Page 70 of The Matchmaker and the Marine

“But I speak the truth.” Melinda flashed him a flirtatious smile. “And we’re going to have a great time.”

Chapter 26

“Bridal shower or a Jack and Jill?” Stacey sat in Melinda’s kitchen with a blank pad in front of her. She was tapping the closed end of the pen on it. “What do you think the happy couple would like better?”

“Did you ask Molly?” Melinda set the teapot on the counter and poured them each a cup.

“She said she trusts me and whatever I decide is fine.” Stacey sipped her tea. “To be honest, I think working with the wedding planner in Newport is overwhelming her and they’re just too busy to make any additional decisions.”

“I’m sure the wedding is going to be stunning. I’ve looked online at other weddings held in the mansion, and what a setting.” Melinda sighed and fanned herself. With a smile she said, “So romantic, and a Christmas theme will put it over the top.”

Stacey brightened. “I think we should do a girls-only party. She deserves to be pampered. We could keep it small and intimate, go to the spa, and then we can meet up with the guys and enjoy a nice dinner. Molly is wound up like a top and this would be just the thing.”

“That does sound nice. When should we do it?” Melinda grabbed the calendar from the wall and slid it across the counter to Stacey. “With the wedding in early December, we’re just about out of weekends, especially with Thanksgiving right around the corner.”

Chewing her lip, Stacey pointed to the Saturday before the holiday. “Do you think we’ll be able to book the spa and restaurant on short notice?”

Melinda hurried out of the room and yelled over her shoulder, “Only one way to find out. Let me look up the number and we’ll make a few calls.”

“I’ll work on the guest list.” Stacey replied.

She came back into the kitchen with her computer. “Did you figure out how many girls?”

“There are two, including me, in the wedding party. Molly gave me the guest list.” She looked at Melinda. “I think if we invite the girls who are local, we’d have ten.”

“Nice size group.” Melinda clicked a few keys. “Here we go, the Blue Door. It has a five-star rating.” She scrolled down the page. “There is a four-hour package that includes a massage, mani and pedi, shampoo, blow dry and then makeup session. We could spend the afternoon there, then go to dinner at Vera’s. I’ll request the private dining room.”

“That sounds great. We could have the guys meet us for drinks and dinner. Pamper the bride and share our stunning beauty with the men afterward.”

Melinda laughed. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll call the spa and you call the restaurant. Book it for twenty. Are you sure we don’t need to check with Molly?”

Stacey smiled. “She loves surprises, and I happen to know Tim said whatever we planned he’d make sure it worked.” She picked up her cell.

Busy with their own tasks, they quickly wrapped up their respective phone calls. Melinda set her phone aside. “I’ll create the invitations and then when we get paper we can print them here, and get them out tomorrow.”

“While you do that, I’ll run down to the office supply store and get fancy paper and envelopes.” Stacey set her empty teacup aside and stood up. “I’ll pick up sandwiches for lunch while I’m out.”

“Sounds good.” Melinda stretched her arms over her head working a kink out of her lower back. She really could use a massage. Too many hours in front of her computer was killing her back. “Stacey, has Adam mentioned anything about Beth to you?”

With a slow shake of her head, Stacey said, “Not to me. I know he and Will talk a lot, pretty much about everything. It’s been like that since I started dating Will.”

Melinda frowned. “I don’t think it’s going well.”

“Why do you think that?” Stacey sat back down. “Has Adam said something to you?”

“He was telling me she’s high energy and doesn’t want to slow down and enjoy some of the quieter things in life, like a ball game, dinner, movies and concerts.” She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, her brain working in overdrive. “I thought he was a big outdoors kind of guy.”

Slowly, Stacey said, “Well, he is, but after he got out of the service he was different.”

“Different how?” Melinda’s curiosity was piqued.

Stacey seemed to measure her words carefully. “He’s less talkative than he was.”

“I’m not trying to pry, but I seem to be striking out in the love connection process. I’ve never had two poor choices in a row with one client.”

“Melinda, you’re being too hard on yourself. Beth and Adam had fun, but there just seems to be a lack of chemistry. That is something you can’t calculate with a questionnaire. You can match two people on paper, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into what you like to call a love connection.”

“I know you’re right, but I really want to find him someone wonderful.” Melinda shrugged. “He’s a special man.”

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