ENCORE PERFORMANCE (THE MATCHMAKER TRILOGY) by Bernadette Marie Page A

agree. Carissa’s smarter than I am and has a stronger
will. He’ll be either in or out, but by the sounds of it he’s
in.”
    “I raised a hopeless romantic.” Katie began pushing
her walker down the mall and Sophia followed, laughing.
“No, Grandma, I’m a hopeful romantic.”
David walked out of the building toting a two-by-four
as Carissa’s car pulled up in front and parked. He was sure
she was there to check up on his progress. She’d already
called three times. When he saw Thomas climb from the
driver’s seat and Carissa wasn’t with him, mild
apprehension rose in his belly.
“Hey.” He gave Thomas a nod as he headed to the
chop saw set up just outside the door and set the board on
the saw’s table. He pulled the pencil from behind his ear
and darkened the line he’d made inside earlier. “Did you
come to offer a hand?”
“Well, I’ll be the first to admit I’m not much of a
handy kind of guy, but I thought I’d come by and see what
I could help out with. Carissa has students all day. I’d just
be in her way.”
David chewed on the inside of his cheek and
considered him with a nod.
“Cutting that board or taking a break?” Jeremy walked
outside and stopped, scanning a look over Thomas. “Oh,
hi.”
“Jeremy, this is Thomas.” David lined up the blade
with the pencil mark.
Jeremy stuck his hand out and Thomas shook it. “So,
are you here to help this loser build this wall?”
“Loser?” David smirked and nodded in Jeremy’s
direction. “You do see the man here covered in saw dust.
He must be a loser too.”
Jeremy gave Thomas a slap on the back. “C’mon
inside. We’ll put you to work.”
David followed them with the board he’d just cut.
Thomas’s voice carried from the back.
“I’m trying to convince her that we need a classroom
for theory.”
David walked to the back of the school where the two
men stood looking at the empty space.
Jeremy’s eyebrows drew together. “Theory?”
David laughed. “Those little black dots on the paper.”
“Smart ass.” Jeremy looked at Thomas. “Notes. I know
what the hell notes are.” He shook his head at David. “Why
does she need a room for that? Aren’t they just learning
how to play?”
“Dear God you have no idea.” David patted Jeremy on
the back. “You’d better stop while you’re ahead.” He
shifted his glance toward Thomas. “As soon as she says she
wants a room for theory, I’ll build it for her.” But not a
second sooner, he thought.
By the time they decided to stop for the day, they’d
erected the partition wall that would separate the parents’
area from the rest of the school. Though Thomas had been
correct about not being handy, David was grateful for the
extra set of hands.
“Thanks for your help,” he called with a wave as he
locked the front door and Thomas climbed into Carissa’s
car and drove away.
Jeremy tossed his tool belt into the back of his pickup.
“So that was Thomas?”
“Yep.”
“Mary Alice talked about him for an hour last night.”
David secured the tailgate of the pickup and let his grip
linger on the metal.
“What did she have to say?”
“Just that they had eyes for each other.”
“Eyes?” His voice shot up in pitch.
“Yep.” He nodded. “Said they didn’t take their eyes off
each other. Laughed easily. Touched.”
“Touched?”
“Christ, you pansy. She’s twenty-five.” Jeremy
laughed as he walked toward the driver’s door and pulled it
open. “Left her alone in that house with that man, and
you’re scatterbrained if you think they’re just smiling at
each other.” Jeremy laughed and David backed away from
the back of the truck as he pulled away.
David walked to his car and thought of them earlier
that morning at breakfast. They did look very comfortable
together. He shook his head. He wasn’t quite ready to think
about his little girl getting involved with anyone. Especially
the man she was living with, as Jeremy had so thoughtfully
reminded him. He