Chapter 5
Listen to your Mamas. We’ve been loving longer than you’ve been living!
— MATCHMAKING MAMAS
Maverick
“When you offered to bring lunch to the shop, I wasn’t imagining this kind of spread.”
The vintage chrome-and-vinyl table that I’d picked up at Agatha’s Aged Treasures and crammed into my tiny break room between the refrigerator and the sink was now covered in catering samples.
Jamie flashed me a quick smile as he unloaded the last few cartons. He pointed to each one. “Steak caprese, tomato bisque in a roasted bell pepper, pasta carbonara, chicken marsala, summer grilled squash, sweet potato fries with a sweet chili sauce, and—”
“Dessert,” I interrupted with a happy wiggle. “So much dessert.”
Jamie chuckled. “Our clients were a little indecisive, so we made them three samples.”
“Who are these clients? I need to get invited to shindigs like theirs.”
“You get to eat it all with me instead,” Jamie said. “Isn’t that better?”
“Mm.” I’d already stuffed a bite of steak caprese into my mouth. Thankfully, these were only sample sizes or I’d stuff myself into a coma. The steak freaking melted in my mouth. “This is so good. It’s not possible to make steak this good. How do you do it?”
Jamie grinned. “That was all Marissa. I just assisted.”
“Is she a magician? I’m serious! This is fantastic.”
“It’s aged. It’s a whole process you’d probably rather not know the details of. Just enjoy it. You know magic is always better when you don’t know the secrets to the tricks.”
“Says the guy who knows all the secrets.”
Jamie nudged the tomato bisque toward me. If he was trying to shut me up, it worked. For the next few minutes, I worked my way through the tasting menu at lightning speed. I should’ve slowed down to really savor it, but it was just too delicious.
Jamie nibbled at his share, prompting me now and then to give him some feedback to note for his boss. Apparently, “mmm” and “nom nom” wasn’t enough to go on.
“If you were going to rate these from five to one, with five being the best,” he suggested, “what gets top marks?”
“Well, normally I’m more of a pasta guy, but that steak caprese was pretty wow.
The carbonara is so Maverick 2004. These days?
I’m all about the steak caprese and tomato soup in a roasted pepper.
Sign me up! It’s so fresh and vibrant. I love a good bread bowl, don’t get me wrong, but this is great for summertime. ”
Jamie chuckled as he made notes. “So the soup is number 2?”
“Grilled squash, because I love a good squash. That might not be typical of your diners, though.” I shrugged. “The sweet potato fries were excellent.”
“Okay, so if you had to lose two items—”
“The carbonara and chicken marsala.” I nodded decisively. “They were good, but they don’t have the same summer zest. You know, I could create some really beautiful table settings to go with these. Something vibrant and colorful.”
“Well, it’s a retirement party at the Brett and Fitz legal offices. I don’t know that flowers will fit the vibe.”
“Ah, bummer. I was feeling inspired.”
He laughed. “I can tell!”
My cell phone rang and I picked it up, frowning at the unknown number. The area code was local and my phone hadn’t flagged it as spam, so I hit answer. “Hello?”
“Maverick, is that you, dear?”
I tried to place the voice. I’d heard it before. An older woman, with a friendly but brusque tone. She wasn’t hesitant at all. “Yes…”
“So glad I caught you! This is Iola with Matchmaking Mamas.”
“Iola, of course, how are you?” I said as the name clicked with the voice. Iola had been the school nurse when I was in first grade.
“I’m doing fantastic, my dear, and soon you will be too because I’m already working on a match for you!”
The rest of what she said sank in belatedly. “Wait. You’re calling with Matchmaking Mamas?”
“Yes, yes, I said that. Remember?”
Iola sounded concerned, as if I might be losing my marbles at age twenty-seven. Maybe I was because I didn’t remember signing up for any matchmaking.
“Sorry, there’s been a mistake,” I said. “I didn’t request matchmaking services.”
Jamie leaned in, shamelessly eavesdropping as Iola said, “Don’t be silly. I have your profile right here! You love playing darts at The Stag Pub.”
Jamie snorted.
“Long drives in big, macho trucks. The bigger the wheels the better. Hmm. I’ve heard of size queens, but that’s a new one. Is it a euphemism of some kind?”
“What? No—”
“Don’t be embarrassed. We all have our preferences. I just want to make sure I get the matchmaking right. Beer. Sports. Well, finding men who like those things are a dime a dozen in a town like this.”
“Tell me about it,” I muttered.
“How do you feel about dogs?” she asked.
“Uh, well…”
“Never mind. Everyone likes dogs. If they don’t, they really don’t deserve love.”
That seemed a bit harsh. For some reason, I didn’t want to be lumped into a group undeserving of love. “My best friend has dogs. I play with them.”
“Good, good. So we’re agreed, then? I’ll match you up with a dog-loving, pickup-driving, beer-drinking—”
“Absolutely not,” I snapped out.
Iola stopped in her tracks. “What? But your profile…”
“I didn’t set that up. I don’t know how you got it. Maybe there was some sort of mix-up or…”
Or my neighbor just got more creative with his pranks. I thought the home front was a little too quiet after that ad I took out on his pickup. Sure, he’d scolded me, but Damon was never one to let sleeping dogs lie.
“I don’t understand,” Iola said, sounding disappointed. “I was so looking forward to helping you find love. I helped my grandson Clark find the love of his life, you know? I’m good at this, if you give me a chance.”
Uh-oh. The grandma guilt trip was in motion, and I was a sucker for those.
“I’m sorry, Iola. This was just someone’s idea of a joke. Obviously, it isn’t funny.”
“Well, we could work up a new profile, sweetie. I know you’re single. Everyone talks about the pretty florist with the lonely eyes.”
Lonely eyes? My eyes weren’t lonely! I opened my mouth to protest, but hesitated when Jamie tapped my arm.
“Maybe it’s not such a bad idea, Mav.”
“Iola, can I call you back?”
“Sure, sweetie. Take your time. But not too long. The good men are flying off the shelves!” She laughed at her own joke, disconnecting mid-cackle.
I lowered the phone to the table. “Fucking Damon. He has no boundaries. This is really not cool.”
Jamie gave me a flat look. “And paying Inside Granville for an ad on his truck was so much better?”
I cringed. “He’s relentless. I’m just fighting for survival here.”
“The cycle will never end if you two keep battering at each other. There’s a better way to beat Damon at his own game, you know.”
“What would that be?”
“Let Iola set you up.” I shook my head, but Jamie persisted. “Meet a nice guy, one who isn’t a straight asshole who lives to rile you up. Fall in love. Then flip Damon the bird while Silas plans your epic wedding.”
I smirked. “That easy, huh?”
“It could be,” Jamie said. “I know Silas has given up, but there’s plenty of happy couples in this town. The wedding coming up is proof enough of that, isn’t it? If those two can find love and keep it going…”
“Oh, you heard about that, huh? Silas is keeping their identities a secret because they don’t want the whole town harassing them all the way to the altar.”
“A legitimate concern,” Jamie said with a smirk. “Don’t worry. Marissa swore me to secrecy, but I knew you’d be doing their flowers.”
“They had to reschedule, but I’ve got a great idea for the silver and blue colors they’re leaning toward. If I ordered some—”
“Ah-ah! Don’t change the subject.” He pushed a tart toward me. “We’re talking about your love life.”
I pressed my fork through the flaky crust. “I don’t know, Jamie. Blind dates? It could be a nightmare.”
“Think of Damon’s face when he sees his prank backfired.”
I grinned. “That would be sweet, wouldn’t it?”
“As sweet as my dessert. Now, tell me what you think of the raspberry tart. I need to get back soon.”
I took a bite and moaned. “Tens across the board.”
“The rating only goes up to five.”
“I know!” I gobbled the rest of the tart, then obliged him by eating a delicate macaron with a bright lemon flavor. “This is delicious too. The tart will always be my true love, though.”
He pushed a biscotti toward me, chocolate coated on one end. I bit into it, surprised by the hints of cinnamon. “Biscotti isn’t my usual thing, you know? But this is really good! You made these, right?”
“Yeah. Baking is more my specialty.”
I nodded. “You’re so talented. You should open a bakery.”
“And compete with Glazed Holes? I don’t think so.”
“A man has more cravings than just doughnuts,” I said pointedly.
Jamie wiggled his eyebrows. “Does that mean you’ll call Iola back and go on some dates?”
“I don’t know…”
“Oh, come on! If you do it, I’ll do it too.”
I hesitated. “Really?”
“Yeah! It could be fun, don’t you think? Worst case, you go out and get some nice dinner or do something fun.”
“I guess it would be pretty awesome to throw it back in Damon’s face. He’ll hate it if his prank is a fail.”
“Yes!” Jamie hopped up and started packing up cartons. “Your happy ending awaits!”
I didn’t know about that, but it had been a while since I’d been out with anyone, and I worried my eyes actually did look lonely. Maybe going on a few dates and beating Damon at his own game wouldn’t be the worst thing.
“But don’t think we’re done talking about you,” I told him. “You’re way too talented to assist Marissa forever.”
Jamie shrugged. “I don’t want a bakery. Not a normal one, anyway.”
“What’s that mean?”
He hesitated. “Promise you won’t laugh.”
“Of course not.”
“I want to make gourmet dog treats. Maybe some cat ones, too, but…you know, that’s a little niche for a town like this one.”
“Oh my gosh, that sounds adorable.”
“Really?”
“Yes! I’m totally jealous of those dogs, though. I want treats too.”
He laughed. “Well, I’ll never stop baking for my human friends. I just wish I knew if people would go for something like that around here.”
“Well, maybe take some samples to the dog park. Offer them an opportunity to order more? You could test interest and build up clients before you ever open.”
He brightened. “That’s an idea. Thanks, Mav.”
“Anytime. Desserts this good deserve to be appreciated by someone, even if they do have four legs.”
He laughed, but I could see from the sparkle in his eye that he was really happy.
“You deserve to be appreciated too,” he said as he packed up to go. “Don’t blow off that matchmaking. And don’t just do it to get back at Damon. Do it for you.”
Iola’s lonely eyes comment echoed in my head.
“You know, maybe I will.”