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room.
    “If I concentrate any more on the wedding, I’m going to make myself crazy,” Diana responded. “Let me scout for you. I know your taste.”
    Emily Mackey put the roast on a platter. “Everyone to the table.”
    Eddie was already seated and waiting.
    “Let me get that,” Nick said, moving from Diana to lift the roast off the counter. “I can’t say I haven’t yearned for home cooking, but I wish you hadn’t fussed. My staying here is making extra work for you.”
    Joy took in the truly appreciative look on Nick’s face. It was the sweetest look she’d ever seen on a guy.
    “I am not fussing. I love having a houseful.” Emily Mackey earnestly dismissed Nick’s concern as she ladled the broccoli into a serving dish. “You could do something for me, though. You could do the carving.”
    “Sure,” Nick replied and brought the roast to the table while Joy spooned mashed potatoes from a pot to a bowl and Diana went to the refrigerator for the salad that was already cut up.
    Standing, Nick began carving as Joy, Diana and Mrs. Mackey took their seats with all the fixings for dinner on the table.
    “What are you going to scout around for?” Joy asked Diana.
    “A house for Nick. One he can lease with an option to buy.” Diana looked up at Nick. “Something modern, right?”
    “No.” Nick shook his head. “I’m not into modern at all.”
    “Something old and with character,” Joy said, reflecting her own taste.
    “Exactly,” Nick responded with a smile. He was surprised, but not shocked that they thought alike.
    “Do you have any plans for tonight?” Eddie asked Joy, bringing Nick out of his reverie.
    “No,” Joy answered listlessly.
    “How about coming with me to Gillie’s in Westhampton? I’m going to be singing there for a week starting tomorrow night.”
    “Well…”
    “Come on,” Eddie coaxed. “I could use your help checking out the acoustics.”
    Joy considered the evening ahead, being in the company of Nick and Diana as they talked about houses. “All right,” Joy answered carelessly.
    Nick clenched his jaw. What had happened to her three strikes and you’re out?
    With a white-knuckled grip on the carving knife, Nick hacked at the next slice of meat.
    “I think we have enough meat to start with,” Emily said to Nick.
    “Do you have any plans for tonight?” Nick asked Diana as he took his seat. He wasn’t about to be stymied.
    “No.” Diana shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t get to see Kevin at all during the week.”
    “How about we join Joy and Eddie?” There was one thing Nick was sure about. Eddie DeMarco was all wrong for her.
    Joy held her breath. God, he was smooth. Nick was going to have Diana dating him again with barely a crook of his finger. He had innocence down to a science.
    Eddie made an unsuccessful attempt not to look vexed at being aced out of his plan to be alone withJoy. Nick had no trouble at all noting Eddie’s irritation.
    “Sounds like fun,” Diana replied.
    Joy turned to her mother. “Mom, how about coming along?”
    “I have my evening all planned out. There’s a movie on TV that I want to see. Besides, I don’t go to places named Gillie’s. You all go along and have fun.”
    Fun? Joy thought. Not likely.
    The music was blasting as they entered Gillie’s, compliments of a platinum blond female singer with a tinny voice, accompanied by a bass player, synthesizer and guitarist. Nick couldn’t imagine acoustics being any concern. Gillie’s took up no more than two small storefronts in the strip center where it was located. Then again, Nick didn’t think for one minute that acoustics had been on Eddie’s mind when he’d asked Joy out for the night.
    They walked to an area of tables set around a stampsized dance floor where a few couples grooved to the beat. Almost all of the tables were empty. The action was at the bar, which took up most of the space.
    After everyone had removed their coats Eddie grabbed Joy’s hand before any of