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headache. Making heads or tails of her emotions was futile. Sensibility told her the whole thing was a mistake while her heart said otherwise. If her thoughts were dialogue, they'd get her committed. All that inner turmoil bubbled out and made no sense at all. Had she lost her grasp on reality? She hoped, no, prayed, Evan booked a flight. Curiosity overwhelmed her. If they truly had a connection, she had to meet him to find out. The blaring phone dissected her thoughts and startled her.
    "Hi, purdy gal." Evan's voice, purring his usual flirty greeting, sent a shiver of apprehensive excitement through Cassie. "I got a flight."
    "You… you did?" This wasn't the time for second thoughts. A smile curled her lips. "That's… that's wonderful, Evan. I can't believe we're actually going to meet face-to-face."
    "You sure about this?" Had he sensed her hesitancy?
    He offered the perfect chance to back out, but Cassie had no desire to take it. "I'm positive. My sister and her husband will love you, and you'll get to meet my mom. I can't wait."
    She hung up, took a deep breath and exhaled. "Yeah…meet my mom! Now all I have to do is explain this whole thing to her."
     
    * * *
     
    "Are you sure I didn't put you on the spot by inviting Evan? I'm still trying to figure out how it happened." Cassie unpacked and hung her clothes in the guestroom closet while she babbled to her sister, Gloria.
    Gloria shook her head. "I just hope he doesn't mind sleeping on the couch and… Cass, I hope you aren't moving a little too fast."
    "I know it might look that way, but… well, I just can't explain it. There's something about him. He's special, I just know it."
    "Well, who am I to give you advice? Look at me. I moved in with Cal a month after we met, and I haven't regretted it for a minute."
    Cassie hugged her sister then held her at arm's length. "So, do you believe in love at first sight?"
    Gloria snickered. "I guess we'll find out as soon as Cal gets back from the airport with Evan, but the least you could have done was book your flights so that they weren't two hours apart. Two trips to the airport in one day… boy, what you expect of your host!"
    Gloria left the bedroom, and Cassie perched on the edge of the bed, wringing her hands. Her mind whirred. Was she making a major mistake? What if they didn't get along? They'd be stuck in the same house for the entire weekend. She looked toward heaven. "Oh, God, please let this work."
    Cass stood and checked her appearance in the mirror over the dresser, nervously running her fingers through her hair. She noticed a smudge of lipstick and wiped it from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes held a twinkle that had been missing for a long time. Her depression had all but disappeared since connecting with Evan, now if she could handle the stress, things would be fine. With a deep breath, she walked down the hallway to join the other women. Waiting was pure hell.
    She sat on the couch, hearing only bits and pieces of anything Gloria and their mother said. Lost in thought, she kept glancing at the clock over the mantle, fidgeting and wishing time would hurry and pass.
    "Cassie? Cassie Ann?" Her mother shouted.
    "Oh, sorry, Mom, I guess my mind is somewhere else." She planted both feet firmly on the floor and sat forward, feigning interest.
    "What did you say this Evan person does for a living?"
    She released a loud breath. "Something with landscaping, I think. I'm not really sure, I'm so nervous."
    "Well, you should be," her mother scolded, folding her arms across her chest and peering over the top of her silver-rimmed bifocals. "I don't like this whole idea."
    Cassie expected nothing less from a woman her mother's age and was about to defend her own actions when she heard a car pull into the garage. The quick rhythm of her heart threatened to jump right through her chest. There was no escaping now. The time had come.
     She bolted to the door leading to the garage. Sweaty palms made it difficult to turn the