Chapter 32
“We’re going to find you love whether you like it or not!”
— IOLA, MATCHMAKING MAMAS
Jamie
October fifteenth was our first cooler autumn day, with gray skies and intermittent drizzle, but it didn’t deter the dog lovers from turning out for Dogtober Days.
Hank and a group of volunteers had transformed Beaver Hole Park early in the morning.
By the time I arrived to set up my booth, the grounds contained a dog agility course, obedience training demonstrations, a live musician strumming a ukulele, food vendors selling kibble and popcorn side-by-side, and animal rescue advocates.
I set out my dog biscuits beside Sammi’s brochures for dog grooming and day care services while I watched the growing crowd of dog owners milling about the park, checking out everything on offer while they waited for us to open.
“Are you sure it’s okay I’m joining your booth?” I asked.
Furry Fosters had signed up late, so I’d given them my assigned space.
“Of course it’s okay for you to join us,” Sammi said. “It’s fitting, actually.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, you know I’ve been giving out your dog treats as a sort of loyal reward for our customers.”
“Yeah. I really appreciate you discounting my daycare payments for that.”
“Sure, happy to, but actually I was thinking we might alter our agreement a little.”
I paused as I set out my new ghost-shaped dog treats made with pumpkin and chicken. “Oh? Is it not enough? I can try to come up with more.”
“It’s not enough,” Sammi said, though she was grinning at me. That was an odd expression for someone complaining about financial arrangements.
“I’m sorry. Tell me what I owe you.”
“Oh, how about all of your dog treats?”
I gaped. “What? You mean the ones I brought today, or…”
“All of them.” She laughed. “Oh man, your face. I shouldn’t tease you. I don’t want you to give me all your dog biscuits. I want you to sell them at my shop.”
“Oh.” I blinked. “Like, on consignment?”
“That’s one way to do it,” she said. “Another way is that you join the business. Become an official part of BowWow.”
“Whoa, I didn’t see that coming.”
She smirked. “Am I blowing your mind?”
“Kinda.” I hesitated. “I’m not a dog groomer. I guess I could help at the day care, but I kind of want my focus to be my dog biscuits.”
Sammi nodded. “Totally. You wouldn’t be expected to provide any other services.
Just work the front of the shop, same as you would if you had your own store.
You can sell your biscuits in display cases, cover the phones, and check-out customers.
Part-time only, so you’d have time to bake all the gourmet treats you want. ”
“Why would you want to do this?”
She shrugged. “BowWow has been growing. Even with our part-timer, it’s getting more difficult for me and Hank to cover the front, along with everything else we need to do. If you don’t join, we’ll probably hire someone else.”
“Does Hank know you’re offering this?”
Sammi nodded. “Yeah, we talked about it. Hank wanted the offer to come from me. He thought you might think he was trying to swoop in and rescue you or something. But this was my idea. He told me you were saving to start a business, but it makes so much sense for us to join forces. We already have dog lovers coming in, and you probably don’t need a huge storefront for what you want to do.
We provide you with a ready-made customer base, which would be good exposure and—”
“Sammi, you don’t have to keep selling me!” I laughed. “I’m in.”
“You are?”
“Yes! It sounds amazing. I mean, we’ll have to work out the financial agreements. Like how much I need to invest and profit-sharing and stuff.”
Sammi nodded. “Why don’t we meet up at BowWow next week to hash it all out? And look, nothing has to be set in stone. If you don’t like working the front of store, we’ll figure out another arrangement. We’re all friends here.”
Hanks jogged up. “Hey, you all set? We’re officially opening the festival. I’ve been telling everyone to come check out your biscuits.”
“That’s not all you’ve been doing,” I said. “You’ve been plotting with your partner in crime about me joining BowWow. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
Hank’s smile looked nervous. “Are you going to do it?”
I grinned. “Yeah, I think I am.”
“Yes!” He came behind our table to sweep me up in a kiss. “It was all Sammi’s idea.”
“She told me.”
“I know you could do it on your own, but why should you? This seems like a perfect fit.”
I smiled up at him. “Yeah, I think it is too.”
The festival only got busier as the morning went on. Visitors swamped the Furry Fosters booth where Axel Wilder offered info and volunteer applications for fostering pets. I wasn’t sure if they wanted a closer look at the cute Dachshund puppies or the sexy, tatted-up man holding them.
Clark Rhodes came by our booth with his stepson Toby and immediately snagged half the pumpkin treats. Tucker Ellis wasn’t far behind, his Golden retriever Elle at his side. She was tall enough to snuffle at the table, and we let her do the choosing: she zeroed in on the peanut-butter dog treats.
“She’s got good taste,” I said. “How many would you like?”
“How about an even dozen?”
“Sounds good,” I said, even as I realized I was going to sell out long before the day was over.
Hank came by to give Sammi a break, taking over the booth with me. He brought me a doughnut frosted in black and white to look like a Dalmatian. I should have known Glazed Holes would have a booth. Miles never missed a town event.
I took a quick bite in between customers, scarfing down the doughnut since I was starving, and taking a swig of water from the bottle I kept under the table.
When I straightened, Mom stepped forward.
“Hi, honey! So many people are here.”
“Hey, Mom. Yeah, it’s a good turnout.”
Someone came up beside my mom, picking up a box of biscuits and studying the label of ingredients. “These look great. Homemade?”
“Yes!” I said, turning my attention to the middle-aged woman. “Gluten-free too. Very healthy for the doggos.”
“I love it. I’ll take two boxes.”
I slid the Square terminal forward that Sammi had brought. It had taken me about fifteen minutes before asking if I could just ring in everything using the BowWow card reader.
Mom waited while I checked out a couple of customers, then shook her head. “I had no idea your biscuits would be so popular…”
“Jamie’s partnering with my boss at BowWow,” Hank said. “We think he’ll be a great draw for our customers.”
“Well, that’s just wonderful.” She smiled sheepishly. “I guess we should have known you’d be great at anything you chose to do, Jamie. Dad will be sad you’re not going to open a bakery and make him all the cupcakes he can eat, though.”
I laughed. “Well, maybe for his birthday.”
She smiled. “It’s probably for the best he only get them once a year.” She chuckled. “Let us know when you’re all set up and we’ll come see the store. If you need anything…”
“That’s okay.” I glanced at Hank. “I’ve got everything I need already.”
Mom smiled softly. “I can see that.” She patted my arm. “Well, I’m sure proud of you.”
Iola came up behind her, her little terrier Ricky dyed a bright pink with the white words Matchmaking Mamas on his flank. Oh, that poor thing. Used for advertising. At least he looked happy, snuffling in the grass.
“Did these two tell you that I’m the reason they’re a couple?” Iola asked my mother.
“No, really?”
Iola picked up Ricky, showing off his logo. “Yes, we matched them up! Matchmaking Mamas have found love once again.” She eyed my mother. “Do you have any other children looking to date?”
“Gosh, no. We’re down to grandkids.”
“Too bad.” Iola handed her a card. “Call me in ten years or so.”
“Thanks,” Mom said, sounding a little bemused. “Well, you look busy, so I should move on. I just wanted to come see how it was going.”
“Thanks for stopping by.”
Mom might have had her doubts about my business goals, but she loved me, and it felt really good that she’d come to the festival and seen that other people believed in me. I wished my family could have backed me from the start, but I knew their hearts were always in the right place.
The fact I could do this with business partners who valued me was so much better than borrowing funds from my parents, anyway.
Silas and Maverick came by the booth while Iola looked through my biscuits, holding each sample out to Ricky for a sniff.
“I just saw a dog that looked like a lion!” Maverick said with a grin. “Is that your handiwork, Hank?”
“Yes, but do I have to claim it?” he asked.
Maverick laughed. “It looked great, even if it’s a bit wacky. You’ve got skills.”
Iola turned, showing off Ricky’s side. “Hank did this for me, too.”
Silas snorted a laugh as he saw the Matchmaking Mamas logo. “Oh, man. That’s…something, all right.”
Iola eyed him speculatively. “You’re still single, aren’t you, Silas? Lula told me you don’t want to sign up with us, but that can’t be right. You’re a wedding planner, for goodness’ sakes!”
Silas shrugged. “I do okay for myself.”
She turned to me and Hank. “Tell him how great our service is, you two! He’s missing out.”
Hank smirked. “Well, it did work out in the end.”
“Yes, it did,” I said, smiling up at him.
“There you see!” Iola exclaimed. “If you don’t sign up, I’ll sign you up myself. We’re going to find you love whether you like it or not!”
“What? But I—”
Iola beat a quick retreat before he could finish his sentence. That lady was sneaky. She knew how to get the last word in.
Silas turned a horror-struck look on me. “See what you’ve done!”
I laughed. “Well, hey, it’s your turn. Don’t look so disturbed. It worked for Maverick and me.”
Silas scoffed. “Purely by accident! The Matchmaking Mamas are terrible at matchmaking and even if they weren’t, you know I don’t believe in that crap.”
“Crap?” Maverick protested. “My love life is crap?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Just wait. You’re going to fall, Silas, and when you do, it’ll be harder than either of us.”
Hank wrapped an arm over my shoulder and kissed my temple. “I don’t know, babe. Not sure anyone can fall harder than me.”
The sun peeked out from the clouds, my friends looked on with varying expressions of amusement and disgust at our sappiness, and I leaned up on my tiptoes to kiss the love of my life.
Finally, I’d gotten my very own prince.
Will the Mamas convince Silas to give matchmaking a shot? Find out in Sweet-Talking Silas!
I plan happily-ever-afters, but I don't believe in them...
That doesn't stop the Matchmaking Mamas from trying to find me a dream man. When they corner me at a wedding I'm working, I'm too busy to fight their meddling ways. I agree to one match so they'll back off. One date and I'll put the matchmaking nonsense behind me for good.
Then I meet Bryson. As if he stepped out of a movie, he sweeps me off my feet. He's gorgeous, sweet, romantic--and so very sexy. Despite my reservations, I agree to a second date and start to wonder if maybe I could have more with the right guy.
Until he shows up to a wedding consult the next day.
With his bride.
I'm horrified to be taken in so easily. How could I have doubted, for even a second, that love wasn't for me? I was the guy who got jilted at the altar. I didn't get fairytale endings.
Only... now I'm getting texts and calls telling me that Bryson has a twin.
An identical twin.
But if Bryson's not the groom, is he really the amazing guy he seemed to be when we met? For better or worse, it seems I'm about to find out.
If I'm going to risk my heart again, this man has some serious sweet-talking to do.