The Perfect Match

Make time for friends. Make time for

DEBBIE MACOMBER

CEDAR COVE

16 Lighthouse Road

204 Rosewood Lane

311 Pelican Court

44 Cranberry Point

50 Harbor Street

6 Rainier Drive

74 Seaside Avenue

8 Sandpiper Way

92 Pacific Boulevard

1022 Evergreen Place

1105 Yakima Street

A Merry Little Christmas (featuring 1225 Christmas Tree Lane and 5-B Poppy Lane)

BLOSSOM STREET

The Shop on Blossom Street

A Good Yarn

Susannah’s Garden

(previously published as Old Boyfriends)

Back on Blossom Street

(previously published as Wednesdays at Four)

Twenty Wishes

Summer on Blossom Street

Hannah’s List

A Turn in the Road

Thursdays at Eight

Christmas in Seattle

Falling for Christmas

A Mother’s Gift

Angels at Christmas

A Mother’s Wish

Be My Valentine

Happy Mother’s Day

On a Snowy Night

Home for Christmas

Summer in Orchard Valley

Summer Wedding Bells

Summer Brides

This Matter of Marriage

The Perfect Match

THE MANNINGS

The Manning Sisters

The Manning Brides

The Manning Grooms

THE DAKOTAS

Dakota Born

Dakota Home

Always Dakota

The Farmer Takes a Wife

(Exclusive short story)

Cover

Title Page

First Comes Marriage

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Yours and Mine

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Endpages

Copyright

To Anna and Anton Adler, Russian immigrants and my loving grandparents.

Thank you for the wonderful heritage you gave me.

One

“You must be Zachary Thomas,” Janine said breathlessly as she whirled into the office. “Sorry I’m late, but I got hung up in traffic on Fourth Avenue. I didn’t realize they’d torn up the whole street.” Still a little winded, she unfastened her coat, tossed it over the back of the visitor’s chair and threw herself down, facing the large executive desk.

The man on the other side blinked twice as though he didn’t know quite what to think.

“I’m Janine Hartman.” She drew in a deep breath. “Gramps said if he wasn’t back from his appointment, I should introduce myself.”

“Yes,” Zachary said after a moment of strained silence. “But he didn’t tell me you’d be wearing—”

“Oh, the bandanna dress,” Janine said, smoothing one hand over her lap. The dress had been constructed of red and blue bandannas; it featured a knee-length zigzag hemline and closely hugged her hips. “It was a gift. And since I’m meeting the girl who made it later, I thought I should wear it.”

“And the necklace?”

Janine toyed with the colored Christmas-tree lights strung between large beads on a bootlace that dangled from her neck. “It’s a bit outrageous, isn’t it? That was a gift, too. I think it’s kind of cute, don’t you? Pamela is so clever.”

“Pamela?”

“A teenager from the Friendship Club.”

“I…see,” Zach said.

“I do volunteer work there and the two of us hit it off as soon as we met. Pam’s mother doesn’t live in the area and she’s at that awkward age and needs a friend. For some reason she took a liking to me, which was fine because I think she’s wonderful.”

“I see,” he said again.

Janine doubted he did.

“The necklace is different I’ll grant you,” Zach was saying—which wasn’t admitting to much. His dark eyes narrowed as he studied it.

Now that she’d met Zachary Thomas, Janine could understand why her grandfather was so impressed with him—if appearances were anything to judge by. In his well-tailored suit, he was the very picture of a high-powered executive, crisp, formal and in control. He was younger than she’d assumed, possibly in his early thirties, but it was difficult to tell. His facial features were attractive enough, but he wasn’t strikingly handsome. Still, she found herself fascinated by the strength of character she saw in the uneven planes of his face. His dark hair was cut military short. His jaw was strong, his cheekbones high and his mouth full. That was the way she’d describe him physically, but there was apparently much more to this man than met the eye. At least, her grandfather was convinced of it.

Several months earlier Anton Hartman had merged his well-established business-supply firm with the fast-expanding company owned by Zachary Thomas. Together the two men had quickly dominated the market.

For weeks now, Gramps had wanted Janine to meet Zachary. His name had popped up in every conversation, no matter what they were discussing. To say her grandfather thought highly of his partner was an understatement.

“Gramps has spoken…well of you,” she said next.

A hint of a smile—just the merest suggestion—touched his mouth, giving her the impression that he didn’t smile often. “Your grandfather has one of the keenest business minds in the country.”

“He’s incredible, isn’t he?”

Zachary’s nod betrayed no hesitation.

There was a polite knock on the door and a tall middle-aged woman wearing a navy-blue pin-striped suit stepped into the room. “Mr. Hartman phoned,” she announced primly. “He’s been delayed and asked that you meet him at the restaurant.”

Zach’s lean dark face tightened briefly before he cast Janine an uneasy glance. “Did he say when he was going to get there?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Thomas, but he didn’t.”

Janine looked at her watch. She was supposed to meet Pam at three. If they were delayed much longer, she’d be late.

She scowled at Zach’s apparent reluctance to entertain her in Gramp’s absence. “Maybe it would be best if we rescheduled for another day,” she offered brightly. She wasn’t any happier about the prospect of waiting in a restaurant, just the two of them, than he was. “Gramps is held up, I’m meeting Pam, and you’re obviously a busy man.”

An uncomfortable silence followed her remark. “Is it your habit not to show up when your grandfather’s expecting you?” he asked sharply.

Janine bristled. “Of course not.” She swallowed the words to defend herself. Her suggestion hadn’t been unreasonable and he had no right to insinuate that she was inconsiderate and rude.

“Then I feel we should meet your grandfather at the restaurant as he requested,” he finished stiffly.

“By all means,” she said, forcing a smile. She stood and reached for her coat, watching Zach from the corner of her eye. He didn’t like her. That realization had a peculiar effect on Janine. She felt disappointed and a little sad. Zach hadn’t said much, and actually there hadn’t been time for a real conversation, but she’d sensed his attitude almost from the first. He thought of her as spoiled and frivolous, probably because he knew she didn’t hold a responsible job and loved to travel. Part of her longed to explain that there were good reasons she’d chosen the lifestyle she had. But from the looks he was sending her, it would be a waste of breath.

Besides, it was more important to maintain the peace, however strained, for Gramps’s sake. She’d have enjoyed getting to know Zach, perhaps even becoming friends, but that didn’t seem likely.

That morning, before Gramps had left the house, he’d been as excited as a little boy about their luncheon date. He’d come down the stairs whistling when he’d joined her for breakfast, his blue eyes sparkling. When she’d refused the use of the limousine, he’d spent the next fifteen minutes giving her detailed directions, as though she’d never driven in downtown Seattle.

Almost as an afterthought, he’d mentioned that he had a morning meeting with an important client. If he hadn’t returned by the time she arrived, she was to go directly to Zach’s office, introduce herself and wait for him there.

Shrugging into a raincoat, Zachary moved toward the door. “Are you ready?”

She nodded, burying her hands in her pockets.

Thankfully the restaurant her grandfather had chosen was close by. Without further discussion, they began to walk the few short blocks, although Janine had trouble matching her stride with Zach’s much longer one.

Struggling to keep up with him, Janine studied Zachary Thomas, trying to determine exactly what disturbed her about the man. His height was a good example. He wasn’t tall—under six feet, she guessed—and since she was almost five-eight there wasn’t more than a few inches’ difference between them. Why, then, did he make her feel much shorter?

He must have sensed her scrutiny because he turned and glared at her. Janine gave him a feeble smile, and felt the color rise in her cheeks. Zach’s dismissive glance did nothing to boost her ego. She wasn’t vain, but Janine knew she was attractive. Over the years, plenty of men had told her so, including Brian, the man who’d broken her heart. But she could have warts on her nose for all the notice Zachary Thomas gave her.

If he found the bandanna dress disconcerting, he was probably put off by her hairstyle as well. She wore it short, neatly trimmed in the back with extra-long bangs slanted across her forehead. For years Janine had kept her hair shoulder-length, parted in the middle. One afternoon a few weeks earlier, for no particular reason, she’d decided to have it cut. She was in the mood for something radical and the style she now sported seemed more appropriate to the pages of a fashion magazine. Pam had been crazy about the change, insisting she looked “phenomenal.” Janine wasn’t convinced. Her one comfort was that, given time, her hair would grow back.

Janine suspected Zach had characterized her as flamboyant, if not downright flashy. She, in turn, would describe him as austere and disciplined, perhaps solitary. Her grandfather saw all that, she knew, and a good deal more.

“Mr. Hartman is waiting for you,” the maître d’ informed them when they entered the plush waterfront restaurant. He led them across the thick carpet to a high semicircular booth upholstered in blue velvet.

“Janine, Zach.” Anton Hartman smiled broadly as they approached. The years had been kind to her grandfather. His bearing was still straight and confident, although his hair had grown completely white. His deep blue eyes, only a little faded, were filled with warmth and wisdom. “I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“It wasn’t any problem,” Zach answered for both of them before Janine could respond—as if he’d expected her to complain!

Ignoring him, Janine removed her coat and kissed her grandfather’s leathery cheek.

“Janine,” he began, then gasped. “Where did you get that…dress?”

“Do you like it?” She threw out her arms and whirled around once to give him the full effect. “I know it’s a bit unconventional, but I didn’t think you’d mind.”

Gramps’s gaze flickered to Zach, then back to her. “On anyone else it would be scandalous, but on you, my dear, it’s a work of art.”

“Honestly, Gramps,” she said, laughing softly. “You never could lie very well.” She slid into the booth next to her grandfather, forcing him into the center, between her and Zach. Gramps looked a bit disgruntled, but after her turbulent first encounter with Zach, she preferred to keep her distance. For that matter, he didn’t seem all that eager to be close to her, either.

She glanced at him and noted, almost smugly, that he was already studying the menu. No doubt he found ordinary conversation a waste of time. Janine picked up her own menu. She was famished. At breakfast she’d only had time for coffee and a single piece of toast, and she had every intention of making up for it now.

When the waiter came to take their order, Janine asked for the seafood entrée and soup and salad. She’d decide about dessert later, she said. Once he’d left, Gramps leaned toward Zach. “Janine never has to worry about her weight.” He made this sound as if it was a subject of profound and personal interest to them both. “Her grandmother was the same way. How my Anna could eat, and she never gained an ounce. Janine’s just like her.”

“Gramps,” Janine whispered under her breath. “I’m sure Zach couldn’t care less how much I weigh.”

“Nonsense,” Gramps said, gently patting her hand. “I hope you two had the chance to introduce yourselves.”

“Oh, yes,” Janine returned automatically.

“Your granddaughter is everything you claimed,” Zachary said, but the inflection in his voice implied something completely different to Janine than it did to her grandfather. She guessed that to Anton, he seemed courteous and complimentary. But he was telling Janine he’d found her to be the spoiled darling he’d long suspected. He didn’t openly dislike her, but he wasn’t too impressed with her, either.

Unfortunately, that was probably due to more than just the dress and the lightbulb necklace.

Janine watched for her grandfather’s reaction to Zach’s words and she knew she was right when his gaze warmed and he nodded, obviously pleased by his partner’s assessment. Zachary Thomas was clever, Janine had to grant him that much.

“How did the meeting with Anderson go?” Zach asked.

For a moment her grandfather stared at him blankly. “Oh, Anderson…Fine, fine. Everything went just as I’d hoped.” Then he cleared his throat and carefully spread the linen napkin across his lap. “As you both know,” he said, “I’ve been wanting the two of you to meet for some time now. Janine is the joy of my life. She’s kept me young and brought me much happiness over the years. I fear that, without her, I would have turned into a bitter old man.”

His look was so full of tenderness that Janine had to lower her eyes and swallow back a rush of tears. Gramps had been her salvation, too. He’d taken her in after the sudden deaths of her parents, raised her with a gentle hand and loved her enough to allow her to be herself. It must’ve been difficult for him to have a six-year-old girl unexpectedly thrust into his life, but he’d never complained.

“My only son died far too young,” Anton said slowly, painfully.

“I’m sorry,” Zachary murmured.

The genuine compassion Janine heard in his voice surprised her. And it definitely pleased her. Zach’s respect and affection for her grandfather won her immediate approval—even if the man didn’t seem likely to ever feel anything so positive toward her.

“For many years I mourned the loss of my son and his wife,” Anton continued, his voice gaining strength. “I’ve worked all my life, built an empire that stretches across these fifty states, and in the process have become a wealthy man.”

Janine studied her grandfather closely. He was rarely this serious. He wasn’t one to list his accomplishments, and she wondered at his strange mood.

“When Zach brought his business into the area, I saw in him a rare gift, one that comes along seldom in this life. It’s said that there are men who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. Zachary is a man who makes things happen. In many ways, the two of us are alike. That’s one of the primary reasons I decided to approach him with a proposal to merge our companies.”

“I’m honored that you should think so, sir.”

“Sir,” Anton repeated softly and chuckled. He raised his hand, motioning for the waiter. “You haven’t called me that in six months, and there’s no reason to start again now.”

The waiter returned with a bottle of expensive champagne. Soon glasses were poured and set before them.

“Now,” Anton continued, “as I said earlier, I have the two people I love most in this world together with me for the first time, and I don’t mind telling you, it feels good.” He raised his glass. “To happiness.”

“Happiness,” Janine echoed, sipping her champagne.

Her eyes met Zach’s above the crystal flute and she saw a glint of admiration. If she were dining on it, she’d starve—to quote a favorite expression of her grandfather’s—but it was just enough for her to know that he’d think more kindly of her because of her love for Anton.

Her grandfather chuckled and whispered something in his native tongue, a German dialect from the old country. Over the years she’d picked up a smattering of the language, but when she’d repeated a few phrases to a college German professor, he’d barely recognized the words. Gramps paused and his smile lingered on Janine, then went to Zach. Whatever Gramps was muttering appeared to please him. His blue eyes fairly twinkled with delight.

“And now,” he said, setting his glass aside, “I have an important announcement to make.”

He turned to Janine and his face softened with affection. “I feel as though I’ve been an impossible burden to you, child, what with running this company.” He shook his head. “Never in all my dreams did I expect to accumulate so much in a single lifetime. I’ve stayed in the business far longer than I should. It’s time for me to retire and do a little traveling.”

“It’s past time,” Janine said. For years, she’d been urging her grandfather to lessen his heavy work schedule. He’d often spoken of revisiting his birthplace and the surrounding countries. He talked at length of cousins and friends he’d left behind in the small German settlement. It was located in what was now part of Russia.

“This is where Zachary comes into the picture,” Anton explained. “I know myself all too well. Full retirement would be impossible for me. If I stopped working, I’d shrivel up and die. That’s just the way I am,” he said simply.

Neither Janine nor Zachary disputed his words.

“I’ll never be able to keep my fingers out of the business, yet I want to enjoy my travels. I couldn’t do that if I was fretting about what was going on at the office.” He paused as if he expected one of them to contradict him. “I believe I’ve come upon a solution. As of this afternoon, Zachary, I’m handing the reins to you. You will assume my position as chairman of the board. I realize this is sooner than we discussed, but the time is right and I hope you’ll agree.”

“But, Anton—”

“Gramps—”

Anton held up his hand. “I’ve thought about this long and hard,” he said confidently. “I find Zach’s honesty unquestionable, his loyalty certain and his intelligence keen. He’s shrewd, perceptive and insightful. I can think of no better man, and there’s no better time.”

Janine noticed that Zach seemed uncomfortable with the praise. “Thank you,” was all he said.

“A share of this company will belong to you someday, Janine,” Anton said next. “Do you have any objections to this appointment?”

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Of course she approved. What else could she do? “Whatever you decide is fine with me.”

Anton turned his attention to the other man. “Zachary, do you accept?”

Although their acquaintance had been brief, Janine knew instinctively that it took a lot to fluster this man. But her grandfather had managed to do so.

Zachary continued to stare at him as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. But when he spoke, his voice was well modulated, revealing little emotion. “I’m honored.”

“For the next few months, we’ll be working closely together, much as we have in the past, but with a difference. No longer will I be showing you the ropes. I’ll be handing them to you.”

The first course of their lunch arrived, and after that, the conversation flowed smoothly. Her grandfather made sure of it. He was jubilant and entertaining, witty and charming. It would have been impossible not to be affected by his good humor.

When they’d finished the meal, Zachary looked at his watch. “I’m sorry to leave so soon, but I have an appointment.”

Janine took a last sip of her coffee. “I should be leaving, too.” She reached for her purse and coat, then slid out of the booth, waiting for her grandfather to join her.

“If neither of you objects, I’m going to linger over my coffee,” Anton said, nodding toward his steaming cup.

“Of course.” Janine leaned over to kiss him goodbye.

Zachary walked out to the street with her. Before he left, he shook her hand. “It’s been a pleasure, Ms. Hartman.”

“You’re sure?” she teased, unable to stop herself.

“Yes.” His eyes held hers and he smiled. She walked away feeling oddly excited about their meeting. Zach wasn’t an easy person to know, but she suspected he was everything her grandfather claimed and more.

GRAMPS’S MOOD remained cheerful when he got home later that evening. Janine was in the library sipping herbal tea with her feet tucked under her as she watched the local news.

Sitting in the wingback leather chair next to her, Gramps crossed his legs and chose one of his Havana cigars. Janine shook her head affectionately as he lit it; she loved her grandfather dearly and wished he’d stop smoking, though she no longer bothered to express that wish. He was the kind of man who did exactly as he chose, got exactly what he wanted. He was obviously pleased with the way their luncheon had gone, and she wondered briefly if Zach had said anything about her afterward. Somehow she doubted it.

“Well,” he said after a moment, “What do you think of Zachary Thomas?” He blew a steady stream of smoke at the ceiling while he awaited her answer.

All afternoon, Janine had prepared herself for his question. Several complicated answers had presented themselves, clever replies that would sidestep her true feelings, but she used none of them now. Her grandfather expected the truth, and it was her duty to give it to him.

“I’m not sure. He’s a very…reserved man, isn’t he?”

Anton chuckled. “Yes, he is, but I’ve never known you to walk away from a challenge. The boy’s a little rough around the edges, but on the inside, he’s pure gold.”

Janine hadn’t thought of Zach in those terms—a challenge. Frankly, she doubted there’d be much reason for her to have any future contact with him. Gramps and Zach would be working closely together, but she had almost nothing to do with the business.

“I’ve earned his trust, but it took time,” Gramps was saying now.

“I’m glad you’ve decided to retire,” she said absently, half listening to the weather report.

“Zachary will change,” her grandfather added.

He had her full attention now. “Gramps,” she said patiently, holding in a laugh. “Why should he? He’s achieved considerable financial success. Everything’s looking good for him. What possible reason could there be for him to change?”

Anton stood and poured himself a liberal dose of brandy, swirling it slowly in the bottom of the snifter. “You’re going to change him,” he said after a thoughtful moment.

“Me?” Janine laughed outright. “I’m going to change Zachary Thomas?” she repeated in wide-eyed disbelief. That would be the day!

“Before you argue with me, and I can see that’s what you’re dying to do, I have a story I want to tell you. A rather sad one as it happens.”