Page 8 of Purrfectly Mated

“You okay, sir?”

“Yes, Hank, don’t mind me. It happens with increased age,” he replied grimly.

“Oh, well, um---”

“Yes, Hank? Spit it out, man,” Uzzi wiped his mouth on a napkin and met the man’s eyes.

“Well, I think I see someone walking on the side of the road,” Hank said, slowing the car and leaning closer to the glass of the windshield.

“In this weather?” Uzzi asked, mouth open as lightning flashed in the sky.

“Yes,” Hank said, slowing down even more.

“It appears to be a woman. She has no umbrella, either.”

Uzzi paused for a moment. His Magic was alert and zipping all around him excitedly. Whoever this damsel was, she needed his help. Uzzi had never failed to offer aid to a lady, and he sure as heck would not start now.

Is this your work, liebling?

A small smile teased the corner of his mouth. Uzzi’s beloved wife, Betty, had always been able to spot a mate faster than old Uzzi ever could.

“Well, let’s stop this thing, and see if the lady needs a ride before she drowns out there!”

Uzzi inched towards the window and peeked out, using his Magically enhanced vision to catch sight of the female his driver had spied.

Yes, she was a woman, alright. Soaking wet, but nicely shaped. He did not mind pointing out the obvious physical attractions of the female, with all due respect, of course.

Uzzi was a widower, a Witch, but ultimately, a matchmaker. Looks were important, not as much as what was on the inside, but important still, at least to his clients. Shifters especially had physical demands that were not for the faint of heart, or hip, he thought with a mischievous chuckle.

Ah! What could be better than this? Helping others find love, to celebrate life, and to live in peaceful harmony until the end of days.

So yes, he looked her over with the discerning eye of a matchmaker. The female was curvy and cute, just the way Shifters preferred their women. As the car inched over to the side of the road, Uzzi lowered his window and put on his most friendly smile.

Big brown eyes blinked down at him, rapidly against the fat drops of rain that seemed determined to get in her way.

“Hello there, young lady, it looks like you could use a lift,” Uzzi said kindly.

ChapterThree

It was in his favor that Uzzi was older now. He had thick white hair and a beard to match, light blue eyes, and a ready smile for all and any. A good Witch, he’d used his Magic throughout the years to spread joy and happiness. His matchmaking efforts had been praised far and wide, and he truly enjoyed the work.

Not an easy task. But when the Goddess of Love herself was a descendant, it wasn’t as if he’d had much choice. Uzzi Stregovich was one of the lucky ones. He’d found happiness in his calling.

“Well, how do I know you’re not a serial killer?” the female asked.

That made Uzzi grin. The girl had spunk.

Nice. Very nice.

“Listen to me now, young lady, I swear on my beloved wife’s grave, killing you is the last thing on my mind. Take a leap of faith and get in. You might not be so lucky with the next car that stops,” he added.

The woman looked at Uzzi, then at his driver. She was still mulling it over when suddenly, a deafening roar of thunder sounded overhead, and lightning struck a tree not twenty feet away from them. That got her moving.

“Okay, I’ll get in, but if you decide to kill me, give me some warning first, okay?”

“Sure, I promise,” Uzzi flashed a warm smile and opened the door.

He liked this girl. She had plenty of sass. Not to mention plenty of curves that his Shifter clients were incredibly fond of. He wondered if she liked cats. Big ones.

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