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you about my finances. I decided to tell you, because I was afraid you would be embarrassed about what happened. I don’t want you to be.”
    Jay’s heart lurched. He swallowed. She had been concerned about him. He was touched and still a bit mortified because of what had happened.
    “I don’t think I’ve been so embarrassed since I forgot my lines in a school play and ran off stage,” he admitted.
    “You didn’t?”
    “Sure did.” Jay nodded, glad now to see the sparkle in her eyes once more. “I had a crush on some girl in the audience. I couldn’t remember a thing I was supposed to say when I walked on stage. That ended my acting career.”
    Carrie laughed, and Jay joined her. Somehow, the tension was broken. The compatibility restored.
    “How old were you?”
    “Sixteen.”
    Carrie chuckled. “Oh, my. And what happened between you and the girl?”
    “Nothing, of course. I heard through the grapevine she thought I was a klutz. I recovered though.” Jay’s gaze fastened on her.
    “Jay, I can see you now running off that stage.”
    “Hey, being from California, I still mourn the end of my acting career.”
    “Must be tough,” she quipped.
    “Not as tough as what you’ve just gone through.”
    Carrie shrugged. “It’s my daughter I worry about.”
    They lapsed into silence. Jay watched her every movement, the quick flicker of her eyes, the way she licked her lips. She was so lovely. So enticing. She held him in a spell just because of her nearness. He saw the gentle rise and fall of her blouse. He smelled the intoxicating scent of her lavender perfume. Slowly, as if in a trance, he reached out and touched her cheek, brushing away a tendril of blond hair. The texture of her skin was like fine satin. She lowered her gaze, her dark lashes hiding her eyes.
    Jay traced the angle of her jaw and placed a fingertip under her chin. Deliberately, he lifted it. A thousand electric volts shot through his body, causing his fingers to move as if under a stranger’s command. She raised her lashes and stared straight into his eyes. Warning bells clamored in Jay’s mind. Slowly, he leaned forward and touched his lips to hers.
    Carrie’s mouth invited more than just a simple kiss. Jay closed his eyes, losing himself in the pure delight of the physical connection. She leaned forward, and Jay shifted his hands to both sides of her face, holding her, kissing her, taking her breath from her body.
    “Oh, my.” Carrie broke the contact first, sitting back against the cushion of the sofa as if exhausted. A hand strayed to her lips. She touched them, almost reverently.
    Jay was jealous of her hand. He wanted to reach for her once more and draw her to him. He wanted more, so much more. He let out a long breath and reached for his glass of tea. The bitter liquid couldn’t douse the fire he felt, but it banked it like smoldering embers.
    He cleared his throat. “I was about to apologize for that.” He put his glass down on the table. “But I won’t because I’m not sorry I kissed you.”
    “Neither am I.”
    Her admission sent shivers through his body. Jay drew his fingers through his hair one more time. “Strange as it seems, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
    Carrie’s eyes grew wider, like those of a deer caught in a spotlight. Now he realized his own confession had been a mistake. He didn’t want to scare her.
    “Oh my,” she said again, and then she pulled herself up like the fighter she was. “I certainly feel attracted to you, but love? I just don’t know. It’s much too early.”
    “Don’t you believe in love at first sight?” Jay asked with a grin, hoping to ease the awkwardness he felt developing once more. “But it’s not as if we didn’t know each other from camp. We have a history, so to speak.”
    “I don’t know. It’s been so long. I was married ten years. I’m just getting over Tate’s illness. This has hit me unexpectedly.”
    “Me too,” he said with a nod. “Listen,