Page 22 of My Mismatched Valentine

Every free surface in my house—minus the bedroom—is covered in elaborate floral bouquets. I’m damn near suffocated by flowers, except the ice that formed over my heart this morning starts to thaw. With each arrangement that arrives, I remember a little more about that night Dustin and I met. How he talked to me for hours without expecting a single thing from me. How he chased off unwanted attention. He walked me home, left me with a hug, and refused my invitation to come inside.

The words he whispered against my ear haunt me now. “If we’re meant to meet again, we will.”

The next knock at the door is urgent compared to the others. “Just where the hell do they think I’m going to putmoreflowers?” I grumble, yanking open the door. My arms actually ache from shuffling vases.

It’snotanother flower delivery.

It’s Marjorie Collins.

“You have some nerve showing up here.” I narrow my gaze at the seedy reporter, wishing I had the super power that allowed me to shoot fire daggers out of my eyeballs. “Youruinedme.”

“I may have acted in haste,” she admits, sounding only mildly apologetic as she stretches her neck to look over my shoulders. “My, that is alotof roses.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I was asked to stop by.”

I can’t stop an unladylike snort. “No, you weren’t.”

“I invited her, dear,” Grandma Olive says, widening the open door. “Come in, come in.” She ignores my penetrating glare as she ushers Marjorie into the living room. There’s no longer anywhere to safely sit without risking a vase toppling over. Karl is going to be so pissed until I figure out what to do with all these flowers.

I move to close the door, but it hits an invisible wall before the latch can catch. “Maggie, please let us in.” Dustin’s voice causes my pulse to double, then triple. I’m not ready to see him. And I’m sure as hell not ready for Marjorie to watch another trainwreck from my fucking living room. If my matchmaking career is done, I’m staying out of the public eye for the rest of my life. “Glamma’s with me.”

“And Glamma hates the fucking cold!” Glamma chimes in.

I relent and let them in. Why the hell not? This circus can’t get any crazier than it already is.

Dustin doesn’t move from my side, which gives me an up close and personal view of his ragged appearance. His shaggy hair looks like he’s run his fingers through it a million times. His eyes are red. His beard is out of control. The red button-up shirt is off by one button, making it hang crooked.

My heart squeezes.

“I’m sorry I lied, Maggie. I’m sorry I didn’t approach this whole situation another way.”

“Do we have to do this right here, right now, with an audience?” I ask through gritted teeth. I’d rather face off with Karl in the bedroom than let everyone in on our private conversation.

“It’s important that everyone hears this.” He reaches for my hand, the warmth of his palm thawing the rest of my icy interior. I want to be mad at him, but the more I remember aboutThe Blue Sapphire, the harder it becomes.

“Why did you apply for my matchmaking event? It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

“Because every time I came to Caribou Creek, you weren’t here. This was the only way I knew I’d get to see you.” He cups my cheek, his thumb stroking my skin. The fear in his eyes nearly guts me. “Yes, I bribed every date you tried to set me up with, using some unexpected prize—except the one who stood me up. That really happened. I thought it was cruel to give any of these women hope when I was never going to want anyone but you.”

His words touch a place deep in my soul.

“I had hoped you’d remember me from that night we met in L.A. I kept waiting for the memory to click into place.”

“I remember now,” I say in a faint whisper, unable to keep my gaze from dropping to his lips. “I remember it all. I was just so heartbroken that night. I didn’t want to remember that feeling. But I blocked you out in the process.”

“You weren’t ready then, sweetheart. But I hope you might be now.”

“The contract!” I slap a hand over my mouth, certain Marjorie just started drooling at this juicy detail. I can’t for the life of me decide why Grandma Olive thought it was a wise idea to invite her.

“I want to marry you, Maggie. But if you want to wait, we can. Nothing is more important. Not some contract. Not the money. NotWilde Luxury Log Cabins.”

“But your father—”

“Would want me to be happy above all else. It’s why he chose Glamma to make the call. I love you, Maggie Parsons. And whether you marry me today or any day in our very long future, I’m okay with that. I’m not okay with losing you.”

I cup his beard-covered cheek and drag him down for a kiss. I mean for it to be quick, but the moment our lips touch, I start to melt into him. I desperately want to kick everyone out of my house so I can have Dustin all to myself.

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