Page 12 of A Match Made at Christmas

“So, nobody is asking you to do anything,” he said.

“Technically, no,” she said. “But it’s a feeling. Something happens, and it’s obvious this person needs my help. It’s like a light bulb going off, or an idea popping into your head. Like magic.”

“That’s not magic, Aunt Nellie,” he said. “That’s nosiness. And maybe a little blasphemous if you’re trying to bring the Lord into it.”

“You don’t understand,” she said. “But you will.”

He shook his head. “I won’t.”

“It’s just while I’m gone,” she said. “Christmas is the most magical time for matchmaking. Do you know since I started, I’ve had a successful match every single Christmas? It’s because magic makes the air electric. It’s easy. And trust me, you will be great at this.”

He shook his head. “Why on earth would you think this would be something I would want to do?”

She shrugged. “You’re great with people. You know how to get them to open up. You’re charming and everyone likes you. Plus, I think you have a sixth sense about these things.”

“I don’t.”

She squinted, sizing him up. “Well, if I’m wrong, no harm done. But if I’m right, one Miss Peggy Swinton finds the love of her life.”

“I can’t do this, Aunt Nellie,” he said. “I’m only here for a couple of weeks.”

“You can and you will,” she said. “And I think you’re going to make a wonderful matchmaker. Trust me. I’m never wrong about these things.”

“I would be a terrible matchmaker, Aunt Nellie,” he said. “I don’t even believe in love.”

She scoffed. “Nonsense. You just need to see the magic for yourself.”

Hayes tried not to roll his eyes. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to be able to argue his way out of this one. Nellie obviously had her mind made up, and everyone knew when Nellie had her mind made up, there was no changing it.

“It’s only until I return from Paris, and then I will let you retire.” She waved him off. “You’re the only one I’ve even considered for this job, Hayes, you should know that. I believe you have a gift.”

He drew in a deep breath and let it out in one long stream. “You’re not going to let me out of this, are you?”

She only smiled.

He groaned. “I know I’m gonna regret this.”

But Aunt Nellie was unconcerned with his concerns and had already moved on to explaining the rules.

And that’s how Hayes McGuire became Noni Rose, the famous Nantucket matchmaker.

Chapter 4

150 Balsam Trees and Cobblestone Streets

Sometimes when Prudence got to working on a board, she completely lost track of time.

Other times, like when she was going to be meeting Hayes McGuire to go to the tree lighting, she watched the clock tick off the minutes with all the speed of a sleeping sloth.

Now, only fifteen minutes before he was scheduled to arrive, she stood in front of the mirror trying to decide if her outfit conveyed the appropriate amount of nonchalance.

She’d gone to the shop earlier that day, but she couldn’t focus. She had two custom orders with deadlines, and they needed to get finished, but just knowing Hayes was back on the island had destroyed her sense of calm.

She’d gone to Thanksgiving dinner and, as she’d expected, he treated her just like one of his siblings. She might as well have been his blood relative for as much attention as he gave her. And she was fine with that. After all, she loved the McGuire family, and they clearly loved her.

Like a daughter.

She was practically one of them.

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