Catch Me a Catch by Sally Clements Page B

off his jacket, and slung it over the back of his chair. The
girls sat down opposite him. He swallowed, forcing down an unaccustomed flutter
of butterflies.
    “So, you’re
American?” Sinead eyed him suspiciously, as if he hailed from another planet,
rather than another country.
    “Yes, I’m a
friend of Annie’s. She asked me to help out.” He plastered on his most
reassuring and capable expression. “Annie’s father is the regular matchmaker, and
he’ll be here tomorrow. I’m helping out for today. The process is pretty
straightforward, let me take you through it.”
    Drinks flowed,
and after a while, both girls let down their guard and honestly revealed what
they were hoping for in a partner. Jack concentrated on the job at hand
carefully writing down details. He even relaxed enough to get the shyer Carol
talking. When he coaxed a smile from her, he felt like he’d climbed Everest and
stood, triumphant, at the summit.
    “I’d really
like to go on a date with someone good looking and fun, like you,” Sinead
teased. “What are you doing tonight?”
    “Jack’s
Annie’s boyfriend,” Niall threw over his shoulder as he passed on his way back
behind the bar. “He’s taken.”
    Jack nodded.
“I have plenty of wonderful men in here.” He gripped the book tightly, as if to
keep them from escaping. “I’m pretty sure I can sort you both out. Let’s go
outside and I’ll take your pictures in the sun.”
    The bright
sunshine was a shock after the dimness of the bar. He busied himself taking
photographs of the smiling women, while his mind raced.
    When Niall had
declared he was taken, a peal of satisfaction reverberated to his core. In his
other relationships, he’d always remained one step emotionally removed. Even
when he thought he was in love, he held a part of himself back, unwilling to
trust. He’d never craved belonging before, but with Annie it was different. His
lungs expanded with clear sea air. Niall was right. He was taken.
    ****
    Annie
straightened and tossed the empty piping bag into the bin. She stretched her
arms up and rotated tired shoulders. Her spine cracked, and she sighed aloud. Only
two more to go, then I’m finished. A pristine white box awaiting her
chocolates was on the counter. She shook her hands out, flexing cramped
fingers. The silence in the kitchen set her nerves on edge. She flicked on the
radio and tension flowed out of her body like water as classical music swelled
in the empty room.
    The last
perfect crystallized violet she had spent ages preparing lay ready on a plate.
It would take a steady hand to attach it perfectly. A nearby plateful of
rejects bore testament to that. A bead of moisture trickled down her spine, as
she inhaled the scent of warm chocolate. She aimed her ‘point and click’
thermometer at the heated vat and pulled the trigger.
    The
temperature was perfect. For the umpteenth time that day, she packed a pristine
bag half-full, twisting the end so she’d have control over the contents. Next,
she snipped the end with her scissors, bent from the waist, and carefully
squeezed a shining pearl onto the chocolate’s glossy surface. With the
tweezers, she stuck down a perfect violet.
    She peered at
her plateful of entries, searching for flaws. There weren’t any. A wave of
satisfaction rolled over her. They were perfect .
    After the
intensity of chocolate making, Annie yearned for a shower. Her upper arms ached
with the strain of holding the same pose for hours. A massage would be heaven
right now. At the mere thought of Jack’s masterful hands working out her body’s
kinks she almost groaned aloud. She’d relived their conversation in the car all
day. Obsessing over the moment his eyes had darkened to navy with desire as he
kissed her. Jack’s kisses had burned her up from the inside, melting her
resolve to guard her heart. He was upfront and honest about what he wanted. He
didn’t promise forever like Steve had done.
    She stripped
off her clothes and