The Matchmaker's Charm: The Matchmaker, #2

By Jodi Jensen

Destiny demands sacrifice

 

Born into a Romani matchmaking clan, Selina Loversedge has been preparing her whole life to make her love matches. When her boyfriend, Luca Bellamy proposes, she accepts and starts on the path to fulfilling her destiny.

 

As part of her clan's ceremonial ritual, Selina is presented with an hourglass necklace which gives her the ability to time travel, then chooses a silver skeleton key from a chest that has the name of her first traveler, Sophie Sanders.

 

Now linked to the woman, Selina travels back and forth in time, with her first match on track to be a success until Sophie goes missing. With no choice but to go in search of her traveler, Selina prepares for an extended trip to the past where she soon encounters the perils of life in 1901.

 

Unaware of Selina's troubles, Luca is dealing with the fallout of a family secret at home. Separated by more than a century, the couple must now fight for their own future and the love they're destined to share.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Champagne Book Group
• Release date: Jun 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781957228457

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The Matchmaker’s Charm

JODI JENSEN

CHAMPAGNE BOOK GROUP

The Matchmaker’s Charm

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Published by Champagne Book Group

2373 NE Evergreen Avenue, Albany OR 97321 U.S.A.

~~~

First Edition 2022

eISBN: 978-1-957228-45-7

Copyright © 2022 Jodi Jensen All rights reserved.

Cover Art by Melody Pond

Champagne Book Group supports copyright which encourages creativity and diverse voices, creates a rich culture, and promotes free speech. Thank you for complying by not scanning, uploading, and distributing this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher. Your purchase of an authorized electronic edition supports the author’s rights and hard work and allows Champagne Book Group to continue to bring readers fiction at its finest.

www.champagnebooks.com

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For my dear friend and mentor, Meg. Without you,

These books would’ve never come to life.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Dear Reader,

For those whose wanderlust matches my own, whose belief in destiny propels them forward, and whose love for others fills their hearts and minds, you are my people, and the driving force behind this story.

Happy reading and please enjoy the journey!

Jodi Jensen

Chapter One

Painted Desert, Arizona

Selina arched her back and tipped her chin, crying out to the starry sky above. Her long silky hair caressed her bare buttocks as Luca’s hands grasped her hips and held her in place while the last shudders of release racked her body.

Still joined, she collapsed on top of him, gasping for breath. The cool desert air blew across her heated flesh and raised goosebumps on her sensitive skin.

Are you cold? Shifting beneath her, he untangled the blanket in the limited confines of her truck-bed. His movements broke the fragile connection between them, and he scooted over to make room for her to cuddle in the crook of his arm.

No, the breeze feels good. She laid her cheek against the smooth expanse of his chest and draped a leg over his. Toying with his nipple, she ran her fingernail around it with a feather-light touch until the skin puckered, and he issued a low moan. She could have him hard again in a minute, if she wanted to. There was something so wild about making love in the open, with the moon and stars as witnesses. She flicked his taut nipple with the tip of her tongue and was rewarded with a fervent intake of breath. Smiling, she rested her chin on his chest. Thank you for bringing me here. We haven’t done a lot of desert survival training, and this landscape is equal parts beautiful and brutal.

He was quiet a moment, tracing the contours of her back, the lines of her shoulder blades, her spine. Can I ask you a question?

Selina lifted her head. Bathed in the moonlight, Luca’s face was full of shadows and sharp angles, his eyes little more than dark spots. There was a shyness in his voice she’d seldom heard in the seven years she’d known him. She pushed herself onto her elbows. What is it?

He reached under the corner of the pillow, then held out his hand. Open it.

The instant she touched the velvet box, her heart sped up, and she rose to her knees. She knew what was inside. Oh… Her hair fell around her shoulders and covered her bare breasts like a dark, wavy curtain as she examined the small black box.

Go on. His voice quavered, and his breath hitched.

She opened the lid and gasped. A tiny spotlight shone like a beacon from the top edge of the box, illuminating a ring nestled in a bed of black satin: a crescent moon with diamonds. Inside the curve of the moon sat a single star with a brilliant yellow stone sparkling at its center. Her hands trembled, her heart pounded, and her naked body tingled as her gaze shot to her beloved.

He sat up, resting his back against the cab with his long legs stretched in front of him, every inch of him uncovered and unashamed. His hair brushed his broad shoulders as he dipped his head a fraction with a slight nod at the ring. There are seven diamonds in the moon, one for each year I’ve loved you. And the yellow diamond in the star is for the hope and happiness you’ve given me. I know what this’ll mean for you, for us. He paused and caught her hand in his. I’m willing, if you are. Marry me, Lina?

Words deserted her. She reclaimed her hand, and traced her fingers along his jaw, then cupped his cheek. Yes, she whispered.

With the glowing light from the box as a guide, he took the ring and slipped it on the third finger of her left hand.

Suddenly, she needed to have him again. She climbed onto his lap and wrapped her legs around his hips.

He was ready. His large hands spanned her waist. Lifting her, he drove into her with a single, solid thrust. His mouth smothered the sharp gasp that escaped from her lips.

Her skin flared with heat, spreading over her like a hot wave as she took him deep into her body and rode him, crying out each time he touched her center. She tore her lips from his and cupped a lush, full breast, offering the sensitive tip for him to suckle.

When he drew the nipple into his mouth, a fiery, molten rush surged through her veins, and her breath fell in uneven pants. She ground her hips against his, frantic to chase the relentless desire building inside her. With each pull of his mouth, she got closer, until her body hovered on the brink, then catapulted over the edge, shattering into exquisite pieces of shimmering light.

Luca buried his face between her breasts, slid his arms around her, and held her tight as he plunged into her with a groan of possession. His body trembled, and his thighs quivered beneath her.

Winding her fingers in his hair, she held him to her heart as he sunk deep inside one more time and filled her with a pulsing warmth.

Afterward, she kept her legs wrapped around him and ran her fingernails over the length of his broad, beautiful back. Her eyes caught the occasional twinkle of her engagement ring in the waning light of the moon.

At last, he smiled at her. You ready?

She’d prepared her whole life for this, yet the notion of what lay ahead sent a shiver through her. She glanced at the early dawn of the Arizona sky, then back at her love. We’ve got a lot to do. I guess we’d better go home.

~ * ~

Portland, Oregon

Three days later, Selina stood poised on the threshold of her parents’ formal dining room. The drapes were closed, making the gathering of Luca and her immediate family even more intimate than usual. She hesitated and caressed the ring on her finger as her gaze skimmed the gleaming hardwood floors, the rich, lacquered china hutch, and finally, the precious heirloom on the polished mahogany table—an antique chest with the lid propped open.

A delicate glimmer of light from inside the chest beckoned to her, as it had to the many generations of women who’d come before her. Women of the Loversedge clan, who, like her, spent their existence hearing the stories and preparing for their own journeys. She’d known the price of her engagement, but now she was here. With the ritual mere moments away, she found herself troubled by what she was about to do. Who was she to yank other people from their lives, without their consent—or even their knowledge—so she could forge ahead with her own plans? What gave her the right?

She looked at the one person who understood—her mother, Nuri, who was waiting by the table.

When their gazes met, Nuri smiled, and a lifetime’s worth of laugh lines crinkled from the corners of her eyes. Her blouse billowed around her ample bosom, and her bracelets clinked on her wrists as she opened her arms. "Come, try not to look worried, my little Chavi. You’ll do fine."

The invitation gave Selina the nudge she needed. She stepped over the threshold and took the few steps into her mother’s warm embrace.

Remember, Nuri said, you’re bringing love into these people’s lives.

Selina nodded against her mother’s shoulder as her gaze darted around the room. In true Romani tradition, both of her siblings were here for the ceremony. She glanced at her younger sister, Nadia, who, like always lately, was dressed in black. Next was her older brother, Milosh, with his mop of unruly brown hair. Aside from her mother, he was the one who’d helped prepare her the most with the survival training. She’d need to speak with him after the ceremony.

Then she caught Luca’s gaze. At six-foot-eight, and standing next to her father, her fiancé was taller by more than a head, and wider through the shoulders. His soft brown eyes glistened with pride as he smiled at her, and at that exact moment, she knew she’d do anything to secure her future with this man. Anything at all.

She drew away from her mother and faced her father, Fonso. She’d anticipated this ceremony since she was a young girl. I’m ready.

Fonso stepped forward and stood to the side of the chest. Luca is your chosen one? At her nod, he addressed Luca. You must be willing. Will you do this with her?

Her heart skipped a beat. She knew he would. They’d discussed it at length, most recently on their long ride home from Arizona. He was well aware of her family’s strange responsibility and what was required of anyone in the Loversedge clan who wished to marry.

And yet, what if—

Luca came to her and kissed the top of her head. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he squeezed. I’m willing, he said with conviction.

Her heart soared.

The necklace, Nuri. Fonso motioned for his wife to come forward.

Nuri brought out a jeweler’s box and opened the lid to reveal a silver necklace with a miniature hourglass dangling from the chain. Selina’s mouth curved into a smile when her mother removed it.

It’s beautiful. Selina pivoted in a half-circle and swept her long black waves aside as her mother fastened the silver chain around her neck.

Her father waited until she faced him again. He adjusted his glasses and peered at each of his children. We are the matchmakers of our people. You carry it in your name, Loversedge, and in your blood. He turned to his daughter. You and Luca have chosen to make the first of your three matches. Once all three are successfully made, you will receive the blessing of your clan and may take the traditional Romani marriage vows. For now, you must pick a key.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and reached inside the chest. Her fingers grazed the hefty pile of skeleton keys, solid and cold to the touch. She moved her hand and dug beneath the ones on the surface until, at last, she chose.

Pulling out her hand, she opened her eyes and held up an ornate silver skeleton key, perhaps four inches long. The head of the key had been molded into a hollow heart with a smaller heart tucked inside.

Her mother leaned in close. What does it say?

Selina held it to the light, and sure enough, there on the shaft a name was etched. Sophie Sanders.

Her father motioned to Luca. Come with me, young man. We’ve got to finish that pair of doors. It is your duty to have them ready for when Sophie travels, and for when she makes her choice.

Chapter Two

Donning a loose black top, a dark pair of leggings, and sneakers, Selina twisted her hair into a single thick braid which hung almost to her waist. Since she didn’t have pockets, she tucked the skeleton key into her sock. On impulse, she grabbed her pocketknife and stuffed it into the top inside edge of her other sock.

She closed her bedroom door and shut off the lights as she walked through the family apartment. When she stepped into the hallway connecting their living quarters to the main building, she heard voices. A quick glance at the sliding glass door at the end of the hall showed her sister in the office with her mother and a customer. Selina changed direction and went the other way, heading down the corridor to the oversized commercial garage and shop where her family did their woodworking.

She paused as she entered, inhaled, and closed her eyes. The rich earthy scents of wood and sawdust mingled with the sharp tang of oils and stains. No other place smelled as good to her as her father’s workshop.

There you are.

A smile spread across her lips. Luca. She opened her eyes to find him in front of her, a wide grin on his face.

I love the way you look when you do that. He leaned in and kissed the sensitive spot in front of her ear.

His warm breath sent a delicious shiver rippling down her neck. She placed a hand on his waist to steady herself. Do what?

Smell the shop when you come in. You do it all the time. He twined his fingers through hers and gestured to his work area. Come, I want to show you the doors.

You guys finished already? She went with him, eager to see what they’d accomplished in the week since the ceremony.

Not quite, we still have to stain them and put the screens on, but we’ll be done by tonight. He stopped in front of his worktable.

Selina let go of his hand and let her fingertips trail over the outer frame of the screen door. Mountain ash? At his nod, she continued her examination. He’d sanded the frame until it was smooth as silk. When the wood was stained, it would shine.

Your father had more than enough spindles ready, Luca said. I think he carves them in his spare time.

Sounds like him. The rowan wood they’re made of is protection from evil. As she ran her hand over the row of spindles across the middle of the door, her fingers glided across the rounded hump of each one. Are these wheels? She traced the curve of a piece of wood with spokes in the bottom corner. The opposite top corner had one exactly like it.

They are. I made them to mimic the ones on our Romani wagons, he explained.

Your idea? She glanced at her fiancé, warmed by the glow radiating from him.

Partly. Your father said it was traditional to have part of a wheel on the door, to represent the traveling. He suggested I create something unique to us. Luca touched her waist. His hand molded to the swell of her hip. Do you like it?

She took a moment to let her gaze travel over the rounded edge of the wheel, appreciating the perfectly proportioned thickness and how each spoke tapered to fit into the hub to create a beautiful, balanced section. I love it.

Every set of doors must be unique in some way. Fonso joined them and gave Luca a hearty thump on the back. "Your man did well, Chavi. You should be proud."

Oh, I am, Pop. She stood so close to Luca, as the positive energy rolled off him in waves, it wrapped around her and enveloped her in his pleasure. It went a long way to help soothe her own jittery nerves.

Is your mother coming? Fonso cast a hopeful peek past them to the empty doorway.

She and Nadia are with a customer right now. It’s fine, she’s already told me everything I need to do this first trip. Selina fingered the tiny hourglass on her necklace as a thrill of fear shot through her.

Well, are you ready? Her father turned back and gestured to her dark comfortable clothes. Where’s the key? That’s what’ll take you to Sophie. Without it, who knows where you’ll land.

Don’t worry Pop, it’s in my sock. She lifted her foot and braced it on the edge of the worktable, peeling back the top of her black stocking to reveal the key. I’ve got my pocketknife in the other one.

Good thinking, Luca said, and her father voiced his agreement.

She tucked the sock back into place, then put her foot down and straightened her shoulders. Her gaze shifted to Luca.

His warm brown eyes locked on her, holding her steady as he opened his arms to share his strength.

Stepping into his embrace, she laid her head against his chest and placed her ear in line with his heart. She focused on the rhythm and aligned her breathing with his, slow and steady. Once she’d centered herself, she lifted her head.

Thank you, she whispered.

He bent, touched his lips to hers in a brief but tender kiss, then released her. He cupped her cheek, and his thumb grazed her skin. Be careful.

I will. She smiled and took a reluctant step back, breaking her physical link to him. Holding his gaze, she reached for her necklace.

Then she turned the hourglass over.

~ * ~

It worked—it really worked!

Selina’s heart thundered as she took stock of her surroundings. I’m definitely not in the workshop anymore. She took several deep breaths and attempted to quiet her breathing.

Her mother warned her she could land anywhere: in the middle of a house or a crowd of people, or, in this case, a dense grove of small, bushy trees. It was still light outside, but through the interlacing branches, she glimpsed bits of pink and orange sky. Evening then—the sun was setting. She stood still and listened, trying to determine if there were any people or animals nearby but was greeted with nothing more than leaves rustling in the slight breeze and an occasional cricket.

After a moment, she picked her way through the thick bushes and discovered she was right next to an old, dilapidated porch. She took a few steps back to get a better view and saw the rest of the place, an old farmhouse with dingy white siding, just as run down as its porch. There was a light on inside though, and a green Jeep parked out front.

This meant Sophie Sanders was here somewhere, otherwise the key wouldn’t have brought her here.

Right then, the front door opened. She ducked beside the porch just as a young woman walked out and leaned her elbows on the railing. Scarcely daring to breathe, Selina flattened herself against the side of the house and took a cautious peek at