The Matchmakers

by Jennifer Colgan

  Maybe Nick doesn’t deserve to know. Miranda’s words made Callie wonder if perhaps« The thought made her nauseous. She’d never been nauseous before, and she hated the feeling. Anger at Miranda suddenly clouded her thoughts, and Callie realized the feeling was prompted by jealousy something else she wasn’t accustomed to feeling. If Miranda was pregnant, then Nick had a responsibility to her, one that superseded his promise to help Callie. There’d be no room for matchmaking«and to that end, their failure would be assured. Nick would have a child he’d be unable to love. No matter how angry he’d been with her or how unfair his accusations, he didn’t deserve that. Neither did his child. Callie had to do something. So she called his apartment, then his cell phone, but he never picked up. Finally she gave up and left a message on his answering machine. She told him about Miranda’s visit, though the words choked her, and urged him to go and see Miranda and find out what she wanted to tell him. `He wants to marry me.´ Hayden delivered her announcement deadpan, her eyes dull. She sat in the kitchen with the late afternoon sun streaming across her pale hands as she twisted them in nervous knots on the kitchen table. Callie didn’t comment immediately. Hayden’s expression made it clear this, too, was not good news. `Well, that means he doesn’t hate you.´ `Hurrah.´ Hayden moaned and dropped her head into her hands. `I really didn’t think this day could get any worse.´ `Don’t say that. Things could have gone a lot worse with Matt.´ `I don’t want to marry him.Ćallie slid into the seat opposite Hayden. `Then don’t. It’s not like it used to be. You can be a single mother.´ `I don’t want that, either.Ćallie rested her chin in her hands and studied Hayden’s face. Her tears had dried, but there was still a stark look in her dark eyes. She obviously felt completely alone. `Why don’t you think about your options for a while? You don’t have to make any decisions today.´ `Matt wants to apply for a marriage license tomorrow morning.´ `You can put him off for a little while. Tell him you need time to think. That’s not a crime, and it’s not a lie.´ `Oh, Callie. I don’t want time to think. I want to pretend this isn’t happening.Ćallie leaned forward and brushed a loose strand of Hayden’s hair from her eyes. `This may sound crazy, but why don’t you give yourself twenty-four hours and do just that? Put it out of your mind for now. Take a break. It’s not like you’ll forget about it, but just let it hang out there for a bit while you go and do something normal. Let’s get ready to go to work. We’ll stop for pizza on the way, and we won’t talk about it.´ Hayden sighed, and a brittle smile curved her lips. `That’s the best idea I’ve heard today.´ Hearing Callie’s voice on his answering machine when he got home did nothing to improve Nick’s mood. At least she was all right, but she hadn’t offered to come back, and she hadn’t accepted his apology. He’d thought of ignoring the message about Miranda. What would they have to discuss with each other at this point? After rummaging through the nearly empty refrigerator and dumping what remained of a cold pot of coffee down the drain, he reluctantly picked up the phone. Miranda answered her cell phone on the first ring. `I’m surprised your girlfriend told you about my visit,śhe said without preamble. `She doesn’t seem like the type with much long-term memory.´ Nick didn’t have the patience for snotty banter, especially when it concerned Callie. `Can we cut to the chase?´ `Not over the phone. This is something I need to talk to you about in person.´ `Ah, Miranda. Is this really necessary?´ Nick paced, then looked in the fridge again and came up as disappointed as before. `If you want to know what’s going on at the construction site, it is.´ That stopped him midstride. His blood grew cold. He gripped the phone and forced the words through clenched teeth. `What about it?´ `I can’t talk over the cell. Anyone could be listening.´ `So what do you want me to do?´ `Meet me outside of town. How about the park in Grandview? The place with the gazebo.´ Nick remembered the secluded spot that was so romantic in the warm weather. Today it would be cold and desolate. Not a wise choice for a rendezvous. He threw his better judgment out the window. `When?´ `How about an hour?´ He sighed again. `All right.´ `I’m doing you a favor, Nick. I hope you remember that.´ Miranda hung up, leaving Nick listening to dead air for a minute before he slammed down the phone. Why was he letting another woman manipulate him? Catfish and Ria, his new lady friend, kept the bar hopping that night, and despite Callie’s concern for Hayden and her heartache over Nick, she found herself having a good time. It felt good to see the wiry widower with a genuine smile on his face. Ria, the redheaded former scarecrow, seemed to be cut from the same cloth as Catfish. She had a bright smile, an infectious laugh and a kind way about her that warmed Callie’s heart. She watched them wistfully from behind the bar while Farley showed her the intricacies of the cash register. `The week after Thanksgiving, I want to be set up for the lunch crowd,´ Farley explained. `So if you want to take two afternoon shifts a week, you can. Hayden already agreed to Tuesday and Friday.´ `Uh«okay. I guess I’ll take Wednesday and Thursday. What about Mondays and weekends?´ `I’m still working that out, but I’ll let you know. Now watch. The register key goes under the cash drawer, and we don’t take bills higher than a twenty except from regulars like Marty and Bud. Nick is okay, too.Ćallie nodded, certain she’d forget and annoyed at the zing of emotion she felt at the mention of Nick’s name. She forced herself to concentrate until Andrew walked by, his expression as grim and lifeless as Hayden’s had been lately. When her first lesson in cash register etiquette ended, Callie cornered Farley’s younger brother in the back room. Though it was Hayden’s job, he was collecting empty glasses from the pool table area. His dark brows lashed together in concentration, and his full lips were compressed in a thin line. `You okay?śhe asked, offering her tray to collect the glasses. A faint smile replaced his frown. `Bad mood, I guess.´ `If you don’t mind my asking, is Teresa all right? I was worried about her.Ándrew’s frown returned. He set the glasses on Callie’s tray and took the burden from her before answering. `She sprained her ankle pretty badly and cracked a rib. She has to be careful she doesn’t get pneumonia from the water she inhaled.´ `Oh. Well, I’m sure the doctors will take good care of her«but that’s not what’s bothering you, is it?´ He shrugged. `I really like her. I know we only had one date. It’s kinda stupid, but I’m really hung up on her.´ `She doesn’t feel the same way?´ `Ha. I can’t get close enough to find out. Her boss is in the way all the time.Ćallie weighed Andrew’s words, wishing she still possessed a spark of Fae magick. Was John finally staking a claim to Teresa now that he’d come close to losing her? Which couple had greater potential for true love? John and Teresa, or Teresa and Andrew? `I’m sure he’s just looking out for her. What happened at the site had to have shaken him up a bit.´ `Shook him up so much he moved in on my girl.´ `Your girl?Ćallie tried to hide her amusement. She would never have pegged Andrew to fall so hard so fast.

  `Well, she might have been my girl if«never mind. Plenty of other girls out there, right?´ `Only one Teresa. If you care about her, you should tell her.Ćallie didn’t wait for a reply. She hurried to the bar to pick up an empty tray and get back to work. A frisson of excitement hummed under her skin. With two prospective suitors vying for Teresa’s attention, the odds one of them would turn out to be true love increased dramatically. She wondered how she would know for sure, though. Would Meri be allowed to come back and tell her, or would she have to rely on Nick to help her figure it out? Chapter Twenty-two

  The bar cleared out early when a light snow began to fall around midnight. Hayden found Callie in the back room, collecting pool balls and loose darts and racking up the cue sticks. `It’s dead out there. You’d think nobody ever saw snow before.´ `If it means we get to go home early, I’m all for it. I’m pooped.Ćallie rose and stretched the kinks out of her back. Hayden’s hopeful expression made her instantly wary. `What’s up?´ `Andrew just asked me out for coffee.´ `Out for coffee? You can make coffee here.´ Hayden’s grin widened, and she blushed. `I know, but he asked me out for coffee.Ćallie frowned. `I don’t want to pry, but are you sure that’s a good idea?´ `We’re just
going to talk. I know he’s into Teresa, and he knows I’m«´ `Pregnant?Ćallie whispered the word as she peered over Hayden’s shoulder. `God, no! He knows I’m involved with someone. But you know, we got to talking and we both thought a little chat therapy might do us some good.´ Callie crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the pool table. Humans , she thought. Largely responsible for the lion’s share of their own problems. `Yesterday you hated him.´ `As a rule, I hate all men right now. But he’s so«´ `Cute?´ `Understanding. Though cute runs a close second.´ Hayden’s questioning glance was obviously meant to convey her need for Callie’s permission. Why did she want to torment herself by spending time with a man she wanted and knew she couldn’t have? Callie shook her head. `I can’t tell you what to do.´ `I’ll be okay. Really.´ Hayden rushed forward and dumped her house key into Callie’s palm. `Of course I’m not kicking you out of my place or anything. You haven’t talked to Nick, have you?Ćallie stared at the key. `No. But it’s all right. I think I’m going to go and talk to him tonight.´ `No, Callie. You shouldn’t.´ Hayden’s eyes blazed with her conviction. `You should make him come to you. He had no reason to be angry with you about what happened at work. Whatever his issues are, let him work them out.´ `All my stuff is at his place.´ `Well«I’ll go with you tomorrow to pick it up while he’s at work.´ `The site closed down. He may not be at work.´ `Hmm« We’ll figure something out. Just take my key, and I’ll see you at my place later. Don’t wait up.´ `Hayden.´ `I’ll be fine. I promise.Śhe charged out of the room leaving Callie dumbfounded. Finding true love for Hayden would be a project, one she hoped to have the chance to tackle some day. She surveyed her remaining chores and decided when she finished, she’d ask Farley for a ride over to Nick’s. She wondered, as she unlocked the storeroom and began straightening shelves, what she would say to him when she saw him. Would he believe her if she told him she was human now? How could she demonstrate her lack of powers if he demanded proof? He’d just have to trust her, and she wasn’t sure he was capable of that. Tears stung her eyes once again, and she cursed her human emotions. If she kept up this near constant weeping and the perpetual headache it caused, she’d have to give aspirin a try. How on earth did humans cope with all these frailties? If she and Nick failed their task, how would she ever get used to this limited human existence? Farley had just shut off the lights above the bar when Nick arrived. He peered into the dark glass of the front door, knocked and waved. After a moment, Farley lumbered over and let him in. Nick rubbed his cold hands together and blew warm air over his fingers as he entered the bar. The temperature had dropped at least ten degrees in the past hour, and the snow was starting to pile up. `Is Callie still here?´ `She’s in back.´ Farley jerked his thumb in the direction of the back room. `It’s really coming down, huh?´ `I doubt it’ll last long, but it’s cold as hell. I don’t think Callie had her coat with her when she left for work.´ Farley gave him a look as they crossed back to the bar. `Rumor has it you guys had a big fight. Little River ran her mouth off about it every time your girl left the room tonight.´ Nick rolled his eyes. `It was a big misunderstanding. I owe her an apology.´ Farley checked his watch. `I gotta be somewhere. Callie knows the alarm code, so you guys lock up. Turn off all the lights when you go.´ `Thanks.´ Nick clapped Farley’s shoulder as the bartender passed him on the way out the door. `Don’t break any glassware. If she doesn’t accept your apology, take her outside and let her throw rocks at you.´ `Got it.´ `Make it okay. I like her, and I can’t afford to lose another waitress.´ `I’ll do my best.´ Farley left, and Nick took a deep breath. He slipped off his jacket and draped it over a barstool, then listened for a minute to the sounds of Callie’s movements coming from the back. Hopefully she wouldn’t disappear and leave him talking to himself again. He found her in the storeroom, crouched down, struggling with a big can of cooking oil. `Can I help you with that?´ His question startled her. She whirled around, dropping the can with a thud that rattled everything on the shelves. `Nick!´ `I didn’t mean to scare you.´ `It’s all right.Śhe pushed back her hair with a dusty hand, leaving a smudge above her eyebrow. Her expression was skeptical and a little wary. He hated that he could tell exactly what she was feeling. Or were the butterflies in his stomach actually his own? `I came to ask if you had accepted my apology.´ `What apology? `You know. Yesterday in the kitchen.Śhe crossed her arms and leaned back. `I wasn’t in the kitchen yesterday.´ `So you didn’t hear me? I really was talking to myself?Śhe nodded. `Not a word?´ `Nope. Maybe you could recap for me?´ `Basically I said I was sorry. I realize now that you didn’t have anything to do with the accident at the site. I feel pretty bad for accusing you.´ Her glare softened, and her arms dropped to her sides. `What made you realize?´ `I know you wouldn’t do something like that. You couldn’t. Then I talked to Miranda, and she told me ´ Callie looked stricken. `You talked to her?´ `Yeah. I appreciate that you told me about it. She did have something important to tell me.´ `Oh.´ `Skip is involved with what happened at the site.Ćallie’s heart lifted instantly. If Miranda wasn’t pregnant« `Her husband? What does he have to do with«oh. He’s trying to get back at you?´ `No.´ Nick shook his head. He took a step forward, and Callie fought the urge to meet him halfway and throw her arms around his neck. She never thought she’d feel so relieved to be with him again. `Apparently Skip’s law firm represents a developer who is suing the owners of the property John’s working on. Miranda was snooping through some files Skip left at the house, and she found a letter that she turned over to the police. It might not be enough to convict anyone, but it hints that Skip might have been assigned to cause some problems for John’s clients.Ćallie felt lightheaded. All this time she’d been worrying that Miranda was pregnant, she hadn’t considered her news might be important in another way. `I’m sorry, Nick. If I’d told you sooner, maybe Teresa wouldn’t have gotten hurt.´ Tears welled up again, and she swiped them away. This human penchant for crying was becoming a terrible nuisance. Nick crossed the distance between them and put his hands on her shoulders. `Don’t blame yourself. None of this is your fault.´ `I’ve been so upset that I forgot Miranda even stopped by, and then ´ `Don’t worry about it.´ Nick pulled Callie toward him, and despite her resolve to keep her distance, she melted into his arms. He felt so good, so strong and solid. Her buzzing headache and sore muscles seemed to disappear with the warmth of his arms around her. `You know, Tink, I missed you.´ Callie looked up, mildly shocked by his confession. She gaped, ready to laugh, but the intensity of his gaze stilled her breath. An electric jolt zinged through her when he lowered his lips to hers and drew her into a gentle kiss. Callie could do nothing but liquefy in his embrace as he tightened his arms around her, slanted his mouth over hers and drank her in. When he parted her lips with his, she let him in, lost in the moment. She threw her arms around his neck and pushed herself up on her toes. Melded together, they clung and stumbled back against the open door of the storeroom. It swung shut and dimly, through a haze of need, Callie heard the lock click. Nick broke the kiss reluctantly, dragging his lips away from Callie’s long enough to whisper in her ear. `Let’s get out of here. It’s snowing out, and I want to take you home and keep you warm tonight.´ Callie shivered in anticipation. The human reaction to his smoldering kiss surprised her. Was this lust? She hadn’t felt truly unbridled passion in centuries. She’d forgotten the inner quaking, the rapid heartbeat and that all-over tingle. The only thing missing was the flutter of her wings against her back. Did she dare indulge her desires with Nick? She’d been with human men before, but she’d never been human, and she’d never wanted so much to feel human. Nick pulled her toward the door, let his hand slide down her back and then captured her fingers in his. He reached for the knob and rattled it. `Uh oh,Ćallie said. Nick laughed. `Very funny. Get us out of here.´ `I can’t.´ `Ha ha. Just pop us into the other room.´ `Nick, I can’t.Ćallie eyed the doorknob. Both Diane and Farley had impressed upon her the importance of disabling the automatic lock when working in the storero
om. As she had with most of their instructions over the last few days though, she’d forgotten all about it. Until now. The tiny details of life had never concerned her, and her ability to keep track of them was long out of practice. `Okay. I get it,´ Nick said with an indulgent sigh. `You can’t pop both of us outside. So pop yourself out and open the door for me.Śhe shook her head. `Can’t.´ `Not funny, Tink.´ `No, it’s not. And neither is you calling me µTink’. That’s not my name.´ `Fine. I’ll call you anything you want. Just open the door and let’s get out of here.´ `What part of µI can’t’ don’t you understand?´ The liquid warmth that had filled Callie a moment ago drained down to a cold puddle in the pit of her stomach. It occurred to her she still hadn’t told Nick the truth and, his growing annoyance aside, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. `The part I don’t understand is the part where you can’t. What happened to µI can get you a leprechaun, Nick’, µHere’s a big screen TV, Nick’, µPoof, you’re in a tuxedo, Nick’?´ `You’re still not over that television, are you? Men are all alike. It doesn’t matter what century or even what species. Toys and gadgets are all you care about.Śhe crossed her arms and paced the three-foot square of floor. `What I care about right now is getting us out of this closet. And I don’t understand why you can’t.´ `I can’t because I’m human now. Freya took away my wings. She took away all my power the night of the party because I showed you my wings.´ There. She’d said it. The guilt and shame came flooding back, and her eyes burned with unshed tears yet again. She stamped her foot in frustration. `Oh, here I go again.´ `Here you go what?´ `Crying again. Since I’ve been human, I do nothing but cry and ache and worry and eat ! It’s a wonder humans get anything accomplished at all when they have to eat so often.´ Nick raised one eyebrow. `I saw your wings?Ćallie stared. `You don’t remember?´ He shook his head and shrugged. `Of course you don’t. Meri must have made you forget.´ `Who’s Murray?´ `Meriope. My sister. She came to tell me about my wings. If we don’t succeed in our task, I may never see her again. Plus, I could be human forever.Ćallie wiped her tears with the hem of her t-shirt and sniffled. `Well, that’s not totally true. I’ll be human for about seventy years. Then I’ll die. I don’t know which is worse.´ `So we’re really stuck in here?´ Nick jiggled the doorknob again, seemingly oblivious to the dire confession Callie had just made. His indifference shocked her. Annoyed, she nudged him aside and pounded on the door. `If we yell loud enough, he’ll hear us. Farley! Let us out! Farley!´ Nick only stared at her. `I don’t think he can hear us.´ `Probably not, since he’s half way to Diane’s by now.´ `What? He’s not here?Ćallie glared. Why hadn’t he told her this before? At least Nick had the decency to look contrite. `He told me to tell you to use your security code to set the alarm when you lock up and asked us to turn off all the lights. He figured we’d be working out our misunderstanding for a while.´ `Great.Ćallie leaned her back against the cold, solid door and hugged herself. `Look, you said yourself this door has a crappy lock. I believe your exact words were, µAn arthritic pixie could break out of here’.´ `Pixies are actually very strong for their size. Even arthritic ones.´ `I’m pretty sure I’m stronger than a pixie. Stand back.´ Nick pulled Callie away from the door. She watched in horror as he got a three-foot running start and slammed his shoulder against the barrier. With a moan, he crumpled to the floor. `Damn!´ Callie dropped to her knees beside him and rubbed his shoulder. `Are you all right?´ `I’ll never play the fiddle again,´ he said through clenched teeth. `The door opens in .´ `I remembered that the second after I dislocated my shoulder.Ćallie pressed on the muscles of his upper arm and neck. `It’s not dislocated.´ `How do you know?´ `You wouldn’t be arguing about it. You’d be screaming in agony.´ `I don’t scream. Even in agony«but you could rub it some more«ah. That’s better.Ćallie obeyed, snaking her fingers into Nick’s collar to knead the muscles underneath. She rubbed until her hand tingled and her belly ached and their eyes met for a long, liquid moment. Nick put his hand over hers and pressed her fingers to the center of his chest. `Callie«´ `Ah! I know. Where’s your cell phone?´ He moaned. `Jacket pocket.Śhe didn’t need to ask where his jacket might be. It certainly wasn’t in the storeroom. Deflated, she sank to the floor next to him and they sat, shoulder to shoulder, backs against the door, contemplating their fate. `This is a very small room,Ćallie said when the silence had stretched too long. `It’s not a room. It’s a closet.´ `How much air do you think we have?´ `We’re not going to suffocate.´ `So, we’ll be okay until Farley comes back tomorrow? Are you sure?´ Nick pointed upward. `It’s a drop ceiling. Above that is a crawl space that covers the whole back room. This place isn’t air tight.Ćallie relaxed just a little. `Good. And at least we have food.´ `Let’s see«sugar, cocktail onions, canned peanuts and lots of booze. All we need is a corkscrew and a can opener.´ `What about water? How long can we go without water?Ćhapter Twenty-three Nick gave Callie a sidelong glance. Was she serious? Before he could respond, she was up, flitting around the room. She searched among the shelves, turning jars and cans, rifling among packages of cocktail napkins and paper towels. `We’re not going to die of thirst overnight, Tink.Śhe glared. `We’re trapped. And it’s so small in here. Oh, no.´ `What?´ Nick hauled himself up off the floor and shook off the tingly, throbbing pain in his shoulder. Callie jammed a hand into her front pocket and pulled out a small gold key. It glinted in the dim light from the naked overhead bulb. `Don’t tell me that’s the key to the storeroom.´ `No. It’s Hayden’s key. She won’t be able to get into her apartment.´ `Well, that might be a good thing. Maybe she’ll come back here looking for you.´ And see my truck in the lot and think we don’t want to be disturbed. Nick didn’t voice the thought, but Callie must have seen the worry in his eyes. Panic crossed her face. `We can’t get out.´ `Relax.´ He put his hands on her shoulders to calm her and felt her trembling. Was it normal, he wondered, for faeries or ex-faeries to be claustrophobic? `We’re not going to die. At worst, Farley will be back tomorrow afternoon. But we’ll figure something out before that.´ `Like what?´ `I don’t know. Give me a minute to look around.´ Nick surveyed the door. It was heavy, reinforced but thankfully not solid metal. The hinges were old and grimy. If he could remove the pins, he might be able to jockey the door open wide enough for Callie to squeeze out, but he doubted he could break the lock by dismantling the hinges. `We need something, like a file or a screwdriver. Does Farley keep any tools in here?Ćallie crossed her arms. `You’re the one who told me Farley and tools don’t mix.´ Nick contemplated the ceiling. `I could lift one of the ceiling tiles, then maybe you could climb up there and crawl across the beam into the other room.´ Her jaw dropped. `Are you kidding? Even with wings, I wouldn’t try that.´ He smirked. `Come on. You’re light as a feather. The frame would hold you, and you’d just have to slide over the partition and jump down on the other side of the door. Come here.´ Nick pulled a rectangular carton of canned peanuts toward the door and stepped up on it to test its strength. It held his weight and gave him enough of a boost so he could reach up and dislodge one of the pressboard ceiling tiles. The wall separating the storeroom from the back room didn’t extend above the drop-ceiling frame. `Why don’t we just wait for Farley?Ćallie said when he reached for her hand. `This will work.´ Nick sensed Callie’s reluctance as she stepped up onto the box with him and he put his hands on her hips. The cans creaked beneath their combined weight. `This is never going to work,śhe said.