Matching Mr. Right (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Series Book 1)

by Baumann, Tamra

  A slow smile stretched her lips as Nick slid off the bench and knelt before her. He dug through his pocket and pulled out a little blue Tiffany’s box. Tilting the lid back he said, “I want you, Chester, and all the kids we’ll be lucky enough to make to live together happily ever after, Shelby. I know I’m no prince, but will you marry me? Please?”

  Everyone cheered as she grinned and snatched the box from his hand. Slipping the ring onto her finger she fought the urge to jump up and down like Emily and Chester often did.

  “This is the ring I wanted the most!”

  Nick rolled his eyes. “It was the biggest and most expensive of the five pictures you placed strategically around our house, so I figured.”

  Our house? Nice. “Thank you, babe.” She pulled Nick’s face to hers and laid her smiling lips on his. But as she kissed him, a thought occurred to her. She leaned back and whispered, “Did you steal my pills? You said you were in a hurry to have kids, but I’m not walking down the aisle with a baby bump.”

  “Yeah, but how long does the bump take to show? Because Jo, Lori, and I have been making plans for a destination wedding in Florence, per your numerous hints. If you approve, we all leave in a few weeks, the optimum time—per the printouts!”

  Her heart swelled so big, she feared it’d pop. “So you were paying attention after all?”

  “Really, Shelby? You can be about as subtle as a gun.”

  “But you love that about me, right?”

  “Nope. Not a bit.” Nick kissed her and then grinned as his lips slowly parted with hers. “But I love you for all the other stuff. So, is that a yes?”

  “Yes!” Finally. Next stop—Italy—and then the chance to spend the rest of her life with the most handsome, annoying, wonderful man in the world. She couldn’t wait to get started.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This story was originally titled Cyrano At Your Service and won a prestigious award from The Romance Writer’s of America®. It was responsible for the start of my professional writing career, yet it got pushed aside when market demands changed. Deadlines happened and contracts were signed while this story stood patiently by, waiting for me to come back to it and give it the love it deserved. It has seen many transformations, but the heart of the story never changed—love is full of surprises and comes when we least expect it.

  Thank you to all who helped along the way. My patient critique group, Shea Berkley, Louise Bergin, and Robin Perini are simply the best. And thanks to my agent, Jill Marsal, for believing in this book and in me. It’s always more fun when you have team support, and I’m blessed to have these ladies, along with my wonderful family, always at my side. And a special thanks to Monique for your ideas and support, along with all the creative things you continue to do for me.

  And as always, thanks to my readers, for without you, none of the words matter.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Tamra Baumann is an award-winning author who writes light-hearted contemporary romance. Always a voracious reader, she picked up her first romance novel off the bestseller table in her favorite bookstore and was forever hooked. (Thank you, Nora Roberts!)

  She lives in the Southwest, where the sun shines almost every day and the sunsets steal her breath away. She has two kids, both bilingual in English and sarcasm, and a dog who is addicted to Claritin because he’s allergic to grass. Her husband, who gamely tolerates her many book boyfriends, has been her real-life boyfriend for more than thirty years.

  Stop by and say hi at www.tamrabaumann.com.