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wished that he hadn’t let her just drive away. It surprised him how innocent he felt after kissing Lexi, without a twinge of guilt. He had been with Corrine for nearly two years, and initially they’d worked well, but something had changed. She became more demanding about spending time with her, but less understanding of his career. At first he’d thought she was just going through a rough spell—one that had started a few months after they’d met. Unfortunately, Corrine had retained the haughty attitude. Caleb had asked if she wanted out of the relationship, as he’d wanted his freedom from her. But she always seemed to hook him back and make him feel guilty to even consider leaving her. Tears never fell on her cheeks, but he didn’t want to be the source of her pain.
    And he’d recently learned about her family’s history of mental illness. Her aunt was institutionalized at the Dorthea Dix Psychiatric Center in Bangor. Corrine’s aunt had been at the institution for as long as she could remember, though she had never met her aunt in person. Corrine didn’t exhibit symptoms of a mental illness—she was just selfish and self-obsessed. Corrine always got her own way, a fact Caleb knew all too well.
    As Caleb walked up the steps and onto the porch, the vibrations from the television’s volume rattled the floorboards. Corrine turned up the volume when she was in the kitchen so she could hear the television from the living room. Caleb stopped to pet Benjamin before seeking out Corrine. For a cat, Benjamin needed as much attention as a dog. Not happy to be left alone, he hung around Caleb, swishing around his legs and laying across his computer keyboard.
    Caleb turned the volume down on the television and headed toward the kitchen. Seeing Corrine would only dampen his mood. He rather liked that Lexi clouded his mind. There was something about her that made him feel lighter, whereas Corrine made him feel weighed down.
    He found Corrine sitting on the granite countertop, sipping a fruit smoothie, the blender beside her on the counter. She looked up at Caleb as he neared. Her eyes were large and looked full of accusations. Caleb’s throat constricted, and his stomach knotted.
    Corrine worked as a pharmaceutical rep, and she earned a substantial commission. She could get doctors to push her products even without buying the office an obligatory lunch. Her smile and low-cut blouses kept her commission flowing. She was flirtatious when it meant professional gain. Caleb wasn’t threatened by this, as she’d long sold herself on him. She kept him on his toes by taking him to social events—she networked like no one else could. There were also glimpses of the girl he thought she was—surprise lunches, flowers to his parents’ on their anniversary every year, and building up his confidence with compliments. Was it enough though? Somehow the scale was still off balance.
    Corrine sat on the counter looking casual, but Caleb knew better. Corrine wasn’t known for her pleasant feminine attributes alone—she was a brewing storm. She was more observant than most people, with her catlike ability to remain sly all while hiding her true agenda. Her senses seemed to be superhuman. How did she do it? The keen look in her eye said it all—there’d be hell to pay. She looked down, her smooth blackish-brown hair cascading forward, and her lips were poked out in a pout. When Caleb walked silently across the tiled floor, she lifted her head. Caleb looked into her eyes. They were red rimmed. Had she been crying? He would have to break things off with this strong-minded woman. Not easy.
    Caleb leaned against the counter. “What’s going on?” Calming her down would be the first hurdle, a difficult task on its own. His stomach clenched. If there was no hope of something more, he’d take what Corrine dished. Hurting her was never his intent.
    “Nothing. I was just waiting for you,” she said flatly.
    “Well, here I am…” Caleb