Page 32 of Perfectly Matched

Chapter Nine

Hannah waved good-bye as she watched Madison turn Payson around and escort her out of the studio. She fought the urge to chase her down and tell her not to go out with Madison but instead have dinner with her. But she backed off and reminded herself that if she and Payson were meant to be together, Payson would choose to come to her.

“Oh well,” she mumbled as tears welled in her eyes. “We’ll know soon enough.” Tucker jumped up and began licking the wet from her face. She chuckled as she bent, picked him up, and held him close.

“I can’t believe what I’m seeing. He hasn’t responded like that to any of our staff,” Brandon said as he approached.

“I’ll take him.” The words flew out of her mouth as she looked into Tucker’s big brown eyes. She had been told that the eyes always held the unspoken words of the soul, and what was fear and distrust now became hope in his. She would forever be haunted with worry over his future and well-being if she did not bring him back to the island with her. “You are the second pair of eyes that I’ve fallen for,” she whispered as she kissed his head.

“Wonderful. Can you swing by the shelter tomorrow morning? We can do the paperwork, then.”

“No, I’m sorry. I won’t be around tomorrow. I’ll probably be leaving town tonight.”

He scrubbed his chin. “Well, I do have a few forms in the van. Let me go get them. Can you pay cash, or should I write down your credit card number?”

“I have cash.” Hannah reached in her pockets and pulled out everything she had. “Here, take it all.” She held a couple bills back and handed him the rest.

He fanned through the money. “That’s very generous of you. Let me get the form.” As he walked out the back door, she once again thought about Payson’s date with Madison.

“Don’t chase her,” she reminded herself, even though the thought of anyone else’s hands touching Payson’s body sent a surge of jealousy through her veins. “She’ll make her choice.” And so Hannah stayed rooted in her spot, holding Tucker close and reminding herself that if she hadn’t missed with her arrow in the first place, Payson and Madison would surely be united by now. All she had done was prolong the inevitable, and it was time to remove herself from a picture she should have never been in.

“Here you go,” Brandon said as he presented her with the forms and a bag of essentials.

Maybe, she thought as she filled out the paperwork with bogus information, she was meant to come here not for Payson but for Tucker. To rescue a soul who needed love in the worst way. Yes, she concluded as she thanked him, scooped Tucker up, and walked out the door, love was meant for all living souls.

“Come on, little one, it’s time to go home,” she said as she walked away from the station. She didn’t need to gather anything from her desk nor give the newsroom a parting glance. She would not miss this place or look back upon it fondly. But she did take one last hopeful glance around the lot to see ifPayson had chosen to stay and not go on the dinner date. But the empty lot confirmed what she already knew.

“Maybe I should have chased her down after all, huh, Tucker?” she said as her chest tightened, and her stomach bottomed out. She would have bet a quiver of golden arrows that she and Payson were the would-be lovers who were destined for each other. She chuckled at the thought; so much for the natural instinct Oriana had always told her she possessed. Maybe the takeaway lesson in all of this was a repeat of the same lesson the wind had taught her as a child.Listen more and don’t be so stubborn in your own beliefs.The universe, Danika, Piper, and Oriana had all told her what she didn’t want to hear. What she’d refused to listen to. And now, she only had herself to blame. Life’s lessons could sure suck.

Tucker squirmed a bit in her arms, interrupting her thoughts, so she placed him on the ground and loosely held his leash. “Piper will be here soon to take us home. You’re going to love it on the island. It’s everything I promised you.” She set a slow pace as the two of them shuffled in the direction Gimbauld’s. She continued to tell him stories of Bella and the lake, of the cottage they would share, and the fields he could run free in. And the more she talked, the more she realized the distraction was a great way to tamp down the numbness that was rapidly taking hold as she continued to think about Payson.

When they reached their destination, she scooped up Tucker and walked through the casino. As she entered her room, she retrieved two bowls from the bag Brandon had given her, placed food and water in them, and sat on the floor next to him. She leaned against the bed, put her head back, and waited for Piper to appear. Her time was up, she had Tucker, and she had done what she was sent to do. There was at least some satisfaction in that.

She didn’t know how long she had been asleep when the softest of knocks woke her, so quiet, she had to concentrate to make sure the sound was coming from her own door. “Piper?” she said in a groggy voice as she stood. “Why are you knocking?” She reached for the doorknob. “Why didn’t you just teleport into the—” The next sound that made it to her lips was a breath. Or lack thereof. There, on the other side of the door, stood Payson in all her beauty. “What are you doing here? I…um…I don’t understand. Why aren’t you with Madison?”

“I was with Madison. But I was just…” Payson trailed off as she gazed at Hannah. “I just,” she repeated, as she took a step toward her and leaned in. Hannah could smell the freshness of the night air still lingering on Payson’s clothes and the hint of lavender mixed into her perfume. Both were intoxicating, and as Hannah closed her eyes and anticipated the kiss she…wait…the kiss!

Hannah’s eyes popped open, and she took a couple steps back as unanswered questioned logjammed in her mind.

“Wow, I…um,” Payson mumbled as she began backing away. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s just…” She trailed off. “It’s just that I have had the strangest couple of days, but, um, it’s obvious I disturbed you and that this was just one big—”

“No,” Hannah called out as she reached for her. “Please don’t go. Stay…please.” With a slight tilt of her head, she motioned for Payson to come in.

Payson hesitated, then nodded and entered. “Hey, you adopted Tucker.” She bent on one knee, and Tucker wagged his tail, lowered his posture, and approached. He rolled over, and Payson scratched his belly as she cooed at him. “Oh no, he’s peeing.” She chuckled as Tucker squirted all over her hand.

Hannah hurried into the bathroom and emerged with two towels soaked in warm water. She gently rubbed one over hisbelly and the other over Payson’s fingers. “How did you find me?”

“I know the woman who works at the front desk. She gave me your room number. I know that wasn’t totally ethical, so I hope it’s okay?”

“It is, but I’m still confused. Haven’t you and Madison…um, you know…kissed yet?” Hannah’s head was spinning as she tried to keep up with the reality of the situation. Since Payson was standing before her and not Piper, that meant either they’d kissed and the binding spell had failed, or…

She let out a breath, and her stomach tightened and tingled. Her instincts might have been right all along.

“I wish you would stop trying to push me and Madison together. And yes, we did almost kiss.”

“Almost?”

Payson nodded. “The evening went well, the dinner was wonderful, and she asked me to follow her to her house for a drink. While we were waiting for the valet to get our cars, she leaned in to kiss me. Our lips were so close, I could feel her breath. But then, I don’t know…something weird happened,” she said in a faraway voice. “Just before our lips touched, a gust of wind blew my hair in my face. When I pulled the hair out of my eyes, I just stood there staring at her. She was looking back at me as though she was waiting for me to finish what she’d started. But…all I could see at that moment was you.” She ran a finger over Hannah’s cheek. “This beautiful gorgeous face, and I just”—she licked her lips—“I just knew this is where I wanted to be. Where Ineededto be.”

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