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  Nope, it couldn’t be true. Evie’s feelings for him had been real, but why had she hired a PI? Bile rose in his stomach. Bob was right. Why else would a reporter send a PI to locate his mother? He’d been played, and worse yet, the world was going to find out about his mother because he’d fallen for an obvious femme-fetale.

  He leaned over and grabbed the phoned, punching the numbers of her cell phone, hardly seeing them through the tears that were forming in his eyes.

  “Hi, Kyle.”

  “Evie, why did you do it?”

  “Do what?”

  “My mother, why did you hire a PI to find where she was?”

  There was silence.

  “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have, but…”

  “But what, Evie? Was this all a set up for me? Was Ms. Sutton even in on it? Pairing us up, you sleeping with me, telling me you loved me when all you wanted to do was find my mother?”

  “Kyle, no, and how dare you accuse me of doing such a despicable thing?”

  “You were right, Evie. We don’t have a thing in common because you’re a career-minded, selfish bitch.”

  He stabbed at the phone, ending the call, but then he shook so hard it dropped to the floor.

  He loved Evie. He’d trusted her, and now his world was falling apart.

  ****

  Sadie paced up and down her office. She only had herself to blame for this. She should have intervened and forced Kyle to tell Evie about his mother before he’d purchased that engagement ring. What a horrible misunderstanding between two perfectly matched people.

  “Sadie, I see that trouble is brewing.”

  Sadie turned around to see Nadine standing in the doorway. She’d forgotten to turn off her witch’s globe when she’d decided to check on Kyle and Evie. Here in plain view were the two of them, both sitting on beds, heads in their hands, and Evie sobbing.

  “It’s just temporary,” said Sadie.

  “Perhaps these two aren’t meant to be together after all. And I did warn you about intervening. That’s why we don’t use potions and spells in the Department of Love.”

  Sadie slumped down on the chair. Maybe Nadine was spot on. No, no, in her bones she felt right about this pair.

  “I’m not wrong,” said Sadie. “And please just let me put a thought into her head so these two can talk things out.”

  Nadine didn’t respond.

  “Please,” said Sadie. “If I’m wrong then you can take away Perfect Pairing from me and report me to the Counsel.”

  “Just this once, and if it doesn’t work, that’s it.”

  Sadie nodded, hoping she was right. She pulled out her mixing dish, a bottle of potion 46 and poured in three drops before circling her hands over the silver bowl.

  Chapter Twelve

  Evie knew that wasn’t the real Kyle she’d come to know and love. She’d tried calling him back to explain the whole horrible misunderstanding, but for the next two hours all she got was his voicemail.

  At first she thought it was hopeless, that Kyle would never believe her intentions weren’t to hurt him or his mother. But then a strange feeling had washed over her. She needed to straighten things out in person. She’d booked herself on the next flight to Missoula, telling her producer that she was needed there on urgent family business.

  Luckily the plane was able to land before the snow began moving into the area, but it was a slow taxi ride to the condos were Kyle was living while he was filming.

  ****

  Evie was the last person Kyle expected, or for that matter, wanted, to see when he arrived back from the set the following evening. However, she looked gorgeous in her coat, its fake fur-edged hood rimming that lovely face of hers.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “Please let me explain the real reason I wanted to find your mother.”

  “The real reason…” If she thought she would lie or sweet talk her way out of this situation, she was wrong. She’d picked the wrong guy to mess with.

  She’d kissed him before he had chance to say another word or get his defenses in full swing.

  And if she thought them getting physical was going to put things right, she was … almost dead right. She’d be hard to resist, but he’d do it.

  He opened the door and put his hand in the middle of her back to encourage inside. After all, she’d traveled all this way. And there was also a sudden chill to the air, so he could hardly make her stand outside all night.

  She rubbed her hands together before taking off her coat. Shit, she was wearing tight-fitting jeans and an even tighter ribbed sweater. Keeping her at arm’s length was going to be tougher than he’d thought. But maybe she’d worn them just to try to win him over.

  “Look, Evie, I think I’ve already said all I want to on the matter of you prying into my mother’s affairs.” He put both hands in his pockets and made a fist. That would help him focus and remain angry with her.

  “Please, let me explain everything to you.”

  “There’s nothing more to say or explain. You are a career-minded woman who’d do anything to get ahead in the business even if it means ruining people’s lives. I was a fool to think we had a chance to make a go of this relationship.”

  Fuck, tears were sliding down her face, and he felt compelled to rush over to her to wipe them away and hug her. This time it was his feet he focused on, pushing his toes down into his shoes, making sure they were anchoring to the floor, so he didn’t get any silly ideas about doing just that.

  She was sobbing now, and it was tearing him apart. He tried to look away but caught sight of the little red velvet box sitting on the countertop. He looked at her again. If she was all the terrible things he’d just said to her face then she should be the actor not him because right now she was looking pretty convincing about being sorry.

  And everyone deserved to be heard, didn’t they? Deserved a second chance? Hadn’t he pleaded with the judge on his mother’s behalf that taking his father’s life wasn’t all her fault?

  He took a deep breath. Maybe he’d regret this, but what the hell.

  “Okay, Evie, you have five minutes to explain things to me.” He looked at his watch.

  She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

  “I realize now that I should have asked you if it was okay to contact your mother before I went ahead and did it. However, my plan was to invite her to travel with me here for your big birthday.”

  Kyle closed his eyes and opened them a few seconds later. If this was true, she was not only innocent but a hell of nice person. And he, well he was as she’d originally called him, an asshole for not listening to her and accusing her of being all those awful things. He loved this woman, period.

  “And I should have been honest with you and told you about her before now, but I got so nervous. I thought I’d lose you. Oh Evie, can you forgive me for saying those vile things on the phone to you?”

  Evie raised her hand. “Hey, I think I would have thought the same thing. I only got the PI involved because I was busy, I knew him, and I thought he’d do the job I couldn’t.”

  He couldn’t resist her any longer. He marched over to where she stood and grabbed her hand. “I never wanted anyone to find out about this, not because of me, but because of my mom. She deserves her privacy. God knows she’s been through enough in her life.”

  “I know she’s serving time for murder and that it was self defense.”

  Kyle took another deep breath. They had to be honest from now on, so she might as well know everything. No secrets, no lies, nothing. “It’s the reason I stood you up that morning.”

  “What?”

  “I got the call about her shooting my dad ten minutes into my ride to your studio. My manager said to make it look like I was a temperamental actor who had stood you up. Shit, that was the dumbest piece of advice someone’s given me, but it did protect my mom.”

  “And all that time you made me believe, everyone believe, that you were just an asshole.”

  �
�This was all kind of shallow of me, don’t you think?”

  “Oh, Kyle, I was mean to you, the drink in your face, the photographers.”

  He shook his head. Evie couldn’t really be mean. He knew that now. “I deserved it.”

  “No, you didn’t. You must have been going through hell.”

  More than going through hell and facing it all alone. If only he’d had Evie in his life back then.

  “I was, but how were you to know what was happening to me? So don’t go blaming yourself.”

  He pulled her in close to him. Glad to have her back in his arms, smelling her perfume, feeling her warmth penetrate into skin through his shirt. God, how he’d missed her while he’d been in Montana.

  “How’s your mom doing?”

  “She’s been depressed, but her attorney says she’ll probably be out in a year. She’s taken up art since she’s been in there. That’s why I thought the two of you would get on so well.”

  “I’m so sorry I had to find out like I did.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I did plan to before I…”

  “Before you what?”

  “Shit, this whole weekend isn’t turning out like I planned.”

  “And how had you planned it?”

  “Romantic dinner at the lodge, musicians serenading us, me getting down on one knee and pulling out this.”

  Kyle walked over to the kitchen countertop and picked up the red velvet box. He opened it up and showed it to her.

  “Evie Winters, would you be my wife?”

  Evie put both hands over her mouth as yet another tear ran down her cheek.

  “What? You don’t like it or what?”

  “Kyle, you’re never going to believe it, but this is the engagement ring I’ve had my heart set on since I was a little girl. I had a photo of it tucked inside…”

  “Your copy of The Secret Garden. Oh, and you’ll find one of your rings is missing. I had to take it so I got the correct size for this one. So is this a yes, no, maybe?”

  “It’s a yes.”

  Kyle pulled it out and placed it on Evie’s finger.

  “I think we should announce our engagement on your entertainment segment next week,” said Kyle. “I’ll come on as your guest.”

  “Yeah, and don’t go standing me up.”

  ****

  Sadie wiped the tears from her eyes as her first perfect pairing couple moved around the floor for their first dance as husband and wife. Rachel made a stunning bride, and Mitchell, well, what else could she say other than he was downright handsome?

  And what a wonderful day for a wedding. The sun had been out with not a cloud in the sky. Now it was setting on the horizon as the lights in the marquee grew brighter and other guests headed to the dance floor.

  Sadie felt her cell phone vibrating in her purse, which she’d placed by her leg when she’d been seated at the table. She dug it out and saw that it was Nadine.

  “Sadie, I know it’s your day off and you’re supposed to be enjoying a wedding, but I thought I should congratulate you. I know I’m often hard on you, but this time you’ve outdone yourself.”

  Sadie popped another one of the bacon-wrapped oysters into her mouth as she listened to Nadine.

  “I’ve just picked up a copy of one of those entertainment magazines, and did you know that Evie Winters and Kyle Daley are engaged?”

  She smiled. She already knew it. She and thousands of others had heard the news yesterday during Evie’s weekly entertainment report.

  “That’s wonderful news. I assume I’ll be attending another wedding.”

  “And how’s that one?”

  “Perfect, like the couple.”

  “I’ll let you get back to the festivities, and I’ll be stopping by on Monday to hear about your next pairing.”

  Sadie pressed the end call button and hadn’t seen Mitchell and Rachel standing beside her.

  “Ms. Sutton, we haven’t had chance to visit with you,” said Mitchell.

  “Well, that’s understandable. It’s your big day,” said Sadie.

  “There wouldn’t have been a big day without your help,” said Rachel.

  “Oh, I just worked my magic,” said Sadie, crossing her fingers under the table.

  If they only knew what sort of magic I conjure up.

  “In fact, I have another client for you,” said Mitchell.

  “I’m going to visit with my cousins while you chat to Ms. Sutton,” said Rachel.

  As Rachel walked away, Mitchell pulled up a chair next to Sadie.

  “You see the guy sitting over there all by himself?”

  Sadie noticed a man in his late thirties cradling a glass of champagne. A handsome looking man but with obvious sorrow written all over his face.

  “He lost his wife seven years ago, and that’s the reason he signed up for the Army because he wanted to get away and forget everything. But now he’s back home. As you can see he’s unhappy, so I think it’s about time he found a new lady. One that will put a smile on that face of his.”

  Sadie grinned. This was going to be fun.

  “But he lives in Idaho Falls. Is that a problem?”

  “Not at all, because we have offices all over the US.”

  She crossed her fingers again, knowing it was only a tiny lie. One day Perfect Pairing would be in every country in the world. “Don’t worry. I’ll find him a very special lady,” said Sadie tapping the back of his hand.

  Rachel rejoined them and wrapped her arms around the shoulders of her new husband.

  “Did you hear that, honey? Ms. Sutton’s going to find someone special for Jake.”

  “That’s great. He’s a really sweet guy, and any lady would be proud to have him as her boyfriend.”

  Sadie nodded. First thing on Monday morning, she’d track down the perfect lady for Jake. Oh, how she loved Perfect Pairing.

  The End

  www.vanessadevereaux.com

  Other Books by Vanessa Devereaux:

  How I Met My Lover

  Take A Chance On Me

  Last First Kiss

  Keyboards and Kink

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com