The Matchmakers (6 page)

           
`In on what?´ Farley
looked a little concerned now. Callie waved her hand right in front of his
face, and he didn’t blink. `Go away,´ Nick said under his breath. `This isn’t
funny.´ `It’s hilarious, Nick. And it’s going to get even funnier unless you
agree to help me.Ćallie waggled her fingers over Diane’s shoulder and gave
the waitress a skeptical inspection. `Shouldn’t she be taking drink orders
rather than trying to climb into your lap?´ `Get lost.´ Nick’s fierce whisper
elicited an annoyed scowl from Diane who whirled away in a huff. She disappeared
into the crowd on the dance floor, her tray held high and her hips swaying. Farley
shrugged. `This girl obviously has you on edge. You’d better call the police
before you start cracking up.´ `I’m sorry.´ Nick turned to Farley but kept
Callie in view out of the corner of his eye. `I guess this lunatic has me a
little rattled.´ `Sure. Who needs a psycho bitch on your tail? I understand.´
Farley nodded. He looked right through Callie and started setting up beer
glasses on the bar. `I’ll be back in a minute,´ Nick said. `I’m just going to
get some air.´ He downed the second drink and slid off the stool, then leaned
close to Callie. The faint scent of roses battled with the memory of Diane’s lavender
perfume and won. `Outside.
Now
.Śhe
hopped off the barstool at his command, but before she fell into step behind
him, she tipped his empty scotch glass over and nudged it into a roll that sent
it crashing at Farley’s feet. The bartender looked up in shock. `Take it easy,
Nick. Those glasses are brand new.´ `Sorry, Ted. I’ll pay for it.´ Nick rubbed
his tired eyes and stalked outside into the chilly, moonlit parking lot with
mayhem on his mind. Callie followed Nick across the parking lot of Farley’s Bar
to a shadowy spot behind his parked truck. On the way, she morphed her outfit
from the waitress garb to a sassy little black dress. She shivered when the
wind picked up her flouncy skirt, but the look in Nick’s eyes when he turned
around and saw her new attire was worth any discomfort. `How’d you do that?´
His gaze traveled up from her strappy pumps to her cascading updo. `Pop,śhe
said. `Would you like a matching outfit?´ `No ´ Before Nick could complete his
protest, she had done away with his tan work shirt and faded denims and
replaced them with a sleek black t-shirt and skinny jeans. Steel toed alligator
boots and a belt with a fist-sized buckle came next, and she capped it all off
with a black cattleman’s hat. Except for his sandy blond hair and those
piercing blue eyes, he looked like Clint Black. Callie took his arm and did a
quick two-step. `Don’t we look cute?´ Nick didn’t comment on his new duds, and
Callie pouted, mimicking Miranda. `Is this how you’re going to play it or do
you really have my friends in on your little psycho experiment?´ `Friends? When
was the last time you had a real friend, Nick? Sure, a lot of people like you. You’re
charming and very handsome, especially dressed like this.Śhe tipped his
hat back, and the combined effect of his new black outfit and equally dark
expression made her a little light-headed. `But how close are you
really
to those people in there?´ `Are
you a faerie or a shrink?´ `I’ll be whatever you need me to be to convince you
that this is all for real.´ Nick gave her a long look that made her feel
tingly. How could a human do that? She broke eye contact after a second and
stared at the gravel beneath her shoes. `All right, so you can be invisible
sometimes.´ `Any time I want.Śhe glanced up. `Like today at the
construction site.´ His eyebrows bunched together, and his mouth formed a hard
line. `You were there?´ Nick looked around the parking lot like he couldn’t
believe what he was hearing. `The whole time. I saw John Burns’s secretary
flirting with you, just like Diane, the waitress.´ `Teresa?´ `She put on a
fresh coat of lipstick when she heard you were on your way to her office. Don’t
worry though. She really likes John, but he ignores her most of the time,
and
he’s her boss so she doesn’t think it
will work out anyway. They’re a perfect couple for us to start on. Maybe if you
pretend to be interested in her, John will get jealous and ask her out.´ `What
are you talking about? How do you know all this?´ `I’ve been doing this for
centuries. I can read signals.Ánd the ones she was reading now from Nick told
her he was on the edge of an outburst. He didn’t believe her, didn’t trust her,
but he couldn’t quite figure out what to do about her. All that showed in his
narrow gaze, his wide stance and the way he kept shaking his head. `If you’re
so good at this, what do you need me for?Śhe sighed and leaned against the
cold body of his truck. The chill intensified her shivering, but she ignored
it. `I keep asking myself that same question. But this was Freya’s decision. I
didn’t choose you, but I’m stuck with you, and I have to make the best of it.
We can do this. I know we can.´ `You followed me to work.´ Why was he still
stuck on that? `Yes. And I’m pleasantly surprised that you asked John for a
job. That means you’re planning to stick around for a while.´ `No, it doesn’t.´
He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her. `It means the money
is good, and the work is steady.´ `You never cared about steady work before.
Now you’re thinking about the future. You like this town, don’t you? You like
the people in it. Here’s a chance to help some of them. You can make their
lives better.´ `By playing matchmaker?Śhe nodded. Was she finally getting
through? His shoulders had relaxed a bit, and the squint lines above his
eyebrows had flattened out. `Just three couples. That’s all we need. It might
even be fun.´ `And how do you propose we do this? I’m going to hit on women
until the men they like get jealous enough to do something about it? I’d prefer
not to get punched in the eye again, if you don’t mind.´ `I won’t let you get
hurt. I promise.Śhe reached up and touched his eyebrow. He hadn’t even
asked her if she was the one who repaired Skip’s damage so quickly. He flinched
again as her cool fingers traced his jaw where Miranda’s slap had left a faint
swelling. He grabbed her wrist and brought her hand down. `I don’t think we
should be interfering with other people’s love lives.´ `Interfering with other
people’s love lives. Like Miranda and Skip? I don’t think theirs is true love,
by the way. They have nothing in common.´ `How do you know?´ `I just know. It
was the way she talked about him yesterday. She doesn’t really love him, and
she never did. I don’t think she loves you, either. She just thinks she does.
Maybe we could find someone for her, the kind of man she really wants. I could
arrange to run into her again, maybe become her friend.´ Nick moaned. `No. That
would be a very bad idea. I can’t believe I’m standing here discussing this
with you. I don’t know you. I don’t know what your real deal is, and I don’t really
want to become a yentl.´ `It’s
yenta
,
Yiddish for matchmaker.
Yentl
was a
movie with Barbra Streisand.´ `Whatever. I don’t want to be one. Relationships
are too much trouble. I can’t be responsible for some poor guy getting his life
ruined because I matched him up with the µgirl of his dreams’.´ He made those
air quotes with his fingers, then turned and walked away. Callie followed. `That’s
the point. True love won’t mess up someone’s life, it will improve it. You don’t
want to lose your own chance at love, Nick. Trust me, you can’t live that way.´
He turned back, jammed his hands in his back pockets and pinned her with
another hard look. `Stop following me. Stop showing up in my apartment. And
give me my shirt back.Ćallie’s hopeful smile faded. She’d sensed him
starting to come around and then bam, like hitting a brick wall, his defenses
came up again. `What do you have against love?´ `I don’t believe in it. But
hey, if that’s what it takes to get rid of you, fine. We’ll hook up three
couples. Let’s start tonight. There’s a bar full of people in there, I bet we
can stir up some true love before last call.Ćallie crossed her arms, too. `You’re
humoring me.´ `It’s better than calling the police on you.Śhe looked over
his shoulder at the red brick building that housed Farley’s. People were
streaming in and out of the doors, and the music coming from inside had gotten
louder over the last few minutes. Freya had always told her love could be found
anywhere. There had to be at least one potential love match inside, and that
was a start. `All right. We’ll give it a try.´ `On one condition.´ He held up
one finger, pointed at her. `Everyone can see you.Śhe grinned. `I got to
you already, huh? I figured it would take a lot longer to break you.´ `You didn’t
break me. I just don’t need any more aggravation. Oh, and change me back to my
own clothes.´ `Why? You look so good in these.´ He glowered. She sighed. `All
right.´ The tan shirt and faded jeans he’d been wearing didn’t flatter his
lanky build as much as the black ensemble, but he didn’t look bad. He didn’t
realize she’d left him the hat until they reached the door of the bar. There he
yanked it off his head and tossed it into a planter full of rhododendrons
before stalking inside. Callie rubbed her hands together to ward off the chill
and followed him into the bar.

Chapter Seven

 
         
 
I’ve got
to be out of my mind
, Nick thought as he strolled back into Farley’s with
Callie. The worst part was, she’d fulfilled her promise. Everyone would think
he was insane if he suddenly introduced her as the crazy girl he’d nearly run
over on the exit ramp. Farley gave him a curious glance from under his bushy
eyebrows when Nick offered his barstool to Callie. She slid onto the vinyl seat
and crossed her legs at the knee, revealing a glimpse of creamy thigh beneath
the ruffled hem of her skirt. Nick deliberately looked away. `Well, hello.´
Farley leaned on the bar, his massive chest expanding. `What can I get for you,
miss?´ `Lemon soda with a twist,Ćallie replied. `You must be Farley.Ín
response, the bear-like bartender actually blushed. `I certainly am. Welcome to
my place, Miss Lemon-Soda-With-A-Twist.´ `I’m Calliope.Śhe held out her
hand, and her delicate fingers disappeared into Farley’s paw. `I’m new here.´ `How
fortunate for you that I’m Bayerville’s good-will ambassador. I am humbly at
your service.´ `Ted ´ Farley ignored Nick and continued with his repertoire as
he poured Callie her drink. `I give personal tours of all the historic sites in
town. My specialty is Italian cuisine, and I’m licensed in Shiatsu massage. I bowl
a one-ninety and I like long walks in the park and cuddling.´ `Ted Ćallie
giggled and sipped her drink. `I see true love in your future, Mr. Farley.´ `Please,
call me ´ `Ted!´ `Wait your turn, buddy. I’m with a customer.´ Farley waved
Nick off with a mild scowl and turned his attention back to Callie. `I don’t
normally flirt this shamelessly, but«´ `Yes, you do.´ Diane swung by then, her
stern glance skipping over Nick. `Don’t let the big oaf snow you, sweetie.
Farley tries to reel in any woman who’s breathing.´ The waitress slapped a
written tab on the bar along with a stack of large bills. `I need change.´ `I’ll
be back in a sec, and you can tell me all about yourself, Calliope.´ While
Farley worked the cash register and Diane glared, Nick studied the impressive
array of booze bottles stacked behind the bar and wallowed in his own miserable
circumstances. He realized he still wore the alligator boots Callie had given
him, and he wondered if anyone else had noticed. Farley reappeared with Diane’s
change, and she whirled away without a word. While the bartender turned his
attention briefly to another customer, Nick leaned over Callie’s shoulder and
whispered in her ear. `If you promise to behave, I won’t tell them who you
are.´ `Define
behave
,śhe
replied with a challenge in her eyes. Before Nick could think of a response,
Farley returned, his smile wide. `Now, where were we? Calliope. That’s an
unusual name.´ `I’m named after the Muse of epic poetry.´ `Fascinating. Where
did you say you were from?´ Nick let his attention drift away from the
conversation. With Callie occupied by Farley’s impromptu interview, he had a
moment to take stock of the situation. He glanced at the pay phone on the wall
in the tiny alcove next to the bar and considered what he would say to the
police at this point. They wouldn’t believe him if he said he thought this
pretty, personable young woman was dangerous because she’d magically changed
his footwear. He’d have to play things cool until she actually did something
else suspicious. Of course, right now, she was the most dangerous looking woman
in the bar. In that little black dress, with her dark hair in delicate
corkscrew curls atop her head, she was more trouble than a five-alarm fire. Nick
took a fast count of the men who’d already noticed her. Out of the corner of
his eye, he saw Bud Wylie and Frank Griff moving in from opposite ends of the
bar. He knew them both from Burns & Wright, and he’d spent a number of
Friday nights with them in Farley’s back room playing darts and shooting pool. Under
other circumstances, he would have judged both men harmless, but who knew if
they could be trusted with«what exactly was she? Nick had to ask himself again
if he thought, by the slimmest chance, that Calliope’s wild stories were true.
She’d certainly done some inexplicable things, but a faerie on a mission from a
goddess to unite three couples in true love? He’d have to get himself pretty
drunk to believe that. There had to be another explanation for her sudden
appearance and her actions, and he was growing more determined by the minute to
find out what it was. `Let’s dance.´ Nick ran a flawless interception that
interrupted Farley’s fishing expedition and cut off both Frank and Bud’s
advances. Callie gave him a startled look. `Now?´ `Sure. This is a great song.´
He took her hand, and the warmth of her skin surprised him. He tugged her off
the barstool and guided her to the now crowded dance floor where half a dozen
couples swayed to a sad country ballad. The girl by the jukebox shrugged and
wandered off, and Callie’s gaze followed her as Nick twirled her slim body into
his arms. `Do you know her?śhe asked. `Who?´ `That girl in the white
sweater. She’s just leaving.´ `Nope.´ Nick didn’t even look twice. His mind had
gone a little blurry when her hips bumped against his. Maybe dancing was a bad
idea. Maybe he’d give her the wrong impression, but some tribal part of his
soul had felt the need to rescue her from Frank and Bud and Farley. What
bothered him more than the prospect of having to figure out how to get rid of
her was the strange feeling of obligation he felt. Each time she showed up,
thoughts of what might happen to her if some other man decided a faerie stalker
was a good thing to have around plagued him. He told himself he was only keeping
an eye on a potentially unbalanced individual, doing a good deed by seeing that
no one took advantage of her. He reasoned he was down a quart or two on good
deeds lately, anyway, so he owed some for the sake of karma. Why karma suddenly
mattered to him, though, was another mystery. Callie tried to keep the pretty
redhead in view as Nick guided her around the dance floor. The woman wore an
all-too-familiar expression that drew Callie’s Fae instincts like a beacon. Her
dark eyes looked haunted by broken dreams and unfulfilled wishes. Callie longed
to help her, but Nick seemed determined to isolate her from the bar’s most
promising contacts. She kept pace with Nick’s long strides and tightened her
grip on his broad shoulder when the tempo of the music increased. She had to
admit, he moved well. He paid attention to the rhythm of the song rather than
just swaying to and fro like most of the other men around. Callie caught strong
vibes from many of them. Dancing was nothing more than an excuse to get their
arms around a woman and show her some moves that might entice her into bed. She
stiffened at the thought that in this place, Nick Garrett was in good company. She
tried to put a little distance between the two of them, but once the redhead
left the bar, there didn’t seem much point, so she let herself relax in Nick’s
arms. When the rhythm changed again to another slow, sad love song, he made a
smooth transition from fast stepping to a surprisingly graceful glide. Callie gasped
when he drew her in close and pulled her tight against his lean body. She felt
the strength of his arms and the confidence with which he led their movements,
and it made her wonder just how she would manage to complete her task. Changing
Nick Garrett’s view of love enough to convince him to cooperate would be like
moving a granite boulder uphill. When he bent his head close to hers, she found
her eyes level with his open collar. She took in the masculine scent she
remembered from his borrowed work shirt a stirring combination of fresh air,
hard work and spicy, pine-scented soap. She felt his breath on the exposed skin
beneath her right ear, and her body tingled traitorously. `Be careful, Sugar
Plum. Some predators are on the prowl tonight.Ćallie surveyed the bar
crowd as Nick whirled her in another wide circuit of the dance floor. She saw men
watching her with naked anticipation and women with a certain recognizable
suspicion. As a Fae, she had no fear of human avarice. Her only concern was
completing her task and avoiding Freya’s promised punishment. To do that, she
still had to win Nick’s trust and secure his cooperation, and stirring up
rivalries among the locals was not a good start. She made a mental note to tone
down the glamour she’d used tonight so that the women wouldn’t view her with
jealousy and the men wouldn’t view her much at all. She looked up at Nick and
met his ice-blue gaze as the song ended. `I’m safe with you, aren’t I, Nick?´ The
question seemed to startle him. After a moment’s consideration, he replied, his
chest swelling a fraction as large as Farley’s had, `Yes. You’re safe with
me.Ćhapter Eight When Nick and Callie returned to the bar, Farley seemed
to have lost interest in flirting, which Nick didn’t find surprising. The
bartender had two older women vying for his attention, and he spared the faerie
only a passing glance. Frank and Bud had disappeared, probably gone into the
back room to play pool. Their absence made Nick a little calmer. He ordered
himself a beer and Callie another lemon soda and motioned for her to follow him
to a newly vacated table near the jukebox.