His Holiday Matchmaker. Kat Brookes

Nathan admonished. Was there ever a more inquisitive child?

      “It’s okay,” Alyssa McCall replied with a smile. “I’m used to dealing with children’s questions. I teach art at a recreational center back in San Antonio.”

      Her reply took him off guard. “I must have misunderstood. I thought Rusty said you were an interior designer.”

      “I am. I have my degree as well as plenty of work experience in the field. However, I’m only working part-time in interior design at the present.” She glanced down at Katie. “And to answer your question, I’m twenty-seven.”

      “Are you married?”

      “Katie Marie!” he gently reprimanded, staring down at his too-curious-for-her-own-good little girl who was seated on the bench seat between them.

      The question didn’t seem to daunt Miss McCall who answered with a simple, “No, Katie, I’m not.”

      “My daddy’s—”

      “Here we are,” Nathan announced, effectively cutting off his daughter’s reply. The large wooden sign welcoming guests to The Cat’s Cradle swung in the cold, wet, winter wind. It was a welcome sight as he turned into the half-circle drive. A second later, he was pulling up in front of the old Victorian boardinghouse.

      Katie squirmed in the seat. “It’s the kitty house!”

      “She has a thing for cats,” he explained.

      Miss McCall looked down at his daughter. “Me, too.”

      “Do you have a kitty of your own?” Katie asked, curiosity lighting her eyes.

      “I’m afraid not. No pets are allowed in the town house I rent back in San Antonio.”

      “I don’t have a pet either,” his daughter said with a sigh. “Daddy’s afraid—”

      Nathan cleared his throat, cutting in. “I really do have to get back to work.” He had to make certain the rec center was completed in time. Not so much for the Christmas Eve party that was to be held there, but for the dedication ceremony that would open the festivities, honoring those lost in the storm. He hadn’t been there for Isabel that day, but he would be there to see the project through and his wife’s memory honored.

      “Of course,” Miss McCall said apologetically. “I’m so sorry for throwing you off schedule.”

      “It’s not a problem,” he replied as he swung open the driver’s side door. “Wait here, Cupcake. I’m gonna get Miss McCall’s suitcase and then see her to the door.”

      “I wanna see the kitties.”

      “Another time, honey,” he said, ruffling her hair. “Uncle Carter is waiting for Daddy to come help him with the rec center.”

      She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Okay.”

      “You don’t have to see me to the door,” Miss McCall told him. “I’ll just grab my suitcase and you can go.”

      “Daddy doesn’t mind helping you,” his daughter cut in before he had a chance to reply. “He has really big muscles.”

      Miss McCall met his gaze, the corners of her mouth twitching as if trying very hard to suppress a grin. “Well, then, I guess I should let your daddy help me.”

      “Will I get to see you again?” his daughter asked, a little too eagerly for Nathan’s comfort.

      Alyssa offered her a warm smile. “You can pretty much count on it.”

      Not if he could help it. Not with Katie in mommy search mode. Nathan stepped out into the rain and rounded the truck. Opening the tailgate, he pulled her suitcase out from beneath the covered bed.

      “Thank you for the ride,” she said as she stepped up beside him, attempting to shield the both of them from the rain with the floral print umbrella she held clutched in her hand.

      “Thank you for handling my daughter’s meddling questions so well,” he said as he walked her up the wet porch steps. Reaching out, he knocked on the door.

      “Children are naturally curious. I didn’t mind,” she assured him as she lowered the umbrella to shake the excess rain from it. “You’re blessed to have such an adorable little girl, curiosity and all.”

      “I tend to think so, but then my opinion might be a bit biased when it comes to my daughter.”

      She turned to look up at him. “About my helping out with the recreation center...”

      A slight frown pulled at his mouth, try as he might to fight it. “Yes?”

      “My intention in coming here was to do something to help your town,” she said, closing the umbrella. “If that is gonna be a problem for you...”

      “Don’t trouble yourself any over that,” he told her. “I’ll deal with it.”

       Chapter Three

      He’d deal with it. Not a very promising start to their working relationship. The door swung open before Alyssa had a chance to reply and a tall, slender woman with a beehive of silver hair waved them inside.

      “Come on in out of the weather, you two. I’ll heat some water up for tea. Something to take the chill off.”

      “Appreciate the offer, Doris,” Nathan Cooper replied with a smile, “but I can’t stay. I’m just dropping Miss McCall here off.”

      The older woman looked to Alyssa. “Myrna and I have been expecting you. Rusty called to let us know you were on your way. Welcome to The Cat’s Cradle.”

      “Thank you for having me,” she said, propping her wet umbrella against the porch wall next to the door before stepping inside.

      “It’s our pleasure,” Doris said, her gaze shifting to Nathan. “Are you sure you can’t stay for tea?”

      Nathan set her suitcase down in the front foyer. “Katie’s waiting for me in the truck. I have to run her out to Mildred’s place before I head back to work.”

      “Just be careful on those roads,” Doris warned. “It’s really coming down hard out there.”

      “You can count on it.” His gaze shifted to Alyssa. “Guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.”

      She nodded, then stood watching as the blurred outline of Nathan Cooper faded away behind a curtain of rain.

      “A fine-looking young man, that one,” Doris muttered behind her.

      She turned from the window. “I was watching the rain.”

      “Of course you were, dear.” She turned toward the winding oak staircase and cupped her hands to her mouth. “Myrna! Our guest is here.”

      Maybe she had been admiring the way Nathan Cooper carried himself, but that was it. She was there to do a job. Not to start something up with a man on the divorce rebound. Katie would just have to look elsewhere for someone for her daddy.

      An elderly woman wearing a bright floral housecoat and fuzzy pink slippers came scurrying down the stairs. “Miss McCall!”

      “Call me Alyssa, please.”

      Myrna stood before Alyssa, a welcoming smile parting her wrinkled cheeks. Her blue-gray hair hung in a single braid over one shoulder. “We’re so happy to have you staying here with us.”

      “Indeed,” Doris agreed with a nod. “Braxton isn’t exactly the tourist capital of Texas.”

      A fluffy white ball shot down the stairs and past their legs, disappearing into an adjoining room.

      Myrna laughed. “That blur of white is the newest addition to our family, Bluebell.”