Page 8 of Banter & Blushes #1

LUNA

A fter Cade leaves, Harmony saunters in. She accosts me when I’m behind the register and have no place to hide. “Was that Cade Bainbridge leaving your shop? I didn’t see a gift bag in his hand, what was he here for?”

Her nosy question irritates me, and I answer without thinking it through. “He’s my newest matchmaking client.”

The older woman’s eyes pop open. “Why does a good-looking man like that need a matchmaker?”

“I’m not allowed to discuss my cases,” I huff.

Harmony laughs. “Surely you can find him a match with all your connections in that matchmaking network. But just in case you need my help, I’ll spread the word around town that he’s available.”

I need Harmony’s help as much as I need a toothache.

But before I can protest, Harmony waltzes out the door and back to her shop, chuckling as she goes.

Now the whole town is going to know Cade is looking for a perfect match, and I’m going to look like an inept matchmaker if I don’t find him the woman of his dreams.

Harmony’s interruption, while annoying, spurs me into action.

I upload Cade’s questionnaire to Cupid’s Matchmaking Network.

Within seconds, the AI matchmaking algorithm comes up with several potential matches who live within a 200-mile radius of the Jacksonville area.

Seabreeze Harbor is within that radius, but I’m doubtful of finding him a match with anyone who resides here in town and is in his age group.

Elderly Mrs. Hilton comes to mind because she’s a retired businesswoman who loves karaoke, but she’s old enough to be Cade’s grandmother.

When I notice Althena Hemingway’s name as the matchmaker associated with one of Cade’s matches, I swipe my phone and call her. She’s one of my favorite matchmakers, very old school, and I’ve had success matching one of my clients with one of hers.

“Luna! Did you see that we have a match?” she exclaims as her laughter floats over the line. “Tell me more about this Cade Bainbridge fellow.”

I grin. Althena is all business, but that’s one thing I like about her. “Cade is a very successful real estate agent. He lives in Jacksonville but is in Seabreeze Harbor for a few weeks to broker a land sale.”

“He sounds like a perfect match for my client! Gabrielle Moore is the CEO of a Fortune-1000 company located in Tampa. As luck would have it, she’s spending time in Seabreeze Harbor for a few weeks. Her mom owns a beach cottage there and she loves the area.”

Wonderful. My heart sinks at that news and a pang of jealousy hits.

I was hoping it would take a couple weeks to coordinate this date and Cade would be long gone from Seabreeze Harbor by the time it happened.

Now I’ll have to witness firsthand my matchmaking efforts.

I’ve never had a crush on one of my clients before, and it’s testing the bounds of my solemn matchmaker’s oath.

Reading the framed document on the wall behind the register, I remind myself of what I agreed to when I joined the National Association of Matchmakers.

“With Cupid as my witness, I promise to wield my matchmaking powers responsibly: to unite compatible souls with grace, humor, and maybe just a dash of meddling.”

Lacing my tone with false exuberance, I say, “That is great news! What kind of first date do you think would work for these two?”

“A dinner date at a fancy restaurant should fit the bill. You know Seabreeze Harbor better than I do, what’s the choices?”

I rummage through a list of fancy restaurants in my head. “I assume she’s not allergic to seafood?”

“No indication of that on her personal profile.”

Oops! I forgot to have Cade complete a personal profile. I’ll fix that as soon as possible, but in the meantime, I’ll get this date set up. I want Cade to see that I’m making every effort to find him his perfect match. Don’t I?

“The Golden Anchor is the fanciest restaurant in town, with excellent food and a romantic ambiance that should help set the mood.”

“Fabulous! Let me check with my client as to a time that fits with her schedule, and we’ll get this first date scheduled. I have a really good feeling about this match, Luna. ”

“Me too. I can’t wait to see how this goes,” I say, trying to keep up the ruse of being excited over getting Cade and Gabrielle together.

After hanging up, I email my client with the news and the details about the suggested dinner date, secretly hoping that he and Ms. Moore hit it off as well as a beachfront mansion and a hurricane.

Cade’s first matchmaking date is scheduled for Friday at 6pm. I reserved the lucky couple an intimate table overlooking the harbor. The Golden Anchor owner assured me that my client and his date will enjoy privacy, top-notch service, and delicious food.

Maybe Miss CEO will find some sand in her oysters.

Frankly, I’m a bit surprised and disappointed that such busy, high-profile people can drop everything and go on a dinner date in less than twenty-four hours.

I was hoping to have a few more days to prepare myself for the inevitable: a whirlwind romance where Cade falls for the lovely CEO and they live happily ever after, vacationing in Seabreeze Harbor with their two kids and a dog.

When I emailed him the personal profile, Cade confirmed he has no seafood allergies. I upload the completed form to his file after thoroughly reviewing it. Now all Althena and I have to do is wait for our clients to fall for each other. Dread fills my heart. Isn’t there anything I can do?

“I can’t believe you did that!” Zoe squeals through the phone when I admit my plan to her the next morning. I’ve had all night to stew about Cade falling for the CEO, and I simply can’t let it happen. “Doesn’t that go against your matchmaker’s oath?” she snorts.

Shoving down a pang of guilt, I say, “Technically, no. The oath indicates that meddling is acceptable.”

“Luna, you’re not meddling, you’re trying to sabotage their first date!”

“The oath doesn’t say that the meddling can’t be in the client’s best interest.”

She grunts. “And what best interest is that?”

I sigh. “That Mr. Bainbridge doesn’t fall for Gabrielle Moore. Cade may think he needs someone exactly like himself, but those two career-focused people aren’t going to be happy together. Who’s going to remind him to loosen up and have fun?”

“You?”

“Exactly! I just need a little time to work my magic on him.” I remember the beach encounter over the weekend and how much fun Cade and I had. I thought he was falling for me, but for some reason he thinks he needs my matchmaking service .

“Luna, Luna, Luna,” Zoe says in a scolding tone. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

After my friend hangs up, a twinge of remorse and second-guessing hits.

Ensuring that Cade has a little allergic reaction during his dinner date sounded so innocent when I set the wheels in motion.

But now it sounds mean and underhanded. I’ve even ensured that I can observe the whole train wreck that I’ve masterminded by reserving a table across from where Cade and his date will be dining.

Of course, I’ll be in disguise, so he won’t know I’m there.

Suddenly I feel like Julia Roberts’ character in My Best Friend’s Wedding . Am I lower than pond scum?