When Cassie's cheeks went bright red James knew he'd hit right on the mark; someone had slept with the other's boyfriend, brother, ex... wait, maybe each other?  Perhaps...  He found himself intrigued.  Or maybe yet she was blushing because she had a crush on him and the talk of sex was making her uncomfortable.  He didn't know how to feel about that, were it true.  At least ten years difference, but then again the world was changing, and that wasn't too uncommon.  Not a May-December thing by any stretch, sure, but enough to raise some eyebrows.<em>Should I make a play for her?  I mean, she's obviously distressed, and I would come off as a total creep.</em><br/><br/>"Alcohol and romance, typically not a good combination.  Typically.  Sometimes, with the right person..."  he trailed off, remember some of the things he been involved in during his years wandering the nation.<br/><br/>He was about to had the book to Cassie when she hugged him, her lips brushing his cheek.  It caught him off-guard and he froze for a moment, unsure of how to react.  "Uhm, you're... welcome?" he said; at the same time, within his head, he screamed at his own incompetence.<em>Way to go, slick...</em><br/><br/>With only a moment of hesitation he returned the hug, lightly, and smiled.  "Hey, glad I can help a damsel in distress,"  he said with far more confidence than he felt.