Page 1 of Blind Date with a #Doctor (Love Canyon: Blind Date #3)

Nan (Matchmaker Extraordinaire and Town Matriarch)

If anyone asks, we’re just three innocent women enjoying our Tuesday night book club. But between you and me? We’re plotting.

And I’m not even sorry about it.

Marie is halfway through a glass of pinot, thumbing through the final chapter of our latest pick. Sally’s picking apart the book’s hero like his lack of initiative offended her.

“Honestly,” Sally says, dramatically flipping a page, “if this man sighs wistfully at her one more time without doing something about it, I’m marching into the story myself and handling things.”

Marie snorts into her wine. “You’ll have to take a number. I’ve been ready to lock those two in a broom closet since chapter eight.”

“Speaking of broom closets,” I say, setting my glass down with a satisfied clink, “how long do we think it’ll take Dr. Reed and Aspen Hayes to realize they’re perfect for each other?”

Both women freeze. Then, as if choreographed, they lean in.

“Finally,” Sally says. “I thought you’d never bring it up.”

Marie nods. “I was starting to worry you’d lost your matchmaking touch.”

“Oh, please,” I scoff. “I may have let last year slide because Carter was working those ridiculous hours at the clinic, and Aspen had that messy breakup, but the clock has run out. It’s time.”

Sally wiggles her eyebrows. “You have a plan?”

“Do I have a plan?” I gesture around The Book Nook & Brew like the walls themselves are in on the scheme. “Ladies, this is the plan. We are the plan. We have the means, the motive, and the track record.”

Marie tilts her head. “You mean the track record where we accidentally set up that man with the woman who stole his identity?”

“That was one time,” I say with a wave. “And they were adorable before she got arrested.”

“Focus,” Sally says. “Aspen and Carter. What’s the angle?”

I lean in and lower my voice, not because anyone else in this cozy bookstore-slash-bar is listening, but because plans like this deserve a little drama.

“We start small,” I say. “Anonymous note on Aspen’s desk inviting her to a blind date. Nothing too suspicious, just vague enough to pique her curiosity. Meanwhile, Sally works her magic on Carter.”

“Consider it handled,” Sally says with a wicked grin.

“He won’t suspect a thing,” Marie agrees.

“Good,” I say. “Because if those two don’t figure out they’re perfect for each other, I may spontaneously combust.”

It’s true.

Dr. Carter Reed is one of the most genuinely good men in this entire town. A pediatrician, for heaven’s sake. Steady, kind, always rolling up his sleeves to save small children and make women of a certain age stare a little too long at his forearms.

And Aspen Hayes? She’s sharp as a whip, successful, hilarious when she lets her guard down… and so wound up from that cheating ex of hers that I’m amazed she hasn’t bitten someone’s head off in court just for fun.

They’re both too single for their good. Too busy. Too convinced that what they’ve got going on is enough. It’s not. They need a push, or maybe a shove.

I pull a notepad from my purse, tear off a piece of paper, and scribble down the invitation.

You have a date tonight at seven. Bistro 9. Don’t be late.

Simple. Direct. Effective.

I fold it up and wave over Rosalie, a teenager in town who I know will assist in our matchmaking. She’s always reading romance novels and will think this is romantic.

“Hi, Rosalie. I need help with something, but it has to stay a secret.”

Rosalie smiles at us. “Will it get me in trouble if I’m caught?”

“Absolutely not.” I try to look innocent. “I just need you to drop this off in Aspen Hayes’ office. Do you know where that is?”

“I do…” she answers suspiciously. “I just have to drop off a note?”

“Yes.”

Rosalie holds out her hand and I give her the note. “Okay, when do you want me to do it?”

“Can you do it as soon as possible? It’s about something that’s happening tonight,” Marie chimes in.

Rosalie nods. “I’ll run it over now.”

She leaves to do our little errand, and I say, “Step one in the plan is a go.”

Sally watches with pure delight. “This is going to be so much fun.”

Marie raises her glass. “To our next happily ever after.”

We clink, and just like that, the game is on. They won’t know what hit them. But trust me… they’ll thank us later.