Page 13 of Purrfectly Mated

“Excellent. You won’t be sorry. All of my couples wind uppurrfectly mated.”

ChapterFour

Elissa blinked at the elfish man sitting across from her. She looked down at the business card she still held in her hand.

Uncle Uzzi’s Magical Matchmaking Service.

Disbelief warred with hope inside her chest. All her life, she loved myths, legends, fairytales, and folklore. She’d waited and hoped and dreamed with all her heart, wanting to believe her prince was out there somewhere searching for her.

Fuck being politically correct.

Elissa Phoenix was a dreamer. Always had been. She might be short, curvy and she damn well could out cuss a sailor, but dammit, she was worthy of love.

Was it wrong of her to want someone who made her feel feminine and cherished? Someone who wanted her body, heart, soul, and mind. A man who cared about her happiness and was thoughtful enough to ask after her feelings at the end of the day.

Maybe dreams really can come true, Elissa thought, staring at the cheerful older man.

She didn’t normally go with her gut, but something about Uncle Uzzi simply radiated honesty, charm, and trustworthiness. If he was a Witch, like he said, then he was a good one. She felt no ill will or bad vibes from the white bearded fellow.

Maybe tonight was a turning point for her. It sure as hell beat most of the nights she’d endured the past few years.

True, Little Gianni had ditched her on the side of the road when she refused to play footsies with the smelly creep. Almost immediately after jumping out of his car, rain had started pouring down from the skies in buckets.

Thunder had roared, and lightning struck overhead, making her heart race and her pulse speed. Elissa had been cold, wet, angry, and terrified all at the same time.

But then, just as suddenly, her luck had changed. Uzzi Stregovich and his straight-faced driver had found her on the side of the road. He’d offered a friendly smile, shelter from the rain, and a blanket to dry herself.

The stretched limo was warm and toasty, the peppermint tea perfectly hit the spot. Elissa looked at the grandfatherly man who’d just claimed Shifters actually existed and thought about her options.

So, not only were fairy tale creatures real, but Uzzi Stregovich ran some sort of matchmaking service for them. Elissa had been on bad dates, but she’d never considered a service before. Maybe it was time.

“Uncle Uzzi's MagicalMatchmaking Service,” she said aloud.

“That’s right,” he agreed, his slight accent making her grin.

Elissa could not have made this up if she’d tried. Magic was real. Holy fuck! She’d felt the little shocks of electricity racing up her arm when the elderly man had handed the rectangular bit of better than average card stock to her.

Maybe it was the fact she was still wet from the rain. But she knew better than to try to make sense of it.

Magic was real, she thought again.

Anyone else and Elissa might have thought they were crazy or high on something illegal. But not him. Uncle Uzzi was simply too honest, too amiable, and too darn adorable. He really was like a tiny Santa, or a fairy godfather like he’d said!

So, she thought,Shifters.Yeah. Reality.Gulp.

Elissa had always been a woman of faith, and something was telling her to trust her instincts. An avid reader, she cut her teeth on romance novels growing up. Sure, she loved the big wigs like Steele and Roberts, but it was the indies who held her heart.

Her absolute, most secret, favorite stash of books included stories about Werewolves and other Shifter heroes who found their happily-ever-afters with regular, and often curvy, women. Women who looked just like Elissa.

Society’s representation of women had somewhat changed in the past decade, but curvy was often accompanied by hurtful and judgy comments that she was unhealthy or would look better after losing a few pounds. The world was crazy for thin people. And she just wasn’t thin.

She was a chef, so she knew healthy food. Her cooking was full of fresh veggies, lean meats, and whole grains. It didn’t matter. Her body just loved her chub.

Maybe Uncle Uzzi could help her find a man who would love it as well…

Life was too short for her to not love herself. Why shouldn’t she have a piece of pie,or a bear claw, once in a while? Elissa worked hard, and she appreciate good food. Nothing wrong with that in her book.

“Thanks,” she said, taking the proffered treat.

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