Page 20 of The Princess and the Pizza Man

He tried to picture his sister spending every weekend at home playing games, and he had to stifle a laugh at the image. “Bells is a social butterfly who needs someone who’s gonna keep up with her.”

“Or maybe she needs someone who will reel her in.”

Will snorted, almost leaning back right into the waterfall. “Good luck with that.”

She harrumphed, the sound endearing from someone who looked so sweet. “Fine, next…” Her eyes drifted around the deck before landing on another guy Will hadn’t met yet. Back home he was as social as they come, but stick him somewhere outside state lines, and he closed up like a clam.

“That’s Eric,” she said, nodding toward a bespectacled man who was about the same height as Will. He wore a pink polo shirt that made Will automatically think country club.

“He’s a middle school teacher—”

“Brave man.”

“Yes. And he’s got two dogs, bothhugebreeds. One’s a boxer mix and the other is a Great Dane. He got them both as pups and now they are service dogs.”

“For what exactly?”

She tilted her head. “I didn’t think to ask.” Her hand fell onto his arm for a brief moment. “Oh! And he sings. Like, he’s really good.”

“You know all this in one day?”

She turned to him, her eyes lifting up to meet hers while a crimson wave ran over her cheeks. “I do my research.”

“I’ll say.” He chuckled, then nodded toward Garreth, who was now talking to the girl who was thoroughly convinced Will was a hired actor. “Anything on our friend over there?”

“Ah, yes… Garreth.” She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “He has a desk job during the day, but moonlights as a DJ. He seems fun, definitely handsome.”

A pin pricked Will just above the eye, making it twitch. “That’s all you got? He’s good lookin’, so there ya have it?” He waved his arm out. “You got all this dirt on Middle School Joe, but not on the guy Bells has been stuck to like glue since we got here.”

She let out a half laugh. “Gosh, you’re crabby.”

He jolted back. “What?”

“Or maybe you’re just being too protective over your sister?” She crossed her arms, her nails slightly grazing his elbow as she did so. “I gave you information on two men who are ready to settle down, men her age, and, well, you’re being a bit judgmental about it.”

He backed tracked. “I was just asking about the guy she’s been talkin’ about.”

Her shoulders relaxed a bit, and her gaze went back to Garreth, who was now laughing hysterically at the shape of the lemon wedge after he’d squeezed it into his drink. The alcohol must be kicking in.

“I don’t want to just match her with anyone,” she said after a moment.

“Neither do I.”

“Maybe if you could let me know a bit more about her…”

“I can do that.” He offered up a grin. She was right; he was being overprotective. “What d’ya wanna know?”

“Anything.” She turned on the bench, tucking her bare feet up under her and facing him dead on. “Everything.”

He smiled at her enthusiasm. Matchmaking might not be in his wheelhouse, but family certainly was.

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