CHAPTER ONE
A FEW WEEKS LATER
WILLOW
Blinking away the tears in my eyes, I toss my e-reader aside with a pained huff.
Another romance with a heroine who refuses to see what’s right in front of her.
It’s annoying to read these books with women rebuffing a man eager to love and please and protect them. Others would gladly take your place, I lament. Wouldn’t be so stupid or stubborn. They’d be happy to accept what these women want to throw away and deny.
And it makes me cry because men don’t want that girl.
They prefer the challenge.
Or the gorgeous supermodel who happens to be a size two.
I should know.
I’m the one who’s always optimistic when it comes to relationships—never shy about my feelings. I want a forever kind of love and am upfront about it. Not to say I hit a guy over the head with wedding talk on our first date, but I don’t like games and am terrible at playing hard to get.
My downfall, apparently.
Along with your shortness paired with an overabundance of curves.
At least, I assume that’s my other issue since I don’t have many date offers in the first place. Sighing, I stare up at my ceiling and contemplate the sad state of my love life right now.
A plaintive meow follows a furry paw swatting my stomach. Carrot whines again, desperate for his breakfast, and an unwilling smile tugs at my mouth. No time for pity parties when you have a starving cat on your hands.
“Alright, alright, I hear you… Let’s get you fed.
” Whipping my covers off, I roll to a sitting position as Carrot hops down to the floor and races out the door, no doubt heading for his food bowl in the kitchen.
My e-reader lays haphazardly on the edge of the mattress, and I snatch it up before it can fall, carefully placing it on my nightstand.
I’ll read more later when I’m not in such a mood. When the heroine’s antics won’t bother me so much and I’ll just be happy a girl like me finds love—even if it is in a fictional world.
“Dude, if I trip and die, you definitely won’t be eating anytime soon.” Because who knows when someone will come searching for me?
Okay, so my boss and friend, Shannon, will probably call when I don’t show up for work, but still, it’s the principle of the thing.
A single woman living alone with her cat isn’t as comforting as say a married woman living with her husband and cat, living with another human who can assist when said woman falls flat on her face.
Unfortunately, logistics don’t deter Carrot from winding between my legs as if it’ll make me pour his food any faster.
Once the last piece of kibble clanks against the bowl, I lower it to the floor and start gathering my own breakfast: cold brew coffee with creamer and s’mores pop tarts.
Because I’m classy and super healthy like that.
My toaster glows red as it heats the two rectangles of deliciousness, and I lean against the counter to wait for them to finish, my gaze catching on the calendar hanging on the side of my fridge.
It’s almost February.
A month meant for love, and one of the biggest times of the year for Suitor’s Crossing. This town is known for its legend surrounding soul mates or as we like to call them, heart sparks.
There’s a bridge where couples would go courting or sparkin’ back in the day, and every single one of them knew the other was their heart spark by the end of their journey across the bridge, which is where the myth originated.
The town even built a replica bridge for visitors to cross when they enter Suitor’s Crossing to play up our special legacy of love.
“If only it were that easy…” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve traveled over that bridge, yet here I am with no soul mate in sight.
Ping!
The notification bar appears on my phone indicating a match on the dating app I joined yesterday when I promised myself I wouldn’t be alone again for Valentine’s Day. “That was fast…” Hope blooms in my belly as the app opens to reveal a message from my mystery match.
FORGEDBYFIRE: Hey, TheCarrotsMeow! Looks like we’re a match. To be totally honest, I haven’t had much luck on here so far, but if you’re willing to meet, maybe my streak of bad luck will turn. P.S. What does your name mean? I can’t decide if you really love carrots or what? LOL
I grin and type out an explanation about my orange tabby while agreeing to a date.
Usually, I prefer more conversation before jumping to meeting in person with a stranger, but he seems burnt out on the app.
Might as well skip the niceties and get straight to the point of seeing if we’re a good fit or not, especially since part of the app’s charm is allowing users to not judge someone by their pictures.
It’s meant to embody the true meaning of a blind date and to help local townspeople potentially find love where they never expected.
Especially since Suitor’s Crossing is a small town, making it difficult to meet someone new or view someone in a romantic light after knowing them for years.
The goal of Luna’s app, Suitor’s Sparks, is to provide a solution for that particular problem.
“I should see if she’s managed to use it for herself yet.” Luna’s always been eccentric. With a name based on a Ravenclaw from the Harry Potter series, it’s hard to escape your destiny, but she’s sweet, smart, and always up for an adventure. Traits that are impossible not to love about her.
Within a half hour, I scarf down my breakfast and dress before driving to Blushing Brides Boutique on Main Street where I’ve absolutely adored working for the past three years.
Every bride’s love story is unique and helping them find the perfect dress for their wedding day fulfills my sense of purpose.
People might think it’s silly to feel a sense of accomplishment from helping a bride buy a gown that’s only worn one day, but as someone who never knew what she wanted to do with her life, it’s a relief to have finally discovered something I love that complements my skills.
“Morning, Shannon,” I call as I breeze through the back entrance, excited for our first client this morning: my best friend Hannah. Recently engaged after a whirlwind few weeks, she needs a dress equally fast since she and her groom don’t want a prolonged engagement. Can’t say I blame them.
I wouldn’t be opposed to eloping if I found the love of my life so quickly either.
“Good morning! Ready for a new week?” Shannon’s organizing a rack of dresses for Hannah to try when she arrives, and after dropping off my coat and purse, I join her.
“If you’d asked me earlier this morning, I would’ve said ‘hell, no,’ but…”
“But…?”
The doorbell chimes, and I smirk at the timing. “Saved by the bell. Let’s wait for Hannah, so I can tell you both at the same time.” We head toward the front of the store and exchange hellos with Hannah, who also brought Luna with her.
Small town, I think ruefully.
“Okay, I think we should start with the chiffon first, then we can go from there. You’re going for a simple, classic look, right?”
Hannah nods and steps into the changing room with Shannon while Luna takes a seat on one of the velvet chaises for guests.
“And while we’re working on getting you into the gown, Willow can share her news,” Shannon emphasizes my name, briefly poking her head out with a raised brow before retreating to assist Hannah.
“Oh, intriguing indeed. Tell us what’s happened.” Luna props one leg over the other and leans forward, anticipation lighting her eyes.
“Well, I signed up for your app yesterday and got a match this morning. He wants to meet tomorrow night at Daffodil’s.”
“This is so exciting!” Luna gushes. “You’re the first person I know well enough to observe the app’s work in progress.”
“Who is it?” Hannah asks, her voice muffled.
“I don’t know. There’s not much to go on except for his bio since it’s meant for blind dates. All I know is that he hasn’t had much success with the app yet.” Glancing toward Luna, I shrug in apology. “Sorry. I’m sure that’s not what you want to hear.”
She waves away my concern with purple-tipped fingers. “It’s fine. It won’t work for everyone, but if I can bring even one couple together, it’ll be worth it. Maybe you’ll be the lucky two!”
“Fingers crossed. My single season has to end eventually, right?”
“Right.” Hannah steps out in a beautiful A-line gown covered in floating layers of pale chiffon.
“Just look at me and King. Love happened in a matter of weeks for us after years of pining, and it can happen to you, too. We never know when we’ll meet our heart spark.
Yours could be at Daffodil’s tomorrow night. ”
Giddy with optimism, I send up another prayer for this mystery man to be my man, then focus on Hannah. “Enough about me, though. You’re the star today and that dress is lovely. How do you feel?”
Shannon and I listen as she details what she likes and dislikes, and we spend the rest of her appointment laughing and swooning over dresses until Hannah walks out in the perfect one, tears of joy glimmering in her eyes.
Someday that’ll be me.
Someday.