Bree

by Raine English

  As he listened, he experienced a gamut of perplexing emotions. “So you didn’t sign up for this on your own?”

  She shook her head.

  “And you didn’t come here looking to find love?”

  “Not really. I travel all over the world. It’s not easy to find a man able to do that. I guess I figured if Dawson could find one, well, then maybe… But then again, I never expected to meet someone as wonderful as you.”

  Every time her gaze met his, the very air around him seemed electrified. “Then let’s find a way to make this work. Take a trip to Nebraska. Spend a little time at my farm. Who knows, you might love it there.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek, and her bottom lip trembled. “I can’t. I’m sorry, Jayce. My life is in New York. My dad is sick, and I’m all that he’s got. I had a fabulous time with you this week, much to my surprise, and I’ll treasure it always, but now we both have to get on with our lives—separate lives.” Her words ended on a sob. She got up so suddenly, she spilled her water glass, but that didn’t stop her from running upstairs.

  Jayce felt like he was in a daze as he carried their dinner dishes into the kitchen. His world had been shattered, and he didn’t know what to do about it.

  He went out on the deck and stood there for a long time watching the waves, hoping that she would change her mind and come back down, but knowing that she wouldn’t.

  His misery was so acute that it was a physical pain, and he knew he’d never fall in love again.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Bree’s flight home was an early one. Earlier than Jayce’s. It was going to be extremely difficult to say goodbye to him. How strange that just a week ago she was ready to turn around and go home without even getting to know him. Thankfully, he’d asked her to stay. Otherwise, she never would’ve gotten to know how wonderful he was or how glorious his kisses were. But despite those things, there wasn’t a future for them. With a heavy heart, she’d had to explain that to him last night. She couldn’t leave New York. Not when she’d promised her dad she’d stay. He needed her, and she had to be there for him. Besides, her dreams of moving to the country were just that. Dreams. Like Randolph always said whenever she threatened to leave the city, she wouldn’t last ten minutes in the country.

  Her carry-on and handbag were already by the front door. The limo would be arriving at any minute. Without further procrastinating, she zipped up her suitcase, then dragged it to the top of the stairs. She was about to pull it down when Jayce appeared.

  “Let me get that,” he said, bounding up the stairs. With no effort at all, he lifted the bag and deposited it in the foyer with the rest of her things.

  Bree slipped on her sunglasses, so he couldn’t see the tears in her eyes and joined him by the front door. A second later his arms were around her. She buried her face against the corded muscles of his chest.

  “We can make this work. I know we can. Please, give us a chance,” he whispered against her hair, before tilting her head up so that her lips met his.

  His kiss was slow, thoughtful, unlike the hungry, passionate kisses they’d shared in the forest, yet no less persuasive.

  She heard a car door slam, and then there was a knock on the door. Her sorrow was a vast painful knot inside, and her voice broke when she said, “I’m sorry. Nothing’s changed since last night. I’ve got to go.”

  He held her a moment longer, and then his arms fell stiffly to his sides. She opened the door, and the limo driver stepped inside.

  “Are you ready to go, Miss Wilson?” he asked. When she nodded, he picked up her suitcase and carried it to the car.

  Leaving Jayce left her with an inexplicable feeling of emptiness, and she knew if she didn’t go now, she wouldn’t leave at all, so she scooped up her handbag and carry-on and walked briskly to the car. Bree didn’t look back as she got in, but she didn’t need to, to know that Jayce still stood in the doorway. As the limo drove away, the tears that she’d been fighting so hard to hold back were finally unleashed, and they continued to flow until she reached the airport. Somehow she was able to hold it together long enough to get through check-in and then board the plane, but once she was in her seat, her eyes grew misty. This just wouldn’t do at all, she thought, biting her lip hard. She knew when she’d agreed to let Dawson match her up that he’d never find her perfect match, so it was no surprise that she was heading home the way she’d arrived—single and unattached. She’d met an awesome guy and had a lovely time in Bali, but now it was time to get back to the real world.

  That all sounded great, but logic didn’t always work when your heart was breaking.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jayce looked around the villa one last time to make sure that he hadn’t left anything behind, but the only things left were the raw sores of an aching heart. When he’d agreed to go on this journey, he’d hoped to meet a sweet country girl. How was he to know that his soul mate would turn out to be the complete opposite?

  He’d wanted so badly to make things work with Bree that he overcame his fear of letting another woman into his life—a woman born and raised in the city. But Bree wasn’t the typical city girl. She was tougher than any woman he’d ever known. If she could travel the world alone and get lost in a forest without shedding a tear, she could handle living on a farm. He didn’t blame her, though, for not giving it a shot. It was a lot to ask of someone he’d only known a week. And she had her dad to consider. But that didn’t help to alleviate his pain. It was going to take a long while to get over the bitter disappointment of losing someone he loved again.

  ****

  The flight home seemed even longer than the one going to Bali when in reality his layovers were shorter. After depositing his luggage in his bedroom, he headed over to the maternity barn to see Dally and her newborn calf. Henry and Jimmy were there.

  “Hey, boss!” Henry left the stall and clapped Jayce on the back. “I didn’t know you were back. When’d you get in?”

  “Now.”

  “How was your flight? But more important, how was Bali?”

  “The flight was tiring, and Bali was fantastic.” But his cool tone caused Henry to raise his brows.

  “It doesn’t sound fantastic,” his friend replied. “I take it you didn’t find your match there.”

  Memories of Bree—the sweet smell of her hair, the softness of her touch, and the passion of her kisses—filled his mind. “The problem is I did,” he said in a harsh, raw voice.

  Jimmy put down the bucket that he’d just picked up and came over to join them. “So what’s wrong?”

  Henry jabbed the young man in the side with his elbow. “Maybe Jayce don’t want to talk about it quite yet.”

  Jimmy’s face reddened. “Sorry. I was hopin’ this matchmakin’ thing would work out for you.”

  Jayce placed his hand on the maternity worker’s shoulder. “No need to be sorry. I wished the same thing, but most the time wishes don’t come true, do they?” Before either man could answer, Jayce strolled into the stall that held mother and calf. “Let’s have a look at Bali, the little one who gave us all quite a scare.”

  Henry smiled. “So that’s what you’ve decided to name her. I like it.”

  The corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he looked over at his old friend. “It’s the only name that seemed to fit.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The traffic was barely moving, but that was the last thing on Bree’s mind. If she was late for dinner, then she was late for dinner. There was nothing she could do about it.

  “Everything all right?” Randolph asked, looking at her through the limo’s rearview mirror. She knew he’d asked because she wasn’t nagging at him to hurry up and threatening to move out of the city.

  “I’m tired. That’s all.” But that wasn’t true, and she wasn’t fooling him or herself. Since arriving home from Bali yesterday, she’d been in a funk. The apartment that she once loved was now just a room… A lonely, dismal room. And the city felt like it was closing
in on her. She wished more than anything that she could be back in Bali with its lush scenery and sparkling turquoise Indian Ocean. But who was she kidding? What she wanted was to be back in Jayce’s arms. Her spirits sank even lower, and anguish seared her heart.

  When Randolph maneuvered the limo up to the curb of the Wilson Hotel, she waited for him to put it in Park before getting out. He looked at her through the mirror but didn’t say anything about her not jumping out like she usually did before it rolled to a complete stop. Instead, he just said, “Have a nice dinner.”

  Upon entering the hotel, the front desk clerk said, “Hello, Miss Wilson. Welcome back.”

  She gave a little wave as she headed toward the restaurant, where the Pink Swan’s hostess immediately showed her to her father’s table.

  He tapped his watch. “Fifteen minutes late.” When she didn’t respond, he asked, “Are you feeling okay? You’re rather solemn tonight.”

  “Sorry, Dad. Must be the jet lag.”

  “I’m not letting you off that easily. It’s more than that, so out with it. What happened in Bali?”

  Bree shrugged. “Exactly what I expected. I met a nice man, but we weren’t a match.”

  His green eyes scrutinized her. “I don’t believe you. If that were the case, you’d be your usual bubbly self. I think you were a match, but you don’t want to admit it.”

  She gazed at him in despair. “Okay. You’re right. But only partly. I fully admit we were a match, as crazy as it seems for opposites to be perfect for each other. That’s not the problem. What is is that he lives twelve hundred miles away on a dairy farm in Nebraska.”

  “So?”

  “So? How can you say that? I can’t leave New York. I’ve got a business to run.”

  “You can do that from anywhere. Isn’t that exactly what you’ve been doing for years? You only pop into New York now and then.”

  She stirred uneasily in the chair. “But I was going to change that. I was going to stay here and only leave to visit one of our properties when absolutely necessary. I promised to spend more time with you.”

  His expression softened, and he reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Honey, the thing I want most for you is your happiness. I don’t want you to live your life for me. I already had my time and did what I wanted with it. My only regret is that I didn’t find a good woman to share it with. I don’t want you to make that same mistake. If you found a man that’s right for you, don’t let anything stop you from spending your life with him.”

  She clenched her jaw to kill the sob in her throat. “But what about your health? I want to be here in case you need me.”

  “Bree, I’m fine. I took your advice and changed my doctor’s appointment. I’m on a new medication, and there’ve been no more dizzy spells. Besides, I have a jet, you know. I can hop on it anytime I want and come see you.”

  She brushed away her tears when the waitress came by to take their order. “I’ll have the salmon.”

  Her dad winked at her. “And I’ll have the same.”

  After the waitress walked away, Bree said, “I think you’ll like Jayce. He’s a tough guy, just like you.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Bree had the limo driver stop at the end of the driveway. She gave him a nice big tip and said, “Would you mind waiting ten minutes? If I’m not back, then you can leave.”

  He nodded, and she grabbed her carry-on bag. As she walked toward the big old farmhouse, she realized her hands were shaking. What if Jayce’s feelings toward her had changed once he got home? The thought of him rejecting her was almost too much to bear.

  Bree sucked in a deep breath and summoned all of her courage, and then knocked on the door. When no one answered, she knocked again. This time harder.

  “You lookin’ for Jayce?”

  She nearly lost her balance as she swung around to face the man who had spoken. He was a senior man with a receding hairline and snow-white hair. “Yes.”

  He eyed her warily, then pointed to one of the barns. “He’s in there.”

  She left her carry-on bag on the porch, and as she started to walk over there, the elderly man asked, “Are you, Bree?”

  She was a little startled by the question and hesitated a moment before answering. “Yes… Yes, I am.”

  “Good.”

  She shot him a half-smile before hurrying to the barn. Inside, she was surprised at how cool it was—a relief from the brutal midday heat—and fresh feeling. She’d expected to be overwhelmed by the smell, but that wasn’t the case. She was also surprised to see the sand was used for bedding instead of hay, and there was no crowding the cows into small stalls.

  Bree scanned the rest of the barn and was starting to think Jayce wasn’t in there after all, but then she spotted him over by a water trough. Just the sight of him made her pulse race. As she approached, he looked up. His face paled, and for a split second, she wondered if she’d made a mistake coming here. However, a moment later, he swung her into the circle of his arms.

  “At first I thought you were a ghost, but you’re here. You’re really here,” he said softly against her cheek.

  He dipped his head down and his mouth covered hers hungrily. A heady sensation washed over her, and she kissed him back with an intensity that belied her outward calm.

  When their lips parted, she said, “If your offer still stands, I’d like to stay for a while.”

  His brow furrowed. “Just a while?”

  “Well, I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”

  He kissed the pulsing hollow at the base of her throat. “That’ll never happen. But what about New York and your dad?”

  “My dad’s feeling much better, and as long as there’s internet access, I can work from just about anywhere. Besides, I think it’s time Wilson International spent more time building here at home, beginning in the Midwest.”

  He broke into a broad, open smile, then took hold of her hand and led her over to where a mother cow and her calf were lying. “I named the little one Bali.”

  Satisfaction pursed her mouth. “She seems to be doing well.”

  “She is, and so am I… Now that you’re here.”

  His lips slowly descended to meet hers, and it was divine ecstasy when he kissed her.

  Epilogue

  Bree stopped fidgeting long enough for Dawson to fix her bow tie.

  “I have to say you look awfully good in a tuxedo,” he remarked.

  “Thanks. And I have to admit that you’re pretty good at matching people up.” She grinned.

  “And you didn’t think I knew what I was doing. Calling me from Bali to moan about how annoying you found Jayce. Proved you wrong, didn’t I? It turned out I knew exactly what I was doing. Opposites not only attract but make for the perfect match.”

  She scowled at him, planting her hands firmly on her hips. “You dog. You were screening my calls.”

  “Why answer, or call back for that matter? I knew sooner or later you’d change your tune and discover what a great guy I’d found for you.”

  “You must be referring to me,” Jayce said while striding over to them.

  “Of course. No one else. Ever.” She placed her hand in his.

  “Amy sent me up to get you two,” Jayce added.

  “She’s afraid you’ll be late for the wedding,” Brandon Wilson said, as he entered the room

  Bree winked at her dad. “Never. My days of being late are over.” And with that said, she headed down to the ceremony with the three men she loved most.

  Author Bio

  USA Today bestselling author Raine English always wanted to be a writer. She began her career as a journalist, but writing romance novels was her passion. Her books have won many awards, including finaling in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart and winning the Daphne du Maurier Award. She writes sweet small-town romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She lives in New England with her family and two French bulldogs, Bailey and Dolly.

  She invites you to
visit her website and connect with her on social media. http://www.RaineEnglish.com

  PERFECT MATCH THANK YOU

  Thanks for reading Bree’s story!

  Marni’s book is next.

  You’ll find a Sneak Peek in the Excerpt.

  Find all the Perfect Match books at Amazon!

  BREE (Raine English)

  MARNI (Aileen Fish)

  MOLLY (Julie Jarnagin)

  JADE (Rachelle Ayala)

  AVA (Denise Devine)

  MAEVE (Josie Riviera)

  For more fun and romance, be sure to read the Beach Brides series, the inspiration for Perfect Match. It involves twelve friends who decide to meet on a Caribbean island. As a silly dare during her last night there, each heroine decides to stuff a note in a bottle addressed to her “dream hero” and cast it out to sea.

  Find the Beach Brides at Amazon!

  Excerpt Copyright Information

  Prologue and Chapter One from

  Marni (Perfect Match Series) by Aileen Fish

  Copyright © 2018 Aileen Fish

  Excerpt

  Prologue

  Marni’s Perfect Match Dating Profile…

  GypsySoul, 24

  I’m that curious mix of librarian on the outside and gypsy in my soul. While the journeys are fun, all roads lead home, where you’ll find me feeding a small group of close friends. If friends and family are the center of your life, we might just be a perfect match.

  Chapter One