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charm she’d mistaken for arrogance. That, coupled with a heavy dose of laughter—something her marriage to Eric had denied her—and Ryan became a quick remedy for her pain. But not a long-term remedy. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down.
    He was a lovely distraction, though, and wasn’t looking for a serious relationship; just in it to have a good time—something he’d made clear up front. She’d been relieved.
    “And now, suddenly you don’t like him. Are you just not into good-looking young men?”
    Adrienne sighed. “No, it’s not that.”
    Sammie pushed her hair from her eyes. “Let me try again. Ryan is a terrific guy. But after being in a difficult—and as far as I’m concerned, abusive relationship—you need to get to know yourself before you get to know anyone else.”
    Adrienne’s head snapped up from the table. “Exactly. It’s taken me weeks to figure it out, and you nailed it in—what—nine seconds?”
    Sammie shrugged. “Easier to see from the outside. So, have you told him?”
    Adrienne’s shoulder tipped up a little. “Sort of.”
    “Sorry, Chicago. That’s a yes-or-no question.”
    “I told him I needed time. So we agreed to be friends.” She leaned forward. “He seemed okay with that since he wasn’t looking for anything serious. Did he tell you differently?”
    “No.” Sammie’s mouth tilted down at the corners. “When your little journey of discovery is over, you two can pick up where you left off. You deserve to have some fun.”
    Adrienne shook her head. “No, we can’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “Being with Ryan is great.” She chuckled. “In fact, it’s a blast.”
    “I never really heard the story about how you found him. I’ve been in Bonita for years and haven’t found my Mr. Fun.”
    “Mary Lathrop, my real estate agent, roped him into being my mover. I kind of suspect she hoped we’d hit it off.” Mary had been the dream agent, handling every detail and understanding Adrienne’s desire to for once in her life do something on her own. “She never told me, but I think she’s been through a similar divorce situation.”
    Sammie nodded. “So Ryan was her way of getting some cosmic justice. A stupid guy dumps you, and you end up with a beefed-up college man to keep you from getting lonely.”
    Mary had been so attentive, so understanding. The kind of understanding shared only by women whose lives had crumbled because of infidelity. Intentional or not, it was payback to all the lousy husbands who had destroyed their marriages over an instant of cowardice. That’s what infidelity was, as far as Adrienne was concerned, a coward’s way out.
    Her mind trailed to the sexy, flirty, smooth young man she’d shared several moonlit walks with. “But being with Ryan . . . it’s like I’m back in college.” Her words were sad, caught between the fun of youth and the seriousness of adulthood. “I’m twenty-eight years old. I was married for five, almost six years. The college scene just doesn’t appeal to me anymore.” She blinked several times, studying Sammie’s face for insight. “Do I sound like an old crone?”
    “No, you sound like a woman. Ryan is—what—twenty-four? Maybe twenty-five? You’ve led a different life, moved past all that.” She closed one eye and pointed a finger at Adrienne. “Just keep in mind, Ryan won’t always be a college boy.”
    A tiny, humorless laugh escaped Adrienne’s mouth. “He will to me.”
    Hands on her hips, Sammie’s head tilted to the side. “So what kind of man would be on your list?”
    Adrienne’s gaze left the coffee shop and watched the traffic out the window. Cars zoomed by, slowing for only a moment as they passed through the flashing yellow light that anchored the edge of the strip mall and the coffee shop.
    It couldn’t hurt. Sometimes you have to dream. “Someone strong, but not overbearing. Fiercely devoted, but not crazed. Someone who could protect me, but gentle enough to