“This is where I want to be.”

“You could always come back here for visits—”

“And leave all my friends? Leave my bridge group? And my birthday group? The girls and I have been together for over fifty years!”

Amanda smiled, because she knew Bette’s bridge club and birthday club and the ‘girls’ were all in their eighties as well. “You do have great friends here.”

“Exactly! I just need a little help convincing him that Marietta, Montana is where I belong.”

Mandy gave Bette a long look. “Just know that I won’t be part of your matchmaker schemes.”

“I wouldn’t!”

“You have. Several times.”

“Well, I promised you I wouldn’t interfere, and I haven’t again, have I?”

“No. And that’s good, because I’ve never been happier, nor have I ever worked harder. The last thing I want, or need, is a man. He’d only complicate everything—” She broke off, her brow creasing. “What did you say his name was?”

“Tyler Justice.”

So not Ty James, Mandy thought. But just to be on the safe side, she had to ask. “Does he ever go by Ty? Or Ty James?”

“Well, his middle name is James, and I suppose people might call him Ty. His parents called him Tyler, and I’ve only ever called him Tyler.” Bette paused. “Why do you ask?”

“Do you have a picture of him?”

“I do somewhere. Not here.”

“Not on your iPhone?”

“I still don’t know how to do that, Amanda.”

Mandy hid her smile. “What does he look like?”

“Why all these questions?”

“I’ll tell you in a minute. Just humor me. Is he tall or short? Does he have dark hair or is he blond? Does he even have hair?”

“Of course he has hair! He has thick brown hair and green eyes, and he’s a little over six feet tall. Maybe six feet one. And he’s handsome. He has a lovely face—he inherited his dad’s good looks. I know I’m his grandmother but Tyler is swoon worthy.”

“Huh.”

“Why?”

She pictured the tall, broad shouldered man in her chair earlier, and the high hard cheekbones, as well as the firm chin and strong brow. “I was just curious. Just in case I… bump… into him here in town.”

“He’s not arriving until Friday night.”

“And then he’ll be staying at the Graff?”

“No! With me, of course.” Bette looked indignant. “I’d never let family say at a hotel. That’s dreadful.”

“Right.”

Chapter Two

Her three o’clock appointment was a no-show due to car troubles, and Amanda was almost glad because her brain was spinning and her stomach was churning. After glancing at her watch, and then out the window, she grabbed her coat and told Emily she’d be back in time for her four o’clock client, and then buttoning her coat, Amanda headed down Second Avenue, toward Main Street and then on to Front before turning to the Graff.

It was a cloudless day, just cold and windy, not surprising as it was late February and Marietta was always windy. Amanda walked briskly, the odd leaf and twig swirling past, taking deep breaths, trying to check her temper, but it wasn’t easy because she was seriously angry. She’d been played by Bette’s grandson, no less.

Amanda asked the front desk if there was a housephone she could use to call Tyler James’s room. The rather dour front-desk clerk pointed to the phone against the lobby wall, but then added, “But he’s not in his room at the moment. He was just here asking about a place to get food and I directed him to the bar.”

Amanda nodded her thanks and headed to the back where the old-fashioned bar had a cozy pub feel with its green leather booths, big antique counter, and glowing copper ceiling. After being refurbished for much of the last year, the handsome, antique bar was back in place, in its position of glory, and Amanda’s friend, bartender Shane Knight was behind the counter.

Amanda nodded at Shane and then scanned the room, spotting Tyler at a booth on the opposite wall.

Her temper spiked again.