A Perfectly Imperfect Match (Matchmaking Mamas) Read online

  He wasn’t sure what she was referring to, but he figured if he gave her enough time, she’d get around to explaining. “I’m listening.”

  “The people I thought of for your ensemble all happen to be playing with me tomorrow night in that production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Bedford playhouse. You know...the musical I mentioned to you the other evening? The one I’m leaving you a ticket for at the box office.”

  His brain felt so crowded with details lately, it took him a minute to remember what she was referring to. “Oh, right, you did mention that. Sorry, life’s been a little crazy lately.”

  “No need to apologize, I know what it can be like. I have to write down all my different engagements or I’m liable to go to the wrong one—or forget to go altogether. So,” she continued, “I’ll be sure to leave that ticket in your name with the cashier at the box office. The performance starts at seven.”

  “I’ll be there,” he promised. And then a thought hit him. This would be a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. He couldn’t have arranged this better if he’d tried. “Could you leave two tickets instead of one?” he asked. “I’ll be more than happy to pay for both if there’s a problem.”

  Two? The request for a second ticket left her feeling numb. That meant that there was someone, a wife, a girlfriend, someone who mattered in his life.

  Elizabeth could feel her heart plummeting all the way down to her toes.

  Idiot!

  Well, what did she expect? A guy like Jared Winterset—successful, handsome, charming—wasn’t exactly someone destined to die on the vine unnoticed. Hell, he probably had to sleep with a baseball bat next to him in order to beat back waves of women looking to find a man of substance.

  “Sure. Two tickets. Done,” she said, doing her best to retain the cheerful note in her voice.

  But it was far from easy. All she could think of was that it was happening again. She was going to be providing the background music for someone else’s romance. This time for a person she knew.

  “And there’s no need to pay for them. My invitation, my treat.” The words were stuck in her throat and she didn’t know how she was managing to get them out. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for rehearsal,” she informed him crisply.

  The line went dead before Jared got a chance to say goodbye.

  * * *

  Having preperformance jitters was nothing new for Elizabeth. She experienced it every single time she was slated to pick up her violin and play before an audience, no matter how large or small that audience was.

  But this was something more.

  This time she wasn’t just having the typical jitters that quickly vanished the moment she struck the first chord. She was downright throwing-up-her-dinner nervous and it all had to do with the two empty, side-by-side seats in the third row. The ones located just off the aisle.

  Those were the two seats corresponding to the two tickets she’d left with the cashier at the box office. The two tickets that were set aside for Jared and whoever it was who was accompanying him to the show tonight. Probably his girlfriend.

  Oh c’mon, Liz. Get a grip.

  She was making a mountain out of less than a molehill, she told herself. Just because Jared had asked for a second ticket didn’t automatically mean he was bringing a significant other with him. Maybe he was the type who didn’t like doing things alone and he was bringing a friend with him. A guy friend.

  Or maybe his sister had returned from the cruise and he wanted her to hear for herself what the violinist he’d picked to play at their parents’ party sounded like. Could she have really felt that there was this much chemistry going on between them if Jared was actually involved with another woman?

  She didn’t know.

  Maybe he wasn’t coming at all, she thought as she continued to look at the seats, which remained conspicuously empty.

  She supposed that not having Jared come to the performance was better than seeing him come in with a female companion on his arm.

  “Liz,” Amanda Baker hissed from her seat in the pit, “why are you standing there like a lighthouse beacon, staring off into the theater? Sit down...it’s almost time to start the overture.”

  Feeling self-conscious, Elizabeth glanced down at her friend. “Right.”

  Elizabeth sank down into her seat and then glanced over her shoulder for one last look at the audience before the houselights went down.

  That was when she saw him.

  Saw them.

  Jared wasn’t alone. He’d brought someone with him to fill the other seat.

  A female someone.

  An unpregnant female someone, Elizabeth realized, feeling a definite sharp prick in her heart that all but immobilized.

  “Liz? Liz? Elizabeth,” Amanda finally whispered urgently, resorting to her formal name in an attempt to get her attention. “What is it with you tonight?” she asked, concerned as well as just a little irritated.

  She and Elizabeth had become practically inseparable over time and whatever was going on with Elizabeth, her friend was leaving her out of it. Amanda didn’t like being kept in the dark.

  Especially not by her best friend.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all,” Elizabeth all but snapped back. She turned around to face her sheet music. “Just a few more preperformance jitters than usual, that’s all, Mandy.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Amanda retorted stubbornly. She shifted in her seat to look at the audience and was just in time to see the same couple that had brought on Elizabeth’s deep, sad frown taking their seats. “Wow, now there’s someone I’d definitely let ring my chimes.” The moment she said that, enlightenment suddenly dawned on her. “You know him.” It was more of a statement than a question.

  If she lied, Amanda would eventually find out that she had, especially since she’d already mentioned to her and some of the others that Jared was looking for musicians to play at his parents’ anniversary party and that in all likelihood, he would be attending the performance.

  So, albeit very reluctantly, Elizabeth admitted to knowing him.

  “Yes. He’s the man I told you about, the one who’s here to hear you, Nathan, Jack and Albert play so he can decide if he’s going to hire you.”

  “Who’s the chicklet with him?” Amanda wanted to know. Her dark eyes narrowed as she continued looking at the woman beside Jared.

  Elizabeth managed to suppress the sigh that automatically rose up from her chest. “I have no idea.”

  Amanda read between the lines. “So then maybe it’s not serious,” she surmised. Her smile turned into a full-fledged grin. “Which means that that hunk is essentially free.” She slanted a look at her friend as the houselights began to darken. “You’re not interested in him, are you?”

  “Me? No. Absolutely not,” she denied a little too emphatically.

  Amanda looked at her, a knowing smile spreading across her generous mouth. “Sorry, Liz, my mistake. I’m backing off.”

  “I said I wasn’t interested in him,” Elizabeth whispered harshly.

  “Right.” As the music swelled, her whisper grew just a tad louder. “You know...there’s no shame in saying you’re interested in the guy. Your heart would have to be made out of rocks not to be into a guy who looks like that. But if you decide to throw him over someday, don’t forget who your best friend is.” Amanda fluttered her lashes at her in an exaggerated fashion. “I’m not too proud to accept your leftovers.”

  “He’s not my leftover,” Elizabeth insisted. “He’s not my anything.”

  And he never will be.

  Which was just as well, Elizabeth silently reminded herself. Love never turned out well anyway. Her parents had loved each other dearly. When her mother died suddenly, her father was utterly devastated. She could remember seeing the sadness in his eyes even though she’d been so young at the time.

  If she didn’t fall in love, she’d never have to endure the pain that came with loving someone.

&nbs
p; “Denial doesn’t become you,” Amanda mouthed just as the music tempo began to increase.

  The music, Liz, the music. Concentrate on the music. Nothing else matters except for the music. Elizabeth focused on her fingering and the sounds that emerged as she and her violin became one.

  That was the only thing that really made sense. Music provided both order and solace in her life. It was what kept her grounded, no matter what. When her mother died, when the romance she thought she had disintegrated on her, it was music that had held her together and helped her deal with the pain of being left behind.

  It was what she could always count on.

  Music and her family.

  Served her right for letting her imagination run away with her, she silently lectured as the overture began to wind down.

  What on earth had she been thinking?

  That was just the problem, Elizabeth realized. She hadn’t been thinking, only reacting.

  Well, she knew exactly where that sort of thing led, she thought.

  Nowhere.

  A beat later, she realized that the overture was over. Suppressing another sigh, she relaxed her hold on her violin and let the instrument rest.

  Unlike her.

  But for now, that was going to have to do.

  “You played like you were on fire,” Amanda whispered in complete awe. “Whatever you were channeling, keep it up.”

  She gave her best friend a spasmodic smile in response, then mentally retreated into a holding zone, waiting for the next number to come up, grateful for the low lighting that hid her flushed complexion.

  * * *

  Driven by a desire to block everything else out, Elizabeth threw herself into every number, playing her heart out and willing herself not to think of anything but the next notes that were coming up.

  Mercifully, she managed to keep a very tight rein on herself.

  And then it was over. The songs, the music, the play, it was all finished for the evening. And for the musical’s run.

  The cast, their hands linked together, forming a long human chain, took their bows a total of seven times as applause burst out over and over again, urging the performers to bow yet one more time.

  Finally, the lead actor held up his hand to temporarily hold back the audience’s applause. When he finally succeeded, he gestured toward the pit, indicating that the people who were seated there, comprising the orchestra, should all rise and take a well-deserved bow as well.

  When everyone stood up around her, turning to face the audience now that the houselights were up, Elizabeth had no choice but to stand up as well. If she didn’t, she knew that she’d be too conspicuous and draw the very attention she was trying to avoid.

  This way, she hoped she would be able to merge with the other musicians.

  But the moment she turned around, Elizabeth couldn’t help looking in Jared’s direction. Part of her couldn’t help wondering if he was even still there, or if he’d decided to leave and find someplace more private for himself and the redhead he’d brought with him.

  He was still there, in the seat she’d gotten for him.

  What was more, he was actually making eye contact with her. When he saw her looking his way, he grinned and gave her a thumbs-up, just before he started clapping again.

  After a couple of minutes and one final curtain call, the cast began to disperse. The moment they started to move off the stage, the members of the orchestra began to file out of the pit as well.

  And then, to her horror, she saw Jared making his way toward the front—toward her. The woman he’d brought to the performance was right behind him. He was holding her hand so they wouldn’t get separated.

  Terrific, he was bringing up his girlfriend for her to meet.

  Bracing herself, Elizabeth put on her best professional-violinist smile and inclined her head in a silent greeting.

  “You were fantastic!” Jared burst out the moment he was close enough for her to be able to hear him.

  Elizabeth politely murmured, “Thank you.”

  Jared looked at her, puzzled at her lack of exuberance, wondering if he’d said something wrong, or had unwittingly crossed some line—literally—that he wasn’t supposed to.

  “You really were,” the woman beside him said with feeling. “It was wonderful. Magical,” she corrected. “It was so professional sounding.”

  “Well, it’s not as if this was our first time,” Elizabeth answered.

  The moment the words were out, it hit her that she was sounding a bit catty. She softened her initial statement by adding, “Most of us play as much as we can manage. This theater group alone does several different musicals a year and a lot of us get called back for all of them.”

  “Well, I was just in heaven the entire time,” the woman told her, completely uninhibited and obviously thrilled to have had this evening out. She turned toward Jared and formally issued her thanks. “I’m glad you didn’t listen to me and forced me into coming with you.”

  “I always told you I know best,” Jared responded with a smile that was far too familiar for Elizabeth to bear seeing.

  She turned abruptly away. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to pack up—”

  Had he misunderstood her when they’d talked yesterday?

  “Wait, didn’t you say that you wanted me to meet some of the musicians?” he reminded her.

  “I did, but it can wait until another time.” Her mouth as well as her cheeks were beginning to ache as she continued to maintain the smile on her lips. A smile that only went down as far as her facial muscles. She certainly didn’t feel like smiling. “After all, you don’t want your date to get bored, meeting a bunch of musicians,” she pointed out.

  “Date?” Jared echoed, staring at her and completely confused as to what she was referring to. “You think this is my date?”

  And then, as he realized the mistake, he laughed. Really laughed. Hard.

  The redhead beside him looked as if she was somewhat offended by his reaction. “It’s not that funny, Jared,” she protested.

  “Oh, yes, it is,” he contradicted, despite the fact that there was obvious affection in his voice.

  The grin spreading out on his face made him appear even more boyish than he already looked. And then, as his laughter subsided, he realized that he was to blame for the apparent misunderstanding. Caught up in the moment and thoroughly enjoying himself tonight, he’d forgotten to do one important thing.

  This time his expression was a bit sheepish as he looked at Elizabeth.

  “I didn’t introduce the two of you to each other, did I?”

  “No, you didn’t,” both Elizabeth and the woman standing beside him said at the exact same moment.

  Chapter Nine

  “No time like the present,” Jared said, then quickly tried to remedy the situation by making the heretofore overlooked introductions. “Elizabeth Stephens, I’d like you to meet Julie Lyle—my cousin,” he tacked on.

  “Your cousin,” Elizabeth repeated, torn between feeling like an idiot and wanting to do a little dance in the orchestra pit. She managed to block the former and refrain from the latter, but she couldn’t suppress the wide smile of relief that rose to her lips.

  “My cousin,” he confirmed, then turning toward his female companion, he brought the introduction full circle. “Julie, this is Elizabeth, the woman who’s going to bring music into my parents’ lives by playing at their anniversary celebration.”

  “Hi. I have a confession to make.” Julie’s expression was genuine and warm as she shook Elizabeth’s hand. “When Jared invited me to come listen to you, my first reaction was to beg off. I’m not what you might call a big musical buff and things haven’t exactly been going well lately. All I wanted to do was stay home and feel sorry for myself. But Jared refused to take no for an answer.” She flashed him an appreciative grin. “He’s as much of a pain in the neck now as he was when we were growing up. Never took no for an answer then, either.”

  Jared address
ed his defense to Elizabeth rather than answering his cousin directly. “I prefer thinking of myself as being persuasive.”

  Julie hooked her arms through one of his. “Well, whatever you want to call it, I’m glad you bullied me into coming because I thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight,” she said enthusiastically, looking at Elizabeth as she declared the last part, then confided, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to say that.”

  Although that had decidedly aroused her curiosity, Elizabeth held her tongue. She didn’t know Jared’s cousin well enough to ask why she hadn’t been able to enjoy herself for a long time.

  As if reading her mind, Jared answered her silent question. “Julie’s husband is in the National Guard and he was called up two months ago. For the last month, he’s been deployed overseas.”

  “Which has officially been the longest month of my life,” the redhead lamented. Her words were accompanied by a long, deep sigh. “But thanks to Jared’s pestering, I forgot to be worried for a couple of hours. I know you probably hear this all the time, but you play beautifully.”

  Elizabeth knew that there was no way the woman could have distinguished her playing from that of the rest of the orchestra, or, at the very least, from the other violinists, but she accepted the enthusiastic compliment graciously.

  “I never grow tired of hearing kind words about my playing.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled at the other woman. “I’m very glad that you enjoyed the performance.”

  Jared looked on as the two women talked. He was feeling rather proud of himself. It had been no easy feat getting Julie out of her house and away from the darker thoughts that insisted on preying upon her mind, but he’d managed to accomplish his mission.

  With any luck, Derek, Julie’s husband, would return to the States unharmed. Even if for some awful reason, he didn’t, having Julie worry herself sick was not going to change the ultimate outcome one iota, or help her get through it.

  By getting her to accompany him to the play, he’d not only done a good deed, but he also had gotten himself a second opinion about Elizabeth. He had to admit he wasn’t exactly all that impartial when it came to Elizabeth’s playing. His heart had been in his throat when he’d watched the stunning blonde with the gifted fingers and beautiful blue eyes perform onstage. Truth was, his reaction to this woman was getting in the way of his reaction to her music. He was a fair enough man to know that he needed a second opinion to fall back on, and in case Megan gave him a hard time about choosing Elizabeth, one to support his own.