Make Me a Match

by Melinda Curtis

  “Go ahead. It’s all paid for.” Gideon toasted the night sky. “I’ll take Zoe off your hands while you two romance. And you two.” Gideon stared at Ty, who already had his phone out. “Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. Kelsey, too.”

  “Boy, Mr. Crabby is in fine form tonight.” Ty grinned, but the teasing helped push Gideon over the edge of feeling sorry for himself.

  How could he blame Sophie for something she wasn’t aware she’d done? She didn’t know he’d been the one she was meeting tonight. It probably wouldn’t have made a difference if she did know. Sure, part of him was hoping she’d figure it out, but this was where taking a risk had cost him dearly. He’d done too good a job over the past few years convincing Sophie he didn’t like her. There was no way for her to believe he’d fallen head over heels.

  Why else would he be sitting under twinkling electric star-shaped lights beneath the real night stars and wishing he’d chosen his words with more care?

  “You know, the fact she’s so loyal to Dillon is actually a good thing,” Coop said after he finished texting Nora. “I mean, you know she cares about family.”

  “Even criminal members,” Ty added. “Coop’s right. You can’t blame her for standing up for the only family she has.”

  “No, I can’t. And it’s probably just as well anyway. That bell is going to ring at least two times tomorrow night at the Valentine’s party. I know it.” He felt it in his bones. “Which means in a matter of weeks the three of us, and your significant others, will be bound for the Lower 48 and working to get a winning team for Coach.”

  The silence that fell was like a two-ton explosion, the way it sounded in Gideon’s ear. “What?” he asked his friends, who were suddenly intent on looking anywhere other than at him. “What am I missing?”

  “Nothing,” Ty said a little too quickly. “It’s just, things are now more complicated than they were. Nothing that’s not fixable, but—”

  “Picking up and leaving might not be so easy anymore is what Ty’s trying to say,” Coop put in.

  “Maybe not for you,” Gideon said, trying not to envision his dream crashing for the second time in his life. He’d let himself believe Sophie might just be a part of it. Now even his friends were having second thoughts. “We made a pact, remember? We made a bet. And I’ve done a lot to make sure we won it.”

  “But we haven’t won yet,” Ty said before taking a long drink of beer. “Let’s wait until we do before we start packing, okay?”

  “That sounds about right,” Coop said, checking his phone. A few seconds later, he frowned. “Oh, hey. Um, Nora’s calling me. I need to take this downstairs. Ty, you want to come wait for Kelsey?”

  “Huh?” Ty blinked before glancing down at his phone. His face took on a similar confused expression before he hid a quick grin. “Right. Kelsey, um, doesn’t like dark stairwells. They give her the creeps. Later.” Ty smacked Gideon’s arm before he and Coop headed downstairs, leaving Gideon alone on the roof, with the dinner he’d arranged for Sophie and the twinkling lights of her childhood dream mocking him.

  * * *

  “HEY, COACH.” SOPHIE HAULED herself up onto one of the few empty stools at the Bar & Grill and waved him over. “Can I get a very large, very dry white wine?”

  “Sure thing.” Coach put down his phone and smiled. If he was surprised at her reappearance he didn’t show it. Then again, Coach was as unflappable as they came.

  “Is Gideon around?” Her stomach clenched as she asked and then accepted the wine he set in front of her. “I think I owe him an apology.”

  “You’re right on that count,” Coach said in a tone that had her doing a double take.

  “Excuse me?”

  “What’s the deal with Dillon?” he asked instead. “You bail him out again?”

  “No, as a matter of fact,” Sophie replied and wondered how the rumor mill spun this fast in K-Bay. “I did not. I left him in jail to get himself out of trouble for a change. Why?”

  “No reason. Just wishing I’d made a bet earlier this evening. I would have won a fortune. Gideon’s upstairs on the roof.”

  “Don’t tell me he’s with my mystery date. I’ll be back for that,” she muttered, gesturing at her wine before moving toward the staircase.

  How many ways could she apologize to Gideon? She wasn’t in any hurry to tell him he was right about Dillon, but she was anxious to admit she’d taken his advice and was letting Dillon deal with his own mess this time. After a quick stop in the ladies’ room, she resumed her path to the staircase and found Ty and Coop coming down.

  “Hi, guys.”

  “Sophie.” Ty grinned one of those all-knowing-but-I’m-not-telling kind of smiles that eased the harshness of the scars on his face. “You looking for Gideon?”

  “Upstairs?” She pointed.

  “Yep. We’ll see you guys later.” Coop shoved Ty onward as Sophie headed up to the roof.

  She hesitated for a moment outside the door, free hand poised over the knob as she practiced her apology once more. “Come on, go out there and get it out of the way,” she whispered, and after doing a brief dress check, she turned the knob, pushed open the door and stepped—

  Into the fantasy dream of her childhood.

  Thousands of tiny blinking and flickering lights were strung across the expanse of the roof, creating a canopied effect above the black wrought iron table and chairs. Along one side sat a narrow table filled with firelit chafing dishes and a silver ice bucket chilling a bottle of wine.

  And there, staring out across the K-Bay horizon, sat Gideon, his back to her, a beer bottle dangling from between his fingers. Gideon. And no one else.

  Sophie tried to call out to him, but the words lodged somewhere between realization and hope. She pressed a hand against her heart. There was no mystery date. There was no perfect match.

  There was only him.

  She dipped out of her shoes and strode barefoot across the chilled roof, dashing as the cold sank into her toes. When she reached him, she bent down and set her purse—her phone turned off—on the ground and stood directly behind him.

  “Someone went to an awful lot of trouble tonight,” she said and tried to keep the tears out of her voice.

  Gideon was up like a shot, spinning to face her, eyes wide and his cheeks turning pink in the most fascinating expression of embarrassment she’d ever seen. “Sophie.”

  “Hi.” Oh, he looked so handsome in his crisp tailored white shirt and dark slacks, his once-pristine tie unknotted and hanging loosely around his neck, the top two buttons of his shirt undone.

  “You came back.” He didn’t look as if he quite believed it.

  “I did.”

  “Where’s Dill—”

  “In jail. I didn’t bail him out, Gideon.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, you’re not.” She reached up and touched his face. “I wasn’t going to bail him out. Not tonight. Not ever again. But I needed to tell him that to his face. I cut ties.” And maybe one day the thought of what she’d done wouldn’t hurt so much. “Until he gets his act together anyway. And yes, before you say it yourself, you were right.” About so many things.

  “I wasn’t going to say that,” he argued. “What— Why— How—?”

  She could really have fun with this, drawing out his unease, but she didn’t want to. She only wanted one thing right now and she was tired of waiting.

  She walked forward and wrapped her arms around him, snuggling her cheek against the warmth and strength of his chest. “I realized this was where I belonged. With you.”

  “With me?” She felt one arm go around her while he set his beer down. Next thing she knew, he was holding her so tightly she didn’t care if she never breathed again. “Are you sure you want me?” he asked.

  “Well, it’s not as i
f anyone else worked out.” She chuckled. “Despite you giving it your best shot.” She leaned her head back and looked up at him as a knowing smile curved his full lips.

  “Actually...” he hedged and shrugged. Grinned.

  “I knew it!” She slugged his arm, laughing. “You didn’t try, did you? You didn’t want me to find anyone else.”

  “No.” His smile was the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen. Because it was all for her.

  “And all this time you didn’t think I was flighty or a bad businesswoman? All this time you liked me?”

  He looked offended that she’d even thought it. He smoothed a hand down her hair. “Sophie Jennings, you’re the most capable person I’ve ever known. You just scare the life out of me sometimes with the chances you take.”

  “Like asking to borrow money when my brother probably would have stolen it?”

  He nodded. “Like that.”

  Her heart swelled. “You were looking out for me even then? Because you cared about me.”

  “Guilty.”

  “So can you officially remove my name from the dating database now?”

  “I already did. Except—”

  “Except what?”

  “Sophie, you being here, right now, with me, saying these things.” He took a deep breath. “It’s what I wanted to happen, but I meant what I said the other night in the truck. I’m not staying. We’re not staying. Tomorrow night, we’ll have an opportunity we can’t pass up.”

  “You mean the bet you, Ty and Coop have with Coach?”

  He frowned. “How did you—”

  “You think I have that flower shop just for flowers? Mr. Felenti told me all about you guys getting a shot at professional hockey careers. What does that have to do with you and me?”

  “Because K-Bay is your home. You belong here.”

  “Maybe.” She shrugged. “But remember that annoying habit I have of leaping before I look? I’ve got a few more good leaps in me.”

  “I didn’t want you to have to choose and give up something you want. And the store—”

  “How about we take what comes down the road together and deal with it then?” He was such a worrier. She’d have to work on that. “There’s no point being concerned about something until it’s here. There’s always the option of turning the store over to Melanie. I’ve got lots of choices, Gideon. Nothing’s written in stone.”

  “You mean it?”

  “I mean it. You know what else I mean?” She stretched up on her toes and pressed her mouth to his. “I love you, grumpy banker man.”

  “I love you, too, flower girl.”

  This time, when he kissed her, she held on, smiling against his lips until she gasped and stepped back.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She pressed her finger against his mouth. “Just don’t let me forget later.”

  “Forget what?”

  “To ring the bell.”

  EPILOGUE

  CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

  Cheers erupted, toasts were made, glasses clinked.

  The trinity of matchmakers didn’t move.

  “Well.” Coach sagged in his chair, as he pinned each of them with his trademark stare. “Looks as if you boys will be headed to the Lower 48!” He slapped a hand on Gideon’s back.

  “Looks like,” Coop said without much enthusiasm. “Dad will be thrilled.”

  “It’ll be hard for him, leaving,” Ty added. “He’s lived in K-Bay his entire life.”

  “We all have,” Gideon put in.

  “You boys have a lot to discuss, so I’ll leave you to it.” Coach beamed. “I’m proud of you three. Doing what you said you would. Taking charge of your lives and your futures. I look forward to seeing what’s down the road for each of you, but I don’t suppose any of you will be around here from now on.”

  “No, I suppose not.” Gideon winced as he stared down at his beer.

  “What’s with the frown?” Sophie rejoined them, having surrendered a fussy Zoe to her mother. Gideon turned his face so she could stare at him nose to nose. “My ringing that bell is good news. That’s six, right, since Manfred and Eleanor from earlier tonight also count. You guys get your jobs with a hockey club now.”

  Ty choked on his beer. “She knows?”

  “Most of the town knows,” Sophie said with her cheeky grin and a roll of her eyes. “You may not have realized it, but there were a lot of people pulling for you. Me included.”

  “Explain that to me,” Coop said. “Moving for Nora won’t be that big of a deal since she was moving here anyway, but K-Bay is your home. You have a business. Roots.”

  “K-Bay is a home,” Sophie corrected. “Like I told this guy last night.” She leaned her head against Gideon’s arm. “I’m ready for whatever comes with him.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re all having second thoughts about finally getting those dream jobs,” Kelsey said as she and Nora arrived.

  “Not...exactly.” But as Nora placed their daughter in Coop’s arms, the expression on his friend’s face told Gideon what needed doing. Confirmation from Ty only took a quick glance.

  After nearly thirty years, the three of them understood each other well enough to not need words. Not even when it came to deciding the future all of them—or none of them—wanted.

  “K-Bay is a good place to raise a family,” Gideon said in a clear effort to ease into the decision. “This town is small, it’s safe and it’s—”

  “It’s home,” Ty said. “Being a rink manager is pretty good. I like the kids. The hours are predictable and I can still play.”

  “And I’m good at selling cars,” Coop stated. “When I have customers.”

  “The bank isn’t going anywhere.” Now that he thought about it, the job was a good deal. Given his growing expertise with questionnaires, he could take a new tact when it came to applications and understanding people’s motivations. Maybe he could loosen the reins a little. And trust more.

  “As long as you aren’t using us as an excuse,” Sophie said with a touch of admonition in her voice. “You’re not, are you?”

  Gideon, Coop and Ty took one more look at each other. And shook their heads.

  “I want to stay,” Coop admitted.

  “Me, too. Gid?” Ty arched a brow in his direction.

  “I want roots,” Gideon said as he slipped his arm around Sophie. “I want them here. The question is—”

  “Who’s going to tell Coach?”

  “Tell Coach what?” Coach stood next to them and tossed a thick, glossy, green folder into the center of the table. “I thought for sure you’d be celebrating.”

  “We need to talk to you about the bet,” Gideon began.

  “We aren’t taking the jobs,” Coop blurted. “Easier to just put it out there. We want to stay in K-Bay. With our families.”

  “Huh.” Coach scrubbed a hand across his whiskered face and inclined his head. “I’m a little disappointed, boys. I handpicked this team for you three. It needs special attention since it’s going to be relocating. Before you make a final decision, why don’t you see exactly what you’re passing on?” Coach called over his shoulder, “Coming! Got drinks to deliver. I’ll be back.”

  “No fair.” Gideon stared at the folder as if it were about to let loose a plague. “It’s as though he’s torturing us.”

  The table went silent until Sophie slapped her hand down on the folder and pulled it toward Gideon.

  “You know you’re dying to see what’s inside. Go ahead. Open it.”

  Gideon flipped open the folder. Sophie leaned closer, read along with him. Whether her smile mirrored his own, he could only imagine. “The K-Bay Ice Pirates.”

  “The what?” Ty snatched the file away so he and Kelsey could
read it. “I’ll be—”

  Coop huffed. “Read out loud, please.”

  “Coach is moving his best team to K-Bay. Look.” He pulled out an official press release on letterhead dated one week from today. There were their names in the Ice Pirates’ colors, black, white and green: Head Coach Ty Porter, Vice-President of Marketing Cooper Hamilton, Vice-President of Finance Gideon Walker.

  “Can I get an exclusive interview with the new staff?” Kelsey asked, the expectant look on her face pulling shocked smiles and nods from everyone at the table.

  “You did it,” Sophie whispered to Gideon as she pressed her lips to his cheek. “Looks as though you won after all.”

  Gideon nodded, his ears ringing with shock, but as he turned and looked at Sophie, he knew he’d already won. “You prepared for that new adventure?”

  She kissed him hard and he felt her smile against his mouth, a sensation he didn’t think he’d ever tire of.

  The bell chimed again, and as Gideon and his friends looked over, they found Coach watching them, a grin on his face. “Welcome home, boys. Welcome home.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from FIRST COMES MARRIAGE by Sophia Sasson.

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  First Comes Marriage

  by Sophia Sasson

  CHAPTER ONE

  “I DON’T MEAN to disturb you...”

  “Then don’t.”