The Mutt and the Matchmaker: A Matchmaker Mystery Novella by JB Lynn Read Free Book Online Page B

load his mail sack with plundered goodies, and waltz right out under everyone’s nose.
    As though he sensed her watching him, Javier scanned the area after dropping off the package. Spotting Jane, he broke into a big smile and waved enthusiastically. “Think it’s going to rain?”
    Jane waved back, glanced at the overcast sky, and replied, “Hope not.”
    “Me too. My daughter’s got a soccer game this afternoon. See you around.” He moved on along his delivery route.
    Jane felt a twinge of guilt for adding him to her suspect list. Javier was a hardworking guy who loved his family.
    She really wasn’t cut out to be a burglar detector despite what Ruby had thought.
    After taking Spot home, Jane headed toward the Schroders’. She might not be the person who was going to catch the person who’d stolen their silver, but she might be the  one to help them find a new dog.
    The animal shelter was running a huge adoption fair in less than two weeks and Jane wanted to drop off a flyer so they knew about it. She slipped the neon green paper into their mailbox before heading over to pick up Mr. Sterling.
    She’d almost reached his house when her cell phone rang.  She didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
    “Hi Jane, it’s me Tarzan.” Tom’s deep voice rumbled through the phone.
    Jane chuckled. “Hi.”
    “I’m sorry about last night.”
    “It’s okay. Did everything work out with your brother?”
    “It did. Listen, I was wondering if you’re free to have dinner tonight instead?”
    Jane didn’t answer; she was too distracted by the sight of Sheila Croton coming out of a house that wasn’t hers.
    “Look,” Tom said apologetically, taking her silence for hesitation. “I know it was lousy of me to cancel on you last minute like that.”
    Jane watched Croton get into her car. Now there was a decent suspect.
    Sheila was the local plant whisperer. Whenever anyone wanted their houseplants or gardens taken care of while they were away, Sheila was the person to do it. She probably had a key to half the houses in the neighborhood.
    “Jane?” Tom sounded worried.
    Jane watched Sheila drive away.
    Realizing he thought she was giving him the brush off, she said hurriedly and with a tad too much enthusiasm, “I’d love to have dinner tonight, Tom.”
    “I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty?” His relief was evident.
    “Sounds great.”
    “See you then. Bye.” He disconnected the call.
    She put her phone away and actually skipped the rest of the way to pick up Mr. Sterling.

 
     

Chapter 10
     
    Tom took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, preparing to ring Jane Bly’s doorbell. He felt as nervous as he had when he’d invited Christine Hoover to the junior prom.
    Before he could push the button, there was a flurry of activity on the other side of the door, a couple of excited barks, the scritch-scratching of paws running across a floor, and a dull thud as the running dog was unable to stop and crashed into the door.
    Even though he knew Calamity had already announced his arrival, he rang the bell.
    “Just a sec,” Jane called from deep inside her apartment.
    Tom glanced at his watch and realized he was twelve minutes early, so he leaned against the railing, settling in for a wait.
    He was surprised when the door flew open and Jane stepped out, ready to go in a simple dark green dress and black heels that hinted at beguiling curves and showed off a length of shapely leg he hadn’t seen before.
    For once, her hair wasn’t tied back in a ponytail; it hung loose, framing her face with delicate waves.
    His fingers itched to touch it, to see if it really felt as silky as it looked.
    “Hi,” she said. Her eyes roamed over him appreciatively. “You clean up nice.”
    “So do you.”
    She smiled and his heart stuttered.
    “You look beautiful,” he murmured, bending down to brush a kiss against his cheek. Her perfume, something sweet and floral, tickled his nose. He straightened and offered her his arm.