Never Too Late by Robyn Carr

you.”
    â€œBut…?”
    â€œBut any kind of relationship, with anyone, is way down on my ‘to do’ list. I have monumental things to accomplish, not the least of which is a divorce. I don’t want to get hurt, and I don’t want to hurt anyone. I’m not ready.”
    He pursed his lips and gave a sharp nod, as though he understood. “Fair enough, Clare. It’s been a rugged few months for you.”
    â€œThanks for understanding, Sam.”
    â€œNo problem. I’m not here to mess with your head. That first night I met you, the one thing I could see was that you were a woman who could think straight even under stress.” And finally he removed that hand, but not his eyes. And, she instantly missed the hand.
    â€œHah!” she laughed. “Me? I was speeding, remember? And a basket case at that!”
    Unruffled he just chuckled under his breath and said, “Do you know how many people actually shoot each other in situations like you found yourself in? Believe me, a few tears, ten miles over the limit—it was downright stoic.”
    â€œThere was this ice bucket,” she said. “At the foot of the bed? I doused them both,” she admitted.
    â€œWell good for you,” he said. “I like you, you know.”
    â€œI like you, too,” she said. “But I’m not ready for more than that.”
    â€œOkay then,” he said, taking her hand and leading her back to the car. “Take me home—I have things to get done today. Since I’m not having sex.”
    â€œYes, sir!” she said with a big laugh.
    They didn’t talk during the ride home. She enjoyed the driving and he, apparently, enjoyed the scenery and his sound system, though he did reach over and put his hand on her thigh. Common sense told her she should tell him to remove it, but she happened to like it there. What the hell, she thought. I should have something to look forward to. A fling with a drop-dead gorgeous younger man wasn’t entirely out of the question. Was it?
    Once they were back in her drive she left the car running as she unbuckled and got out. He crossed to the driver’s side and she thanked him again. As he was backing out he lowered the window and said, “Clare? Get to work on that ‘to do’ list, okay? I’ll be in touch.”
    Â 
    Right after that drive, Clare rented a car. She had always hated the whole process of shopping for and buying cars and she just wasn’t up to it. But one of the items in her “to do” list had to be taken care of right away, before the start of school. She had to see Pete, the football coach.
    Jason didn’t play football; he liked to save himself for snowboarding and varsity football players weren’t allowed to ski during the season because of the risk of injury putting them off the team. Football practice started in early August, a month before the start of school. The team practiced all morning, every morning, and school would start in a few days. With nerves taut and heart hammering, she went to the field and watched what she judged to be nearly the end of their session.
    Pete stood on the sidelines, his broad back moving with the force of his shouts, his raised hand and emphatic gestures. Every time she saw him over the years,she had quickly averted her eyes lest he see her, approach her, engage her. She hadn’t allowed herself the luxury of watching and remembering him. She never let herself think about how handsome he was. Once they had been so close, such good friends, bonded by her relationship to his older brother. Then once they had been too close.
    He shouted at the boys and dismissed the team. He turned toward the bleachers to walk off the field and spotted her almost immediately. He glanced, then stared, then tentatively raised a hand in her direction. She returned the brief wave. Well, she wouldn’t have to chase him down or even find him in the parking lot