my hand.
Smiling, Jill began breezing out of the kitchen. “I apologize, Julia and Commander Wallace, but a nice, lengthy handshake is nothing to be embarrassed about.”
In my mind, it somehow was, and I cleared my throat like Ryan had just done, very eager to change the subject. “So, would you like me to fix you a plate of food? We’ve got meatballs for subs, fruit, veggies, and chips. I was actually about to have some fruit myself, so I’ll sit and eat with you, if you’d like.”
“Sure. Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
With Jake “assisting” me by standing right next to my feet on high alert for any dropped food, I went about fixing Ryan a plate. Nearby, he washed his hands at the sink, opened a cupboard, and pulled out a glass and a bottle of what appeared to be whiskey before filling the glass with a few inches of it. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, still somewhat in disbelief about how unbelievably good-looking he was. If we did end up creating a baby together, it would probably be a beautiful baby if it favored Ryan, that was for sure. It would also probably grow to be a tall child and adult if it favored him. He had to be at least six-foot-three or four, I figured. I myself was just a shade off five-foot-four, which had made me have to slightly crane my neck to meet Ryan’s eyes when speaking to him, although I hadn’t really minded this. For some reason, the way he towered over me made me feel almost safe in a way, instead of slightly intimidated like I’d felt when talking to other very tall men in the past.
While Ryan took a few drinks of his whiskey and I continued fixing his plate, neither of us spoke. Soon, Hillary and Jill returned to the kitchen. Once she’d quickly loaded a stack of dishes into the dishwasher, Jill began giving Jake a few goodbye nuzzles and pets, telling him she’d probably see him again soon. Hillary made a beeline for the door, telling us to have a good night, and soon she and Jill were gone, the front door closed, leaving Ryan and me alone.
I’d finished with his plate by this point, and I handed it to him, telling him to feel free to head out to the dining room. “I’ll be right out once I get my own plate and some fruit.”
Really, I just wanted a few seconds alone to collect my thoughts. I was still a little lightheaded from my two glasses of wine, but even more than that, simply being around Ryan seemed to increase my lightheadedness. When he left the kitchen with Jake following behind him, I took a few slow, deep breaths before tossing a fruit kebab onto a clean plate, trying to remember if I’d ever met a man who’d had such an effect on me. I was pretty sure I hadn’t. I definitely would’ve remembered a man who’d made me feel the way that Ryan currently was.
When I joined him in the dining room, I found him sitting at the head of the table. I took a seat to his left, asking him if he needed anything else. He said no, thank you, that he was all set, and I said okay.
“Well, just let me know if you do need anything else. A glass of water or an extra napkin…whatever it is, just please let me know.”
Unfolding a cream-colored linen napkin in his lap, he looked up at me with a little twinkle in his coal-gray eyes. “Thank you, but if I need anything else, I’ll just get up and get it myself so you can enjoy your fruit. I may be the commander-in-chief of Denton, but my legs work just fine. I don’t expect you to be my waitress.”
Face warming a little once again, I fought a smile for some reason. “Well…all right, then.”
“Jake might want you to be his waitress, though. I can see in his eyes right now what his order would be. I think he’d like you to bring him that crockpot full of meatballs with a few chips on the side.”
I laughed and began pouring myself a half-glass of wine, feeling my earlier anxiety dissipating. Sitting on the floor between Ryan and me, Jake woofed once, then set his head on his paws, as if a bit indignant about Ryan making light of what his “order” might be.
Soon, my anxiety was all but a memory. While we ate and sipped our drinks, Ryan asked me how my trip to Briarwood had gone, and we asked each other a few basic questions about each other, such as food preferences and hometowns, discovering that we’d been born just about a hundred miles from each other.
Picking up his remaining half of a sub sandwich, he looked at me with the corners of his full lips twitching. “So, you call sweetened, carbonated water ‘pop,’ too, then.”
Swirling a little wine in my glass, I smiled. “Of course. All true Michiganders do.”
Ryan nodded. “Exactly. I never trust anyone who says ‘soda.’”
Really feeling my wine now, or maybe just really feeling Ryan, I laughed, probably a little louder at his comment than most people would have. Ryan didn’t seem to mind, though, dazzling me with a wide, sexy grin that sent my pulse racing for what felt like the hundredth time that evening.
In the warm, somewhat dim light of the dining room, with stars twinkling in the inky sky beyond the windows, we continued our banter, taking mostly about Michigan ways, customs, and sports teams. By the time Ryan had finished his meal and I’d finished my fruit and wine, I had to mentally admit that Jill was a very talented matchmaker indeed. Little did I know that in just a few minutes, I’d be seriously doubting whether she’d really had any psychic matchmaking abilities at all.
CHAPTER FOUR
I’d just opened my mouth to ask Ryan if he was going to get seconds of dinner, or if he wanted some panna cotta for dessert, when I was cut off by a feline hiss. Inwardly groaning, I turned in my chair to look and saw that Plum and Quiet had ventured from the sunroom, either over the wall or through the several-inch gap beneath the rolling bookshelf. They were now both slinking into the dining room shoulder-to-shoulder, sights locked on Jake, as if they shared a brain and the same diabolical plan for him. Shrinking back to the side of Ryan’s chair, Jake whined, wearing an almost human-looking mask of fear, and the cats both hissed again, simultaneously. This was enough for Jake to suddenly bolt across the dining room and dart beneath the hollow in the stairs, whimpering.
Not wanting the cats to chase him in there, I jumped up from my seat and began striding over to them. “I apologize, Ryan.” After scooping up a naughty cat in each arm, telling them that they were very naughty, I turned to look at Ryan, surprised to see him standing by the table, frowning so hard his expression was nearly a scowl. “I really do apologize, Ryan. They normally don’t hiss. It’s just that they’re not used to being around dogs, so-“
“You brought two cats into my home without even asking me first?”
Completely taken aback and a bit hurt, I just stared at him for a moment. “Well, I’m sorry. I was under the impression that this was to be our home.”
Now definitely scowling, Ryan raked a hand through his thick, dark hair. “Well, it is. But you might have done the courtesy of telling me you had cats before you brought them in.”
“Well, I guess I figured that Jill would probably tell you. I clearly stated on my application that I had two cats.”
“Well, Jill didn’t tell me.”
“Well, if you want to claim it was unfa
ir that you weren’t told about Plum and Quiet, you should know that I wasn’t told about Jake.”
Ryan didn’t respond, just raked a hand through his hair again.
Because they we’re getting heavy in my arms, I set Plum and Quiet down, shooing them toward the hallway, and somewhat to my surprise, they began slinking away. Brushing a little fur from my top, I looked at Ryan, trying not to glare. “Why do you dislike cats?”
He snorted, as if my question had been ridiculous. “I don’t dislike cats. I just don’t want them in my home, angering my dog.”
Completely unable to help myself, I burst into laughter. “’Angering’ your dog? Ryan, look at Jake underneath the stairs. He’s literally shaking in terror.”
