Perfectly Ms. Matched(4)

“Because we need it to make this place more profitable so we can pay off that balloon payment. Help Chad and earn the money. It’s the perfect solution.”

“Not happening.” That was the last thing she needed. To spend what little free time she had with that . . . She wouldn’t go there. “I know you and Chad have stayed friends because of your days in real estate, but this crossed a line, Shelby.”

Jo turned to go to the kitchen. She needed to bake something. Or break something.

Shelby caught up with her and slipped her arm around Jo’s waist. “I was just trying to help. Since you won’t take anything from me and Nick, it’s a pretty easy way to earn that money. You were a fantastic PT, Jo. That skiing accident wasn’t your fault.”

Jo sighed.

Five foot two, blonde, and cute as a puppy, Shelby was Jo’s best friend. But at the moment, she wanted to strangle her. “Maybe Jed wasn’t ready to get back out on the slopes, or maybe he was, but since he’s dead, I’ll never know for sure, will I? Now go away, or I’ll make you disinfect the bathrooms.”

Shelby clearly had a listening problem, because she made no move to leave. “It wasn’t your fault. No one blames you for it.” Shelby waved a hand. “And I’m banned from bathroom duty for a few months. Pregnant women can’t be around strong chemicals.”

Jo’s angry retort caught in her throat. “You’re pregnant? That was quick.” Jo wrapped Shelby up in a tight hug. “Congrats.”

Everyone had just returned from Shelby’s wedding in Italy two months earlier. It was, hands down, the most romantic wedding Jo had ever attended, and it had highlighted the fact she was lacking a man in her life.

She needed to work on that. Maybe that was why she’d reacted so strongly when she’d seen Chad earlier.

“Nick was in a hurry, so we started trying the night he proposed.” Shelby leaned back with a big, happy grin on her face. “I wanted to tell you first, after Nick, but you were in your . . . meeting.”

“That you probably had a big hand in arranging.”

Her expression softened. “What can it hurt to help him? Are you afraid you guys still have lingering feelings for each other?”

“No. He only loves football. There’s no room in his microscopic heart for anything else.” She smiled. “I’m happy for you guys. And I’ll let you off the hook for your heinous crime only if I get to be the godmother.”

“No one else qualifies.” Shelby tilted her head. “So you still love me?”

“Always. I have to get back to work. See you later.” She headed toward the double doors leading to the kitchen. Shoving one aside, she crossed to her little office in the back and sagged into her squeaky desk chair. She closed her eyes and laid her head on her folded arms.

She was happy for Shelby and Nick. Happy her best friend had found the perfect guy and that they would hopefully have the perfect baby. Multiple babies, if Nick had his way.

But talk of babies always conjured up memories of her pregnancy—with Chad’s baby. His manager told him she’d gotten knocked up on purpose to trap him into marriage, and Chad believed him. He’d come to his senses eventually and asked her to marry him, but it’d been too late. The damage had already been done.

Bryce. She’d held his tiny preemie body in her arms and experienced a new kind of love she’d never known possible. But then her beautiful son had died two days later. Before Chad, who had been out of town when their baby was born, ever got to see him.

Nope. Not going there.

Can’t go there.

Jo sat up and pulled the little box from her apron. Creaking the lid back, she stared at the ring Chad had begged her to take after he figured out she was telling the truth about becoming pregnant by accident.

But it’d been too late. His true colors had shown through bright and clear.

Would she ever find the right guy, or should she just give it up and become a nun?





2

IT’S BETTER TO TAKE CONTROL THAN TO BE CONTROLLED.

The next morning, when the breakfast crowd had finally thinned, Jo needed a break. After tossing and turning all night, she’d come up with a plan. One that a) did not include Chad and his tainted money, b) entailed doing what she’d avoided up to now and making a visit to her father later in the afternoon, and c) going on dates again. She needed to get back out there. Maybe the third time would be the charm.

Chad had been strike one, and then Eric, who was just after a better position and more money in her father’s medical practice, claimed strike two. But what if the next one was strike three and she’d be out? Cooked. Over and done with? Maybe c) needed a tad more consideration?