Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Dirk, however, had told him that Michaela Killian had a money-back guarantee. Troy had a feeling Gabby would be such a hard case he’d never have to spend a dime.
At least not on matchmaking. But he sure as heck wouldn’t mind spending time with the beautiful Michaela Killian.
“Can you believe he wants me to matchmake for his sister so he can win some bet about who will fall in love first?” Michaela emphasized the two most horrid ideas in the whole debacle with Troy Harrington.
Then she took the first bite of the lasagna her mother had made for dinner. The flavors burst on her tongue, so good she was tempted to forget her annoyance with the man. Her mom made the best comfort food.
A year after she’d bought the townhome where they both lived, they’d remodeled the kitchen, painting it a cheery yellow and adding a double oven. The room was large enough for a table and chairs, which was good because there was no formal dining room, and no formal living room either. Not that the two of them needed it, since the large family room was more than adequate. The downstairs den played double duty as a home office for Michaela and a craft and sewing room for her mother. With two primary suites upstairs, each had her own full bathroom.
Michaela had only two requirements when buying the house three years ago: a two-car garage so they could both park inside, and a bathtub. So many homes these days had only showers, but Michaela’s biggest luxury was a bath. As soon as she’d seen the soaker tub in one of the bathrooms, she was sold.
Their home might not be as huge as anything Troy Harrington had in the Los Gatos hills, but it was perfect for the two of them.
Oooh, that man. He was too annoying to forget. “Can you imagine how arrogant the man is to want a matchmaker help him win a bet? A million dollars, for goodness’ sake. The loser will have to pay that amount to a charity. It’s crazy.” She allowed herself one piece of the delectable garlic bread.
“But if it’s for charity, isn’t that good?” Her mother smiled as if she didn’t get how annoying and arrogant that Harrington man was.
Her mother was a beauty, inside and out, and she was Michaela’s best friend.
Flo Killian had Michaela when she was very young, not even out of high school, and now she was in the prime of her life at fifty years old. She and Michaela shared the same dark, thick, wavy hair, but Flo kept hers cut fairly short, to give it more bounce, she said. The few silvery strands only enhanced her beauty.
Michaela had always hoped her mother would fall in love again. Her father had left when Michaela was barely a toddler, and Flo spent her life raising her. Michaela made it her mission to give back all her mother had given to her, buying the townhouse and making sure her mom no longer had to work. Not unless she wanted to. Flo was a vibrant woman, with the same green eyes as Michaela’s, though her mother’s were always full of understanding and warmth.
If Flo fell in love, what would Michaela do without her best friend?
The thought was sobering, yet it didn’t stop her wanting her mom to find a wonderful man to fill her later-in-life days with joy. And yet Flo adamantly refused to let Michaela matchmake for her. After Michaela’s dad left, her mother had never let herself fall in love again. Not in thirty years. Michaela could only hope love would grow organically for her someday. Her mother deserved happiness.
Flo patted her hand. “I know what you mean about Troy Harrington being arrogant and that he’s doing this for all the wrong reasons.” She winked. “But sometimes good things happen when you least expect them. What if you make a match for his sister and she lives happily ever after?”
Michaela wanted to roll her eyes. Her mom loved her happily-ever-afters, even if she refused to let Michaela find one for her. Flo loved romantic movies, and she’d instilled that love in Michaela. They often binge-watched their favorite romances on weekends after a hike or a bike ride during the day. They loved the outdoors as much as romance movies or a good read.
“So, you going to refuse to take him on as a client?” Flo asked.
Michaela stabbed a cherry tomato in her salad, but before putting it in her mouth, she said, “I told him I wouldn’t do it unless I talked to his sister first and she agreed. I simply can’t do it without her consent.”
“Oh, that was a brilliant move, sweetheart. Did he agree?”
For the first time, Michaela felt almost triumphant. “He did. He’s going to arrange a meeting with his sister. His brother’s friend is having a gallery showing on Saturday down in Carmel. Since his sister will be there, Troy has invited me down to make the introduction.”