So smooth.

I looked up at him and managed to produce a smile as I tried to read his expression. “No worries. I know how it is. Never thought you’d end up here. It’s a nice surprise.” I dearly wished I could sound neutral when I was around Patrice, but “thirsty and parched” seemed to be my only settings when it came to him.

This time he averted his eyes before answering me. I wondered if he was a bit more affected by me than he let on. “Hard to say no to a job offer from an Ivy League school.”

Okay, not exactly a romantic revelation. I barely contained a frustrated sigh before I nodded. “Sure. Congratulations on that. It’s a big deal. How are you getting on? Did you find a place?”

He pursed his lips, decidedly unhappy at the mention of his living situation. “Yeah, but I won’t move in there for another week or so. I’m staying with Nesto and Jude until then.” His best friend, Nesto, was coupled off with Jude, the local hottie librarian, and living in pre-marital bliss.

“How is Nesto? I haven’t been by the restaurant in a while,” I said, barely repressing a groan. “I’ve been acting as interim DA since my boss had to take leave after having heart surgery. Not much time for longer lunches lately.”

That was the understatement of the century, but I did not want to deviate the conversation and my mining Patrice for intel on his living situation to talk about my work stress. But to my surprise, Patrice raised an eyebrow.

“Congratulations to you. Is the plan for you to run?” Patrice sounded genuinely interested, so I considered what to say for a moment.

He wasn’t the first person to ask me this of course, half of Ithaca was of a mind that I was a shoo-in for the position, but I was still not sure I wanted to take that step. I was good at my job, but I wasn’t sure that I’d be good at the politics, and I didn’t want my work tainted by bullshit.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. Cindy, my boss, is still considering coming back.” I shrugged and looked up at him. He was only a couple of inches taller than me, but his massive frame made me feel almost dainty. “Politics is not my thing, but I can’t say I won’t throw my hat in the ring if there’s a special election.”

He nodded, considering my answer in that way he did. That was something that had captivated me about Patrice from the first—he took his time with things. He mulled them over, letting silence stretch out for minutes sometimes as he found the words he needed.

“You won’t take your job lightly,” he proclaimed, catching me by surprise. Then he grinned, and it was all I could do to not get closer. “And I can’t say seeing posters of you all over town is going to be a hardship.”