Page 64 of The Matchmaker Club

“Probably in the garden. I’ll go get her.”

“That’s alright, don’t want to disturb her.”

“No!” I tucked my fingers in my back pockets. “Um, she wanted to see you.”

“Oh, okay.”

I tried as best I could to walk casually toward the garden path, but once I was out of sight, my feet shifted up a few gears. When I hit the sign to not go any further, I called out to Lainey.

She came out with hands, smock, and most of her face covered in soil. Sweat beaded off her forehead and her hair was a mess. “What is it?”

“Bill’s here. He wants to see you.”

She wiped the sweat from her forehead, leaving a trail of dirt behind. “He does? Oh, I’ll go see him then.”

Lainey started down the trail, but I grabbed her arm. “Um, do you have a towel to clean off first?”

She looked down at her hands and laughed. “Sure, be right back.”

I helped fix her up as best I could with what we had and took off her smock to reveal a baby blue maxi dress. The knees and hem were a bit dirty, but it still looked lovely on her.

“Don’t forget to invite Bill and Javier to dinner, you know, as a thank you.”

“Oh, yes, of course.”

Bill was checking over the order when we came out to greet him. He smiled over at Lainey. “How’s the garden coming along?”

She clasped her hands behind her back. “Great. Still more work to go, but she’s coming along nicely.”

“Look forward to seeing her when you’re finished.”

Lainey smiled at him, and a lull of silence lingered in the humid air. I nudged Lainey.

“Oh. If you’re not doing any—”

“That’s about the last of it.” Javier walked up with clipboard in hand. “Morning, Lainey.” He smiled at me and nodded. “Taylor.” He looked over at Bill. “We noticed your hedges are getting a bit out of control. We wouldn’t mind taking care of that today. Free of charge.”

Bill smiled down at Javier like he was proud or thankful… I wasn’t sure which.

Lainey rubbed at her arm. “You don’t have to do that. You both have been kind enough as it is.”

Javier waved it off. “Nonsense. We’re running a special. Free hedge trimming when you spend five hundred or more on garden supplies, and you just hit five hundred and twenty-nine this week.”

That was a lie, but a sweet one.

“In that case, I’m running a special too. A home-cooked dinner at our place Saturday night for two men who deserve it.”

Whoa. I didn’t realize my aunt had it in her.

Javier seemed to be taken off guard, like he had never gotten a dinner invite from anyone in this town before. We should’ve invited them a lot sooner.

Bill beamed. “We’d be honored. Thank you.”

I nearly squealed out loud.

Operation Matchmaker was in effect.

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