The Billionaire's Matchmaker(4)

Gabby bit back a laugh. True, the little dog did have a penchant for getting into trouble, while Mr. B. seemed to be an indulgent owner who didn’t mind his dog’s wild antics. Charlie was like a two-year-old on a perpetual sugar high. But when he calmed down and laid his slim body at Gabby’s feet, he could be positively lovable. Plus, she had to admit she kinda liked his company.

Not to mention the check would mean she wouldn’t have to drive a complete stranger across the country. Soon as she left Mr. B.’s, she was taking that ad down. “Okay, I’ll do it. I’m going out of town for a couple weeks but I can take Charlie with me if that’s okay with Mr. Bonaparte.”

“I’m sure whatever is convenient for you will be fine with Mr. Bonaparte. Let me just say, on behalf of the entire staff, that we appreciate you accepting this job.” Relief loosened the butler’s stiff features. “Thank you again, Miss Wilson.” Then he shooed the dog out of the house and shut the door.

“Wait! Is there any special—”

The door opened again and the butler plopped a crystal studded leash, several outfits, a porcelain dish and a bag of dog food into her arms. “Enjoy your time with that dog.” The last two words sounded like a curse. Then he shut the door again. Fast.

“Looks like it’s just you and me, kid,” Gabby said. Charlie barked in agreement then fell into place beside her, eager, happy and ready for whatever path they chose. About the same way Gabby felt right now, with the check in her pocket and a second chance at her career lying just down the road.

But in the back of her mind, the mysterious reappearance of T.J. lingered, like taffy stuck on the roof her mouth, daring her to take a taste.





Chapter Two



The woman who had stolen T.J. Shepherd’s heart at the Andrew Jackson High School Sweetheart Dance stood outside the Shop ‘N Save market, a Jack Russell terrier parked at her feet, and that sweet mix of frustration and confusion he had seen before all over her face. He knew exactly where that look came from, because he’d caused it. More than once.


Heck, he’d seen it earlier today when she’d stared at him like an alien. He knew he’d changed in the years since he’d left Chandler’s Cove, but he didn’t think he’d changed that much.

But Gabby—

Wow, she still looked incredible, but with that adult edge that added a bit of sass to her lithe figure. Despite the January cold, his body warmed at the sight of her. Gabby Wilson. The one person he’d never forgotten.

He hadn’t seen her in seven—no, eight—years, not since graduation when she’d dashed his hopes and broken his heart by making it clear he was a good friend, nothing more. He had high-tailed it for college on the west coast, determined to forget her. He’d gotten a hell of a tan and a hefty student loan tab, but his mind had never left Chandler’s Cove, or Gabby.

She’d been right about how he had let her down. Every man had his regrets, and that topped T.J.’s list. Seeing her again had him wondering if he could set things right between them and maybe push the envelope to open the door to something more.

That was why he’d returned to Chandler’s Cove. For Gabby. And a second chance—or a final good-bye. He’d spent too many years looking to fill the hole her absence had left in his life, when really only one thing would do. Gabby herself, and her wild, tempestuous spirit.

In high school, he’d been too buttoned up, too cautious, too afraid of risk. He’d learned since he left Chandler’s Cove and the heavy thumb of his father’s rules that risk was the only way to get what he wanted. Which was what had brought him here, back to the town he vowed to never see again, to pursue the one woman he’d never forgotten.

After he’d left Mr. Bonaparte’s house earlier, T.J. had an idea for how to get that time with Gabby he wanted, those uninterrupted hours to answer the question of whether she was the missing piece to his life, the one person who truly knew him and cared about him, rich or poor, nerdy or not, or whether his mind was clouded by the passing of time. So he’d come downtown, figuring this would be Gabby’s next stop. He’d been right.

“Looking for something?” T.J. said.

She whirled around, letting out a little gasp of surprise. “God, you scared me. You’re popping up everywhere I go today.”

“Almost like it was meant to be?” He cocked a grin at her.

“Or just really bad luck.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m all bad, Gabby.”

Her green eyes danced. “That’s a matter of opinion, Mr. Shepherd.”

Even in a thick winter coat and jeans that ended in zebra striped boots, she was beautiful. The cold bloomed pink in her cheeks, and her long blond hair peeked out from beneath a white fleece hat, a look saved from being ordinary by one rebellious streak of hot pink mixed into the blond and a chunky tri-colored necklace made out of recycled metals. No one would ever describe Gabby as traditional or dull.

She’d been his polar opposite, a woman who challenged him to live outside the box and color the world with aqua and fuchsia instead of black and white. It was part of what had scared the hell out of him and at the same time, drew him in like a fly to a gossamer spider web. Even now, even after all these years apart and all these murky waters between them, he still wanted her as much as he had years ago. He’d been fooling himself, thinking he could forget her, because he hadn’t. Not one bit.