Chapter 2
Daphne
When Cupid’s Bloom sent me to Willowbrook Ridge, I felt this deep worry. The company isn’t perfect, and not every match works out. Typically, most of our users give up after the first failed attempt. Fewer survive a second.
But this man staring down at me with a look that makes my skin warm beneath my sweater? He’s gotten turned down three times.
It’s my job to figure out why. It can’t be because of his appearance. While I’ve read many cases of women getting one look at their match and running for the hills, I don’t think that’s relevant to this case.
If it did, then those women are blind.
So, if his appearance isn’t sending them away, it’s the man himself. It’s my job to figure out who is at fault here. Is he scaring them all away, or is there a glitch in the system?
“My name is Daphne.” Introducing myself, I catch myself leaning closer to the bar, like another inch or two closer to him will make much of a difference. “I’m actually here because Cupid’s Bloom—”
“Wait.” He blurts out the word and cuts off my introduction, then his eyes drift to the two women who are trying to hide their curiosity but fail. His bushy red brows keep furrowing, as if he doesn’t understand.
As far as I remember, the company contacted him a few times. He should’ve expected me, right?
“Not here.” He shakes his head before moving to circle the bar. Motioning me to follow, he leads me all the way to the booth closest to the door. He takes the small metal chair and swallows it up, leaving the roomy booth seat for me.
I’d take it as him being polite, but I’m willing to bet that he just wants to have an easier escape route in case he wants nothing to do with what I have to offer him.
While Gavin rubs his hand down his face and strokes his beard, he looks over me in pure confusion. “I didn’t sign up for another bride. There must’ve been a mistake somewhere. I’m not…” He pauses, hesitating before clearing his throat. “I’m not interested in getting married anymore.”
Realizing where the mix-up is, another light laugh leaves me. “I’m not a bride.” Getting that out of the way, I notice he doesn’t seem to relax. “I work for Cupid’s Bloom.”
Instead of relaxing, his muscles recoil as if I’ve offended him.
Okay, three times of bad results might make him dislike the company a little bit.
Before he can pull back, I’m reaching out to grab one of his hands. Built like a bear’s paw, I can’t help but notice his hair-covered arms and hands.
Oh boy. They don’t make men like this where I come from. I’m always surrounded by men in suits and ties with smartphones glued to their hands.
The only thing I can picture Gavin holding is an axe. Or me, thrown over that broad shoulder…
He stares at my hands, probably noticing the size difference.
“I’m a matchmaker.” Staying on topic before I let my thoughts fall over the deep end, I squeeze his thick fingers. “They sent me here to figure out what has gone wrong.”
His frown is back. “Your system is full of it.”
I can’t blame him for being upset. A handful of years ago, I had my own shaky experience with the company before devoting myself to helping others find love.
“Sometimes, there are dips in the system. Technology, you know?” Keeping my voice gentle and my smile soft, I stroke his knuckles with my thumb without realizing it.
“Sometimes, we have to go into manual mode, in a sense. So, if you are willing to give us one more chance, I will guarantee I will try my best to find your perfect match.”
A lot of times, when I offer my help, I get turned down and sent back to the city. It makes sense. Pride gets hurt because of rejection, and some people don’t like strangers intruding into their lives.
No matter how friendly and warm I want to come off as, I brace myself for rejection.
“What needs to be done?”
Surprised by his words, I blink. “Oh, well… It’s pretty easy, really. I’d interview you personally, asking you questions similar to those you filled out at the very beginning. If you’d be willing to take me to your home, that would help, too. Some women are pretty picky with living conditions…”
He snorts. “No kidding. Tell me something I don’t know.”
Following up on his past experiences may help with finding out what the source of the issue is as well. We can save that bit for later.
“So you’ll stay over for a few hours, and have all the answers?
” Squinting at me, I don’t miss the way his eyes flicker down toward my sweater before jerking in the direction of the glass windows covering the front.
His voice softens slightly. “Or at least, have some kind of explanation toward what I’m doing wrong? ”
There’s something in his voice, a wounded pride that doesn’t hit the same as it usually does. Sure, I don’t know what kind of man Gavin Little is, but I have no doubt that he is a man who wants love enough to try as hard as he has. It takes a certain kind of determination to do what he’s done.
“I will give you some sort of clarity by the end of today, certainly. But don’t assume you’re the issue.
As I said, there can be a blip in the system.
” While I know I’m not allowed to talk badly about the company, I can’t help but let a little hint of a grudge I held once slip through the cracks.
“Some of us are unlucky, or can’t find the perfect match.
Sometimes, that person you’re fated to be with isn’t using the services at the same time. ”
“Us?” he repeats, instantly catching onto my wording.
“Yes, of course. Like you, I hit a few spuds.” Explaining it like it doesn’t bother me, he scoffs in disbelief. Tucking that away as a compliment, my smile stretches. “Instead of giving up, I turned my attention toward helping others. I love making love happen.”
Gavin, whether he realizes he’s doing it or not, strokes the underside of my palm. “Sounds lonely. Don’t you ever get jealous?”
I guess with someone wearing the same shoes, I can be a little more honest and open up. I mean, I’m already thirty years old. Someone in my shoes, someone who has tried dating those I already know, and meeting up on other pointless apps… It’s a miracle I still have a kind relationship with love.
“Never jealous. But sometimes… yeah, I get a little lonely.” Muttering the words, I pull my hands away to clasp them together. “But this isn’t about me. This is about you. So, what will it be? Will you let me offer my services?”
Getting back to the topic is my safest bet. If I start picking at old wounds, I’ll find myself in the state I was back then. Being miserable isn’t who I am anymore.
He sighs through his nose, staring outside for what feels like minutes. While he thinks, I follow his gaze and notice the light layer of snow falling from ahead.
Living in Texas, snow is a rare sight. It’s a pity, not because I dislike my home, but because the year-round heat can be tough. I usually only see snow when I travel, and that’s mostly luck. Luckily, this job seems to work in my favor.
Finally, he moves to stand. Instead of answering me by leaving me at the seat, he turns toward the door. “Come on, then. I can sacrifice a few hours. Need to make a pit stop first.”
My chest swells with excitement at the flashing green light of approval. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Joining him, he leads me outside. Taking a look at the parking lot, he easily picks out my rental amongst the others. A little too clean, maybe.
“That thing is not going to make it up to my cabin.” Scoffing at even the idea of an attempt, he turns and looks toward a truck with rust eating at the frame. “Comfortable enough to ride with me?”
The fact that he’s asking instead of telling is enough to make me nod. “You don’t mind? You’ll have to bring me back down. I don’t want to be any trouble.”
He snorts, showing me the first hint of amusement since meeting him. “Too late for that, sweetheart. Let’s go.”
Oh. I get butterflies at the sound of that pet name leaving him. I try not to react too much, so he won’t avoid using it again in the future.
When he leads me to his truck, I find the seat is already taken up by a box. It’s got the name REBECCA written diagonally in all caps. Pausing to look at him, he’s quick to grab it and move toward the back seat.
“How much do you know about my past attempts? I’ll assume you looked into the women?” He pulls something from his pocket before I hear the screech of tape.
Settling in the seat, I buckle up and tuck my bag to my chest. “Most of my focus has been on reading your file. Tearing apart matches that didn’t work is time I could be spending on finding matches that can.
” Waiting for him to finish up and join me at the driver’s side, I lift a brow as he starts the vehicle.
“You want to talk about them? You can always tell me what you think went wrong from your perspective.”
Looking behind the seat, I stare at the woman’s name. Must be a previous relationship. I coasted over the women’s names, and this one does seem a little familiar.
Gavin notices my curiosity before shifting in his seat, giving off signs of feeling uncomfortable.
“They always leave things like there’s a small chance they’ll come back.
” A sigh leaves him. “But they never do. Once they get a taste of the mountain life and the sacrifices that come with it, they change their mind. Rebecca…” He nods toward the box.
“She liked heels and skirts. Didn’t like the way the snow came up to her knees. ”
“I read your interests…” Thinking back, my brows pinch together. “No, that doesn’t make sense…”
He nods. “I like my women outdoorsy and in flannel, and they sent me a city girl. Tell me how that makes sense.”
He’s got a good point. “I’ll make note of that. What about the other two? Just as bad?”
His thumb taps the steering wheel. “Yep.”
While I’m thinking about his situation, he takes us to the post office. Slipping away long enough to drop off the package, I watch the snowflakes kiss his windshield before melting away.
“Outdoorsy and in flannel…” Repeating the words softly, instead of thinking about where I can find women under that description, I’m wondering if I have anything plaid in my closet. Once I shift my thinking to my dresser, I catch myself.
Perfect. Talking about my lack of love life now has me imagining ‘what-ifs’. Now that’s a quick way to get fired at my job. Falling in love with a client is one of Cupid’s Bloom’s number one rules. You don’t. They see it as taking advantage of poor circumstances, and I agree!
Even if Gavin is… something different.
Well, lucky for me, I’m not outdoorsy. When we go up to his cabin, it’ll be the first time I’ve ever been on a mountain.
When he pops out of that post office, he looks horrified, more pale than before.
“Everything okay?” Unable to hide my concern when he joins me, I watch him rub his face like he’s stressed.
He nods, but I can tell it’s a lie. The jerky motion gives it away. “They ask too many questions.”
It’s funny, kind of. When it comes to mail-order brides, everyone associates the reason for their existence for the brides themselves. Some need an escape from their lives, some want to find their love stories, and others try to find the support they can’t get where they are now.
What about the men who sign up for the program? One look at Gavin, and I would bet money on him going out and finding his own wife. But seeing him right now, in this state? I’ve got an idea of why he’s desperate for a successful connection.
Reaching out, I squeeze his arm. “Nowhere else to go but your cabin, right?”
His muscle twitches beneath my fingertips, and he nods again, this time slower. “Yeah. Let’s go home.”