For Love & Cookies, page 1
For Love
&
Cookies
A Matchmakers’ Book Club Novel
Nicole Vidal
Copyright
Published by: Jasper Media, LLC
Copyright © 2023 Nicole Vidal
Cover images © Pixel-Shot
This book is an original publication of Nicole Vidal
In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without permission of the publisher constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting Nicole.jaspermediallc@gmail.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious events in every regard. Any similarities to actual events or persons, living or dead, are coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to the be property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement in any of these terms are used.
Cover design by Designs with Sass
Developmental Edit by Katherine McIntyre of Hot Tree Editing
Final Edit by Kristin Scearce of Hot Tree Editing
ISBN 978-1-961365-95-7
Table of Contents
Title
Copyright
Table of Contents
Keep in Touch with NV
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Epilogue
Coming Soon
My Books
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Prologue
Carly
I’m late. As the president, if you will, late isn’t a good look. Not my fault, though. There was a huge multi-vehicle, multiple-casualty incident on the highway late this afternoon. Large snowfall totals aren’t frequent in Southern Maine, nor this close to the first day of spring. However, this storm dropped more than the normal on our area, and some drivers weren’t prepared.
I park in front of Scarlett’s gorgeous waterfront home and hustle inside. The open concept living room has a wall of windows to showcase the ocean view. I shrug off my coat and greet the members. “Good evening, ladies. I apologize for my tardiness. Let’s get started.”
The front door whooshes open behind me. Maggie Washington and Lina Gugliotti step inside.
As they hang their coats, I call the meeting of the Matchmakers’ Book Club to order. “Hello, ladies. We’re glad you could make it on this snowy evening. I was expecting a small group, but eight is perfect. First, I would like to welcome our newest member, Alannah. She captured the heart of Callan Craven with a little nudge from her son, Caden, and members of our group. However, the initial helper is not here but deserves recognition. Kelsey, please thank your husband, Captain Ramirez, for the assist in assigning Craven to the boys’ basketball games instead of the girls.”
Kelsey replies, “I will.”
Alannah smiles and says, “Thank you. I’m excited to be here.” Alannah and Callan married a few weeks ago at Clay Hill Farm. A few of the other members who know Alannah welcome her.
I continue, “For those of you who are new to our group, allow me to share our purpose. Initially, we started as a gaggle of nurses and EMTs to de-stress from the rigors of our profession with book club and girls’ night in. At the onset, there were four women. Now, we have a membership of more than twice that many. Over the years, it evolved into a girl gang of epic proportions. Not only do we host events for the local children’s charities, but we keep tabs on the most eligible singles in our community. Our matchmaking book club was created in good fun, and the tradition has continued for the last six years. Along with the purpose of our group, the rules for inclusion on the list have evolved. Inclusion consists of a few factors balanced against one another. First, an attractive package is a must. Also, candidates and admitted bachelors or bachelorettes must be a member of our first responder community, including police officers, firefighters, and EMTs. Most importantly, we attempt to keep the list secret until after he or she has been legally wed. Now I open the floor to all members to raise a motion or suggest additions to the list.”
Willa Cappelli speaks up first. “I move to suggest two changes. First, the criteria should be expanded to include nurses and doctors. Second, I recommend changing the requirement from legally wed to engaged to allow participation in meetings. It would decrease the chance of our group being outed inadvertently. However, the honoree shouldn’t be removed until he or she is legally wed.”
“Interesting amendments. Let’s start with expanding eligibility to nurses and doctors. All those in favor?” I ask the group. As long as these ladies don’t set their sights on me, I’m fine with doctors and nurses being eligible.
Six hands rise.
“Motion carried. Regarding changing the invitation to join the group prior to marriage but not removing the honoree’s name. All those in favor, please raise your hand.”
Only one member fails to vote for this motion.
“The second motion is carried,” I state. Rumblings of chatter start among the group.
Then Lina asks, “We need two honorees from YPD, correct?”
“Yes,” I reply.
“Do they have to be men?” Kelsey wonders aloud.
I consider my answer based on the rules and state, “No. The rules indicate there must be at least one woman on each list. No reason we can’t have a second.”
“Perfect. I recommend Esmeralda Garcia. She joined the department in the last few months. Not only is she gorgeous but funny and new to the area. Esme, which she chooses to be called, moved here from Florida,” Kelsey offers.
“She can be an option. Any other suggestions?” I ask the group.
I get no responses as far as adding to the list. “If there are no other recommendations, I move to add Officer Garcia to the YPD list and leave the second spot open.”
“I second,” Gladys states. She’s one of the founding members and formerly worked as a caregiver for the Smithsons and assisted in matching Zack and Scarlett.
“Motion carried. Now, let’s move on to our next couple. Talk among yourselves, and we’ll vote on the way out. After I tally the votes, I’ll reach out to the members best suited to foster our honoree.” Normally, I don’t participate in choosing our next honoree.
“What about Penn?” Alannah suggests after reading the list of names. If I recall correctly, Alannah and Penn are locals. Perhaps she knows more about him personally than the others in the room.
“We haven’t matched an EMT or a YFD honoree yet,” Willa adds to the conversation.
“True,” Maggie admits. “What about Hagen? He may be a tough one to match, though. His sole focus is Lilah.”
“We can handle tough. I mean, you matched my husband and me,” Kelsey states with a smile.
The ladies laugh and agree.
I wrap up our meeting. “Okay. I’ll set the nominees out near the door, and you can vote on your way out. We have two choices: Séamus Penn and Lachlan Hagen. Don’t forget to sign up for the 5K and charity toy drive for the children’s floor at York Memorial. If you have any questions about the 5K, see Maggie. For the toy drive portion, see Scarlett. The run will take place this summer. Please vote as you leave.”
The group moves into our discussion of this month’s book selection. We changed it up a bit and chose a book used as an outline for the Bridgerton series on Netflix.
Willa speaks first. “To be honest, I liked the show better. Historical fiction isn’t my favorite genre.”
A few of the other ladies nod in agreement.
“I was more a fan of the Duke of Hastings. Regé-Jean Page is a sight to behold,” I admit.
“Yes! That man is perfection.” Lina fans her face.
“His accent makes me swoon,” Alannah adds.
The ladies continue chatting about this month’s selection. Mostly, they focus on the show. About an hour later, they shift gears to choose the book for next month.
With the next book selected, the ladies say goodbye. It’s laughable considering these women see one another frequently between meetings. Some of them are family. As the crowd dwindles, Maggie approaches me.
“Hey, Carly. I wanted to check in about the advertising budget for the 5K.”
“With the storm, I left those forms at home. I’ll email you.”
“Great, thanks. See you next month.” Maggie slips out the front door.
After thanking Scarlett for the use of her home, I leave as well.
Chapter One
Eva
Relocating will be good for me, professionally and, more importantly, personally. A year ago, I was engaged to be married. Now, not so much. I push away those thoughts and focus on the positive. My promotion is significant, and the move brings me closer to my brother and his family.
Grant chose Maine to pursue his passion as a police officer. A few years later, he met Maggie at a traffic stop when she visited her sister for the holidays. Now they have two precocious kids. One is named after our late brother, Caleb, and the other after her late grandmother, Corrinne. Our parents, Greg and Regina, downsized soon thereafter. They sold the family home and purchased a small condo, which allows them to spend time in New York as well as Maine.
I’ve been in York Beach about a week. It’s a quaint seaside town with beaches, a small village, and even an amusement park. I took time to pack up and relax before starting my new position. Currently, I’m staying at Gen’s cottage. She inherited it from her grandmother, who passed away about five years ago, and modernized the floorplan. How do I know Gen? She’s my brother’s sister-in-law.
I pad to the gorgeous kitchen. The cabinetry is white with matching granite with lines of black, gray, and silver for the countertops and island. With a freshly brewed cup of coffee, I step onto the lower-level deck and inhale the ocean breeze. One deep breath and I return inside. While I love the beach, it’s chilly, and the sand is covered with a layer of snow from a late-season storm.
I dress comfortably in leggings and a fluffy sweater and log into my office computer since I don’t have a video conference call today. My new position is based in Boston, but it’s a hybrid.
Near lunch, the doorbell rings. I wrinkle my nose. Only a few people know I’m here, literally a few. Checking the peephole, I see an older gentleman on the front porch with a large bag in his hand.
I open the door. “Hello, can I help you?”
“I have a delivery for Eva Washington,” he replies. He’s sweet with a plaid ivy cap, which coordinates with his jacket.
“Thank you.” I accept the bag and pull money from my wallet. “Have a nice day.”
He tips his hat and replies, “You as well.”
He’s so cute! I set the bag on the island and dig into it. The card indicates it’s from Maggie.
Me: Thank you. It smells amazing!
Maggie: You’re welcome.
Me: Where is it from?
Maggie: My restaurant. Not mine, lol. Morgan’s.
Me: Sweet. Thanks.
Maggie: See you on Friday.
Me: Looking forward to meeting some of your friends.
Spreading out my lunch in front of the gorgeous French doors, I savor the artisan sandwich and fries. Each bite melts in my mouth. Chef has some serious skills. I make a mental note to check out Morgan’s soon. An image of a gorgeous man flashes through my mind. It would be a perfect first date spot. Lachlan is tall with sandy blond hair and piercing eyes as blue as the tranquil waters of Antigua. He took my breath away. We met at the YPD holiday event a little over a month ago. I drove up for a visit after my interview in Boston, and it happened to be on the same day. My brother insisted I join him at the party. To be fair, I met Lachlan’s sweet daughter first. Lilah, who possesses a mass of golden ringlets atop her head, spilled her plate of decorated cookies at my feet. Instantly, tears burst from her eyes.
The problem is… I’m not interested in anything long term right now. Cody, my ex-fiancé, did a number on me. We dated for three years before he proposed. Our engagement was going well until his behavior became suspect. Instead of coming straight home after the gym at the end of the day, he shifted his schedule. He started working out in the morning, then hitting the bar with his coworkers. Coworkers—plural—wasn’t exactly true. He was wining and dining one coworker, Chelsea. She was my polar opposite in every way—brunette, voluptuous, and fiery. I’m not angry with her at all. Cody failed to mention his ring was perched on my finger while dating another woman.
I should’ve seen the signs when he asked for my hand in marriage. He made a public show of it at a trendy bistro downtown with a photographer on hand to capture the entire thing. I’m fine with the photos, but all those strangers, no thanks. The ring was a gaudy, five-carat, pear-shaped canary diamond. It isn’t me at all. I’m more of a traditional girl, and my ex didn’t bother to consider me. He chose the ring to appease his mother, which is another long, tedious story. Why did he propose instead of breaking up with me? No idea.
Pulling myself out of my useless memory spiral, I return to the office and continue my workday. To push away the sour taste the memories of Cody put in my mouth, I allow myself one more moment with Lachlan in the front of my mind. My smile renewed, I make progress on my project for the soccer team and then call it a day a few hours later.
After eating and cleaning the kitchen, I lock the doors and curl up on the master balcony in front of the cozy firepit with my book.
I wake early the next morning and decide to check out the local coffee shop. It’s a short walk, and it’s considerably warmer than yesterday. I meander down the street and around a curve. The stretch of beach along the back of Gen’s house is on my left and the Perk on my right a few blocks ahead.
The shop is cute and has a Friends vibe. I peruse the extensive menu before stepping up to the counter.
“Welcome to the Perk. What can I get started for you?” a young woman with gorgeous raven hair greets me. Her name tag says “Macie.”
“Morning. Can I have a vanilla chai latte and strawberry cheddar scone?”
“Of course.”
I pay and wait for my order. Savoring the first glorious sip of the latte, I step outside and cross the street. I decide to stroll along the beach back to the cottage instead of the sidewalk. I’ll dodge the patches of remaining snow along the way.
The next few days I’m buried in campaign themes and draft ad images and have no time to explore the area more. Aside from a second trip for pastries, I haven’t left the cottage. I don’t need to, but tonight I’m meeting Maggie and a few others for dinner and drinks. I can’t wait.
My sister-in-law indicated the dress code was casual but not loungewear casual. I opt for jeans with a V-neck royal blue sweater and booties. After locking up, I walk down the street past the Perk and search for Inn on the Blues, where I’m meeting Maggie. She assured me it was close to the cottage. I decided to take her suggestion and enjoy the balmy weather this evening.
The atmosphere here is much different than in New York City. It’s laid-back and peaceful. My affinity for the ocean is soothed with each morning coffee on the deck. I didn’t realize how much I missed the shore surrounded by concrete and traffic noise until moving here.
The hostess greets me as I approach, but Maggie waves me over to her table. “Thank you, but I see my party over there.”
The hostess nods, and I weave my way over to my sister-in-law.
“Hey, Eva!” She stands and hugs me.
I put Maggie on the spot when we first met. I mean, my brother brought her to the hospital when our mother had a stroke. Maggie stood up for herself and Grant that day. She told me flat out that his job was a calling, and she would support him. Since then, we’ve grown close. “This place is amazing!”
“The food is delicious too. Not as good as Morgan’s,” she adds, lowering her voice, “but still worth it.”
“Maggie, aren’t you forgetting to introduce the rest of us?” a stunning, curvy brunette asks.
“Sorry, Caroline.” She looks at me and asks, “Ready?”
