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  “We need to talk, Michael.” He pulled up a chair. “Da says you’re interested in matchmaking and you’ve helped him while I was down in Dublin.”

  “I don’t want you to think I was muscling in.” Michael’s eyes skittered away. He looked like he wanted to avoid this conversation more than anything.

  She pulled in a breath, here goes. “To be honest, it would mean the world to me if you were.”

  He stared at her, as if unable to believe what he was hearing.

  “I’ve always known there has to be a Devine matchmaker for the festival, and as I haven’t any brothers or sisters I’ve always felt it should be me.” Michael started to interrupt but she held up her hand to stop him. “Hear me out, Michael, please. Our grandfather was the matchmaker. Matchmaking is in your blood as well as mine, and you have both a liking and an aptitude for it. I’d consider it an honor if you were to become the next matchmaker instead of me. You’re a Devine, after all.”

  Michael grinned. “Do you really mean that, Annie?”

  “More than you’ll ever know, I’d be so delighted if you wanted to do it. Do you?”

  “I’ve always wanted to, ever since I was a kid,” Michael confessed. “But I knew you were next in line, so I put it out of my mind. When Bull asked me to help out yesterday I loved it.” He smiled shyly, color flooding his face. “Who knew I was such a romantic, huh?”

  “Who indeed,” she teased. “Will you take it on?”

  Michael stood up and leant over to kiss her cheek. “I’d be honored.”

  “Let’s tell Da. He can announce it in his speech.” She tapped her father’s shoulder to quietly get his attention. Smiled apologetically at his audience. “Excuse me everyone, I just need to talk to my father for a minute.” Her heart soared. At last, she was rid of her unwanted inheritance.

  ****

  “Jack! You’re here!” Noel thumped Jack heartily on the back.

  “Meet Annabel.” He introduced a small, pretty blonde who smiled shyly next to him, his arm draped over her shoulders. “You haven’t met yet, but you organized our first date.”

  “Hi, Annabel.” He put out his hand but she ignored it, stepping closer and leaning up to plant a kiss on his cheek.

  “We’re better friends that that, Jack.” A smile lit up her face. “You helped us find each other. Like Cupid. You’re a friend for life.”

  She snaked her arm around Noel again, smiling up into his face with a look of such devotion and love an ache tore at Jack’s chest.

  “It worked, then,” he forced out.

  “It certainly did.” Noel held up his girlfriend’s hand, revealing a diamond solitaire. “Annabel and I are getting married.”

  “That’s great!” Jack shook Noel’s hand, genuinely glad someone, at least, had managed to find their happy ending.

  “Everyone has been saying it’s too quick,” Noel confessed. “But you know what it’s like when you find the woman you want to spend your entire life with, you just know, so what’s the point in waiting? Sure, we don’t know everything there is to know about each other, it’s only been a few days after all, but we know what matters.”

  “We know we love each other.” Annabel flushed red. “We have all the time in the world to find out the rest.”

  “I’m glad for you.” Was it that simple? Jack’s eyes searched for Annie in the crowd.

  Noel leant forward and whispered in Jack’s ear. “Annie’s in the back, at the matchmaking table with her father, she’s been checking out the door for the past hour.”

  “Thanks, Noel.” Jack patted him on the back and strode to the table, unable to see Annie or her father through the crowd of people. Determination gave his steps purpose.

  She might not know it. She might not even agree, but before the night was out, she was going to admit she loved him. And more, if he had his way. He was halfway there when Bull stood up, with Niall beside him, holding a microphone.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our matchmakers, Bull Devine!” There was a deafening roar of approval followed by clapping. Jack edged closer. “And this year, helping Bull out because of illness, we had Annie Devine.” Annie stood, as the crowd continued to cheer, “Michael Devine,” Michael stood, waving to the crowd and hamming it up for all he was worth, “and Jack Miller. Is Jack in here somewhere?”

  Jack raised his arm high, catching Niall’s eye. “There he is! Let Jack through to the matchmaking table, everyone!”

  The crowd parted obediently. Jack made it to Annie’s side. She had done something different with her hair, pinned it up. She smiled up at him radiantly. Of course. They were pretending to be in love until after the festival. He braced himself for a chaste kiss.

  She reached out to him wordlessly, and, heaven help him, he forgot about the pretence of being her boyfriend, and kissed her hard, reaching for the nape of her neck and pulling her close. Her mouth opened under his and she kissed him passionately, to the delight of the crowd.

  “Love is in the air this year folks.” Niall laughed as they eased reluctantly apart. Jack slid an arm around her waist and held on for dear life. She might not want to spend the rest of her life with him, but he wouldn’t give up without a fight. Not after she’d kissed him like that.

  “Speech!” the crowd roared.

  Bull accepted the microphone. “I missed being here with you on the first couple of days. The first time I’ve missed any part of the festival in the forty years I’ve been your matchmaker. Thank God, I was lucky enough to have some excellent helpers. They went through the book with me. Together we made some excellent matches.”

  “So, I’d like to thank them. Firstly, my daughter, Annie, who left Dublin and came back the moment I needed her.” Annie bowed. “If there’s anyone left who hasn’t heard the news, Annie has won the Chocolate Oscar competition. Now she can open her chocolate shop in Dublin.” The crowd erupted, many people working their way directly to Annie to congratulate her.

  “I’d also like to thank Jack Miller,” he continued once the excitement had died down a little. “Lightning diverted Jack from his route, and brought him here to us. I like to think Durna was really his intended target, even though he didn’t know it. He’s shown himself to be a wonderful matchmaker, full of understanding and compassion.”

  Warmth flooded Jack’s face. He looked out at the nodding faces of the crowd. Many of the familiar faces raised their glasses. He’d never been at the receiving end of such warm praise before.

  “He might have been born far away, but he belongs here. I reckon he’s an honorary Durnaman.” The crowd obviously agreed, clapping and shouting their approval.

  “Finally I’d like to thank my nephew, Michael. He volunteered his help for the last few days. I know all of you who know Michael were delighted to see him in the matchmaking booth.” He grinned at Michael’s embarrassment. “As you know, I matched Michael nine years ago with his lovely wife, Grainne.”

  Grainne blew Michael a kiss. He theatrically blew it back, to the crowd’s delight.

  “Michael found love for himself. This year he’s helped find it for others. I’d like to thank him, and I know all of you would like to thank him, too.” Bull turned to Annie, Jack, and Michael in turn. “Would any of you like to say something?”

  “I would.” Annie voice was clear and strong. She accepted the microphone from her father and brought it to her mouth. Jack was loosening his grip. She held on tightly. “It’s great to be here everyone,” she started, smiling around the room. “And I’m so glad my father is better and taking the reins again. Being the matchmaker is a difficult job!”

  “You’re going to have to get used to it, honey!” a woman called from the back of the room, and Annie shook her head grinning widely. “Hi, Carly.” She greeted her friend with a wave. “That’s one of the things I wanted to talk about.” She glanced at her cousin before continuing. “One day my father will decide it’s time for him to step down. Hopefully not for many years.”

  She took a d
eep breath, and squeezed Jack’s hand harder. “But when he does, I’d like to let you all know he has a very worthy successor. My cousin Michael is going to be the next Devine matchmaker.”

  There was a stunned silence at her bombshell. Everyone stared. A muscle worked in the corner of her jaw, and she swallowed. “I know it was expected I’d take on the job when my father retires. I’ve thought about it a lot over the years. This festival has really brought home to me how important it is that the matchmaker has a talent for it. I did my best, but without my father, I would have been terrible at it.” She grinned.

  “Michael is an heir to the matchmaking legacy, too. He’s also passionate about it, with a natural aptitude. Michael and I have discussed it, and I’m pleased to announce he would love the role.”

  A murmur of conversation started up. People were nodding. Understanding. How could she have thought they wouldn’t?

  “I’d like to thank you all for your support over the past few years. I know you’ve all been looking out for me.” She glanced down, overcome with emotion.

  “Good on ya, Annie!” someone shouted. The room burst into applause again.

  Jack squeezed her hand tightly. “You don’t need to say any more,” he whispered, and somehow she made out his words in the din.

  “Oh, I’m not finished yet.” She brought the microphone up to her lips again. “I just have one other thing to say.” The crowd quieted, every eye in the place glued to her face. “Two years ago I stood up in the church to tell you all my wedding was off. It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do. I felt I was different from everyone else, marked out. I didn’t handle the aftermath well. I told myself I was unlucky in love. In my embarrassment, I felt everyone must see me as a failure. Now, with different eyes,” she slanted a look Jack’s direction. “I know I was wrong. You’ve all shown me that.”

  She turned to Jack, facing him bravely while her fingers squeezed his painfully. “Now, here, in the presence of my family and this bar room congregation, I’d like to declare publicly I’ve fallen in love with Jack Miller. I hope to hell he loves me back, or I’m going to die with embarrassment.” Her entire body was so tense vibrations of her shivers telegraphed through their entwined hands.

  Jack took the microphone, his eyes never leaving hers. “You couldn’t pull me aside and tell me this privately?”

  Annie shook her head.

  Jack pulled a small box out of his pocket. “I had a plan for this evening.” He turned and spoke the room. “Something important to tell Annie. And something important to ask her.” He held up the box and the room erupted. He held his hands up, there was more. “But I guess, as we’re among friends.” He sank down onto one knee. The crowd hushed in expectation.

  “I love you, Annie. I don’t care where I live, as long as it’s with you.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her dimples telegraphing to all and sundry that they were happy ones. “Well? Are you going to marry me or what?”

  “Yes.”

  He stood up and gathered her into his arms again, and the matchmaking festival celebrated another match.

  THE END

  Be sure to check out these other great romances also by Sally Clements.

  New Beginnings – Short stories

  Marrying Cade

  Bound to Love

  The Morning After

  To contact Sally Clements, or to be placed on a mailing list to receive updates about her new releases, click the ‘contact me’ link on her blog. http://www.sallyclements.blogspot.com

  or contact her on twitter, where she’s @sallywriter

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