Page 2 of The Rancher's Amnesia Bride

"But it could be a hundred," Charlee-Mae quickly corrected herself, "if I also count the stopover at—-"

"It can be two hundred or two thousand," Charlotte interrupted in exasperation, "and it still won't be enough. Marriage isn't something you think about for just minutes. Or even hours. This isn't like you're just choosing who will be your date to next year's Yuletide Ball—-"

"You're using your judgmental tone again," Charlee-Mae accused the other woman with a hurt look. "Can't you just be flattered by how much I trust in your matchmaking abilities?"

"Not. At. All!" Charlotte tried her best to sound like a nasty bitch, but all this earned from Charlee-Mae was a pout.

"But I really believe this is what I'm destined for—-"

"Oh, please." Charlotte was unimpressed by the way Charlee-Mae was suddenly clutching her chest like she had just been stabbed in the heart. "Stop being a drama queen."

"I'm not! I really mean it when I said God—-"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Marrying a mail-order groom is not some higher calling—-"

"It is! To me!" When Charlotte only looked at her, Charlee-Mae didn't hesitate to resort to shameless begging. "Please, Char!" She also wasn't above using puppy eyes if she believed it would help her get her way. "Please, please, please—-"

Charlotte had to fight against the urge to cover her eyes. Ugh. Why was Cha-Cha so good at tugging at people's heartstrings?

"Just help me with this, please? Every match you've worked on is a success," Charlee-Mae proclaimed passionately, "and that includes each and every member of San Antonio's Finest Eligibles. If you can get those guys down the aisle, why can't you do the same for me?"

Charlee-Mae could see that she was starting to get to Charlotte, but since the older woman had a tendency to think of herself as Charlee-Mae's second mother, maybe a change of tactics was called for?

"I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy—-"

Charlotte's features contorted into a frightening scowl.

Oops!

Obviously the wrong tactic, but that was fine. She could always try something different, like—-

"You know how hard I've been searching for Mr. Right."

When in doubt, a dramatically-expressed truth would always work best.

"We all have our own goals," Charlee-Mae continued in her most heartfelt tone, "and mine has always been to walk down the aisle and marry a man I love and who loves me in return."

Charlotte knew when she was being manipulated, but the thing was...she also knew that not a single word from Charlee-Mae was a lie. Even as a little girl, Charlee-Mae would spend hours planning tea parties to celebrate Barbie and Ken's wedding, and on her way home from school, she would also stop by the chapel to drop another handwritten letter in the prayer request box. And of course, that request had to do with finding her Prince Charming in the future.

"I've been dating for years and years," Charlee-Mae went on to declare, "but all I've managed to do is kiss one frog after another. It's a miracle I haven't turned into one myself."

Charlotte could sense that she was fighting a losing battle, but...

"What about those dating apps—-"

Charlee-Mae rolled her eyes. "Duh. Do you really think I haven't given those a try? I've tried every dating app there is, and all it gave me was a thumb injury for all the swipe-lefts I've done." Charlee-Mae couldn't help looking at Charlotte reproachfully when the other woman still appeared unconvinced. "The only reason you're hesitating is because you're overthinking things again. But since you've been doing this for ages," she pointed out cajolingly, "is there really something to worry about? You and Heart's Match are my last resort. I just want a grand romance—-" Shit.

In Charlee-Mae's eagerness to make her point, she had almost slipped up and mentioned her brother, and guilt filled her upon seeing Charlotte suddenly pale. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to remind you—-"

Charlotte raised a hand, and Charlee-Mae fell silent.

"There's no need to apologize since you said exactly what I needed to hear."

Her eyes widened. "I...did?"

Charlotte let out a sigh. "In other words - yes, I'll help—-" She wasn't able to finish speaking, with her sister-in-law already jumping up and down with glee.

Charlee-Mae hurried around the desk to give Charlotte a hug. "I knew you'd see it my way eventually!"

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