Free Matching Mr. Right (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Series Book 1) by Tamra Baumann Page B

the house-in-the-’burbs and soccer dad she wanted.
    As he pulled into his mother’s drive, he came to an abrupt stop. What was his mom doing up on a ladder cleaning out the gutters?
    He leapt from the car, slapping his door shut behind him. “Get down from there right now. You’re too old to be on a ladder!”
    “Too old?” His mom’s right brow popped up. Before he’d realized his mistake, a handful of wet, slimy leaves plopped down on top of him.
    “Nice, Mom.” He wiped slime from his forehead. “That’s a move Emily would be proud of.”
    “You’re right. Be sure to tell her.” His mother stuck her gloved hand back into the gutter and scooped out more goop.
    The “old” remark had been a mistake, and admittedly, his mom was still a beautiful woman, but she was fifty-seven.
    He blew out a long breath, searching for patience. “Come down and I’ll finish that for you.”
    His mother chuckled as she climbed down the ladder. “Your timing, as always, is impeccable. That was the last of it.” When her foot hit the ground, she kissed his cheek. “But I’m entirely too old to put the ladder away, so you can do it. Are you hungry?”
    He folded the ladder and hoisted it on his shoulder. “I just had breakfast at Shelby’s.”
    “Ah.” His mother smiled knowingly as she removed her gloves.
    Nick hung the ladder in the garage and then followed her inside the house. “What does ‘ah’ mean? And why don’t you hire someone to do the gutters? Or call me and I’ll do them.”
    He took his usual place at the old kitchen table, the same sturdy wooden one that had been there his whole life.
    “Oh, you’ll do it, huh? You mean you’d actually squeeze me into your twenty-four seven work schedule?”
    He crossed his arms and stayed silent, refusing to get into that familiar argument.
    His mom sighed as she opened the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of tea. “Never mind. I’m perfectly capable. Who do you think has been doing the gutters around here for the past twenty years? And I said ‘ah’ about Shelby because your father called this morning and told me what happened last night. I hope you were at Shelby’s house this morning apologizing?”
    Lori came into the kitchen with an empty glass in her hand. “Nick apologized for something? This ought to be good.” She plopped down across the table from him.
    They were doing it again, outflanking and outnumbering him. “It seems all I’m doing lately is apologizing to women. It’s getting old.”
    “Women? As in plural?” Lori grinned. “Beth wanted you back, didn’t she? And you felt all bad, but not bad enough to knock down that big wall around your heart and give love a chance. Although I saw something in the way you looked at Shelby the other night at the book signing.”
    His mom nodded. “Yes! I saw that too, at the hospital.” She turned to Lori, “Maybe Shelby will be the one. Emily would certainly approve of that.”
    “Stop!” He held up his hands. “Sorry to burst your love bubbles ladies, but Shelby has her sights on some other guy. She and I are just friends.” Sort of. She probably wouldn’t say so, but he liked her .
    “Well, friends is a fine place to start.” His mom patted his cheek. “Even your dad said you made a good-looking couple. That’s why he bid on your date last night.”
    “No, he bid on Shelby because he’s a controlling bastard.”
    His mom sat down. “Everyone else in the family has forgiven your father but you, Nick. He was trying to be nice last night. He thought Shelby was a lovely woman.”
    He couldn’t sit any longer and stood to pace. “Why do you always give him the benefit of the doubt? He just did that so he could look like the perfect father in front of all those potential clients.”
    Lori laughed. “The country club set doesn’t give a damn about being thought of as good parents. They’re more interested in sealing that next deal and who makes the most money among them. Be careful