ENCORE PERFORMANCE (THE MATCHMAKER TRILOGY) (7 page)

There wasn’t a moment to protest if he’d had the mind
to do so. She had those full lips brushing against his, but it
wasn’t just a peck. Her mouth opened to his and her tongue
sought his out as her other arm pulled him tight to her
body.

Thomas had never had a kiss that had him lightheaded,
but the one Carissa was planting on him was doing just
that. His arms wound around her waist and pulled her to
him, pressing their bodies tight to each other.

She wasn’t letting up. Her hand was in his hair, the
other sliding over his chest. The knot in his belly was as
tight as the pressure in his slacks. When she finally released
his lips she balanced her forehead against his.

“Yeah, you’re not too bad yourself,” he said with an
unsteady breath.
“Thomas.” Her head still pressed to his, she shifted her
eyes to meet his. “I’d really like more of that.”
He made a moan of some kind to indicate that his
thoughts were on the same path.
Carissa closed her eyes. She didn’t release her grip but
took in a deep breath before opening her eyes and gazing at
him.
“I want to make something clear. I know what I’m
doing. I’m not a child. When I want something I go after
it.” She lifted her head. “Thomas, I want you.”
“Carissa.”
“Don’t say anything.” Her finger pressed to his lips. “I
know we haven’t even started working together, but in the
last couple days the things you’ve done to me by just being
near me have sent my head spinning.” The hand on the
back of his neck slid toward his cheek. Her perfume filled
his head. Her eyes settled right into his. “After dinner I
want to take that kiss further.” She molded her body harder
to his. “I want to make love to you.”
He knew he gasped aloud by the widening of her eyes,
but he didn’t release her. He wasn’t sure he could
physically walk away from her at that moment.
“Carissa, you don’t know me.” At the moment he
didn’t know himself. That was what this trip was about.
Finding himself without hurting anyone in the process.
How come she kept putting herself in his path?
Carissa touched his lips with a brush of her fingers.
“But I want to know you.” She straightened, released
herself from him, and ducked into the car.
He shut the door, noticing her wanting eyes were still
on him. How was it he finally landed the job of a lifetime
and with it a woman he dreaded hurting for any number of
reasons—but couldn’t turn down?

The hostess greeted them at the door and escorted them
to a booth that would seat four. Carissa scooted to sit at the
place setting right next to Thomas. She liked having him
that close. Candles lit the darkened room and soft music set
the mood for romance.

She felt her skin get hotter with him near her. She
rested her hand on his leg and felt him straighten. She
realized she might be a bit much for him, but she’d never
been so attracted to a man in all her life. She wanted this
one, and every minute that passed, she realized she wanted
him for keeps.

“How about a glass for you and I’ll have water,” he
said with a dip of his head, his voice soft as though he were
saying it in secret.

She considered him a moment. “Designated driver?”
“Not much of a drinker.”
Carissa scanned the menu. She wasn’t the least bit

hungry—for food. She wished the waitress would come to
the table. Studying the menu wasn’t what she wanted to be
doing with her eyes.

The waitress finally arrived at the table and offered the
specials for the evening. Carissa considered them then
ordered her wine and dinner, then relaxed next to him,
hoping to find out more about the man who was stealing
her heart piece by piece.

“Are you always quiet or just around women?” she
asked from behind the rim of her wine glass as the candle
on the table flickered.

Thomas adjusted his shoulders, squaring them. “I get
pretty quiet around women who have me thinking thoughts
I shouldn’t be thinking.”

Carissa inched even closer to him. “I love that I’m
driving you wild.”
“You’ll hate me next week,” he promised, lifting his
water glass to his lips, but she shook her head.
“I hope not.” She sat back. “What worries you? Do
you think I can’t work with you if I seduce you?”
“Let’s just say I’m not the kind of man . . . women
don’t want men like me.”
Carissa wasn’t sure why he was so afraid of her, but it
wasn’t going to stop her.
“I think women like you just fine. Let’s get to know
each other. I think you’ll find it hard to turn me down.” She
drank down her wine. Feeling it swim in her head, she let
the smile settle on her lips. She was making him nervous
and it.
By the time they finished eating, she didn’t know
much more about the man, but he had her turned up. His
eyes smoldered in the dark booth. He told stories of places
he’d been and people he’d met. He stole a kiss after
stealing a bite of cheesecake from her fork and she
trembled. He spoke to her in Italian and her pulse began to
race.
She watched him with a knot that tightened in her
belly. This man was going home and falling into bed with
her, so help her God!

Hand in hand, they left the restaurant and stepped out
into the cool evening air. It wasn’t even close to the cold
shower Thomas would need when they got home. No
matter what Carissa said, he couldn’t take her to bed. There
was a fine line and he couldn’t cross that line no matter
how badly he wanted to.

“Why don’t we take a little walk?”
“A walk?” Disappointment dripped in her voice.
“Yeah, I think we need a walk.”
It was perhaps a bit cooler than he’d thought, but he

She hugged up to his arm. “Are you afraid to be alone
with me?”
“I’m man enough to say yes.”
“Thomas.” She stopped and looked up at him. “What
are you afraid of?”
He gathered her hands in his and held them to his
chest. “Carissa, I’m not the marrying kind.”
“I didn’t know I was asking.”
“You deserve better than me. I’ll hurt you.”
“Then don’t.” The glimmer in her eyes was fading and
that began to break his heart. “What if I hurt you?”
He smiled. “Why would you do that?”
“C’mon, I think we’re on equal ground. Who’s to say
one of us isn’t going to break the other’s heart? I’m a
professional and I thought you were too. We’re going to
work together, that’s a given.” He wished he could control
the rapid pace of his heart when she laid her hands on his
chest. “For the time being we’re even going to live
together.” Her eyebrows gave a playful rise. “It’s been a
long time since I’ve been with a man I find not only as
attractive as you but that I’m completely comfortable
around.” She pushed her body up against his and he could
feel the warmth radiate from her.
“You’re not going to back down, are you?” With her
that close he couldn’t help but reach his hands into her hair.
“No,” she said as she rose on her toes and took his
mouth with hers.
The air around them grew colder, but the heat between
them sizzled. He pulled her closer. Urgency burned through
his core and he knew he had to get her home before he
ripped her clothes off right on the street.
They collected the car and started home. Now that it
had started, he was having a hard time keeping his hands to
himself. His lips wandered down her neck and over her ear
as she drove.
“Thomas.” Her voice was airy, and he tugged on her
ear with his teeth. “I can’t—concentrate this—way.”
“Then drive faster,” he said and she laughed.
The moment they hit the driveway she killed the
engine and flew into his arms. His hands tangled in her
hair, pulling her closer as his tongue explored her mouth.
His hands slipped through her jacket. He tugged her blouse
loose and his hands roamed over her warm skin. She
moaned, which drove him mad.
When he cupped her breast and gave it a squeeze, she
gasped.
The soft sound sent his body into overdrive. He had to
get her into the house, on a flat surface, against a wall,
anywhere where there wasn’t the obstacle of the center
console.
“We have to get inside.” He moaned against her lips.
“I don’t know if I can wait that long.” She worked the
buttons on his shirt.
The glow of lights moved down the street.
“Wait. Wait.” He pulled back.
Sirens blared, approaching fast.
They adjusted themselves quickly and climbed from
the car as a fire truck and an ambulance pulled up in front
of the quiet house. Only a moment later her parents’ car
screeched to a stop behind the fire truck.
They both flew from their car.
“Oh, my God! What’s wrong?” Carissa was running to
her father as Sophia ran through the front door of the house.
David grasped her shoulders and glanced over her
disheveled appearance and then at Thomas’s before looking
back at Carissa. “Katie. She fell.”
“Oh, God.” She covered her mouth and broke from her
father’s grasp to run into the house.
Paramedics had Katie on the gurney by the time
Thomas made it into the house. Carissa was already at her
side.
“Oh, I should have been here. I should have stayed
with you.” She cried as her mother put her arm around her.
“I’ll be fine,” Katie assured her as they moved her
through the house.
The words were confident, but Thomas couldn’t help
but notice how weak Katie’s voice sounded. Carissa
collapsed against Sophia.
“I should have stayed. I should have been here for
her.”
“She would have been mad if you canceled your
dinner. Besides, it could have happened with you here just
as easily. She was in bed. She was getting up to go to the
bathroom. You can’t blame yourself.”
“I need to go with her. I need to be with her.” Carissa
pulled away and stumbled toward the door.
Thomas took a step toward Sophia and laid a gentle
hand on her arm.
Thomas was in unfamiliar territory. Compassion
wasn’t something he’d witnessed in his life too often.
Watching the women comfort one another, he wished he
could offer some.
“Sophia, go with her. You can leave Hope with me. I’ll
look after her.”
“Thomas, that would be wonderful. Thank you,”
Sophia patted his hand as she walked Carissa out of the
house.
David carried in Hope, who was sound asleep. He laid
her on the couch and draped an afghan over her.
“Are you sure about this?”
“It’s the least I can do.” He looked up David, whose
brows were creased. Thomas realized his shirt was still
unbuttoned and his hair was a mess.
The feeling of being caught with Carissa was worse
than he’d imagined when he’d seen David at the restaurant.
“Katie will be all right, won’t she?”
David shrugged. “She’s tough. We’ll call you.”
Thomas nodded and watched as David left the house.
He sat quietly, watching the small girl on the couch
breathe in and out. Her eyes darted beneath her eyelids as
she dreamed. She reminded him of his own sister, so sweet,
so innocent. The thought tugged at him uncomfortably. He
missed his sister. Envy surged through him when he
thought of the relationship Carissa had with Hope. He’d
been a part of a relationship like that once. But those days
were long gone.
Thomas turned on the television and the glow filled the
dark room. He turned the sound to a whisper so it wouldn’t
disturb Hope. He watched for a few minutes, but his body
refused to be still.
His fingers itched to move. He’d noticed the piano in
the study pushed against the wall. Obviously it was there
more for the purpose of lessons than for decoration, but it
was late and he didn’t want to wake Hope. He longed to
touch the keys, to make music now when he didn’t know
what else to do.
He walked to the study and shut the door.
He rested his fingers on the keys and let them slide
along them without a sound. The song he’d play wouldn’t
be joyful or beautiful. It would be painful and mournful.
That was how he felt.
Thomas walked to the kitchen and found a bowl and a
cup in the sink. He washed them and set them on the
counter to dry, then wiped down the already spotless
counters to keep his hands occupied. Soon he moved from
the kitchen to the hallway where he could see Katie’s
bedroom. The light on the nightstand was still on. He
entered the room cautiously and picked up the few items
that had fallen to the floor with Katie. He arranged her
slippers on the side of her bed, pulled the sheets and quilts
up to tidy the space. Then he turned off the light and
headed back toward the living room.
Hope was awake. She sat very still on her greatgrandmother’s couch and looked at the television through
sleep-hazed eyes. She wasn’t startled when Thomas entered
the room. She looked up at him and then back at the
television.
“Do you understand them?”
“What?” He looked at the television and realized he’d
been watching an Italian movie. He smiled. “Yes, I
understand them.”
“What language are they speaking?” She pulled her
legs under her and wrapped the blanket around her.
“It’s Italian.” He took his seat in the chair by the couch
again. “That’s what they speak in Italy.”
“That’s where you came from?”
“Well, that’s where I was living.”
He watched her as she watched the movie for a few
more minutes.
“How come you can understand them, but I can’t?”
“I lived in Italy a very long time. You learn the
language when you live somewhere long enough.”
“Will you teach me Italian?”
“Maybe I can teach you some words.”
Hope stood from her seat on the couch and walked
toward him with the afghan dragging behind her.
She stopped in front of him and made a move to sit on
his lap. Thomas tensed, and Hope climbed up on him,
laying her head on his shoulder and draping her feet over
the side of the chair.
Thomas covered her with the afghan and did his best to
settle into the chair with her. Perhaps she needed comfort.
Perhaps she was cold or scared. He wasn’t sure, but she
seemed to trust him and he wasn’t going to break that trust.
“Is Grandma going to be okay?” Her voice was
muffled against his shirt.
“I’m sure she will. Your dad said he’d call.” He ran his
hand over her soft blonde hair and she snuggled closer with
a yawn.
“Grandma is very old.”
“Yes she is.”
“Someday she’ll die.”
Thomas swallowed hard. Someday they all would die,
he thought. Some would die from old age like Katie, some
to disease like their Aunt Millie, and some by the hands of
hateful others.
“I don’t think that’ll be soon. You have to think
positive thoughts,” he offered, and he heard her sniffle.
“Aunt Millie died.” The comment was simply stated.
“Mandy died.”
“Who’s Mandy?” He ran his hand down her hair again.
Though he was trying to soothe her, he found comfort in it.
“My mother.”
Thomas felt his breath hitch. He wouldn’t ask. That
wasn’t right. Yet that one sentence had so many things
running through his head. Wishing Carissa were there, he
closed his eyes and took a moment to enjoy the feeling of
someone needing him for comfort the way Hope was. Who
was this misplaced child that ended up in Sophia’s hands?
What a gift, he thought. What a gift.
He felt her become heavy against him and realized
she’d fallen asleep. He managed to pull the lever on the
side of the chair and raise his feet. The movie on the
television still played out in Italian and he listened to the
words that were as familiar to him as English. Soon he
drifted to sleep.
It wasn’t until he heard the opening of the front door
that Thomas’s eyes flew open. He quickly felt the
numbness of his arms and realized Hope still slept on his
lap. The television now played a French movie, which he
understood as well as the Italian one. David’s weary face
appeared in the shadows of the television light.
“Sorry to wake you,” he whispered.
“No.” Thomas tried to wake himself up to be more
alert. “No problem.”
“I should have called. But Sophia and Carissa were a
wreck. Trying to calm them kept me occupied.” He ran his
hands over his face. “I hope she wasn’t any trouble.”
“Not at all.” He tried to make his body to move, but
found it impossible after having held her for so long.
Hope stirred on his lap and woke up when she heard
her father’s voice call her name softly. She smiled and
slowly crawled off Thomas’s lap.
“C’mon let’s get you home.” David tucked the afghan
around her and held her to him as she gathered her
bearings. “Carissa is going to stay at the house tonight. Will
you be all right here alone?”
“Sure, I’ll be fine. Is Carissa okay now?”
“She’s fine. I think this shook her up. When Millie
died she’d fallen too and didn’t recover.”
“But Katie’s okay, right?” There was desperation in his
voice as he tried to stand to talk to the man before him.
“She’ll be okay. They’re going to keep her for a few
days. They thought she’d broken her hip, but it looks like
she’s just banged up a little.”
Thomas nodded. That was good news, he decided.
David offered a tired smile.
“Thanks for watching her.”
“My pleasure.”
Thomas walked them to the door.
David opened the screen to let Hope out. She took a
few stumbling steps then stopped and turned back around.
She wrapped her arms around Thomas’s legs and gave him
a tight squeeze.
He watched them drive away and then closed the front
door and fell to the floor behind it.
Hope would never know what her sincerity did to him.
He buried his face in his hands. Sarah had hugged him
like that and trusted him to protect her. How could he have
let her down?