He made a strangled sound.

She waved the can at him. “Oh, please. Like you don’t. Everyone does it.”

“Nobody talks about it.”

“Whatever. But shouldn’t I have been looking? It was really awful with Jeremy, but that was a long time ago. Maybe I give off a nonsexual vibe. Tell me about the women you meet online.”

“No.”

She sighed. “Come on. I’m serious. You must have a favorite site you like where the women are nice. I don’t know if I could do that. Meet someone online and have sex with them.” She considered the thousands of ways the situation would be both awkward and disappointing.

“I don’t do it that much.”

She held in a smile. “Online dating or masturbating?”

He shook his head. “You’re impossible. Online dating. I tried it a few times and it’s convenient, but it’s not perfect. The temporary nature of it gets old.”

“So why not just date someone you can be with long-term? Oh, wait. I know. We live in a small town. It could be messy and you don’t like messy in your personal life.”

He gaze narrowed. “How do you know that?”

“I know things about you. Plus, I think the same thing. The Willowbrook dating pool is pretty small. Obviously self-pleasure is the answer, but it’s lonely. I need to think about dating.” She leaned forward and grinned. “Do you know any guys I might like?”

“We’re not having this conversation.”

“I had no idea you were such a stick-in-the-mud.”

“Live with the pain.”

Thaddeus wasn’t one to think about how much a date cost, but in this case he had to admit he’d gotten a lot of bang for the buck. Unity had been enthralled with the indoor skydiving from the second they’d walked into the tall building.

She’d listened attentively to the instructions, had happily put on the gear and when it was her turn in the wind tunnel, she’d enjoyed every second.

“That was incredible,” she said as she unzipped her jumpsuit and handed her helmet to the guy at iFly. “It was the most indescribable experience I’ve ever had.”

She was grinning as she spoke, her eyes bright and happy. Completely different from the terrified woman he’d met a few days ago.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“I did, so much! I was doing all kinds of somersaults and stuff, right in the air! It felt great. Like flying in a dream, but better, because it was real. I want to do this again. I wish my friend Ellen would go with me, but there is no way. I could bring Cooper. That’s her son,” she added. “He’s seventeen. He would think it’s a blast.”

They walked out toward his car, Unity nearly bouncing with each step.

“Thank you,” she said earnestly, turning to him. “Really. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Want to get some lunch before we head back?”

“Yes, please. I was too nervous to eat this morning and now I’m starving.”