Free The Matchmakers by Jennifer Colgan Page A

took the miniscule nod she gave
him as acknowledgment she was over her snit, a snit that was entirely Callie’s
fault. Was his imaginary faerie going to turn every woman he knew against him? Well,
in all fairness, he didn’t need any help in that department. Most of the women
in his life turned against him eventually, as soon as they found out they
wanted more than he could give. Out in the parking lot, a cool-edged breeze
chased the first few dry leaves of autumn across the gravel. The crackling
sound reminded Nick of a wood fire and settling in on a cold night. The end of
summer came fast in Bayerville, and Nick didn’t mind at all. He’d already
decided when the day came that he stopped moving around, he’d pick a place up
north where the seasons changed and the snow fell at the proper time of year.
Who needed bugs and heat and relentless humidity all year long? The crackling
sound grew louder as Nick approached his truck, and for a moment, he feared he
might actually be hearing flames. He looked around for smoke, hoping no one’s
car was on fire or vandals hadn’t started a blaze in Farley’s dumpster again
like they had back in June. Nothing looked amiss, but he decided to do a quick
circle around the truck just to make sure. He found her kneeling in the gravel
by the back wheel of the compact Chevy parked next to him. Dressed once again
in her Pepto-pink coat and blue jeans, she smiled guilelessly at him. Her
frothy gloves sported grease smudges, one of which transferred to her left
cheek when she reached up to brush a lock of hair from her eyes. `What the hell
are you doing out here?´ `Getting started. This is Diane’s car, right?´ `You’re
vandalizing her car?´ Nick lowered his voice after his initial outburst and did
a quick scan of the parking lot. The last thing he needed was someone to think
he was out here by himself slashing tires. `Are you out of your mind?Śilly
question, he realized after he asked it. `I’m not vandalizing anything. She has
a flat tire.´ The challenge in her eyes might have made him really angry had it
not been for that grease smudge. The dark mark on her porcelain cheek made her
look beguiling and young and guilty as sin. All he wanted to do was reach down
and smooth it away with his thumb. Instead he leaned back, crossed his arms
over his chest and gave her his best skeptical glare. `Oh really? How
convenient. Let me guess, you’re fixing it for her?´ `No. Farley’s going to fix
it.´ `No, he’s not.´ `He’ll have to. I did a little recon and found out that
Diane never leaves before he does, and most nights he walks her to her car. Isn’t
that sweet?´ `And how did you find all this out?´ `I talked to Hayden.´ Farley’s
other waitress, twenty-two-year-old Hayden, had a nickname. The locals called
her River, because her mouth ran like one. Nick sighed. `That’s what you’ve
been doing all this time? Why didn’t you tell me where you were going?Śhe
dusted off her dirty gloves and hoisted herself back to her feet before
answering. `You didn’t seem interested. I don’t know how closely Freya is going
to be watching us, but I figure if you won’t help me, I’ll do what I can
myself. I can always say you gave me the ideas, and I carried them out. Not
that I normally operate that way. I should
be the one giving you ideas, but
regardless. Now Farley can change Diane’s tire and ´ Nick shook his head. `She
can change a flat better than he can. You should have done this to his car.´ `Now you tell me.´ `Well, you
didn’t give me a chance. If I’d known you were coming out here to slash tires ´
`I didn’t slash them. I just let the air out. I guess I’d better take care of
the spare, too, so he’ll have to give her a ride home. Stand here and cover me
while I open the trunk.´ `I will not be your stoolie. I went to high school,
Tinkerbell. I know it’s always the guy with his head up looking around who gets
in the most trouble.´ `Chicken. Fine, I’ll be the