“I know. You’re not the kind of person who tells social lies. You speak your mind—when you speak at all.”
Jack heard the humor in her voice. “I’m speaking now.”
Audra feigned concern. “Does it hurt very much?”
“You’re full of smart remarks today, aren’t you?”
Audra tugged her right earlobe. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually this sarcastic.”
“Are you a singer?” Jack watched her closely. Would she tell him the truth?
She arched a brow. “Why? Do you know someone who could make me a star?”
“I’m serious. You have a good voice. You could have a future in the music industry.”
Audra shook her head. “I know at least a dozen people who are much, much better singers. But they’ll never make it in the industry. They have the vocal talent, but they’re not entertainers.”
“That’s important?”
“It’s half the battle.”
“Why couldn’t you be an entertainer?”
“That’s way out of my comfort zone.” She shrugged one slender shoulder. “This whole vacation is out of my comfort zone. But Benita thought it would be good for me.”
“She was always a know-it-all, even as a kid.”
Audra’s smile made the day even brighter. “I think she’s right in this case. That’s the reason I asked you to be my guide.”
Jack stiffened. “Why?”
“To give me a tour of the town—”
“Trinity Falls isn’t that big.”
“Take me hiking—”
“Follow that path.” Jack inclined his head toward the distance.
“And fishing.”
He gave her a hard look. With her hypnotic smile and seductive warmth, Audra Lane was a threat to his numb, solitary lifestyle. And now she was proposing they spend even more time together. That wouldn’t be wise.
“No.” Jack crossed to the stairs.
“You won’t tell me why not?” Her voice followed him down the porch steps.
“No.”
“Ah! You’ve returned to your chatty self. Welcome back.” Her voice was full of laughter that was even more enthralling than her music.
Jack’s lips twitched with reluctant humor. No, it wasn’t a good idea to spend hours alone with Audra Lane. Right now, she was giving him all he could handle. She was making him feel again, and that scared him far more than those bears she was certain waited in the woods.
That night, Jack tried to stay away, but he wasn’t strong enough. Or perhaps Audra’s lure was stronger. She wasn’t on her porch, but he heard music again. This time, it was a full band, not just a guitarist. And the singer was familiar.
Jack followed the sound to the back of Audra’s cabin. The area was well lit. The back door was open, allowing the cabin’s lights to shine over the gray-and-white stone patio. A laptop stood open on the wooden bench. It was plugged into the exterior wall. Music played from the computer. Mary J. Blige belted out one of her self-esteem anthems, “Just Fine.” The music was compelling. The words were empowering. But it was the woman on the patio who held him captive as she moved with abandon to the beat of the music.
Audra still wore the gold shorts and formfitting hot pink T-shirt she’d worn that afternoon. She swung her hips with the beat of the music, letting her body flow with the song. Muscles in his torso knotted with a half-forgotten sense of yearning. Audra raised her arms high abov