LITMIR.BIZ

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“He does his job. I don’t see him. He came into the kitchen last Friday, and I handed him an envelope with his pay in it. Your mother gave him a lunchbox, so I think she’s feeding him. That’s the relationship we have, and now you know everything I know.”

      Maybe that would settle Jade’s curiosity.

      “You have to wonder about that matchmaking story, though. Something brought that handsome stud here. He could have gotten a job where he came from, right?” Jade asked, curiosity clearly not abated.

      “Don’t ask me. I took Ty’s word as a reference and didn’t ask too many questions. As you may have noticed, I needed help around here, and if he was looking for a job, I was happy to give him a try.” It had nothing to do with the fact that he was, as Jade mentioned, quite handsome. Sexy. Breathtaking, if a woman was looking for a man.

      But she wasn’t.

      “I had a husband,” Mackenzie said, looking at her babies with adoring eyes. “And while I wouldn’t say I wish I’d never met Tommy—I have him to thank for my sweet children—I can’t say a husband is something I’m looking to put on my shopping list. But speaking of shopping, I’m taking you up on your offer to babysit while I go into town to grab some things.”

      Jade gave up watching Justin and picked up a baby. “I was hoping you were still going to let me babysit. An afternoon out will do you good. And my first-timer’s nerves will be calmed.”

      “You’ll do fine! You’ve helped me almost every day with the babies.” Mackenzie hugged her friend.

      “My nerves are due to my suspicion that you might not be able to leave your babies for the first time,” Jade said, laughing. “Mom’s coming by for backup. We have everything under control. Go.”

      A knock sounded on the kitchen door, and Jade pulled it open. “We don’t knock on the back door—just come on in,” Jade said, and Justin entered. Even a little sweaty and a bit dirty, he was a sexy, handsome man—just as Jade had noted.

      “Ladies,” he said, removing his hat.

      “Hi,” Jade said. She poured him a glass of tea from the pitcher on the counter. “I’m going to put these babies down for their nap.”

      She left the room carrying Hope. Mackenzie smiled at Justin as he put the empty glass back on the counter. “Would you like some more?”

      “No, thank you.”

      He had the most amazing eyes, the nicest hands—

      Mackenzie pulled her gaze back where it belonged. “The house looks great. And it’s nice to see the lawn mowed. Thank you.”

      He nodded. “I was going to head into town. I figure there’s a hardware place and maybe a tractor supply in town so I can get some parts.” He glanced at the remaining two babies on the kitchen island after Jade came in and removed Heather. “I thought I’d see if there was anything you need.”

      Him, maybe? “Thank you. Actually I’m being sent into town myself.”

      “That’s right,” Jade said, sailing into the kitchen to pick up Haven, cuddling the baby to her. “It’s high time my friend got out. She’s a wonderful mother, but everybody needs a break. Although I’ll believe that she leaves these babies behind when I see it. Try to help ease her out the door, will you?” She grinned and left.

      Justin shrugged. “I can drop you off in town.”

      Mackenzie hesitated. “That’s all right. I can drive.”

      “I could use a tour.”

      She looked into his eyes, surprised. “Haven’t you been into Bridesmaids Creek?”

      “Just ran in to grab some feed for the horses.”

      There was a lot of lore in Bridesmaids Creek. She was half tempted to go with him so she could tell him all the wonderful stories.

      On the other hand, she was tempted to go with him simply because he was the hottest man she’d ever laid eyes on.

      Which wasn’t the best reason, but it was a reason. She could feel herself melting under his gaze. He seemed so solid, so strong...so unlike Tommy.

      “I really—”

      “Go,” Jade said, coming back into the kitchen to collect the final baby. She cradled Holly as Mrs. Harper came in the back door bearing a pie.

      “Hello, everyone,” Mrs. Harper said. “I brought something for Justin because I know how much he likes apple pie.”

      “Yes, ma’am,” Justin said. “I can find room for that.”

      Jade handed Holly to her mother after she put the pie on the counter. “Justin and Mackenzie are just leaving.”

      “Oh, good,” Mrs. Harper said. “That will give me time to make up some fried chicken to go with it for later.”

      “I think we’re not getting any of that pie until we get our chores done,” Justin said, his gaze turning to Mackenzie again.

      “I think you’re right.” She also sensed a heavy helping of matchmaking, too, but forewarned was forearmed. She gave Jade a wry look, who returned that with an innocent look. When Justin opened the kitchen door, Mackenzie went out, telling herself that all the matchmaking in the world wasn’t going to make her fall in love again.

      * * *

      “AFTER HEARING TY sell Bridesmaids Creek,” Justin told Mackenzie as he drove into town, “I’m anxious to get the tour. Ty brags about the Bridesmaids Creek swim, he talks about the Best Man’s Fork, and a few other bits of lore, but I was never sure if he was just pulling my leg or not. Ty likes to hear himself talk, and talk big.”

      “There’s a lot of history in BC,” Mackenzie said. “Some good, some bad. Just like any place, I guess.”

      He nodded, pulling his truck into a parking spot in the wide-set, clean town square. Families with kids milled in front of the shops, but not as many as one might expect to see if one were in a city.

      Still, it felt like a comfortable town where everyone knew each other, celebrated each other’s hopes and joys. “The Wedding Diner?” Justin peered at the white restaurant with its pink-and-white-striped awning, big windows and flashing pink Open sign.

      “Home cooking, and, if you’re interested, Mrs. Chatham will tell your fortune for you.”

      Justin grunted. “I don’t believe in fortune-telling.”

      “Oh, she doesn’t do read-your-palm kind of stuff. Mrs. Chatham has a completely different method.” She got out of the truck and he followed suit, meeting her on the pavement.

      “So, shall we meet back here at four?” Mackenzie asked. “I know you said you wanted to go to the feed store. By the way, Ralph Chatham, Jane Chatham’s husband, runs that.”

      “Does he tell fortunes, too?” Justin asked, telling himself to relax and enjoy the small-town ambience.

      “Not exactly. But he does do a Magic 8 Ball kind of thing where you pay a small fee, his steer drops a cowpat on a square for you and you win a prize. Or you can trade the prize for one of Mrs. Chatham’s sessions.”

      Justin laughed. “Cow-pie-drop contests are done in lots of places.”

      “You laugh,” Mackenzie said, “but Mr. Chatham’s steer is well loved in this town. The steer’s name is Target thanks to his aim and the fact that he’s made some folks a good bundle of money. Target always hits a mark. See you at four.” She smiled and walked away, stunning him when she walked into a shop with a bouquet-shaped shingle that read “Monsieur Unmatchmaker. Premier Unmatchmaking Service.”

      Was the whole town backward? Off its collective rocker?

      It was none of his business why Mackenzie would need an unmatchmaking service.

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