Page 54 of Broken Vows

“When I think about her. Sometimes.”

“Any other time?”

I think about it. “No.”

He opens a drawer, pulls out a business card, and hands it to me.

It’s the number for some therapist.

I stare at the card, then back at him. “What the fuck is this?”

The doctor leans back slightly. “It sounds like you might have a crush on your neighbor, Mr. James.”

“I’m trying to sleep with her,” I blurt. “Doesn’t mean I like the woman.”

The doctor raises his eyebrows and glances pointedly at the therapist’s card still in my hand. I slap it down on the table.

“Thanks for nothing.”

Back in the Mustang, I slam the door harder than necessary.

Fat lot of help that was.

I don’t have a crush on Carmen.

Jesus Christ. A crush? What am I, twelve?

She’s fine. Nice enough. Good with Theo. Good with that half-dead dog. And she wants to open a shelter, which is decent of her. Real decent, actually.

Doesn’t mean I like her.

I just have eyes and a working understanding of basic human qualities.

Very different.

I start the engine and pull onto the road before this gets any more pathetic.

I call Ray.

He picks up on the second ring. “You better have good news.”

“She’s starting to crack.”

“Is she?”

“She kissed me the other night.”

There’s a pause.

“Then why am I still waiting?”

“She got skittish.” I change lanes too hard and ignore the horn behind me. “But I’ve got it handled. There’s a bake sale at the school next week. She’s helping.”

Ray is silent for a beat. “A bake sale.”

“Yeah. She’ll see me being involved. Responsible. Good with the kid. Whole community thing.”

“The whole community thing,” he repeats flatly.