Page 4 of Banter & Blushes

After, the mayor’s wife rushed in with a towel and a bucket and cleaned him up, except for a smear of chocolate icing hanging off his left ear. All my eyes could stare at was the dangling icing as he delivered his speech, the frosting blob defying gravity with every bob of his bald head. Afterwards, I learned that some attendees had created a betting pool on the icing and how long it would cling. The city services department manager won a hundred bucks.

“We’ll make sure all the windows are closed this time,” Zoe rasps after our laughing fit subsides.

I turn worried eyes towards my friend. “The attendees are going to be highfalutin bigshots. Don’t get me wrong, your pastries are scrumptious. But can you make fancy enough pastries for that crowd?”

She taps her chin, lost in thought. “I’d love to try. This will give me an opportunity to try all those French pastry recipes the General keeps sending me.”

I roll my eyes. The General is always meddling in my business too. Last week he suggested I stock creations from a new local artisan—greeting cards made from recycled cardboard and Christmas ornaments made from plastic milk jugs. Even though I was drawn to their use of recycled materials, the results, unfortunately, were not attractive.

Winston Monroe (aka the General) is a family friend from back home. He backed Zoe and I financially when we wanted to try becoming entrepreneurs. Zoe’s baking skills made her choice of business obvious. On the other hand, working as a Zamboni driver, a voice-over artist, and an escape room attendant didn’t exactly prepare me for opening a business in a tiny quaint beach community.Being an avid reader and dabbling in matchmaking eventually inspired me to open Plot Twists & Perfect Matches.

The General was very encouraging, specifically about the matchmaking side of the business. However, in the twelve months I’ve been in business, I’ve only matched seven couples successfully.

With my lean bank account, maybe I need to expand my options. Working for Zoe on these catering gigs does bring in much needed money. “Okay, if you’re game, I’m game! I’ll confirm with Harmony that we’ll cater the hoity-toity coffee meeting for Hugo.”

We exchange high fives.

“Maybe you’ll hit it off with Mr. Bainbridge as well!”

Wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake? Sadly, it’s more likely that I’ll spill icing on the hunky man and never see him again.

CHAPTER 3

CADE

After settling into the rental beach bungalow—not fancy, but adequate for my needs—I notice three missed calls, one of which I’d rather just ignore, but he’ll call back. Knowing his aversion to texting if he has to say more than three words, I swipe my phone and place the call.

As soon as the call connects, a boisterous voice asks, “How’s Seabreeze Harbor? Can you handle the funky small-town atmosphere for a month?” Jerry chuckles at his own joke.

Unfortunately, our family attorney knows me far too well. I much prefer big city living, but after the interaction with the beautiful matchmaker/tea proprietor earlier, I might reconsider my stance. “The scenery is spectacular, and the beaches are fairly uncrowded. I think I’ll enjoy the change of pace.”

Jerry grunts. “Just don’t forget about the real objective. I’m concerned that all this trip will accomplish is further delays in an already tight schedule.”

“Oh, I won’t forget, you remind me about it all the time,” I huff.

He expels a loud breath. “Listen, Cade, you’ve had two years to fulfill your grandad’s stipulation, and yet here we are with only ninety days to accomplish the goal.”

My heart ticks up a notch with the mention of ninety days. Three months sounds like a much longer timeframe, but when he expresses it indays, the reality of my situation slams into me. “I’ve got a plan. There’s a matchmakerhere and I’m going to enlist her services.” The words spout from my mouth before I engage my brain.Now I’m committed.

“A matchmaker?” he snorts, disbelief lacing his tone. “Well, far be it for me to discourage you, but that ‘plan’ sounds a bit kooky. Since when does Cade Bainbridge need a matchmaker?”

Since I’ve dragged my heels too long and am now desperate.Losing this multi-million-dollar trust fund is simply not an option. “I’ve met the matchmaker, and she seems excellent at her craft.” Hopefully our attorney can’t sense how much I’m stretching the truth. Maybe she’s an expert at brewing tea, or identifying essential oils to alleviate a raft of ailments, but matchmaking?

“I’ll look forward to an engagement announcement very soon, then,” he says dryly. “Good luck.”

“You’ll be the first to know,” I assure him with minimal snark in my tone. I certainly can’t admit now that I’m skeptical as to what this matchmaking process entails and whether it will yield any results. But considering my recent dating history, what could it hurt?

Jerry sighs. “Cade, I know this deadline is forcing you to rush to a decision, however I hope you won’t lose sight of the fact that your granddad would want you to fall in love. Rather than simply settle.”

Fall in love in ninety days or less? Impossible.All I’m hoping for is to find someone I’m attracted to and can cohabitate with amicably.Doesn’t sound very romantic, does it?

I stifle a sigh of my own. “If this matchmaker is any good, she’ll find my perfect match.”

Chuckling, Jerry signs off and my screen goes blank.

Ding!

Attorney Jerry:90 days (clock emoji)

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