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Year’s Eve dance.”
    The conversation, which she’d broached on the drive to her house from the boat parade, had been surprisingly drama free. Which either meant that he truly was the nicest guy in the world, or that he might actually have been relieved. Surely she wasn’t the only one who’d never felt sparks?
    There had been one little obstacle to get over.
    “What about the New Year’s dance?” he’d asked as the wipers steadily swished the rain, which had begun to fall again, from the windshield. “I even rented a tux from Tux and Tails in Newport.”
    “I don’t really feel like going this year,” she’d said truthfully. “But I know, off the top of my head, of at least four women who’d jump at the chance to go with you.”
    He’d shot her a look. “Seriously?”
    She’d nodded. “Absolutely.”
    “Who?”
    “Laura, from Cut Loose, told me while she was trimming my hair that she finds you hot.” Kelli had begun ticking them off on her fingers as he returned his attention to the road. “So does Jennie, who manages the catering for the Crab Shack, Audrey, from the bakery at the market, and last, but certainly not least, Patty, from school.”
    “Patty?” He had visibly perked up at that revelation; then he’d given her another, longer look. “My Patty? From the office?”
    “Brad.” Kelli huffed out a breath. “She’s managed the principal’s office for the past two years. Are you telling me you’ve never noticed she has a major thing for you?”
    “Seriously?” he’d repeated. In an unconscious gesture, he rubbed his chin, which, while lacking any cleft, was still firm. In many ways, Brad had always reminded Kelli of Robert Redford, from his Sundance Kid days. Unfortunately, she’d always found Paul Newman hotter.
    “Seriously,” she’d assured him. “Why do you think she’s always bringing you homemade baked goods?” November apple muffins and pumpkin bread had given way to December gingerbread and snickerdoodles.
    “She says she enjoys baking.”
    “She enjoys baking for
you.
” Since the bakefest had begun at the beginning of the school year, Kelli had found it highly unfair that Brad could eat all those carb- and sugar-laden treats without ever gaining a pound. “Trust me on this,” she’d said.
    And apparently he had, because she’d received a call from Patty shortly before coming here today to make sure Kelli didn’t have any problem with her accepting the Pelican Elementary School principal’s invitation to the dance. From the excitement in the other woman’s voice, it seemed that she, at least, was going to be having a very merry holiday.
    “Well, I’m glad no hearts were broken,” Adèle said briskly. “I have to admit, now that you’re no longer a couple, I’m not surprised. I’m also more than a little relieved.”
    “Why?” The older woman had never shown a single sign that she’d had any concerns about Kelli’s love life. Or, more precisely, lack of it.
    “Because we never saw any sexual sparks,” Zelda answered first. Having heard stories of Zelda’s many romantic adventures during her days as a prima ballerina for the famed Russian ballet, Kelli figured Zelda knew a lot about the topic.
    “Passion is important to a relationship,” Adèle agreed. “Bernard still tells me that he married me for the sex.” Her smile hinted at a lot of truth behind her words.
    Although she’d always found the couple incredibly sweet together, that only had Kelli feeling more depressed. How pitiful was it when a woman in her seventies was having a better sex life than you were?
    Kelli thought again back to what her brother had said about Cole having hooked up with Marcia last year because he’d been in the desert too long. Well, she’d been living in a sexual Sahara for the past year. No. Longer. Doing some quick math, Kelli realized that she hadn’t had an orgasm that didn’t involve C cells for eighteen months.
    “Maybe you do need to get away and