Matchmaker extraordinaire Molly Matthews is an expert in love, but her skills are put to the ultimate test when international heartthrob Rory Campbell waltzes into her office.
Molly Matthews knows everything there is to know about love. She should too, she runs the most exclusive marriage bureau in town. So why, then, is her own love life a complete disaster area?
When Rory Campbell, the international film star and hell-raising playboy, turns up at Molly’s office, she can’t believe he’s looking for a wife. Despite her better judgment, Molly agrees to help Rory in his quest, but all her attempts at finding him the perfect woman are met with disdain from her trickiest customer to date.
Molly is furious that her professional integrity has been compromised and she’s allowed her personal feelings to get in the way of a business relationship.
When photos of Rory appear in the press with Emma D’Santi, a beautiful pinup and the only woman Molly suspects Rory has ever loved, she wonders if Rory is wasting her time and playing with her heart.
Can Molly still find Rory the woman of his dreams while putting her own burgeoning emotions to one side and hanging on to what’s left of her frazzled heart?
General Release Date: 16th February 2016
Molly Matthews dashed up the stairs to the top floor offices at thirty-three-A Fitzwilliam Place, which today, in four-inch patent nude stilettos and with three glasses of vintage champagne fizzing through her veins, was a slightly more treacherous task than usual.
She stumbled through the front door of Molly Matthews’ Marriage Bureau, not expecting it to be open, nor expecting to find Pippa, her best friend and sometime assistant, waiting for her expectantly.
“So how did it go?” asked Pippa, putting down the magazine she’d been flicking through and raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.
“Oh, Pippa…” Molly planted her backside on the edge of her desk, letting out the biggest, most satisfied sigh. “It was wonderful. Simply wonderful. The best wedding I have ever been to.”
“Really? I think you said that last time,” said Pippa cheerfully, the eyebrow rising even farther.
“This one was, though. It was so magical. Emma looked absolutely stunning in an off-white sheath dress and Fraser was wearing a kilt, would you believe? He looked adorable. I felt so proud, almost as if I was watching my own son marry.”
Pippa’s eyes narrowed, her mouth forming into a grimace.
“I know that’s an impossibility and probably sounds ridiculous and a little inappropriate too, but you know I have a soft spot for Fraser. He was one of my first clients, after all, and there were moments when I thought I might never find him his bride. Here, look…” Molly delved into her handbag and pulled out a Polaroid of the happy couple with Molly planted very firmly between them, beaming into the camera. “Don’t they look happy together? They really are the perfect match.”
Pippa smiled, nodding her head in agreement.
“Hmm, that kilt was definitely a good decision.”
Molly giggled, rifling through the top drawer of the desk and producing a drawing pin, which she used to post the photo up on the wall, alongside the dozen or so other pictures of Molly’s successful couplings.
“This is what it’s all about.” She stood back, folding her arms and admiring the montage proudly. “It makes everything worthwhile, doesn’t it? Anyway,” she said, fixing Pippa with a puzzled look, “what are you doing, still here? Thought you had a leg wax to see to?”
“I do,” said Pippa, glancing at her watch, “but you have a visitor so I thought I’d stay and keep him company.” She swept her head in the direction of the small reception room, looking decidedly mischievous. “I did explain that you could be some time, but he seemed quite happy to wait.”
“Really. There wasn’t anything in the diary, was there?” Molly’s heart sank. She was horrified that she may have overlooked an appointment, and even worse, that she now had a meeting to attend. Post-wedding fever had made her legs heavy and her mind fuzzy.
“Nope. He didn’t have an appointment. Just called in on the off chance, apparently.” Pippa jumped up from her seat, looking as if she might burst with excitement. “You’ll never guess who it is in there.”
“You’re right, I won’t guess! I’m not blimmin’ clairvoyant! And if you’re meant to be keeping him company, why aren’t you in there, keeping him company?”
“Ah yes, about that. I think my scintillating presence was too much for him. He’s fallen asleep in the chair so I thought I’d leave him to it.” Pippa giggled. “You are so not going to believe who it is.”
“Fallen asleep! Oh, for goodness sake!” Molly marched over to the doorway and flung open the door. She stopped dead in her high heels and for a split second thought her heart may have stopped too. She inhaled sharply as her gaze skittered around the familiar room, which suddenly seemed wholly unfamiliar with the man’s long, broad figure reclining in the chair. His chestnut-brown hair flopped over to one side of his face, his black eyelashes, obscenely long, rested on his cheek and his lips, gently parted, emitted the faintest whooshing noise. Molly took a big step backward and carefully closed the door again. She turned to look at Pippa, her mouth opening, closing and then opening again.
“Oh my God! Is that…? Is that…?” Easing the door handle down gently, she took another peek at the sleeping god, before quickly shutting the door again. “Rory Campbell is asleep in my office?”
“I said you’d never believe it!” Pippa danced on tiptoes, flapping her hands at her side, giving a very good impression of a fairy ballerina. “Rory Campbell!” She let out a little squeal.
Molly shrugged, holding her hands up in the air and lowering her voice to a whisper.
“What on earth is he doing here though?”
“Well, he wouldn’t say, he specifically asked to speak to you.” She picked up her handbag, slipped on her jacket and headed for the door. “And I know my wonderful skills of deduction would be much better suited to a detective agency, but I wouldn’t mind guessing that Mr. Gorgeous in there is looking for a wife!”
Jill Steeples lives with her husband, two children and a high maintenance English Pointer called Amber in a lovely house surrounded by Monkey Puzzle trees in a small market town in the UK. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with family and friends, and enjoys reading (of course!), films, musical theatre, walking, baking and eating cakes and drinking wine!
Her short stories have appeared in anthologies and women’s magazines around the world and she is the author of four romantic comedy novels.
You can take a look Jill's website and her blog. You can also follow her on Facebook and Goodreads.