Page 124 of The Matchmaker Club

Find my wooden sword at the place I was knighted as an honorary Matchmaker. Be sure to look up.

Matchmaker Trail.

I was out of breath by the time I had run all the way to the Matchmaker box. I started from there and looked up around the trees on either side of the trail. Just ahead on the right, there was a wooden stick that resembled a real sword sitting between two branches. A white note was wrapped around the handle.

I stepped up on one of the lower limbs and reached up to grab it. The sword wasn’t even and looked as if it had been carved from a mere stick and not a bigger piece of wood.

He kept the original stick?

My chest swelled, and I couldn’t wait to see him again. Feel his closeness, his mouth on mine. I missed him so much. I uncurled the letter.

You’ll find your next clue inside the bottle that pointed to you for our first kiss.

Home. I knew he would be there.

My legs were beginning to ache by the time I had reached the top of the stairs. I opened my bedroom door to find Muffy and Tuffy on the floor, the bottle laying on its side between them. I shook out the two notes and found the one from Lucas.

Mortimer and Marlena once carved their initials on this tree after their first kiss. Will you carve yours with me?

I ripped off my shirt, which stunk of the restaurant, and slid my jeans off. I pulled our favorite pink dress over my head and slinked the skirt down around my thighs. I took out my ponytail and sprayed my hair with jasmine body mist spray to try and cover the smell of food as best I could. I slipped on my hiking sandals and ran down the stairs.

My stomach fluttered with every step as I headed out the back door. My power walk slowed as I approached the hill, the sound of the bubbling creek getting louder. Just a few more steps and I’d see him.

I stood on top of the little hill and watched him sit against the tree, twirling one of Lainey’s carving knives in his fingers.

While one half of me wanted to run to him, the other wanted to savor this moment, remember every detail. His fitted grey T-shirt and dark jeans and black leather shoes. The way part of his dark hair fell over his forehead before he swept it back again with his fingers.

He looked up at me and smiled a moment before getting to his feet. I loved that smile of his. It lit up his whole face.

“Taylor.”

“Hi.” I stepped down toward the creek. “I found you.”

He let out a nervous breath. “I didn’t know if you would show.”

“Of course I would show.” I cupped the side of his cheek. “I love you.”

Lucas closed his eyes and nuzzled his face against my palm as if absorbing every word. “I love you more than you know.”

“If you want me to move to Boston with you, I’ll go. I don’t want to be anywhere you’re not.”

His hands lined my jaw. “We’ll figure that out together.”

“Truth or dare?” I asked.

He smiled, brushing my hair off my shoulder. “Dare.”

“Kiss me, like you want to… No holding back.”

He kissed my forehead, and his lips traced down to my eyelid for another kiss. I was surprised at how sensitive that touch was. He kissed the tip of my nose and moved down until his mouth was hovering over mine. I melted in the warmth and heat of his breath.

One soft kiss. Just like the first time when our worlds collided.

He slowly leaned back to look into my eyes. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

He reached into his pocket and held up a ring. “If and when you’re ever ready to spend the rest of our lives together, put this on.”