Make Me a Match

by Melinda Curtis

  Gideon’s usual frown returned. “Come on.”

  She let out a laugh but for the first time in memory, it didn’t sound genuine. She sounded...disappointed. “There haven’t been any sparks with the guys you’ve matched me with, Gideon. Let’s be honest.”

  Guilt niggled once again. “Yeah, well, I—”

  “You and I both know what happened between us in the truck the other night was a fluke. A mistake,” she stated as if he needed reminding about what he’d said. “Fine, there were sparks, but that’s probably because I irritate the heck out of you and kissing me was the only way to shut me up. Right?” Was that expectancy on her face? Did she want him to deny it? To tell her she was wrong, that it was more than irritation and a desire for silence that had him taking her into his arms?

  “Actually.” Gideon cleared his throat. “I do have one more match for you. If you’re willing to take one more chance.” Just as he was doing right now by asking her.

  Sophie dropped her head back and groaned. “Gideon, you’re killing me. This was me saying let me drop out of this social experiment.”

  “No, I got that.” And he hated the fact he’d let her down, hadn’t taken her wanting to find someone as seriously as he should have. He’d been playing with her, but he was ready to stop with the games and play for real. If only to see if she shared a fraction of his feelings. “I promise, come to the Bar & Grill tomorrow night. Eight o’clock. I won’t disappoint you again. It’ll be perfect. Please?”

  “All right.” Did she have to sound so put out? “Eight o’clock. Got it.” She gave his arm a quick squeeze and him an even quicker smile. “It was nice to see you loosen up.” She flicked a finger against his bare collar. “You look good non-buttoned-down. I’m going to head home, take a quick shower and check in at the store.”

  “Great. I’ll see you later,” he called out as she walked away. Coop arched a brow in his direction. “Shut up.”

  “Did I say anything?”

  “You didn’t have to. I have a plan.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Coop dropped a heap of dripping towels at his feet. “Just remember not all your plans work out. No way am I taking these home. My washing machine will explode and that’s only after Nora kills me.”

  “I’ve got it. But first I need to talk to Coach about using the roof tomorrow night.”

  “You finally going to do something about that girl?” Coop asked as Gideon headed inside the tavern.

  “Looks like.”

  For now, he wouldn’t think about what came next, or how he’d be letting his best friends down if he changed his mind about leaving. All that mattered for today, for tomorrow night, was Sophie.

  Whatever happened after...would be up to her.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “OKAY, HOW COULD you have gone on that trip,” Melanie asked her late the next afternoon, “and still be smiling now? I’m hearing yesterday’s Polar Dip was a catastrophe.”

  “Hurricanes and typhoons are catastrophes,” Sophie corrected and brushed her fingertips over a lacy bunch of baby’s breath. “And certainly I’m smiling. I just paid off the last of the mortgage on this place and made a down payment on the vacant shop next door. Expansion, here we come. I’m going to start interviewing contractors next week.” Was she bouncing on her toes? Walking on air? Maybe both? It felt like both. It was as if a hive of bumblebees had taken up residence in her chest and had her buzzing around doing their bidding. “And yes, the lake adventure was definitely not what anyone expected. You did miss a show, though.” She’d probably be scrubbing mud out of her ears for the next week. “It turned out okay. I heard a few couples already planning second dates on the bus ride home.”

  “Will you be seeing Chase again?” Melanie blinked wide-eyed at her.

  “No.” Sophie shuddered. “It’s not his fault. I’m sure there’s a woman out there who would appreciate his many talents.”

  Sophie glanced at the clock on the wall for the hundredth time. Just after six. “Gideon asked for one more shot at finding me a decent match. Would you mind closing up tonight?” But first she had a quick stop to make.

  “Nah. Elliot’s out of town,” Melanie sulked about her recently acquired husband and rested her chin in her palm. “Nothing else to do except feed the cat.”

  “Maybe after this evening I’ll ask to borrow Mr. Puffins. I might need some cat practice.”

  “Oh, speaking of properties, that reminds me. Alice from Parkhouse Real Estate called. She said she’d have the paperwork ready for you by Monday.”

  “Great, thanks.” Time to bite the bullet and dive into her own life, and out of the one she’d been stuck in.

  “What paperwork?”

  “I’m selling Mom’s house.” Sophie slipped off her apron and grabbed her jacket and bag. “More later. Right now I need to run. See you in the morning.”

  She hurried across the street, and at the corner raced up the two blocks to Amare Street. She spotted Mrs. Turnblat standing at the living room window of her two-story cottage. Sophie gave her a quick wave and stepped through the wooden gate, carefully latching it behind her before hopping up the steps onto the wide porch. Beautiful. Perfect. Giddiness descended.

  “Hi, Mrs. Turnblat,” she said as the old woman, gray hair sparkling atop smiling eyes, opened the door. “Thanks for letting me see the house before you put it on the market.”

  “My pleasure, dear. Come in, come in. Can I get you some tea?”

  “No, thank you. I have a date tonight,” Sophie whispered as if it were a secret. “I don’t want to be late.” Mainly because she wanted to get it over with. There was a reason no one had lit the spark inside her that she’d been supposedly waiting for.

  Gideon already had, whether he’d intended to or not.

  “Well, then, let me give you the tour. Will it just be you living here?”

  “Yes,” Sophie said, pushing aside the guilt at leaving Dillon to live his own life. “Yes, it’ll just be me.”

  * * *

  “I KNOW, I KNOW.” Gideon heard Sophie’s words and got up from his seat at the elbow of the bar as she hurried into the tavern at ten minutes after eight. “I’m sorry I’m late,” she said, shrugging out of her coat. “Crazy day. Lots of changes. Wow.” Her eyes went wide as she smiled at him. “You cleaned up nice.” She reached out and tugged on his tie. “Black tonight. Special occasion?”

  “Somewhat. You look beautiful.” Gideon tried to remember a time Sophie wasn’t stunning. Whether it was jeans and a T-shirt or the pretty pink-flowered dress that flittered around her knees in lacy ruffles, she never ceased to turn his head. “Doesn’t she look nice, guys?”

  “Yes, she does,” Coop said. A sly smile appeared on his friend’s face. “No mud tonight, Sophie?”

  “Not tonight.” Sophie patted her cheeks after she draped her purse and jacket on the bar. “I save the Eau de Sludge for special occasions. So.” She tapped her fingers on the edge of her bag. “Where is this perfect match you went on about?”

  “Ah, upstairs, actually. On the roof.” Gideon cast a sideways glance at Coach, who, after knocking his hand against Coop’s and then Ty’s arm, gestured for them to follow. “This way, please.”

  “Great. Oh, wait until I tell you what I did today,” she said, the sound of her heels tapping not only against the hardwood floor but also against his heart. “I think you’ll actually be proud of me—” Her phone rang. “Hang on a second. I should have turned that off.”

  Her answering the call stopped Gideon from telling her he’d always be proud of her, that he wanted to make her proud of him. She skittered to a stop in the back hall by the staircase. “Dillon?” She plugged her free ear and bent forward as if she couldn’t quite hear. “Dillon, where are you?”

  The change in stance was instantaneous and,
for a moment, chilled Gideon to the bone. Her carefree expression turned icy as her lips thinned and she took a deep breath.

  “What’s wrong?” Gideon asked and touched her arm, trying to shake off the rejection when she turned away from him. “Is he okay?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “What’s wrong?” he repeated.

  Sophie ended the call and shoved the phone into a pocket. “Dillon’s been arrested. Again.”

  “And he called you. Again.” The disapproval in Gideon’s voice made Sophie cringe.

  “Don’t start on me about my brother, Gideon. I’m well aware of his faults. I don’t need you to remind me or judge.”

  “I wasn’t,” he argued. Then realized that was a lie. “What are the charges this time?”

  “He’s upped his game again. Possession with intent to sell. He just keeps getting deeper and deeper into trouble. I’m sorry, I really am, but I need to go.” She hurried back to the bar and grabbed her jacket and purse.

  “Of course.” All the effort he’d made to plan the perfect evening, the favors he’d called in, the hours he’d spent practicing what he wanted to say to her, they all vanished as she turned and headed to the door.

  “I know,” she called over her shoulder. “Whoever this guy is, I don’t expect him to wait for me. So if that means I lose this chance, that’s that.”

  “Wait a minute. Sophie, hold up.” He managed to reach her and spin her around once they were in the vestibule. He moved her out of the way to let a group of teens inside. “Okay. This isn’t any of my business, but how much longer are you going to protect Dillon from the consequences of his actions? He has to stand on his own sometime.”

  “Believe me, I know.” Sophie looked down at where his hand was holding her arm. “And you’re right, it isn’t any of your business. I can’t talk to you about him. Not when you’re convinced he’s a complete loser.”

  “He’s your brother. I get that.” Gideon tried to appease her. “But he can’t be your life. At some point you need to live your own. Come upstairs with me, Sophie. Please.”

  “Whatever’s waiting upstairs is a fantasy, Gideon. What Dillon’s dealing with right now is real and I need to get to him. I’m sorry if you don’t understand that, but he’s the only family I have left. I have to take care of this.”

  “Then, let me come with you—”

  “No. I’m sorry, but you’re hardly impartial where Dillon’s concerned and I need to handle this by myself. But thank you for offering,” she added.

  “So you’re just going to walk away from something potentially wonderful to fix somebody who doesn’t want to be fixed?”

  Sophie frowned at him. “However I feel about Dillon, I made a promise to my mother. I said I’d be there and I’m going. I don’t break my promises to anyone. I keep my word.”

  “And what about your word that you’d go on this date tonight?” He knew he was sounding childish, that he should tell her the truth, but her rejection stung, whether she knew she was walking away from him or not.

  “That’s different,” Sophie said and pointed up. “I didn’t promise him anything, Gideon. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to get to the sheriff’s office. Good night.”

  Gideon stared after her, unable to move as she got into her car, backed up and disappeared into the night.

  She’d really done it. Chosen her deadbeat brother over him. Over a chance at the happiness she claimed she wanted.

  Maybe he was wrong about this. Maybe Sophie wasn’t the one. Maybe she wasn’t ready.

  But Gideon was. He’d actually thought about giving up his shot at the big time, considered abandoning the dream he, Coop and Ty had had for most of their lives, all to stay here in K-Bay with her.

  And yet she couldn’t even commit to one evening. What did that tell him? Maybe it was better that she didn’t realize what he was willing to give up. For her. For them.

  Yeah, Gideon had gotten it all wrong. He glanced at the sky, shook his head and kicked at the old stump near the bench outside before heading back into the bar. But it was going to be up to Sophie to make things right.

  * * *

  “SHERIFF TOMLINSON, HELLO.” Sophie walked into the station a little over a half hour later, anger and frustration nibbling at her heels as she folded her hands on top of the counter. “Thanks for letting him call. Your office must have me on speed dial by now.”

  “Sophie, sorry to drag you into this,” the older man said as he lifted his substantial girth out of his chair. “Dillon insisted on you being his one phone call.”

  “Yeah, well, he keeps forgetting his lawyer’s number,” Sophie lied. “Any idea what the bail’s going to be?”

  “Pretty high, I’d imagine. His past arrests are going to factor in this time, nothing I can do about it.”

  Sophie shook her head. “No, I understand. Of course. Would it be possible to see him?”

  Sheriff Tomlinson’s beady eyes went as wide as they could. “You normally just want to hang out until the bail’s set. You sure?”

  Oh, she was sure. “I’ll explain when I’m finished with him.”

  “Follow me.” The sheriff lifted the pass-through and led her into the back room where the holding cells were located. The drab, dull formerly apricot-painted walls looked like bruised fruit under the fluorescent lights.

  “Sophie.” Dillon leaped off the thin mattress and raced over to the door, wrapping his fingers around the steel bars. “You must have taken the long way.”

  “I was on a date,” she fudged the truth and nodded for the sheriff to leave.

  “Wait! Where’s he going?” Dillon extended an arm as if he could snatch the sheriff back. “He’s supposed to let me out. Didn’t you post bail?”

  “No, I didn’t.” She’d practiced what she might say to Dillon during the drive over, but looking at him in that cell for the fifth time in less than a year, she knew no amount of rehearsal would help. She couldn’t sugarcoat what she needed to say. What Dillon needed her to do. She took a deep breath. “And I won’t even after it’s set.”

  “You won’t post my bail?” Dillon screeched like a barn owl. Sophie cringed. “Why do you think I called you?”

  “Because you always call me,” Sophie said and forced herself to keep her arms at her sides. She would not cower, she would not fold and she would not cross her arms over her chest in an effort to protect herself. “But I’m done, Dillon. There’s no money for bail.”

  “There’s always money for— Wait.” Dillon’s eyes narrowed. “This is what you were talking about the other night? The peanut-butter money?”

  “That was your bail stash,” Sophie confirmed. “There’s nothing else to be used.”

  “You’ve got the shop for collateral. Or your car or Mom’s hou—”

  “Enough!” Sophie almost flinched at the sound of her own voice echoing back at her. “Enough, Dillon. You’ve taken advantage of me for the last time. I won’t run to your rescue anymore. You’re an adult, and I warned you this day was coming. You’re going to see these charges through. You’re going to accept whatever punishment they hand out to you, and when you get out, you can look for a new place to live.”

  “You’re kicking me out?”

  “I’m selling the house,” Sophie said. “Mom left it in my name because she knew you’d squander whatever cash she left you, and she was right. Your share of the insurance money is gone, isn’t it?”

  “You can’t do this,” Dillon said in lieu of an answer. “You promised Mom—”

  Tears burned her throat, but she squeezed her fists tight, focused on the pain of her nails digging into her palms instead of the grief crushing her heart. “I promised Mom I’d watch out for you, but I can’t anymore, Dillon. It’s not doing either of us any good. I could put up with a lo
t, excuse a lot, but this is where I draw the line. I’m tired. I love you. You’re my kid brother, but until you grow up and accept responsibility for your actions, I don’t want to see you. I’ll pack up your stuff and put it in storage. You can pick up the key with Sheriff Tomlinson when you get out.”

  “Sophie, wait, please!” Dillon stretched out his hands and for an instant, she saw the happy, carefree, loving little boy he’d been. Temptation struck, urging her to give him another chance, but it would only be another opportunity for him to hurt her and pull them backward. She was worn-out with crying herself to sleep over him. “Sophie, I can do better, I promise.”

  “Then, do better,” she said, hand on the door before she pushed it open. “But not for me. For yourself. Goodbye, Dillon.”

  She closed the door behind her, covering her mouth as she sobbed. She could hear him calling for her, the sound of her name ringing in her ears as she headed back to the reception desk. The expression on the sheriff’s face was all she needed to see. “You heard?”

  “You did your mom proud, Sophie,” Sheriff Tomlinson said, patting an awkward hand on her back. “You did what she never could. He’ll know it’s for the best one day.”

  “Yeah, I hope so.” She swiped a finger under her eye. “Would you do me a favor?”

  “I’ll let you know how he’s doing and what’s going on.”

  Relieved he understood, she smiled. “Thanks. I think I’m going to get a drink.” And maybe cry on Gideon’s shoulder.

  If he was still willing to provide her with one.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “YOU REALLY GOING to waste all this on us?” Ty asked. Gideon popped open his second beer of the night and sat back in the metal patio chair he’d hauled up to the Bar & Grill’s roof. “There’s some fine food here, Gid. Lots of ambiance and romance.”

  “Listen, guys, no offense.” Coop sat on the edge of the third-story railing and piled on the jokes. “But neither of you is my type. Maybe I’ll give Nora a call.”