That was before Patrice Denis walked into my life.

I was still trying to decide whether I should just keep moving or go say hello when the man he’d been talking to walked away. Patrice looked after him, his face stony. The relief loosening my chest did not go unnoticed.

I headed toward him, knowing there was a good chance I’d get the same icy reception, but I wasn’t strong enough to stay away. When my cart was only a few feet from him, he turned around and the smile he gave me was...everything. After a second, he must have realized he was beaming at me and schooled his expression.

But it was too late. I’d seen it.

He’d been happy to see me. I was certain of it, and it gave me the last push I needed to jump back in. I leaned on the handle of my shopping cart and smiled up at him while he held a shiny red apple in his hands.

“Professor.”

He turned fully facing me and just having his body so close made a shiver run down my spine. He had on a Cornell sweatshirt with some cutoffs and leather flip-flops on his feet. I noticed he’d switched the stud in his nose for a small silver hoop. That big body as imposing and powerful as ever. An image of that carved chest looming over me flashed through my head and it was all I could do not to gasp.

I was staring. I knew that, but I couldn’t help it. At least he seemed a bit flustered too; shaking his head as if trying to clear his thoughts before answering.

“Easton. Good to see you,” he said with a sheepish look, such a contrast from the serious one from a few minutes earlier. “So is this place like a major hangout in town? It’s eight on a Sunday and I’ve already ran into like three of Nesto’s relatives and half of my department.”

No mention of his ghosting me. Banter then, I could banter. “To be fair, his uncle and his sister do work here.”

He conceded my point with another smile, but he didn’t reply, and so I kept rambling.

“Philmans is pretty busy most days, and everyone shops here. It’s actually pretty calm compared to how it is during the day on the weekend. That’s why I come here at this time. Get my shopping done faster.”

He nodded distractedly as he gave me an appreciative look, as if he was starting to remember how things had been between us. His eyes assessed me closely, his body leaning toward me. When his gaze finally locked with mine, they were full of heat and a hint of humor. Suddenly the man I’d been pining over for the last year was right in front of me. “Are you sure you’re not just avoiding disgruntled customers?”

I scoffed at the jab, but there was no hiding the smile which seemed to be a side effect of being around Patrice. “For your information, Professor Denis, I happen to have one of the best conviction records in the state.”