Match Made in the Highlands Read online

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  Praise for Pam Binder

  Match Made in the Highlands

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  A word about the author…

  Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  Strong arms wrapped around her. “Don’t worry,” Logan said. “I’ve got you.”

  She clung to his neck as he gathered her closer. She could feel his heart beat against her chest, or was that hers? Random thoughts popped in and out. How had he reached her so fast? Did he think she was clumsy? Too heavy?

  Pathetic. He’d saved her, and all she could think about was her weight. Still…

  She squirmed in his arms. “Thank you, but you can put me down.”

  “And blow my one chance to rescue a beautiful damsel in distress? Not a chance. Besides, we’re almost there.”

  Although the bagpipes were louder and she could hear the haunting notes of a flute, the mist was as dense as ever. “How can you tell?” she said.

  She felt a rumble of laughter rise in his chest. “It’s a guess. I haven’t a clue.”

  Praise for Pam Binder

  “Readers will be drawn in by Pam Binder’s magic touch.”

  ~Romantic Times

  ~*~

  “Light hearted, yet engaging.”

  ~Publishers Weekly

  ~*~

  “Delightful twists and turns.”

  ~Reader to Reader Reviews

  ~*~

  “...a truly delightful and heartwarming romance.”

  ~American Online Romance Fiction Forum

  ~*~

  “This was my first, but definitely not my last, Pam Binder book.”

  ~The Romance Reader’s Connection

  ~*~

  “Magical. A timeless love story.”

  ~Stella Cameron

  ~*~

  Other Books in the Matchmaker Café Series

  by Pam Binder

  available soon from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  A BRIDE FOR A DAY

  A VALENTINE FOR EMMA

  LOVE POEM

  CHRISTMAS KNIGHT

  IRISH LOVE SONG

  Match Made

  in the Highlands

  by

  Pam Binder

  Matchmaker Café Series, Book 1

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Match Made in the Highlands

  COPYRIGHT © 2016 by Pam Binder

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by Debbie Taylor

  The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

  Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

  Publishing History

  First Fantasy Rose Edition, 2016

  Print ISBN 978-1-5092-0880-7

  Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-0881-4

  Matchmaker Café Series, Book 1

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To my beautiful sister: Marilyn Louise Todd.

  Together we keep the memory of

  our mother’s love and generous spirit alive.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to everyone who helped make

  the Matchmaker Café Series a reality.

  First to my wonderful author friends,

  the talented Gerri Russell and Sabrina York,

  who encouraged me to keep writing;

  to Mimi Munk, whose insights and feedback I trust;

  to my agent, Michelle Grajkowksi,

  for her continued support;

  to my fantastic new editor at The Wild Rose Press,

  Nan Swanson;

  and of course to the amazing Rhonda Penders,

  who made this dream come true.

  Thank you all.

  Chapter One

  Snow danced around the black taxicab like secrets begging to be told as Irene Redmond re-read the last entry in her mother’s diary. The handwriting was crisp and orderly, so like her mother, but the words made no sense. Why was this place so important, and who was Connor?

  “We’re here, lass,” the driver said. “Stirling Castle.”

  The castle looked dark and foreboding. It was a fortress built on a volcanic outcrop, meant to keep people out, not welcome the curious. Irene smoothed the pages of her mother’s diary as though touching the love-worn paper could unlock her mother’s secrets. Stalling for time, Irene remained in the cab and slipped the diary into her tote bag. She glanced through the window at the swirling snowflakes that turned the grey morning into shades of white. Their confusion mirrored her emotions, or maybe she was jetlagged, or both.

  Her mother’s diary, addressed to her two daughters, had arrived after her death. It had hinted at a secret past, a secret love, with the declaration that a Scottish castle, this one outside in the snowstorm, to be exact, held the answers. Her mother would have known that Irene would never be able to leave a puzzle unsolved.

  The ten-hour plane trip from Seattle to London hadn’t been so bad. It was navigating through the Christmas holiday rush at the train station when she was sleep-deprived that had proven the biggest challenge. If she’d been smart, she’d have taken a week off instead of trying to do this all in four days, but one of her clients had a court date scheduled.

  “Lass?”

  Irene blinked and refocused on handing the taxi driver his fee. “Are you sure Stirling Castle is open today?”

  He smoothed down a salt-and-pepper beard and smiled so widely his eyes twinkled, reminding Irene of jolly old St. Nick. “Like heather in the Highlands,” he said, “and mist over the moors, Stirling Castle is always open on Christmas Eve. But if you have second thoughts…”

  His question hung in the air as her heart pounded against her chest. She’d changed her mind about this trip at least a hundred times. Her partners at the law firm had told her she shouldn’t be away from her clients over the holidays and had even brought in her ch
eating ex-fiancé to help make their case. Their strategy had backfired. It was time she unraveled her mother’s secrets.

  “Now or never,” she said under her breath.

  Irene gathered her belongings and opened the car door. The faint sound of church bells drifted toward her from the town below and swirled together with icy snowflakes. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad. A blast of winter air pushed against her as she stepped outside, spoiling the moment. She shivered and pulled the hood of her coat over her head. “It’s freezing.”

  The taxicab driver’s laughter shook his whole body. “When you’re with the right person, you won’t notice the cold. I’ll be here to pick you up after the matchmaker tour.”

  She shut the door before what he’d said registered. “Wait,” she called out. “You must be mistaken. I’m here for the history tour. Is that the same thing?”

  Laughter clung to the air as he pulled away from the curb and disappeared down the winding road.

  Chapter Two

  Stirling Castle in Scotland was a blend of the ancient world and the new. White lights outlined the windows and castle entrance, while snow only partially covered the war-pocked grey walls. It was the perfect backdrop for a Christmas card.

  The snow picked up speed.

  It swirled around Irene as though the storm had singled her out for personal torment as she waited in line to buy her ticket for the noon tour. She hated waiting in line. Her partners were right. This was a dumb idea, but if she left, her sister would never let her hear the end of it.

  Resigned, she glanced toward the front of the line to see what was taking so long. Three men who looked to be in their mid-thirties were ahead of her. They wore ill-fitting brown tunics belted over leggings, as though they’d planned to attend a medieval or Renaissance faire. Their costumes were made from synthetic cloth and their belts were black plastic. Their spiky hair, agitated gestures, and closely spaced eyes reminded Irene of mice who’d escaped their cage. It was obvious by their weaving and slurred speech that they’d started celebrating the holiday season a little early.

  Two of the men flirted with the young woman inside the ticket booth, while the shortest of the trio chose to include Irene, pairing a wink and a leer together with comical results. When his advances were ignored, he turned back to the booth. He addressed the young woman as Fiona and tried to convince her to sell them tickets.

  Even from a short distance away, Irene could tell they were losing their argument. Fiona’s hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore white fake bunny fur earmuffs and black-framed glasses. But despite her sweet appearance, she looked like she had a spine made of steel.

  “You were told never to return,” Fiona said. All three of the men talked at the same time, each in turn offering her triple the price of the tickets. Fiona peered over the rims of her glasses at the three men and said slowly, “Go. Away.”

  They seemed startled but didn’t argue as they turned and headed toward the castle.

  When Irene reached the ticket counter, she rolled her eyes toward the men and received a mirrored response and a nod from Fiona. “They’re idiots,” Irene said.

  “Aye, and soon to get what they deserve, if I was to put a wager on it.” She paused. “If you don’t mind me saying, you have the look of Ireland about you, all dark hair and green eyes.”

  Irene accepted the familiar compliment. It felt good to remember happier times. “I was born on St. Patrick’s Day, and until first grade, I thought my name was Shamrock.”

  Fiona’s laugh was as warm as her expression. “Ah, a family with a sense of humor. That’s a blessing.” There was a slight hesitation. “Will that be one ticket?”

  The question bothered Irene less and less these days. Perhaps it was because she was taking seriously her mother’s advice. She had said you had to be happy being alone before you could be happy in the company of another person.

  Irene nodded and pushed the exact amount of money through the window slit.

  “Our tours are running a little late,” Fiona said as she handed Irene a ticket. “If you’re cold, you can wait inside the castle. The Matchmaker Café serves yummy hot cocoa.”

  The word “matchmaker” hung in the air. Irene had had her fill of friends offering to set her up on coffee dates or blindsiding her with their friends or relatives showing up unannounced at a dinner party. She’d even experimented with online dating services. The sites suggested that a new relationship would heal a failed one. It had made her feel only lonelier.

  Irene shook her head slowly. “They won’t try to do any…you know…” She cleared her throat. “I’m only in Scotland until tomorrow evening. Besides, I don’t have time for a relationship.” She clamped her mouth shut and folded the ticket, trying to figure out why she was sharing so much with a perfect stranger. That was not like her.

  Fiona’s laughter drifted out from the booth. “It’s good you’re in Scotland, then. Time is a curious thing here. But be off before you catch a cold. I wouldn’t want you missing our tour.” She leaned forward, and her features warmed as though she were sitting close to a cheery fire. “And remember, it’s just hot cocoa. What could possibly happen?”

  A gust of wind shoved Irene’s hood off her head. She pulled it back into place. “I didn’t see the café when I arrived. Where did you say it’s located?”

  Fiona opened her window a little wider and a warm breath of air weaved toward Irene as Fiona pointed toward the three-story-high doors to Stirling Castle. On the wall a short distance away was an arched entrance with the words Matchmaker Café spelled out in white blinking lights.

  “It looks innocent enough,” Irene said, shoving her gloves back onto her cold fingers.

  Fiona drew back into her snug booth. “Be sure to ask for sprinkles.” With that, she closed the shutters over the ticket window and the booth went dark.

  Chapter Three

  A Christmas wreath made of white lavender and sprigs of pine and fir hung over the entrance to the Matchmaker Café. Irene opened the door with only a slight turn of the handle. Celtic music played in the background. The notes of the flute echoed as though played in a vast cavern and tugged at her memories.

  She hovered on the threshold, feeling like an outsider observing a play. Well-loved leather chairs were pulled close to a roaring fire, and lampshades were fringed with crystal beads. Plush velvet-draped wooden chairs hugged tables that were topped with red and green votive candles. Despite the cold outside, the mood in the café was warm and inviting.

  The café was crowded with those waiting for the tours to begin. Couples snuggled in various corners drinking hot spiced cider, a group of women Irene guessed might be writers discussed plotlines for their novels, while at another table a family—mother, father, and young son—sat bent over their cell phones and tablets. Two men and a woman about Irene’s age were grouped in one corner, laughing over a shared joke. Someone who had the look of a tour guide instructed families on the history of the castle and its connection to William Wallace and the movie Braveheart.

  The same trio of men Irene had seen earlier at the ticket booth argued with their waitress in the same manner they had with Fiona. They looked even more alike in the café than they had outside in the storm, with their moon-shaped faces, narrow eyes, and red-splotched cheeks.

  The woman they were harassing looked even less impressed than Fiona had. Her straight blond hair was piled on top of her head in a loose knot and threatened to escape every time she shook her head. She wore a white sweater and wool slacks that reminded Irene of the shade of fresh snow, as well as charm-like earrings so long they skimmed her shoulders.

  “We don’t serve alcohol at the Matchmaker Café,” the woman said as she folded her arms. “But you could check if the castle’s restaurant is still open. If my sister wouldn’t sell you tickets, she had her reasons. You need to leave.”

  The tallest of the three shoved past his comrades to hover over her. Irene couldn’t hear what he said, but the woman first
cringed, then pressed her lips together and turned to leave. Before she had a chance to get away, he grabbed her arm.

  Irene ground her teeth. How dare they bully her? She moved toward them, but before she had the chance to intervene, a man appeared out of nowhere and stepped between the waitress and the bullies.

  He towered over the trio as he clamped his hand on the shoulder of the one who’d threatened the woman. His knuckles whitened as he leveled his gaze on all three. He seemed unconcerned that he was outnumbered. She didn’t doubt he could defend himself, but he was not the only one in the café.

  She appreciated his intervention, but she’d seen firsthand in her court cases what happened when fights spiraled out of control. The innocent sometimes got injured. Irene moved closer until she was a few feet away, keeping her voice calm and under control. “There are children in the café. Do you really want them to witness a fight, or worse, accidentally get hurt?”

  He turned toward her in slow motion. His jawline was as rigid as stone and his eyes the shade of blue ice. Time held its breath. He pulled his gaze away as he scanned the room, focusing on the families. He paused on an elderly, distinguished couple sitting in a far corner.

  When his gaze returned to hers, there was a slight nod and an upward turn on the corner of his mouth. Was he smiling? “You’re a brave one,” he said with a faint Scottish brogue. “But I’ve got this.” He refocused on the man he still held by the shoulder and his comrades, then said something under his breath. They snapped to attention, tripping over each other as they raced outside.

  The man glanced once more in her direction and gave a nod before joining the elderly couple.

  It looked like few if any had witnessed the exchange, or else they’d chosen not to get involved. In either case, everything went on as though nothing had happened.

  The waitress who’d been harassed by the trio let out a long breath and approached Irene. “Whew, well, that sure got the heart pumping. Normally the guests who come here are well behaved. Would you like a table,” she said with a grin, “or would you like me to call you a taxi so you can make a hasty exit?”

  Irene returned the smile. “I’m fine. I don’t give up that easily.” She cast a glance toward the rescuer. “Do you know what he said?”