A Match Made by Cupid (Harlequin Special Edition)

by Madison, Tracy

  To combat her obvious insanity and approaching meltdown, she insisted on driving herself to Wednesday’s interviews. They arrived at the senior-living community at nine, spent thirty minutes with the director and then met with two couples before noon. After a quick lunch, they interviewed another two couples.

  Now, Jace and Melanie were sitting in a window-filled kitchen in one of the community’s private apartments. This was the interview that Jace had mentioned last week, the one where the couple had been married for over fifty years. Patrick and Doreen Breckenridge were gray-haired, slightly stooped over and in their late seventies. Even so, they appeared healthy and strong.

  Mrs. Breckenridge folded her soft, wrinkled hands on the table. “This is so much fun, having you two here. I don’t know what we can possibly tell you that’s newsworthy, though.”

  With a wink and a smile, Jace said, “With five children, twelve grandchildren, and—two?—great-grandchildren, I’m guessing you have plenty to share.”

  A light pink blush stole over the woman’s apple-round cheeks. “Well, aren’t you a charmer? And, yes, we have two great-grandchildren. Sophia, who just turned three, and Evan, who will be six next month. They were here yesterday,” Doreen continued, her eyes softening in recollection. “They visit one afternoon a week.”

  Patrick set his coffee cup on the small, glass-topped table. “Still isn’t enough for my Doreen. She’d have those youngsters here every day if it were possible. Dang ragamuffins, always underfoot. You couldn’t walk through this room yesterday, what with Sophia banging on every pot and pan we own. Gave me a headache,” he grumbled.

  “Listen to the old man.” Doreen shook her head in amusement. “You’d never guess he paces by the window watching for their car, would you?”

  “Someone has to make sure they don’t trample your flowerbeds when they run to the door,” Patrick said gruffly as he fidgeted in his chair.

  “It’s January, dear.” Doreen patted her husband’s hand. “There’s nothing out there to trample. And who was it that sat right here with a wooden spoon in one hand and my soup pot lid in the other, banging away with our great-granddaughter? Oh, yes, that was you. So there is no sense in letting these young people believe you’re a grump.”

  Patrick made a harrumph sound. “I am a grump.”

  “Yes, dear,” Doreen said, her blue eyes sparkling. “Whatever you say.”

  Jace leaned over the table. “So, I saw an excellent golf course on our way in. Looked to be eighteen holes. Do either of you play?”

  “Oh, you’re talking his language now,” Doreen said, chuckling. “Why do you think we moved to this community?”

  “We moved here because your sister is here,” Patrick was quick to say. “But the golf course didn’t hurt any,” he admitted with a sly grin.

  Jace jumped in, asking about Patrick’s game. Melanie sat back and watched.

  As it turned out, Kurt had been correct: she was learning a lot from Jace. For example, the rhythm to these interviews was vastly different from what they’d done at the courthouse. Rather than getting right to the point, Jace eased into each interview by talking about family, hobbies or life in the community. Then, once everyone was comfortable, he somehow managed to effortlessly change tactics.

  About fifteen minutes into the conversation, Jace switched his attention to Doreen, asking, “So, do you have any pictures from your wedding? We’d love to see them.”

  Again, her cheeks flushed pink. “Really?”

  “Why wouldn’t he? You were a beautiful bride,” Patrick said, no longer playing the grumpy-old-man card. “Go get the photo book, and bring a few from when the kids were growing up, too. I want to show them our house.”

  “I love it here, but I do miss our home,” Doreen said as she left the kitchen.

  Patrick looked at Jace. “We started with two rooms and a bathroom. That was it. Every couple of years, we’d add on another room. Took us ten years to finish that house.” He nodded toward the space his wife had just vacated. “And her another ten to get her flowers just so.”

  From there, the interview progressed without a hitch. Melanie and Jace learned how Patrick and Doreen met—she’d originally dated his brother. Only one date, though, Patrick pointed out. Because, obviously, she’d seen the smarter and handsomer brother and fallen instantly in love. Not so long ago, Melanie would’ve scoffed at that statement.

  Now, she wasn’t so sure.

  The couple shared stories about the early years of their marriage, the struggles they faced with raising a large family and how they’d almost lost the home they’d worked so hard to build when Patrick was out of work for close to two years. Mostly, though, their reminiscing focused on their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

  Throughout the conversation, Melanie noticed Doreen shooting speculative glances toward her and Jace, and then looking at her husband with a small, secretive smile. Melanie wondered why, but didn’t give it too much thought.

  When the interview came to a close, Jace thanked them and started to stand from his chair. Doreen gave him a knowing glance. “I just have to ask…I’ve been wondering this entire time if you two are a couple. Are you?”

  Patrick harrumphed again. “Of course they are. I saw that the second they walked in.”

  “You be quiet. I’m asking them.” Now Doreen rested her questioning gaze on Melanie.

  Swallowing, Melanie darted a glance toward Jace, thinking she’d let him answer this one. But he was looking at her with arched eyebrows and that cocky grin she sometimes loved and sometimes hated. Fine. She’d handle this, then. No problem.

  “Why do you think we might be a couple?” she asked Doreen.

  Doreen lifted her frail shoulders in a shrug. “Oh, it’s written all over you. Your body language, the way you both sneak glances at each other and…this might sound silly, but you look as if you belong with each other.”

  “Body language?” Melanie gurgled. “What body language?”

  “I think she means how you keep brushing your leg against mine, Mello Yello,” Jace said, a teasing lilt to his voice. “I noticed that, too.”

  Red-hot heat coursed through Melanie’s face. “I…um—”

  “And the way you touch her shoulder or her arm every so often, as if to reassure yourself that she’s here with you,” Doreen said to Jace. “That’s how Patrick is with me.”

  Finding her voice, Melanie said, “That’s sweet. Really sweet, actually. But Jace and I are—”

  “Dating,” Jace filled in without so much as a peek in Melanie’s direction. “But we’re in the early stages of our…um....relationship, so your astute appraisal took us off guard.”

  Doreen’s smile widened into one of delight. “Well, isn’t that wonderful. I wish both of you the best. You’re such a cute couple.”

  “You’re embarrassing them now, Doreen,” Patrick said, saving the day. He nodded at Jace. “You’ll have to join me on the golf course one of these days.”

  To Melanie’s great relief, the two men launched into another discussion about golf. Smiling faintly at Doreen, she said, “I still can’t get over fifty-two years of marriage. Though I suppose after a while everything settles into an easy rhythm.”

  The corners of Doreen’s lips twitched. “I suppose there’s some truth to that. But there are days when you wonder if your relationship will make it another week, let alone another year.”

  “How do you combat that?”

  Now Doreen grew serious. “By choosing to stay married every single day. By remembering that we’re partners, that we love each other.”

  Melanie swallowed heavily, thinking of her father. “It can’t be that easy.”

  “I never said it was easy,” the older woman said, her voice gentle. “But we’re stronger toge
ther than we would be apart. A good marriage is worth fighting for.”

  Jace cleared his throat. “Ready to go, Mel?”

  She nodded and stood. Once she and Jace were outside, Melanie narrowed her eyes. “I was not pressing my leg against yours.”

  “You absolutely were. I thought you might scoot over and crawl in my lap. Alas, that wasn’t the case. But,” Jace said with a sidelong glance as they approached their cars, “I don’t recall touching your arm and shoulder repeatedly.”

  “You did. Like every two minutes.” Okay, maybe it was closer to ten. “I kept thinking you were trying to get my attention, but no. You were just manhandling me.”

  Grasping her shoulders lightly, Jace turned her toward him. “If I didn’t have an errand to run for my brother, I would take you home and charm you with my sexy smile. Then I would carry you to bed and show you what I consider manhandling. Based on the other night, I’m guessing you’d enjoy it. I know I would.”

  Oh! Just, oh! “Well, then I guess it’s your loss that you have an errand.” How could she want to slap him and kiss him at the same time? “You’re impossible.”

  “Your loss, too.” Jace grinned, stepped back and rounded to the driver’s side of his car. “By the way, I wasn’t trying to pacify the Breckenridges. In my mind, we are dating. Which means that you should expect to be wooed. Oh, and we’re having dinner with my brother and his wife…Saturday night at six. Are you free?”

  “Saturday. Uh-huh,” she said weakly. They were dating? And he was going to woo her?

  “Perfect. I’ll pick you up around five-thirty.”

  With that, he donned his sunglasses, waved and drove off. Melanie stood there and stared for a good thirty seconds before her legs felt capable of moving. A pressure she hadn’t realized existed lifted off of her shoulders. Well. This was an interesting turn of developments.

  Maybe…just maybe, she’d go along for the ride and see where it took her. As long as she remained cautious, what could it hurt?

  Chapter Nine

  The rest of the week seemed to be attached to wings, flying by so fast that before Melanie realized it, the weekend was upon her. And that meant a date with Jace. She didn’t bother pretending she wasn’t excited. Nor did she consider their evening a business function, even if the original reason for meeting Grady and Olivia was because of the Valentine’s Day feature.

  Her eyes darted to her bedroom clock. Five-fifteen. Ack. He’d be here soon. She’d already checked her hair—which she’d chosen to wear loose around her face—and her cosmetics three times in the last fifteen minutes. She’d changed from jeans paired with a sweater to a somewhat revealing dress and back again in the same fifteen-minute span. Now she was strongly considering the dress again. Simple and casual or slightly sexy and feminine?

  Dammit. She wished she had more experience with the dating game, but she hadn’t been out on a true date for over a year. In fact, the only reason she had the box of condoms in her bathroom was because Tara had given them to her as a gag gift on New Year’s Eve.

  Hmm. She was really going to have to thank her friend for that.

  Melanie had just decided to go for the dress when her phone rang. It was her mother. “Hey, Mom. Are you okay?” she asked as a greeting. “I’ve left you three messages today.”

  “Quit being such a worrywart,” Loretta said, her tone brisk but not unkind. “I work on Saturdays, and I’m planning a wedding. I called you back as soon as I could.”

  It had now been over two weeks since Melanie had last seen her mother, which was an odd occurrence—though being happy and engaged probably had a lot to do with that. “Sorry. I’m used to us talking more often, that’s all.”

  Loretta’s voice softened. “I know, dear. I’ve just been busy and trying to keep everything together and moving forward. But I miss you, too. How are you?”

  Hmm. Her mother didn’t exactly keep it to herself when life wasn’t going well. If she claimed to be fine, she probably was. “Good. I have a…date tonight.” Wow. Saying that was easier than Melanie expected. “With Jace.”

  “Oh, darling! That’s wonderful! I won’t keep you, but I…finally backed Wade into a corner. We’d love to meet you for a late lunch tomorrow.”

  “You had to back him into a corner to meet his future stepdaughter?” All of Melanie’s worries about her mother’s fiancé crawled to the surface. “You’d think he’d want to meet me.”

  “I…was speaking more about his schedule. Why, I’ve barely seen him this past week, myself. But of course he wants to meet you! Don’t be silly, Melanie.” Loretta paused for a millisecond, as if to gather her thoughts. Then, “About tomorrow? Say around two. Does that work for you? Oh, and you should bring Jace with you.”

  “That’s fine, and sure…I’ll ask Jace.” Hey, he was the one who’d declared they were dating. It was completely appropriate to ask him along. “Where at?” After agreeing on a local restaurant, Melanie said, “You’re sure everything’s okay, Mom? You sound a little off.”

  The slightest of sighs came through the line. “You need to stop fretting over me. Enjoy yourself tonight, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  It wasn’t until they hung up that Melanie realized her mother hadn’t actually answered the question. Loretta also hadn’t quizzed her endlessly on Jace, nor had she buzzed with excitement over wedding plans. Crap. Something was wrong.

  She almost called her mother back, but decided not to. Loretta probably wouldn’t say anything more than she already had. Besides, what if Melanie was wrong? Better to wait until tomorrow, when she’d see Mom in person. And of course, she’d also be meeting Wade. Finally.

  For her mom’s sake, Melanie really hoped she liked him.

  “I assumed we were meeting them at a restaurant,” Melanie said as Jace pulled into the driveway of a green-shingled Victorian house not so far from where she lived in Northeast Portland. “Not their home.”

  Switching off the ignition, Jace said, “This is my parents’ house, not Grady and Olivia’s.”

  “What?” Every inch of her skin grew clammy at the realization that she was meeting his parents, his brother and his sister-in-law in one fell swoop. “You should have warned me.”

  “So you could say no?” Jace turned toward her and shook his head. “Trust me, Mel. My family is awesome, and…I really want them to meet you. They know—” He broke off and shook his head, as if reconsidering whether he should voice his thoughts.

  “They know what?” she prodded.

  “That I’m crazy about you. My mother would never let me forget it if I introduced you to Grady and Olivia before her. Besides, I’ve met your mother.”

  And there he went being Mr. Sweet again. Who was the real Jace, anyway? She held back a sigh, knowing she couldn’t really fuss. They were already here and he hadn’t objected to going for lunch with her mother and Wade. Still. “You should have warned me.”

  “Probably.” Skimming his fingers lightly through her hair, he tossed her a boyish grin. “But you’ll forgive me, won’t you?”

  Her stomach flip-flopped. Damn that smile of his, anyway. “Yes.”

  “That’s my girl.” He unsnapped her seat belt before leaning over to open her door.

  Melanie exited the car and joined Jace on the path that led to the front porch. She pushed her hands into her pockets. “I’m nervous,” she admitted. “I haven’t ever really done the meet-the-parents thing. Well, once. But that was for my high school prom, and only because my date’s parents insisted on taking pictures.”

  Strong, warm fingers clasped around her wrist. Jace pulled one of her hands out of her pocket and wrapped it in his. “Then you have one on me. I’ve never brought a woman home. Not even for prom. Believe it or not, Mel, I’m nervous, too.”

  They were on the porch befor
e his statement processed. “Never?”

  “As in zero. Never had a reason to.” He twisted the doorknob. “Until now.”

  “Because of the Valentine’s Day article. Right.”

  “No,” he said as he pushed open the front door. “Because of you. Because we’re dating. Because it’s important that you meet my family. The article is secondary.”

  She gaped at him. Of course he would drop that bomb when she didn’t have time to process, consider or weigh every word spoken. Let alone decide how she felt about them.

  They entered a foyer that had a living room to the left and a staircase to the right. After hanging up their coats, Jace led her to the living room, where he introduced her to his father.

  John Foster had the look of a man who’d worked hard his entire life and had enjoyed every minute of it. Tall and broad-shouldered, his bright blue eyes were welcoming as he shook Melanie’s hand. That, along with his red flannel shirt and snowy-white hair, brought Santa Claus to mind—albeit a well-groomed and extremely fit variation.

  “We’re so happy to have you here, Melanie,” John said. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Melanie raised a questioning brow at Jace. “I hope only good things.”

  “I suppose,” John said with a light grin, “that depends on your definition of good.”

  “Oh, quit teasing the poor girl.” A woman entered from the dining room. She had a slender figure, gray-peppered dark blond hair, warm cinnamon eyes and a smile that brought a soft beauty to her face. “You’ll have to forgive my husband, Melanie. He likes to keep people on their toes.” She stopped in front of her. “I’m Jace’s mother, Karen. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, too,” Melanie said, trying hard to combat her nervousness. A quiet strength emanated off of Jace’s mother, as well as a great deal of curiosity about the girl her son had brought home. “Thank you for having me for dinner.”