One Moment: Montana Matchmakers, #7

By Reina M. Williams

Christmas is working magic in Loving…

 

Maura Griffin can't believe she let her uncle and cousin talk her into moving. She likes the new town, her new job, and new possibilities, but not that her ex, Nathan Shepherd, lives nearby. Before she can decide what to do, she's asked to help on the town Christmas tree-lighting festivities committee. Wanting to become part of the community and immerse herself in her favorite holiday, she accepts. But when Nathan is also on the committee, she wonders if her decision will bring disaster.

 

Nathan Shepherd knows one thing: he needs to apologize to Maura. He used to think he knew a whole lot more, but that was when he was a young jerk. Seeing Maura again brings back memories he'd rather forget, and feelings he thought he'd left behind. When working with her on the town's Christmas celebrations deepens his understanding of Maura, he hopes for a second chance in love. Can they learn to sing a new song together, or will the same old tune break them apart again?

 

And so are the Montana Matchmakers!

 

Length: 150

Heat level: Sweet-Kisses Only

Content advisory: discussion of grief

 

Find love in Loving with the Montana Matchmakers, inspired by Jane Austen's couples and classic Hollywood musicals like Hello, Dolly! and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers!
Sweet Christmas (short story)
Sweet Valentine (short story)
Sweet Spring (short story)
Sweet Summer (short story)

Hello Dolly (novella)
Sweet Fall (short story)
One Moment (novella)

Sweet Winter (short story)

Sweet Easter (short story)

Sweet May (short story)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rickrack Books
• Release date: Nov 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393892045

Book preview

Prologue

The Matchmakers Three

Memories Calling

This was a Stetson -wearing kind of day. But Tim Raines wasn’t wearing his hat just now, not in the meeting with two of the town matriarchs, Mrs. June Gallagher and Mrs. Betty Davis. The three of them could be holding his niece Maura’s happiness in their hands, or plans, more like. Not for the first time, he doubted he was cut out for this matchmaking gig, even part-part-time as he was.

He stood in the back room of Hank’s Bar, twisting the brim of his hat. Music played—the earthy crooning of Willie Nelson—not too loudly yet. Junior, the owner and bartender, kept things down during the Montana Matchmakers’ monthly meeting.

Mrs. Davis shook her head, her head of greying waves bobbing in the movement. Sit down, Tim, you’re making my eye twitch standing there like a walking bundle of nerves. Mrs. Davis sipped her Shirley Temple. Three cherries sat in the glass; Junior had a soft spot for Mrs. Davis. Tim, on the other leg, had been too awed by their teacher, now retired, to even open his mouth around her.

That feeling lingered on.

He sat next to Mrs. G, trying to avoid Mrs. Davis’s scrutiny.

Sure you don’t want a drink? Mrs. G asked, her usual upturned mouth easing his jitters. She sipped her whiskey, which she only drank at these meetings.

Thoughts of escaping to his wife in the other room stilled him. Denise is waiting at the bar. I just told her I’d check in. We’re staying to do some dancing.

You’re a good husband. Mrs. G patted his hand. Her short silver hair caught the low light, making it look almost blonde, and her rounded face had a youthful charm that belied her seventy-something years.

He said nothing, but could feel his face heating from the double embarrassment of a compliment and Mrs. Davis’s stare.

You missed the main meeting, Mrs. Davis said. She set down her glass. But we can excuse you since no one else could make it either.

He’s here, Betty. He’s a consultant, anyway, not required to attend all the meetings. Especially with his new partnership with Luke. How’s the renovation on the old place coming?

At the name of her neighbor, Mrs. Davis’s expression softened, but she waved a hand at them, as if dismissing Mrs. G’s question. All right, to business. Since you messed up, June, setting up Nathan Shepherd with your niece, when all the time it was clear that she was meant for Luke, what are we doing about our favorite sheep rancher?

Tim had an answer, but he kept his mouth shut.

You’re never going to let me live that down, are you? Mrs. G patted Tim’s hand. Let’s let Tim address this.

I... he began, but made the mistake of glancing at Mrs. Davis.

She sighed. Silent as usual. We already know, don’t we, June, or are your sources not as good as mine? Mrs. Davis must be in an ornery mood tonight.

Yes, we know Tim didn’t succeed the first time. But he has a new plan to reunite Nathan and his first love, Maura.

Maura, one of Tim’s nieces, had moved to Loving last month, not exactly coincidentally, where her ex-boyfriend and almost-fiancé Nathan lived. Only Maura didn’t know it wasn’t exactly coincidental. And her finding out that Nathan now owned a ranch just outside of town hadn’t gone over the way Tim had hoped it would. He was only two for five on this matchmaking business, which was a poor average in any sport. Not that he needed to do the work now, since business with Luke was doing well, but he appreciated the extra money, what with both his kids heading into high school, and then, at least for his daughter, college.

Mrs. Davis waved her hand. Oh, shoot, he hadn’t been paying attention. What’s your plan, then?

Uh...Christmas. Using the holiday and its cheer had worked well to reunite childhood friends and now more than friends Maya Perry and Dean Manning. And it was Maura’s favorite holiday.

Mrs. Davis huffed. Mrs. G clucked. He means they need to work together on the town Christmas committee. And you’re our in on that, what with your Kenny being the mayor.

I see. Leaving it all to me again. Mrs. Davis shook her head.

Thanks. He hopped up and shoved his hat on his head.

"Oh, thank you, Tim, because you’ll be on that committee too."

He nodded, swallowing down his apprehension. He wasn’t about to argue with Mrs. Davis. He didn’t have the gumption. She called up fear, but his memories of Nathan and Maura as a couple made him ready to follow through on this plan.

So he’d try, try again. After all, his honor as a matchmaking associate was at stake, and, more importantly, his niece’s happiness.

Chapter One

Longing

Maura shook her head as new snow swirled down, blanketing the trees outside her window. Why had she let Uncle Tim and her cousin Jena talk her into this move? Wyoming to Montana wasn’t going to help her escape these winters. She should’ve gone to Arizona instead, like her grandparents had urged. Had she known at the time that her ex, Nathan, was right outside of this town, she would’ve chosen Arizona. And that Uncle Tim hadn’t told her... But he’d apologized, and she couldn’t stay mad at Uncle Tim. He was kind, he meant well, and he was willing to make amends. He would be keeping a look out for somewhere for her to live.

She didn’t even have her own place yet. Instead, she was staying in the guest room at Mrs. Betty Davis’s, Uncle Tim’s former high school English teacher. Here it was, Saturday night, and Mrs. Davis was out, while Maura was holed up in her room. She let the heavy sage green curtain fall over the window.

Nathan wouldn’t believe she was at home on a Saturday night. He was the one, after all, who’d thought her some sort of flighty, volatile girl, incapable of carrying on a long-distance relationship. Why, after all these years, was she still thinking about Nathan? Their on-again-off again had been a pull for her from nineteen through various points in her twenties. At thirty-four, she knew more about herself and about healthy relationships, and what she and Nathan had had wasn’t that.

Enough.

In an effort to distract herself, she thought about what to have for dinner. As she walked toward the door, her phone rang.

She answered, as it was Mrs. Gallagher, her boss’s aunt and an important woman in town.

I’ve got a favor to ask, Mrs. G said. Maura made an affirmative noise. There’ll be a free pot pie for you if you can make it down to the café in fifteen minutes. There’s a meeting of the town Christmas committee, and we’d like you to be on it.

She was hungry, and Gallagher’s Café’s weekly special was ending today, but apparently extended for her if she said yes. Turkey pot pie was a weakness. Of which she had many, but those were also her strengths. I’m new in town. Shouldn’t it be someone who knows the traditions?

Time to do some new things.

I don’t know. Maura wasn’t the committee type.

Free weekly pot pies for the month.

Her stomach’s grumbling was joined by her mouth watering. Deal. Less cooking and free pot pie was worth the potential aggravation. The committee would probably be a bunch of church ladies who wouldn’t listen to her anyway, so no problem. Who else will be—

Thanks, dear, I’ve got to go. Autumn will know the deal. Call ended.

Maura shoved her phone in the pocket of her jeans and let out a breath. Everything would be okay, eventually. She turned, grabbed her heavy coat, scarf, and gloves, and geared up for a walk.

Moving as quickly as she could through the snowy street, she wrapped her scarf around her face, leaving just her eyes showing. Soon, she made it into the warm interior of Gallagher’s. After taking off her scarf, gloves, and jacket, she inhaled the savory fragrances floating in the air. The buttery scent of pie crust underscored it all, and her stomach rumbled anew.

Autumn, a waitperson whose red hair matched her name, smiled. Hey, Maura. Here for the committee meeting, right?

Yep.

Has my order come in at the bookshop? Autumn asked as she led Maura to a table.

Not yet. Should be next week. I’ll call you. Uncle Tim had first suggested that Maura apply for the part-time position at Dolly Gallagher’s new bookshop, Two Doors Down, and Maura was glad. She enjoyed the work, which also left her time for her knitting.

Autumn waved her hand toward a table in the corner. Maura stopped short, her chest thumping.

Nathan stood from his seat, all five feet eleven of him. He rubbed his hand over his short, reddish-brown beard.

Her knees did that jelly thing, and her chest heated. Hot Jell-O

Reviews for One Moment

[Kaye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

❄️❄️ONE HEARTSOARING TREAT❄️❄️
Bursting bubbles! Reina delivers with this tumultuous wild ride, dishing out some tantalizing facts, turbulent lessons and ruthless drive, hooking you from the beginning until the last word, hurling this jewel to staggering heights. Attributes and demeanor in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this tangled web so thoroughly till everything else ceases to exist, propelling this bad boy into the eye of the storm, blowing it into a frenzy with life altering results. Broken barriers and crushed perimeters solidify as limitations are heightened and explored, secrets confessed, revelations unmasked and promises made, exhibiting the impish quirks and thrilling bents, exploding this baby to life brilliantly. The attraction and chemistry collides with such intensity and ardor, exposing boundless emotions and infinite affections, drawing our characters closer, bonding them to one another perfectly. The characters, banter, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits add diversity, transforming into genuine charismatic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and vivid descriptions creating an elaborate backdrop that makes the storyline explode. Fantastic job Reina, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.