Read Online The Matchmakers by Jennifer Colgan - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Colgan
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reached the door of the bar. There he
yanked it off his head and tossed it into a planter full of rhododendrons
before stalking inside. Callie rubbed her hands together to ward off the chill
and followed him into the bar.
Chapter Seven
I’ve got
to be out of my mind , Nick thought as he strolled back into Farley’s with
Callie. The worst part was, she’d fulfilled her promise. Everyone would think
he was insane if he suddenly introduced her as the crazy girl he’d nearly run
over on the exit ramp. Farley gave him a curious glance from under his bushy
eyebrows when Nick offered his barstool to Callie. She slid onto the vinyl seat
and crossed her legs at the knee, revealing a glimpse of creamy thigh beneath
the ruffled hem of her skirt. Nick deliberately looked away. `Well, hello.´
Farley leaned on the bar, his massive chest expanding. `What can I get for you,
miss?´ `Lemon soda with a twist,Ćallie replied. `You must be Farley.Ín
response, the bear-like bartender actually blushed. `I certainly am. Welcome to
my place, Miss Lemon-Soda-With-A-Twist.´ `I’m Calliope.Śhe held out her
hand, and her delicate fingers disappeared into Farley’s paw. `I’m new here.´ `How
fortunate for you that I’m Bayerville’s good-will ambassador. I am humbly at
your service.´ `Ted ´ Farley ignored Nick and continued with his repertoire as
he poured Callie her drink. `I give personal tours of all the historic sites in
town. My specialty is Italian cuisine, and I’m licensed in Shiatsu massage. I bowl
a one-ninety and I like long walks in the park and cuddling.´ `Ted Ćallie
giggled and sipped her drink. `I see true love in your future, Mr. Farley.´ `Please,
call me ´ `Ted!´ `Wait your turn, buddy. I’m with a customer.´ Farley waved
Nick off with a mild scowl and turned his attention back to Callie. `I don’t
normally flirt this shamelessly, but«´ `Yes, you do.´ Diane swung by then, her
stern glance skipping over Nick. `Don’t let the big oaf snow you, sweetie.
Farley tries to reel in any woman who’s breathing.´ The waitress slapped a
written tab on the bar along with a stack of large bills. `I need change.´ `I’ll
be back in a sec, and you can tell me all about yourself, Calliope.´ While
Farley worked the cash register and Diane glared, Nick studied the impressive
array of booze bottles stacked behind the bar and wallowed in his own miserable
circumstances. He realized he still wore the alligator boots Callie had given
him, and he wondered if anyone else had noticed. Farley reappeared with Diane’s
change, and she whirled away without a word. While the bartender turned his
attention briefly to another customer, Nick leaned over Callie’s shoulder and
whispered in her ear. `If you promise to behave, I won’t tell them who you
are.´ `Define behave ,śhe
replied with a challenge in her eyes. Before Nick could think of a response,
Farley returned, his smile wide. `Now, where were we? Calliope. That’s an
unusual name.´ `I’m named after the Muse of epic poetry.´ `Fascinating. Where
did you say you were from?´ Nick let his attention drift away from the
conversation. With Callie occupied by Farley’s impromptu interview, he had a
moment to take stock of the situation. He glanced at the pay phone on the wall
in the tiny alcove next to the bar and considered what he would say to the
police at this point. They wouldn’t believe him if he said he thought this
pretty, personable young woman was dangerous because she’d magically changed
his footwear. He’d have to play things cool until she actually did something
else suspicious. Of course, right now, she was the most dangerous looking woman
in the bar. In that little black dress, with her dark hair in delicate
corkscrew curls atop her head, she was more trouble than a five-alarm fire. Nick
took a fast count of the men who’d already noticed her. Out of the corner of
his eye, he saw Bud Wylie and Frank Griff moving in from opposite
yanked it off his head and tossed it into a planter full of rhododendrons
before stalking inside. Callie rubbed her hands together to ward off the chill
and followed him into the bar.
Chapter Seven
I’ve got
to be out of my mind , Nick thought as he strolled back into Farley’s with
Callie. The worst part was, she’d fulfilled her promise. Everyone would think
he was insane if he suddenly introduced her as the crazy girl he’d nearly run
over on the exit ramp. Farley gave him a curious glance from under his bushy
eyebrows when Nick offered his barstool to Callie. She slid onto the vinyl seat
and crossed her legs at the knee, revealing a glimpse of creamy thigh beneath
the ruffled hem of her skirt. Nick deliberately looked away. `Well, hello.´
Farley leaned on the bar, his massive chest expanding. `What can I get for you,
miss?´ `Lemon soda with a twist,Ćallie replied. `You must be Farley.Ín
response, the bear-like bartender actually blushed. `I certainly am. Welcome to
my place, Miss Lemon-Soda-With-A-Twist.´ `I’m Calliope.Śhe held out her
hand, and her delicate fingers disappeared into Farley’s paw. `I’m new here.´ `How
fortunate for you that I’m Bayerville’s good-will ambassador. I am humbly at
your service.´ `Ted ´ Farley ignored Nick and continued with his repertoire as
he poured Callie her drink. `I give personal tours of all the historic sites in
town. My specialty is Italian cuisine, and I’m licensed in Shiatsu massage. I bowl
a one-ninety and I like long walks in the park and cuddling.´ `Ted Ćallie
giggled and sipped her drink. `I see true love in your future, Mr. Farley.´ `Please,
call me ´ `Ted!´ `Wait your turn, buddy. I’m with a customer.´ Farley waved
Nick off with a mild scowl and turned his attention back to Callie. `I don’t
normally flirt this shamelessly, but«´ `Yes, you do.´ Diane swung by then, her
stern glance skipping over Nick. `Don’t let the big oaf snow you, sweetie.
Farley tries to reel in any woman who’s breathing.´ The waitress slapped a
written tab on the bar along with a stack of large bills. `I need change.´ `I’ll
be back in a sec, and you can tell me all about yourself, Calliope.´ While
Farley worked the cash register and Diane glared, Nick studied the impressive
array of booze bottles stacked behind the bar and wallowed in his own miserable
circumstances. He realized he still wore the alligator boots Callie had given
him, and he wondered if anyone else had noticed. Farley reappeared with Diane’s
change, and she whirled away without a word. While the bartender turned his
attention briefly to another customer, Nick leaned over Callie’s shoulder and
whispered in her ear. `If you promise to behave, I won’t tell them who you
are.´ `Define behave ,śhe
replied with a challenge in her eyes. Before Nick could think of a response,
Farley returned, his smile wide. `Now, where were we? Calliope. That’s an
unusual name.´ `I’m named after the Muse of epic poetry.´ `Fascinating. Where
did you say you were from?´ Nick let his attention drift away from the
conversation. With Callie occupied by Farley’s impromptu interview, he had a
moment to take stock of the situation. He glanced at the pay phone on the wall
in the tiny alcove next to the bar and considered what he would say to the
police at this point. They wouldn’t believe him if he said he thought this
pretty, personable young woman was dangerous because she’d magically changed
his footwear. He’d have to play things cool until she actually did something
else suspicious. Of course, right now, she was the most dangerous looking woman
in the bar. In that little black dress, with her dark hair in delicate
corkscrew curls atop her head, she was more trouble than a five-alarm fire. Nick
took a fast count of the men who’d already noticed her. Out of the corner of
his eye, he saw Bud Wylie and Frank Griff moving in from opposite
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