Page 62 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

Much later that evening, after the taping was over, the crew had torn down the set, Patricia was on her way back to the airport, and Jack had offered to give Nora a ride home, Becca and Sam walked along the edge of Falls Lake bordering Suzie and Brad’s property. As dusk fell, they held hands and glanced back up to the house further up the hill.

One by one, they watched the lights come on in the house.

Becca smiled at the simplicity of it all.

She wanted that. A life just like that. With a husband and children and maybe even pansies in the yard.

The days were growing warmer, but the nights were still cool. Sam put his arm around her.

“Let’s sit on the dock and put our feet in the water,” she said.

“Are you sure it’s not too chilly for you?”

Becca shook her head.

“Naw. I can handle it. Besides, we’ve been on our feet all day, and it might feel good.”

They did. Becca leaned her head on Sam’s shoulder while they savored the calm, watched the fish jump, and marveled at the Harvest moon hanging over the lake.

“Sam?”

Becca whispered.

“I do want to talk.”

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close. “I know.”

“You scared me,”

she breathed.

“I couldn’t believe the feelings I was having while we made love...and even before that.”

“The last thing I want to do is scare you, sweetheart. I want you to love me and trust me.”

Lifting her head from his shoulder, she studied his face.

“You said you loved me.”

He nodded, smiling.

“I’ve been around the block a few times, Becca, but I can tell you for certain, that up until I met you, I’d never been in love before. I know this has been fast, but I love you with all of my heart.”

Becca’s chest got all tight and tingly, and her eyes stung a little.

“My last relationship didn’t end so well,”

she told him.

“and he was pretty much a control freak, so much so that I didn’t realize until it was over how much of myself I lost. I’ve worked to build my life back and suddenly, I found myself wanting to share it again, and it was just...scary.”

He cupped her cheek in his palm.

“We have all the time in the world, honey. Things have moved fast. Let’s just slow down and enjoy falling helplessly and hopelessly in love. Sound like something you could live with?”

Becca peered deep into his beautiful hazel eyes. Nothing had ever felt so right in her entire life.

“Sounds like something I could live with for a long, long time.”

Sam smiled and kissed the tip of her nose.

“Oh, and Sam?”

“Yes?”

“I love you, too.”

The Husband List

When Suzie Hart’s success as the matchmaking chef hits the national foodie scene, her publicist produces a list of requirements totally unrelated to Suzie’s newfound cooking show success. Interested more in Suzie’s matchmaking talents, Patricia Plum presents, The Husband List.