Her face was so shiny with perspiration that she decided not to bother with makeup but applied some powder to combat the shine. This date was doomed to disaster status before she even left her own bathroom, and it was all Alex’s fault. He’d fried her circuit board with a gruff voice, sexy body and incendiary kisses.

“Stop thinking about him and focus on the guy your friends were good enough to fix you up with,” she said as she threw her cell phone, keys, some cash and lipstick into a small purse and stomped down the stairs, wearing the lightest-weight dress she owned and not bothering with a sweater because she knew she wouldn’t need it.

She was far too out of sorts for a first date tonight, but it was too late to cancel. Besides, she had no desire to cancel. It was time to get back out there and meet people—men in particular—unless she wanted to spend the rest of her life alone. And that wasn’t what she wanted. She’d loved being half of a couple during the years she’d spent with Toby and hoped to experience that kind of special bond again someday.

The only thing she knew for sure was if she stayed holed up in her own little safe zone, she’d never achieve that goal, and she’d sacrifice any remaining chance she had of being a mother.

While the lighthouse was a popular tourist destination, single men weren’t lining up outside her door. Except for the one who’d come to cut the grass…

“You’re not thinking about him, remember?” Right… Easier said than done after the most explosive sexual experience she’d had in twelve long years. She would never forget the first time she’d had sex after Toby died. It had taken more than five years to even consider the possibility of doing that with someone else. The guy, Drew, had been nice enough. They’d gone out a few times, and he’d known her story, so he was patient and considerate, which had only made the whole thing more excruciating.

Afterward, she’d cried uncontrollably. He’d said and done all the right things, such as they were, before taking her home and promising to call. She’d never heard from him again, not that she could blame him. That was one of the reasons why she’d appreciated the anonymity with Alex. He had no idea he was supposed to be careful or patient with her, which was exactly the way she wanted it.