Matching Mr. Right(60)

Jo leaned back and smiled. “And I noticed a fancy sports car parked in front of the house this morning when I left. I thought he never spends the night. What did you do? Handcuff him to the bed?”

“No, but handcuffs might be fun.” Shelby laughed as she swiped flour and bits of dough off her blouse. “He just declared he was staying. He even made breakfast this morning. We’re having dinner tonight.”

“Wow. Maybe you’re the one who’ll change his ways. So . . . how was it? The sleeping together part.”

“It was amazing. Different than with anyone else. Off-the-charts good. And he cuddles too.” Shelby laid a hand over her swelling heart. “I think I’m in love with him, Jo.”

Jo wrapped Shelby up in a hug again and whispered, “I’m so happy for you. Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll cut into the Death by Chocolate cake I just made. Then you can fill me in on all the deets.”

“Beth will be here in a few minutes for her date. But she doesn’t need me other than to make the introductions. I’ll go grab some tables.”

Still smiling and not sure her feet were actually touching the ground she was so freaking happy, she found a table for Beth and her date, and then one nearby for her and Jo.

Just as she’d settled in, her phone signaled a text. Beth’s date was going to have to cancel. It would have been nice if he’d figured that out sooner than five minutes before he was supposed to show. She quickly tapped out a note to Beth, doubting she’d catch her before she left her office.

When the front doors parted, she glanced up, expecting to see Beth. But Nick’s sister Lori entered instead. Shelby saw her scan the café until their eyes locked on each other’s. Lori smiled that same big smile as Nick’s.

Waving her over, she said, “Hi, Lori. Want to join me?”

“Thank you.” Lori hung her purse on the back of the chair and sat. “Nick mentioned you often write here, so I’d hoped I’d run into you. I wanted to ask you a favor.”

“Sure. What?”

“It’s Emily’s birthday on Saturday. Nick, the knucklehead, told her he’d pay for any party she wanted because he has a this-guy-can-take-my-business-into-the-next-stratosphere client in town last minute and won’t be able to come. So of course she picked the place I had already nixed.”

“I’ll bet Emily is disappointed.”

“She is. My brother can be so . . .” Lori huffed out a breath. “Anyway, Emily asked if she could invite you, and then introduce you to her friends. They all want to meet the lady who writes Chester books. But I don’t want you to feel obligated. I can tell her you have other plans if you’d rather not come.”

“I’d love to come. And I’ll bring books to sign for Emily’s friends.” If things worked out with Nick, Emily might be her niece one day too. The thought warmed her already ridiculously blissful heart. But then a sliver of disappointment with Nick crept in. “You’d think Nick could slip away for an hour or so. It is Saturday, after all.” Maybe she’d mention the idea to him later over dinner. It’d mean a lot to Emily.

“You’d think.” Lori shook her head. “Nick works too much. It’s been nice to see him relax a little and have fun with you these last few weeks, Shelby.”

Just as she opened her mouth to reply, a clearly pissed-off Beth marched up to their table. “I got your text in the parking lot, Shelby. Scratch that guy off the list. I don’t have time for inconsiderate people.” Then she turned to Lori. “Hi. How’ve you been?”

“Good.” Lori smiled. “I didn’t realize you knew Shelby.”

Beth nodded as she yanked out a chair and plopped onto it. Probably her skyscraper heels were paining her. “She’s setting me and Nick up on dates. I was a little surprised when Nick chose Shelby for our matchmaker instead of you.”

Lori’s head whipped in Shelby’s direction. “Matchmaker? But you write Chester books.”

“I do both.” Confused, Shelby asked, “You’re a matchmaker too?” Then it dawned on her. “Are you Lori Went? As in the radio ads that say, ‘I went with Lori and found my soul mate,’ Lori Went?”

Lori’s brow crumpled as she nodded. “But why would Nick use you instead of me?”

Beth said, “Maybe he’s spying on his sister’s biggest competitor? He is in the business of improving businesses, after all.”

Lori shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t . . .” She cut herself off and her eyes widened as if she’d thought of a reason. “I’m sure there’s a good explanation for this, Shelby.”