Guarding the Heiress. Debra Webb

      “Thank you.” Ella took a hearty swallow and gingerly patted her ample bosom. She sighed. “That’s just what I needed.”

      “The way I see it,” Irene said, garnering the group’s attention once more, “a prime opportunity has fallen into our laps.”

      “Oh, do tell,” Mattie crooned.

      Eddi looked from one blue-haired lady to the next, then shrugged and turned to finish packing up her tools. It was useless to try to stop them. This wouldn’t be the first time, or the last, Eddi would bet, that her marital status, or lack thereof, would be discussed by Meadowbrook’s most respected matriarchs. The women loved playing Cupid.

      “What opportunity?” Minnie asked eagerly of Irene’s enigmatic announcement.

      “I saw a very handsome young man checking into Ms. Ada’s boardinghouse this morning,” Irene explained with a dreamy look on her well-preserved face. “He reminded me instantly of JFK Jr. Devilishly handsome, I tell you. My heart hasn’t reacted like that since my first on-screen kiss.”

      Eddi stilled, her fingers on the latches of her bright red toolbox. In a small town like this no stranger went unnoticed. Eddi’d seen the guy. He was the kind of man who inspired phrases like drop-dead gorgeous. At just over six feet, she estimated, and one hundred seventy pounds, the man appeared lean and solid. Not that she made it a habit of sizing up men, especially strangers, but there was just something about this one that aroused her natural curiosity. Thick, dark hair and piercing blue eyes adorned a face that was chiseled to sinfully handsome proportions.

      Eddi blinked away the image. The man had rolled into town in his black SUV at nine this morning, all mysterious and good-looking, and, she glanced at her wristwatch, at only two-fifteen, the Club was already talking about him. She glanced at the members in question. No one knew exactly what this “club” did. It was anyone’s guess. However, their matchmaking was legendary in these parts. She doubted a soul in town knew what the subject of their discussion did for a living or where he’d come from as of yet, and still she’d bet they had already reached a number of conclusions.

      But, Eddi admitted as she chewed her lower lip, there was something that bothered her about the man. It wasn’t anything in particular. Maybe something about the way he carried himself. Though she was far from world wise, the one word that came to mind was dangerous. The man was like no other she had ever seen, in real life anyway. And Eddi had every intention of giving him a wide berth if their paths crossed. Assuming he stayed in town longer than the night.

      “Oh, I saw him, too,” Mattie and Minnie chimed simultaneously. Ella nodded, “So did I.”

      For goodness’ sake. Eddi suppressed the urge to heave a sigh and shake her head. Did these ladies do nothing but peek out their windows all day long? Well, she amended, when they weren’t playing cards and sipping Remedy. She felt immediately contrite. The elderly foursome was harmless and well-meaning. She should just cut them some slack.

      “The only two bachelors the right age left in Meadowbrook think of Eddi as just another one of the boys,” Irene was saying with all the drama she had honed over the past half century as an actress. “We certainly can’t match her up with either of them, and frankly, ladies, our time is running out.”

      Eddi snapped shut the latches on her toolbox and pushed to her feet. “Ms. Irene, I appreciate your concern,” she began, “but I—”

      “But what do we know about the gentleman?” Mattie interjected, cutting Eddi off. “He could be a drifter.” Her expression sparkled with renewed interest. “Or…a spy.”

      Ella rolled her eyes and demanded, “What’s to know?” She took another drag from her cigar. “No wedding ring, so he’s single. Handsome as they come. And Ada said he used one of those credit cards that have no spending limit. He’s probably loaded.”

      Eddi’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. No ring didn’t mean anything and a high credit line certainly didn’t equate to wealth. These ladies were shameless! Their conclusions were foolish and unfounded. And they thought Eddi was naive. Enough was enough. “Ms. Ella, I—”

      “Run along now, Eddi,” Ella scolded gently. “We’ll take care of this little problem for you.”

      “He could be an ax murderer for all we know,” Minnie countered suddenly, as if the idea had only just occurred to her. “He had that…that look, you know.”

      Mattie pooh-poohed her sister’s suggestion. “What would an ax murderer be doing in Meadowbrook?” She glared at Minnie. “That look you’re referring to is intrigue. The man’s a regular Pierce Brosnan.”

      “Ladies,” Eddi said more firmly. She set her hands on her hips and strode to the dining table so that she could glare down at the meddling old biddies more effectively. “I’m not looking for a husband.”

      Ella tipped her cigar ashes into a nearby ashtray. “It’s the curse,” she announced solemnly.

      Confusion swiftly replaced Eddi’s irritation. “Curse?” A bad feeling edged into the back of her mind.

      Minnie nodded gravely and looked from one to the other until her gaze came to rest steadily on Eddi. “It’s affected the Harper women, as well as the Talkingtons on your momma’s side, for generations.”

      “Every female who didn’t marry by the age of twenty-five, never married,” Ella explained. “Your aunt Jess, your great-aunt Rosie, your cousin Mildred.” Ella shrugged. “The list goes on and on. Your momma scarcely made it herself.” The four shared another knowing look.

      “Come on,” Eddi countered. “You don’t really believe that stuff.” She looked to Irene, usually the most levelheaded one of the matchmaking group. “Those are just coincidences.” This was ridiculous. How could they believe this nonsense? It was laughable. Eddi licked her suddenly dry lips.

      Almost.

      She quickly ran down the history of the named relatives, then considered her own unattached, uninvolved, admittedly romanceless state and dread pooled in her tummy. Maybe they were right. Maybe she was doomed to live a life alone, struggling to keep the hardware from going under.

      “Eddi, honey, I’m afraid my friends are right,” Irene soothed. “I’m not a suspicious person by nature, but the facts speak for themselves.”

      Eddi threw up her hands and waved them back and forth as if she could erase the whole subject. “This is the new millennium, ladies, it’s okay to be twenty-five and single.”

      Ella lifted one finely arched gray eyebrow. “But how many twenty-five-year-old virgins do you know?”

      The blush started at her toes and rushed all the way to the roots of Eddi’s carefully braided hair. “Have a nice afternoon, ladies,” she said pointedly. “I think that’s my cue to go.” Eddi pivoted and strode toward her waiting toolbox.

      “Come on, Eddi,” Irene cajoled. “It’s not your fault your father had to have your help every spare moment since you turned thirteen. Your mother’s accident didn’t permit her to provide the extra set of hands he needed. All you’ve ever known is that hardware store. When other little girls were playing dolls and dress-up, you were learning how to handle a wrench and to swing a hammer. You played baseball and basketball when you were a teenager instead of wearing cheerleader skirts or taking dance lessons.”

      Minnie nodded her agreement. “Your male peers were all too in awe of your athletic ability to ask you for a date.”

      Eddi snatched up her toolbox. “It’s not like I’ve never had a date,” she snapped.

      “Don’t get yourself worked up, girlie,” Mattie put in sternly. “Everything is going to be just fine.” She smiled then and winked at Eddi. “You’ll see.”

      Eddi blew out a breath of frustration. “Have a nice day, ladies.” The well-painted smiles plastered across those sweet, wrinkled faces did nothing to set Eddi at ease as