When Hayley March burst through the door of the North Star Café, all eyes turned to her. More than any place else in Golden Falls, the North Star Café was where you went to see and be seen, especially in the early mornings when the town’s movers and shakers gathered for business, coffee, and the signature cinnamon buns. It was the quintessential anchor of the tidy downtown square, with a deco-style metal awning out front and big glass windows with decorations that changed with the seasons.

Hayley was there to meet Claire Roberts, her boss and business mentor. While earning her marketing degree from Alaska State, Hayley had gotten an internship with the employment agency owned by Claire, which was just one of the many local businesses she owned. Hayley had flourished in her role and was hired after graduation, and now she wasn’t only working for the employment agency matching people to jobs, but launching her own side-along business, matching people to people: helping others find love as Golden Falls’ one and only matchmaker.

Claire was already at the café, of course, because Hayley was five minutes late and Claire was never late to anything. Hayley settled into the booth near the roaring stone fireplace.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said, knowing Claire considered promptness an essential quality for successful businesswomen. “For the first time in a long time, I actually cared how I looked in the morning.”

“It’s your big interview day!” Claire said. “Are you excited?”

“I’m kind of nervous, actually.”

Hayley, the budding entrepreneur, was scheduled to be interviewed by the glamorous Cassie Holt of KFLS Channel Eight, the local NBC affiliate, later that morning. She’d tried on and decided against four different outfits before settling on black dress pants and a form-fitting teal cashmere sweater Claire had given her for Christmas the year before. The outfit wouldn’t hide the extra ten pounds Hayley was carrying, but it would have to do.

“I love that sweater on you, Hayley,” Claire said. “It contrasts so nicely with your auburn hair, and it makes your eyes even more hazel-y. It’s the perfect thing to wear for TV.”

“You think? It doesn’t make me look too fat?”

“No, because you’re not fat.”

“I gained a few pounds after Danny and I broke up,” Hayley said, having recently gotten on the scale for the first time since her last break-up, which had taken place at about this time the previous year. Seeing the evidence had made her vow to get her act together. She’d hit the gym that day, and the next day, and resolved to go every day for the rest of her life. It would be her job, just like going to the office was. She’d be the fittest, sexiest, most successful businesswoman Golden Falls had ever seen … since Claire, anyway.

Fifty-something—Claire was coy about her exact age—and attractive, with sharp blue eyes and a trim, fashionable figure, Claire had the energy of someone half her age. She was deeply committed to the city, serving on the city council in addition to developing a carefully curated downtown. She knew everyone in the area and was universally well-regarded, with the one exception of her nemesis, Gordon Begay, the other major property owner in town.

“A few extra pounds are a fair tradeoff,” Claire said. “Weight you can lose. Immature, man-child boyfriends like Danny can weigh you down for life if you end up marrying them. Trust me. I speak from experience.”

Claire had one failed marriage behind her, but she seldom talked about it. Once, she’d told Hayley she nearly forgot having been married at all.

“I know. Plus, I got an awesome apartment out of it! Honestly, Claire, I owe you forever for renting it to me on short notice like you did.”

The apartment was a spacious, newly-remodeled one-bedroom on the upper floor of a four-unit building Claire owned overlooking the Golden Falls City Park and the downtown square. It was perfectly opposite the café, in fact. Claire herself had rented the apartment back when she was Hayley’s age, and when her first business took off, she’d bought the whole building from her landlord. Over the following thirty years, Claire had built up a large portfolio of residential housing in town, mostly near the college campus, as well as owning nearly half the commercial buildings on Main Street—including the one in which they were having breakfast.

“I’m glad it was available at the right time.” Claire smiled. “I loved it, too, when I lived there, although I didn’t decorate it as nicely as you have.”

“You also didn’t go six thousand dollars into debt like I did to decorate and furnish it,” Hayley said with some chagrin.

“More lessons learned,” Claire said without judgment. “At least you got yourself out of it quickly.”

“One paycheck at a time,” said Hayley, who’d spent the last year trimming every unnecessary expense to fit a strict budget so she could pay down her credit card. “Rebecca made me. She was more stressed about my debt than I was.”

“Speak of the devil.” Claire smiled as Rebecca Miller approached their table, looking happier than a person had a right to be after waking up at 3 a.m. to start baking. In her mid-thirties, Rebecca co-owned the café with her brother, Eric, who managed the people and the books. All Rebecca wanted to do was bake, and her customers were grateful for it.

That morning, she came bearing gifts—two bowls of chocolate bread pudding with heavy cream to pour over it.

“Devil’s right,” Hayley said, inhaling the scent of warm chocolate as she reached for her bowl. “Rebecca’s the real reason I’ve gained weight.”

“Hey, I just make it,” Rebecca said. “I don’t force you to eat it.”

“You could at least charge me for it.”

“But you’re my number one taste tester!”

“And it’s the best job in the world,” Hayley said, happily pouring cream over the pudding. “Speaking of jobs, mine is finding you a date, Rebecca. Are you coming to Singles Night this week?” Hayley was referring to the weekly event she hosted at the Sled Dog Brewing Company, Golden Falls’ largest and best craft brewery.

“If anyone can make me a believer in love, it’s you, Hayley. I’ll be there.”

“Just don’t be shy,” Hayley said.

“I’m not shy,” Rebecca said. “I’m quiet.”

“I’m glad you’re coming, anyway,” Hayley said. “I know you’d probably rather be home reading a book.”

Rebecca was tall and slender, with long straight blond hair and pretty blue eyes. Yet she seldom dated and was very much a homebody.

“I’m trying to be more social,” she said. “I find that I’m dreading this winter in a way I never do. Hence my attendance at Singles Night.”

Winters in Golden Falls, as in the rest of Alaska, were known for frigid temperatures and short bouts of daylight, less than four hours on the winter solstice. Some people handled it better than others.

“Hayley’s being interviewed by Cassie Holt this morning,” Claire told Rebecca. “She’s doing a feature story on the ‘Bring Your Heart to Golden Falls’ campaign.”

Rebecca grinned. “Bring your heart, leave your baggage?”

Weeks away from being launched, Hayley’s online campaign was designed to attract women from the Lower Forty-Eight to move to Alaska in general, and Golden Falls in particular.

“We’re leaving the baggage part out.” Three bites in, Hayley set down her spoon. “This is fantastic, but I can’t eat before the interview. I’m actually feeling kind of sick.”

“Don’t be nervous about Cassie,” Claire said. “She’s very nice. Definitely direct and East-Coasty, but friendly.” Claire, acquainted with Cassie Holt, had been the facilitator of the interview.

“Yeah, she’s really nice. She comes in here all the time,” Rebecca added. “She and her firefighter boyfriend. And hey, you could ask her for advice about the marketing campaign. She’s new to town and exactly your target age, isn’t she?”

“Any age is my target age,” Hayley said. “But maybe I will ask her. She came for a job and stayed for a man—we need a few hundred women to do the same thing.”

“Cassie didn’t stay for just any man,” Rebecca said. “She stayed for Cody Bradford.”

“Those firefighters,” Claire said. “They sure are something.”

Her wistful tone make Hayley laugh. “You have a thing for younger men, Claire? Or firefighters?”

“Maybe a little of both.” Claire’s sharp blue eyes sparkled as she held up a forkful of bread pudding. “I definitely have a thing for this bread pudding, though. It’s wonderful. Say, what time do you have to go?”

Hayley glanced at the clock on the wall and stood. “Now.”

“Don’t worry.” Claire got up and gave her a hug. “You’ll be great.”

* * *

Hayley kept Claire’s words in mind as she bundled up and walked the short block to the Golden Touch Barbershop, where the interview would be held. She’d suggested the barbershop because the owner, Andrew Blake, was a retired firefighter who’d graced the cover of the annual firefighter calendar ten times. That’s how sexy he was. And, thanks to Claire’s urging, he was going to be one of the faces of her “Bring Your Heart” campaign. Hayley had already interviewed him for his profile piece.

In his fifties and tall with a medium build, Andrew was clear-eyed, friendly, and had a quick smile. An ex-military man, he looked great in the Levi’s and brown leather jacket he was fond of wearing. His thick brown hair wasn’t even peppered with grey … or was it? As the city’s best barber, and a city councilman to boot, he’d never tell.

Hayley brought him a cinnamon bun from the North Star, and he thanked her and set it aside for after the interview. He then introduced her to Cassie Holt, who was setting up for the interview, along with her cameraman.

“Hi, Hayley,” the reporter said. “I’m Cassie. It’s great to meet you.”

Cassie looked like Hayley expected from what she’d seen on TV, although shorter, and she had about the most perfect flip to her blond hair. Hayley had stubborn waves and always envied women with straight hair. But what most surprised Hayley was the big smile Cassie gave her as she said hello. On camera, she came across as all-business. Of course, Hayley reminded herself, warming up an interviewee was her business. In any case, Hayley appreciated it.

“Can I just say what a great idea I think this campaign of yours is?” Cassie said. “It really shows how this whole community is so welcoming, and everyone looks out for each other. It’s a big reason why I decided to stay after—” Cassie stopped, shrugged. “Well, I’m sure you heard all about what happened.”

Hayley certainly had heard what happened—everyone in town had, as it had made national news. Cassie had been the victim of a violent stalker who’d followed her from New York to Golden Falls, but he’d been caught and was now in prison.

“I’m glad you decided to stay,” Hayley said, “even after you were out of danger.”

“Thanks,” Cassie said. “This place won my heart, that’s for sure!”

“Speaking of hearts—I hear you’re dating a firefighter?”

“Word gets around fast! Yeah, I am. Cody Bradford. He’s …” She sighed and smiled in a way that said true love. “He’s everything.”

Hayley felt a twinge of wistfulness that she herself might have that glowing expression over somebody. Someday.

“But this interview’s about you. Are you from here?”

“No, I moved here when I was eighteen,” Hayley said.

“From?”

“Hibiscus Island. Near Miami.”

“That’s geographically about as far away as you could go and still be in the United States.”

“That was the point.” She’d left home the summer after she’d graduated from high school and never looked back. In doing so, she’d given up her ample trust fund, but gained her freedom from a toxic family environment. The dysfunctionality of her parents’ divorce, her critical mother, her workaholic father, and her toe-the-line older brother were all left in the past. The glorious feeling of standing on her own two feet in harsh Alaska had only affirmed she’d made the right decision. “My parents aren’t the nicest people.”

“That’s understandable, then,” Cassie said. “Before we start recording, can you explain if this is an actual business or just a marketing campaign for the town? I’m not quite clear on that.”

“It’s definitely a business,” Hayley said. “My matchmaking service is a traditional subscription model, but the ‘Bring Your Heart’ campaign is a mix of sponsorship and referral fees. I work for the Roberts Staffing Agency, and—”

“That’s Claire’s agency, right?”

“Right. And the major local employers are always looking for ways to attract and keep talent, so that’s where referrals come in. Then I’ve secured sponsorships from other local businesses and even a couple cruise lines.”

“How many women do you hope to recruit?”

“Fifty a year would be great,” Hayley said. “I think we can get even more, because there are tons of job opportunities in the tourist sector during the summer months, as well as decent year-round jobs at the university and the hospital.”

“Are you going after women of certain ages?”

“Not really, no,” Hayley said. “We need more women, period, and I think the type of woman who’s adventurous enough to take a chance on love by moving to the hip and thriving metropolis of Golden Falls, Alaska, is exactly the type of woman we want! I just have to make sure they make new friends fast and hopefully find a boyfriend right away. If they give me a year, I’ll give them a husband.”

Cassie laughed. “That should be your tagline.” She saw her cameraman tap his watch and nodded. “Are you ready for the interview?”

“I think so.” Hayley bit her lip.

“Don’t be nervous. You’ll be great.”

It was easy for her to say. She was a pro. “Do you have any advice for me?”

“Mostly just speak slowly. When people are nervous, they tend to rush their words. This isn’t a live interview, so if you mess up, don’t worry. We’ll only use the good stuff.”

“Alright, I’m ready,” Hayley said. “And thank you for being so nice. I was kind of intimidated to meet you. You’re so polished, and I’m so … not.”

“You’re totally polished!” Cassie said. “Not to mention, your sweater really makes your eyes pop.”

As the camera light went on and the big fuzzy boom microphone hovered over her head, Hayley’s heart raced. She took a few deep breaths and reminded herself to speak slowly. After a few questions, she found her groove. For a few minutes, the interview was really fun.

And then Cassie asked her about her own love life.

“So a matchmaker like you—how did you find your perfect match?”

“Oh, uh, ooh.” Hayley froze. It was one thing to joke about it with her friends at the North Star Café but another thing entirely to become the laughingstock of interior Alaska. “I’m too busy building my business to be concerned about my own love life at the moment. I honestly don’t have time for love!”

It was a lie, and she was sure it came across on camera. The truth was, Hayley was very concerned about her love life, or lack thereof, and the mistakes she kept making in relationships. She just didn’t know what those mistakes were or what to do about them.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that,” Cassie said. “Don’t worry, I’ll cut it.”

She gave her a few softball questions and then moved on to a short interview with Andrew, who turned his gorgeous blue eyes to the camera and charmingly implored the lovely ladies of Anchorage and the Lower Forty-Eight to find their way to Golden Falls—and to him, specifically. Hayley smiled from the sidelines. Andrew was swoon-worthy in a silver fox sort of way, and she was sure more than one woman would answer his call.

After the segment ended, the cameraman gathered up his equipment. Andrew said his goodbyes and disappeared into his office.

“I’m sorry I got all flustered there,” Hayley said, embarrassed. “I wasn’t expecting you to ask me anything personal.”

“God forbid.” Cassie smiled. “I have a feeling you and I are probably a lot alike. In our jobs, we get to ask people intimate questions, and they’ll tell us almost anything, but they don’t even notice how little we reveal about ourselves.”

“That’s very true,” Hayley said.

“It’s by design, right?”

“In my case, for sure,” Hayley said.

“Mine, too,” Cassie said. “Which is why I think we should be friends.”

“I’d love for us to be friends,” Hayley said, and it was true. Her two closest girlfriends had moved back to the Lower Forty-Eight after college, and Hayley had yet to fill the void.

“Do you need more men to help promote your campaign?” Cassie asked. “Because I happen to have connections with some very hunky firefighters. Most of the guys at Cody’s station are single, and they’re pretty good sports. Should I introduce you?”

“That would be awesome—yes!”

“Good, it’s settled. We’ll do it. They might need a little convincing, but between the two of us and Cody, we’ll make it happen.”

“Ooh, I know!” Hayley said. “Do you think you can get them to come to a singles’ event I’m hosting Thursday night at the Sled Dog? Tell them I’ll buy them a round.”

“Probably,” Cassie said. “That’s on their four days off. If we can get one of them to come, we can get all of them to come. But we’re going to save one of the single guys for you!”

“I haven’t had good luck with men lately,” Hayley said, feeling her cheeks redden. “Honestly, at this point I’m not sure how much of it’s me and how much of it’s them.”

“Oh, it’s definitely all them!” Cassie said with a laugh. “If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that these Alaska boys need to be tamed. They’ve been allowed to run wild for far too long.” Her green eyes gleamed. “And I have to say, taming them is more fun than I imagined.”

As she put on her coat, she gave Hayley an appraising look.

“I know exactly the guy for you. He’s fun, and funny, and, of course, hotter than hell like all the firefighters are.”

“Thanks, but seriously, I’m not really looking,” Hayley said, which of course wasn’t true. She was always looking but never finding.

“That’s even more perfect—neither is he!”

“So it’s doomed before it even starts.” Hayley sighed. “Welcome to the story of my life.”

Cassie smiled. “You need a new story—and Josh Barnes is just the man to give you one.”