Read Online One in a Million by Jill Shalvis - Free Book Online Page B

of them have no idea I helped them. Really, I should go into the business with you.”
    Callie blinked. “You mean…”
    “Yep,” she said proudly. “Matchmaking. It’d make a great addition to TyingTheKnot.com, don’t you think?”
    She stared at her grandma until her phone buzzed with an incoming text from one of her brides.
    I know you said animals at the wedding wasn’t really a great idea but my bridesmaids all want to walk down the aisle with their pets. Okay with you?
    Callie blew out a breath.
    Her grandma leaned in to read and then grinned. “You going to let her do it?”
    Callie pointed at her. “You don’t get to change the subject. Hold on a sec, one emergency at a time.” She typed in a response to her bride.
    It’s your day. You get to decide. But isn’t your maid of honor’s pet a cow?
    The response was immediate.
    Yes but Sweet Pea is potty-trained.
    Lucille chortled in delight, and Callie again pointed at her. “No comments from the peanut gallery.” She gave her thumbs a workout dealing with the bride, and five minutes later they’d settled on animals at the reception but not the actual wedding.
    “You should let her have the cow down the aisle,” her grandma said. “You could give out little air fresheners as party favors.”
    Callie blew out a sigh. “That’s not a bad idea.”
    Lucille hooted with laughter. “Gotta love your job, honey. It’s a beaut.”
    “It’s something anyway. Now about you.”
    “What about me?” her grandma asked innocently.
    Uh-huh. “You can’t interfere with people’s lives like you’ve been doing,” Callie said.
    “Why not? It works. And aren’t you essentially doing the same thing?”
    “Yes, okay, fine. But at least I get paid for it,” she said.
    Lucille beamed. “That’s because you’re smarter than I am. Have I told you lately how very proud I am of you?”
    Callie’s frustration drained away. Her parents had always been so wrapped up in each other. She’d long ago gotten used to being a third wheel at her own family dinner table, but she’d always had Lucille who, quirks and all, had never let her down. “I love you, Grandma,” she whispered, and came around the table to squeeze her tight.
    “Aw. Aren’t you the sweetest,” her grandma said, hugging her back. She barely came up to Callie’s chin and smelled like roses and baby powder and felt a little bit like a bag of bones, but Callie held on for a long moment.
    “I suppose it might be time for me to face facts.”
    Callie’s heart stopped. “What facts?”
    “I’m losing it.”
    Oh God. “Grandma—”
    “The desire is just…gone,” Lucille said sadly.
    Callie reached for her grandma’s hands. “The important thing is to realize that you’re not alone.”
    “Oh, honey, you’re such a joy to me. But I can’t help how I feel. I’m going to—”
    “—I’m here for you, to the end.”
    “—Retire,” Lucille said, and frowned. “What?”
    “Retire?” Callie asked.
    Lucille stared at her. “What did you think I was going to say?”
    “Nothing,” Callie said.
    Lucille smiled. “You thought I was telling you I was going nuts, right? That’s a conversation for another day.”
    “So you are going nuts?”
    “Another day,” Lucille repeated.
    “Okay,” Callie said. “But we’re going to definitely discuss, sooner rather than later.”
    “So you can go back to San Francisco?”
    “Yes,” Callie said. “And my life.”
    “Your life.” Lucille rolled her eyes. “Your life is here, with your family—me, in case you were wondering. But I’m talking about retiring from the matchmaking game, not from my sanity.” She pointed at Callie. “Right after I match you.”
    “Oh, no,” Callie said. “No. No, no, no.”
    “Well, why ever not?”
    “I don’t want to be matched,” Callie said. “I’m good as I am. I don’t need a man.”
    “Honey, we all need a man. Whether we keep him or not, that’s personal preference.”
    “Grandma,