Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
TANDY
T he guys start playing, and Ava drops into the chair beside me. “You always seem to be in a good mood, but tonight you seem different. Happier.”
“It’s the sparkles.” I raise my glass to Matthew when he finishes a solo.
She laughs. “Oh, is that your nickname for Matthew?”
“Maybe it should be. And I’ll say that I’m definitely more content. Companionship fills my well.”
She sips her wine. “Good. Tell me about the ranch. How are things coming along?”
“Buildings are being built. Roads have been paved. Matthew is hoping we’ll be open before the end of the year.” I don’t mention that I’ll be talking to Dallas about working out there. Only Matthew knows about that.
Ava glances up as someone taps me on the shoulder.
I turn and smile.
Colt tips his hat. “Miss Tandy, would you like to dance?”
“Sure, but then you should dance with some of the younger ladies.”
He wags his finger. “No matchmaking tonight. Not me at least.”
I follow him out to the dance floor. “Did Matthew put you up to this?”
“No, ma’am.” He twirls me.
“Well, it’s sweet of you to dance with an old lady.” During the rest of the song, I point out the other young women in the room.
But Colt gives no indication which of them he finds attractive. He’s making this difficult. “Matthew can really play. They’re all really good.”
“They are. I’m glad you came tonight.”
“Me too. It’s fun seeing them play and meeting new people.”
“Have you met Matthew’s grandsons? They might come this evening. Eli and Zach both work for the sheriff’s department. Zach is married to Joji’s niece, Haley. She’s a photographer. And Eli is married to Delaney. She owns the lingerie store where I like to shop.”
“TMI, Miss Tandy.” He chuckles. “If they show, I’d love to meet them.”
At the end of the song, he walks me back to the table. “I’ll be back around in a while. I’m going to ask another pretty lady to dance.”
“You do that.” I pat his arm before taking a seat beside Joji. “Colt, this is Joji. She’s married to Clint, the guitar player. And that’s Lilith. She’s Beau’s wife. He’s on drums. And Ava is with Mad Dog. He’s the bass player.”
The ladies wave.
Colt tips his hat. “Would any of you ladies care to dance? Since your partners are on stage.”
Lilith springs out of her chair. “That sounds fun.”
They walk out to the dance floor and Ava leans across the table. “He’s a sweetie. You going to set him up?”
“He tells me not to match him. Says he’s too young or something like that. And I’m desperately trying to be good, but gosh, I want to find him a special someone.”
Joji taps the table. “I’m guessing he’ll have no trouble finding love. Now, speaking of love, I’m so glad you and Matthew are friends now.”
“Tease away. But the man is charming. I’m not sure it’s even possible to resist those green eyes.” I motion behind Joji as Haley and Zach walk toward the table. “Your niece and her husband are here.”
Joji lowers her voice so that it’s hard to hear her over the music. “Does Zach know you’re dating his granddad?”
I shrug. “I guess that depends on how fast news travels.” I wave them closer and point to the two empty chairs at the table. “There’s room here.”
Joji jumps up and hugs them both. “Y’all made it!”
Haley hangs her purse on the back of a chair. “I’d completely forgotten about tonight, but Zach reminded me after his granddad texted.” Her gaze cuts to me. “Hi, Tandy. How are you?”
“I’m good. How are my favorite twins?”
“Busy as ever. They are staying with Hank and Nacha this evening.” She leans against Zach. “It’s so nice to be out as a couple.”
He drapes an arm around her. “We should dance.”
Joji shoos them toward the dance floor. “Go have fun.”
Before leaving the table, Zach taps my shoulder. “It’s nice to see you this evening, Tandy.”
“You too. It’s so fun to watch Matthew play the fiddle.” It’s fun for me to watch Matthew no matter what he’s doing, but Zach doesn’t want to know that.
“He loves it. And it shows.” He snakes an arm around Haley’s waist and whispers in her ear.
She grins as they make their way onto the dance floor.
Seeing them being cute and romantic makes me even more eager to open Matchmaker Ranch.
The band takes a short break, and the deejay starts playing country tunes.
I stand as Matthew approaches. “Great set.”
“Thanks.” He tucks an arm around my waist. “What about my dance?”
“You know I want to dance, but don’t you want to sit for a bit?”
“After we dance.”
I give him a quick peck and slip my hand into his. And it takes all my willpower not to look around to see the reactions of others watching. I know our friends are happy, but if Matthew’s family feels differently, I’d rather not know that now. Maybe ever.
He tugs me closer and says, “Eli dropped his drink, but he’s smiling, and Zach just gave me a thumbs-up. I’m not even sure what that’s about.”
Matthew knows exactly what to say to make me laugh.
“I hope your kids feel like your grandsons.”
“I’m sure they will. They want me to be happy.” He says it as a fact, but there is a hint of uncertainty in his statement.
Surely, they have no issue with Matthew dating. It’s not like we have any plans to marry. We simply enjoy spending time together.
Matthew twirls me as the song ends, then plants a kiss on my lips. And this one isn’t a peck. “That was fun.”
“The dance or the kiss?” I hook my arm around his.
“Both.” He dances his eyebrows. “I’m honored to have the prettiest lady here on my arm.”
“You can stop now.”
He laughs and pulls me off the dance floor away from our table. “I know it sounds like a line, but it isn’t. Funny thing is, sometimes when I look at you, I see your gray hair and the signs that years have passed. But other times, it’s like I’m looking at the younger version of you, the one I fell in love with in high school. You were beautiful then and just as pretty now. I’m not feeding you a line, Candy.”
My breath catches as memories wash over me. “You remember.”
He hasn’t called me by that nickname since the night I climbed in his window, and that night, it was whispered in surprise. But I loved that nickname. He only used it when we were alone. It was our shared thing.
“Of course I remember. How could you think I’d forget? I guess the candy I left all over your house wasn’t enough of a clue that I remembered. Once upon a time, you were my sweet Tandy, and now you are again. I remember all the nicknames I had for you, Lucy.”
I kiss him. “We both know I was never all that sweet. But I know what you mean about memories blurring the present. You may have rivels of wisdom, but your green eyes haven’t aged. I’m glad I stopped being stubborn and finally started talking to you.”
“You and me both.” He tucks an arm around my waist. “Now let’s go back to the table and get mobbed. And hopefully, there’s something for me to eat.”
I’m happy for the companionship and the spark of romance. Being with Matthew doesn’t make me feel young. There are too many aches and creaky joints to forget my age. But he does make me feel timeless. I can only hope that when I match couples, they have a connection like I have with Matthew.
He walks me to the door and glances at the driveway next door as Zach and Haley carry the twins out to the truck. “I had fun tonight. And it looks like the twins did too. Hank and Nacha wore them out, it seems.”
“Hopefully, they’ll stay asleep and won’t keep their parents awake the rest of the night.” I unlock the door and push it open. “This evening was good. Dancing with you reminded me of the nights we’d sneak into that old dance hall.”
“They didn’t seem to care much as long as we stayed clear of the bar. But yeah, it did bring back memories.” He rests a hand on the doorframe and smiles down at me. “Good memories.”
“You can come in, but if we’re still planning to walk in the morning, we should probably sleep.”
He nods. “I should get on home. But I’ll see you bright and early.”
After a goodnight kiss, I stand on the porch and watch him stroll to his truck.
Then I go inside, change into pajamas, and snuggle in bed with a cat on each side of me. And I tell them all about my night. And that I think maybe, for the second time in my life, I’m falling in love with Matthew Gallagher.
But I shouldn’t let my thoughts go there. Kissing and companionship is enough. I have no interest in getting married, and I’m sure he feels the same way.
I’m content to be the crazy cat lady who enjoys romance during the day and talks to my cats at night.