The Matchmakers (16 page)

 
Callie waved back and introduced herself.
`Nice to meet you.Ĺena’s friendly reply was lost in a whirlwind as her
children grabbed her hands and dragged her down the sidewalk to the next
apartment. Callie watched them go, her smile fading, her heart heavy. `They
were so cute.´ Hayden beamed when Callie closed the door. Before they reached
the kitchen, the bell rang again and Callie found a ghost, two hobos and a
super hero complete with flowing red cape, vying for candy and fighting over
their position on the narrow top step. `I hope we bought enough,śhe mused
to Hayden after doling out one piece to each bag of loot. `I’ll go back to the
store and get more. Don’t bother sitting down. School’s out. They’ll be coming
in droves now.Ćallie laughed. `I’m not sure I can handle droves.´ `Come
on, it’s no worse than Saturday night at Farley’s, only you don’t get tips. I’ll
be back in a bit.´ Bewildered, Callie watched Hayden navigate past a giggling
trio of ghosts as they climbed the stairs, bags at the ready to collect their
treats. When they left, a skeptical tyke dressed as a farmer took their place.
He gave Callie a critical once over as he held out a hollow plastic pumpkin. `Where’s
your costume?´ he asked. `I haven’t had time to put it on.´ `What are you going
to be?´ His gaze left her long enough to follow the path of the chocolate bar
she’d dropped into his bucket. `I hadn’t thought about it.´ `What would you
like to be the most in the whole world?Ćallie sighed, and her amused smile
dissolved. `A faerie. I’d like to be a faerie.´ `I didn’t know there were that
many kids in all of North America.Á weary sigh accompanied Nick’s complaint as
he shut the door at nine PM and turned off the outdoor light. `You’d think the
rain would have kept them off the streets.Ćallie sat on the couch, too
tired to move. The evening had been a steady stream of Trick-or-Treaters. Every
muscle she possessed ached from the day-long burden of being human. She pulled
off her faux faerie wings and smoothed the skirt of her party dress, wondering
how humans could stand to feel so tired all the time. Fortunately she hadn’t
popped her costume out of existence after the party. She had actually enjoyed answering
the door and waggling her fake wings for the children, but after wearing the
costume all evening, she’d begun to feel silly. What had seemed like great fun
earlier now only served to remind her of what she’d lost. Fake wings were no
substitute for real ones.

 
`It’s a good thing Hayden came back
with all that candy. I’d hate to see what tricks we’d have had played on us if
we ran out of treats,śhe said. Nick lowered himself to the couch and put
his feet up on the coffee table. He unwrapped the last piece of candy and broke
the small bar in half. `We’ve got one left. Want to split it?Ćallie
accepted the treat and tried to ignore the tingle that raced up her arm when
Nick’s fingers brushed hers.

I’m human now!
The words played over
and over in her mind, but she couldn’t force herself to say them.
We’ve all but failed. We might as well give
up.
`How was work?śhe asked instead. Between shopping, cooking dinner,
and answering the door all day, she hadn’t had a spare moment to think about
her task. Guilt weighed heavily in her chest. If she couldn’t even concentrate
on her mission, they certainly didn’t stand a chance of succeeding. `The rain
didn’t help. By the time it started to let up, we had most of the damaged walls
torn down and some of the rewiring done. Turns out we might have a flooding
problem at the north end of the parking lot, so tomorrow John’s bringing the
back hoe in to redesign the drainage layout.Ćallie contemplated while she
chewed her half of the candy bar. `The last thing on John’s mind is falling in
love, I guess.´ Nick shrugged. `Yep. He said the police didn’t have any leads.
Whoever vandalized the site was an expert. They didn’t leave any clues.´ `Did
you talk to Teresa?´ Nick sighed. `I forgot. Sorry. But like you said, John
doesn’t have time to worry about ´ `I mean about the vandalism.´ `You think
Teresa would know something?´ Nick sat forward, his expression quizzical. `No.
I don’t mean she’s involved. But as the secretary she might know if any unusual
people had called or visited the site. If this was an expert job, they didn’t
just show up knowing exactly what to do to cause the most damage. They needed
to have a plan, right? They’d have needed the layout of the site, like a blueprint
of the building, to know how to get in and out fast with no one seeing them.
Teresa might have a list of people who’d looked at the plans recently.´ `Anyone
can look at the plans. They’re on file at the town building department.´ `Then
someone should check there and see if they have a record of who might have seen
them.´ Nick turned to Callie, admiration in his eyes. `I think you’re right. I’ll
mention it to John tomorrow. If the police haven’t checked it out, someone
should.Ćallie yawned and stretched. Her body protested with new aches and
the heavy feeling of exhaustion. Nick nudged her. `Why don’t you go to bed? I
was going to watch a little TV before I turn in. I guess I’m still wired from
work.´ She contemplated Nick’s expression and weighed it against the wonderful
feeling of comfort she’d experienced when they’d shared his bed. Guilt flooded
out her human desires, though, and she shook her head. If she went into the
bedroom tonight to sleep, it would be too easy to invite him to join her. `I
can’t move from this spot. I’ll just put my feet up and doze off while you
watch TV. It’s okay.´ Disappointment colored his eyes a darker shade of blue,
but he nodded and shifted so she could stretch her legs out over his. `If you
promise not to snore.Ćallie huffed in mock indignation and clamped her
eyes shut. `Fae do not snore.´ The words came out without thought, and she
silently berated herself for forgetting she was no longer Fae. She still hadn’t
the heart to tell Nick her secret, and she wondered if she ever would.

Chapter Twenty

 
         
Nick
woke restless again in the middle of the night. Callie had fallen asleep almost
instantly, and he felt like a cad for toying with the idea of carrying her into
bed just so he could be with her. Though he couldn’t get thoughts of intimacy
out his mind, he’d have been content just to have her next to him again. Well,
maybe that wasn’t exactly true. If she’d been in his arms, stretched beside him
under the blankets, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to just hold her. He wanted
her, and for once in his life, he didn’t know what to do about it. Their
indefinable relationship, up until now, had been comfortable if a little
unnerving. Where would it lead? Would they still be platonic roommates if she
remained with him for another six weeks, until the night of the Oak Moon?
Suppose they failed to unite two more couples in true love before the night of December’s
full moon. Would he spend the rest of his life with Callie making him
breakfast, borrowing his clothes and sleeping on his couch? He’d go insane. He
had no right to ask her for anything, but, good Lord, he ached to put his hands
on her, to kiss her and feel her warm and pliant in his arms. He’d noticed the
new things she’d bought today, crammed into his closet among his clothes. She
was settling in, putting down roots. While part of his brain liked that just
fine, a faint alarm bell sounded in the back of his mind. How had he gotten to
this point with a complete stranger? The worst part was, it felt like she
belonged here, belonged to him. He didn’t question the bottles of feminine
mystery he’d found crowded under the bathroom sink or the pretty light blue bra
he’d found in his underwear drawer. The last time he’d felt at home with a
woman underfoot he’d been with Claire in Tallahassee. He remembered the day
everything fell apart and felt a twinge of regret still. Why had the prospect
of living with Claire scared the daylights out of him back then? He’d decided
long ago he hadn’t been ready to call someplace home and assign a new address
to all the emotional baggage he carried. He and Claire might have been good
together, but no one turned him around and kept him on his toes the way Callie
did. No one he’d met in his life, including Claire, had made him lie awake at
night wondering how long she’d be in his life or how he would feel if she
suddenly disappeared. Nick rolled over, punched his pillow back into shape and
tucked it under his head. The glow of the alarm clock mocked him. His nerves
danced under his skin, and his stomach churned. Something had to change.
Something had to give, or he’d go crazy with Callie so close and still out of
his reach. He had to come up with a plan to bring her closer without scaring
her away. Callie’s heart dropped into her stomach when she arrived at the bar
on Tuesday to find Diane perched on a stool talking to Andrew. Farley’s brother
waved her over, his smile bright. `Hey Callie, how are you feeling? I’m really
sorry about the truffles. I had no idea you were allergic to alcohol.´ `Oh,
that’s okay, Andrew. I should have mentioned it. It’s not an allergy as much as
an intolerance.Ćallie smiled tentatively at Diane as she spoke. Farley’s
former waitress looked great. Her skin glowed, her blond hair was newly styled,
and she bore the smile of a satisfied woman.

           
`Hi, honey. I don’t think
we’ve been formally introduced. I’m Diane Martin. I believe you took my
job.Ćallie reached out to shake Diane’s hand, trying to hide a nervous
laugh. Was this where she got fired on top of everything else that had gone
wrong? Diane grasped Callie’s fingers in a firm, confident grip. `Don’t look
scared. I’m not coming back to work.´ `You’re not?´ `Nope. I’m working at D’Angelo’s,
the Italian place over in Grandview.´ `Oh.´ Farley appeared then, sauntering in
from the back room. His friendly grin had returned, but the sparkle in his
brown eyes was only for Diane. The couple gazed at each other, and Callie
frowned. How could these two not have found true love? They giggled and blushed
like teenagers in heat. `Well, Callie, now that I’ve lost my head waitress, I
guess I can order you a printed t-shirt.´ `Oh. Thanks.Ćallie glanced back
at Diane who grinned at Farley over her shoulder. Andrew’s gaze bounced between
his brother and Diane, and he shrugged as he swiped a cloth over the bar. `I’m
also going to need someone to help with inventory and learn some of the
accounts. Are you interested?´ Farley asked. `Sure, but what about Hayden? She’s
been here longer than I have.´ Farley shrugged. `Well, she’s not here now. She
called to say she’d be late. You may have to cover for her for a few hours.´ `I’ll
hang around and help if things get busy,´ Diane offered. `And I’ll show Callie
around the storeroom. The inventory is going to get a lot more complicated if
you start using that kitchen properly and serve lunch.´ `Lunch?Ćallie’s
mind spun as she followed Diane toward the back room.

 
`Andy’s food went over big at the
party. Ted’s thinking about starting a sandwich business. That means he’ll need
some daytime help. Andy’s going to be working here full time for a while when
his classes are over.´ Pride tinged Diane’s voice as they made their way past
the pool table and into the storeroom beyond. `He wants to make a lot of
changes around here, and I think you can take some of the credit, Callie.´ `Me?´
`You suggested that party, and it got Ted thinking. It got him moving«on a lot
of things.´ Diane winked. `Thanks.´ `Sure« I just thought it would be fun.´ Callie
forced herself to concentrate on Diane’s first lesson in bar and restaurant
inventory procedure, though her heart wasn’t in it. Everything seemed perfect
between Diane and Farley. Despite her not returning to work, Diane seemed
comfortable in the bar and extremely happy, like a woman who saw the path of
her future lying before her. Without her Fae senses, Callie couldn’t be sure,
but even a human could see the spark between the older Farley and his former
waitress. How come Meri had said only Catfish and his redheaded dance partner
had found true love? What could still be wrong between Diane and Farley? Halfway
through the evening, after a long, steamy goodbye kiss at the front door,
Farley escorted Diane to her car. Shortly after that, Hayden arrived looking
pale and drawn. Bluish circles darkened the skin under her eyes. `Why did you
come in?Ćallie demanded when she met Hayden in the ladies room. `You look
terrible.´ `Thanks. I’m so glad someone noticed.´ Hayden’s words fell flat and
lifeless. She splashed cold water on her face and dug a cover-up stick out of
her purse. `I’m sorry, but you look like you haven’t slept. What’s wrong?´ `Nothing.
Everything. My life stinks.Ćallie watched while Hayden smeared cover stick
under her eyes and rubbed viciously at the dark circles. She dashed on bright
lipstick that only intensified her pallor. `Is this because of Andrew?´ `He’s a
jerk. I hate him.Ćallie scowled. Was Nick right about Andrew being a
player? `What did he do?´ `Nothing. I don’t want to talk about him or any other
man.´ `Uh oh. What other man? Did something happen with the fireman from the
other night?´ `Ugh. No! He didn’t even call me. I hate him, too.´ Callie put
her hand on Hayden’s shoulder and silently cursed her lost abilities. She
should have been able to tell exactly what Hayden was feeling and about whom
she was feeling it, but she could only guess. `If you tell me what’s wrong,
maybe I can help.´ For a moment, Hayden’s veneer of self-pitying anger dropped
away. Her newly made up eyes misted, and her lower lip trembled. Then the mask
of determined martyrdom crashed back down over her features. `It’s nothing. I’m
just having a bad day. I get bitchy once a month. I’m sorry.´ `It’s
okay.Ćallie studied Hayden’s reflection. `If you need to talk«´ `Thanks.´
Hayden sniffled, then stared hard at her face in the mirror. After a moment,
she pasted on a smile and left the bathroom. Callie sighed as she followed her
friend out the door. She’d never felt so useless in her life. Nick swerved his
truck into a parking space. The breaks squealed and the tires crunched on loose
gravel. He yanked the keys out of the ignition and took a deep breath to calm
his anger. He gripped the steering wheel to steady himself and counted to ten.
The exercise did nothing for his mood. His mind raced, and his stomach churned.
He hated himself for feeling the way he did over a woman he barely knew. His
work boots hit the gravel, and he slammed the door hard enough to rattle the
truck’s entire frame. He thought of opening the door and slamming it again just
for good measure, but an angry tirade had built up in his chest. If he didn’t
get the words out soon, they’d burn him up from the inside. He strode across
the parking lot and into Farley’s, ignoring the lackluster greeting he received
from Hayden. Callie stood by the bar, flirting with Andy and Bud Wylie. She
yelped in surprise when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the door. `Come
with me,´ he said in a tone that left no room for discussion. She stumbled
after him, barely sliding her tray onto the bar as she went. `Where’ya going?´
Hayden called as they pushed past her. Callie shrugged, and Nick merely
growled. `We have something to discuss.´ He blew through the door and didn’t
stop walking until they’d crossed half the parking lot. There, he stopped and
whirled her around to face him. `Nick, what’s ´ `This has gone far enough.´ `What?
What are you«?Śhe looked innocent and sweet and scared. Nick’s chest went
tight at the thought of what she’d done today. It hurt to think she was capable
of such malice. `Your little trick worked very well.´ `What are you talking
about?Ánger replaced Callie’s confusion, and she reared back, crossing her arms
over her chest. `What trick?´ `You look innocent, but you’re not. You were
there today at the construction site. You were invisible, but I know you were
there. I can feel you. I can smell you and practically taste you, even when I
can’t see you.´ Her jaw dropped. `I wasn’t there.´ `It worked. Seeing Teresa
get hurt today, it worked on John. You must be happy.´ `Teresa got hurt? When?
What happened?´ The quiver in her lower lip did nothing to deter Nick. He wanted
to shake her, but he didn’t dare touch her now. `The sink hole that
conveniently opened up beside the trailer. Teresa fell into it as she was
leaving work, just as you planned. John rescued her. She almost drowned, but he
pulled her out and saved her life.Ćallie’s arms dropped to her sides. She
couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How could Nick think she would hurt
someone just to bring a couple together? `Is she okay?´ `They’re at the
hospital now. She should be fine. Everything went according to your plan with
John.´ `I don’t know what you’re talking about. What plan?´ `He told her he
loved her.´ Nick stared hard, searching for a small sign of triumph in her
eyes, but she didn’t react to the news. `I had nothing to do with this. I wasn’t
there, Nick.Ćallie’s heart shriveled like a dry apple. A shiver ran
through her at the cold look in Nick’s eyes. He didn’t believe her. `It’s too
perfect. The whole thing played out like a scene from a movie, only this is
real life, and Teresa didn’t deserve to get hurt so you could fulfill your
quota.Ćallie sputtered the beginning of several replies, but none of them
made any sense. Her throat burned with tears, leaving her mute until Nick
turned his back on her. `Nick, wait!´ `I’m going home. I need some sleep.
Because of what happened, the town may condemn the building site. Most of the
guys on the crew will be looking for new jobs tomorrow.Ćallie stood frozen
to the spot, her knees locked to keep her from falling down. The cold November
air raced around her, the wind whipping her hair into her eyes, blurring the
tears that hung unshed on her lower lashes. She watched Nick’s truck slam into
reverse and screech out of the lot. She didn’t move a muscle until Hayden laid
a hand on her shoulder. `What happened?´ `I don’t know«I need to«Śhe had
to tell Nick the truth. If she could have confessed that she was human now, he
would have understood. `I need to sit down.´ Hayden walked Callie back inside
and led her to an empty table. Their gloomy expressions drew Andrew over from
the bar. `Hey, I heard yelling outside. Are you okay?Ćallie didn’t dare
nod. She was as far from okay as she’d ever been. `He’s very upset. There was
some kind of accident at the construction site, and Teresa got hurt.´ `Who’s
Teresa?´ Hayden asked when Andrew’s face went pale. `Is she all right? What
happened?´ he demanded. `She’s at the hospital,Ćallie whispered. Andrew
fled, leaving Hayden staring after him, bewildered. `Who’s Teresa?´ `Cat
Girl,Ćallie said. Hayden sank into the chair opposite Callie. `Oh.´ `Nick
said she’d be all right, but«´ `But what? Why is he so angry with
you?Ćallie couldn’t explain. Hayden would never understand. Instead, she
shrugged. `I don’t know.´ Hayden made a face. `Men. They all stink. Come home
with me tonight. I could use some company. If Nick’s mad at you, let him stew
in it for a while.Ćallie forced herself to smile, though she’d never felt
so empty and alone in her entire existence. `Thank you, Hayden. I’d like that.´
Hayden patted Callie’s hand. `It’s settled then. Let’s get this place cleaned
up and get out of here.´ Nick paced the length of the living room, his anger at
Callie waxing and waning by turns. She’d looked shocked by his accusations,
wounded. Yet how could he believe she hadn’t been involved? He’d seen her
abilities. He hadn’t wanted to believe them, but he’d learned long ago that
denial didn’t make something go away. The facts spoke for themselves. The
construction site had been surveyed by professionals months ago and deemed
perfectly safe for the project. The first sinkhole that had opened up a week
prior had been small, a fluke caused by decaying tree roots just beneath some
newly disturbed topsoil. This new one was larger, deeper and filled with muddy
water from the recent rain. Nick had been too far away to help Teresa. He hadn’t
even seen her fall as she turned left at the bottom of the trailer steps. But
John had. He’d thrown his body flat on the ground and caught Teresa’s hand as she
clawed for the collapsing edge of the hole, gasping for breath.