No smile. No wink. She didn’t remember their weekend at the lake house. He was sure of it. She didn’t remember him. For all he knew she was at the lake house every weekend. After a few years of grad school, minus holidays and bad weather, that meant she could have had a hundred weekend lovers.

He remembered their silent lovemaking when they’d communicated only by touch. Like passing through Heaven blindfolded.

Ben fought down a deep anger equally divided between her and him. Why hadn’t they tried harder to find one another?

While Ketch and Miss Clark talked, Ben did what he always did. What his father had taught him to do. Push all feelings aside and work.

When he eventually joined the planning, Jenny commented, “Glad you’re finally with us, Dr. Monroe. You’re so quiet most of the time, I can’t tell if you’re thinking or sleeping with your eyes open.”

He didn’t even try to smile.

Within less than an hour they’d finished the planning session. The two underclassmen recruits would help with the survey and enter data. Ketch would run the programs.

Ketch had to check in at his construction job but said since it was spring break, other part-time students could take over most of the work. He promised to drop by in the morning to pick up the survey.

Benjamin and Jenny agreed to pick three community classes to answer questions. One hundred people should be plenty. One of the undergrads would collect data by mail from parents of students, and another planned to hit the local senior citizens’ center.

As if they’d heard a bell, all three helpers disappeared at once.

Jenny fussed over her papers while Ben watched. They were alone, but they might as well be miles apart. He’d never be able to mention the lake house weekend, and she obviously had no memory of it. Miss Clark wasn’t the type to remain silent on any subject.

Ben moved closer, noticing that she smelled of strawberries today. The need to touch her hair made him ball his hand.

He considered the possibility that he was cracking up. Since when had he started smelling women? He wasn’t sure, but he had a feeling they probably locked men up for doing that kind of thing. If it got out, the locals would start pointing at him and saying things like, “There goes the sniffer.”

Jenny looked up as she shoved one last paper into her case. “Was there something else, Benjamin? I really need to hurry.”

Ben had to think of something. Telling her he was just standing around smelling her didn’t seem like a good idea. “I thought . . . I thought if you’re not busy . . . we could have a late lunch.” He silently cussed, then added, “I’ve a few questions about the survey.”

“Sure.” She didn’t sound very excited. “Your office?”