You’re a damn good teacher, Annika Mehta. She could almost hear Daniel’s voice beside her. Ugh. It was like she was a boy-crazy teenager who couldn’t get over a crush. She needed to get a grip. And anyway, she was a damn good teacher. The thought made her a bit giddy. With a satisfied sigh, she turned off the light and walked out into the hallway.

Her heart nearly stopped as she recognized the muscular form of the man who was studying her class’s hallway display. It was as if he’d been conjured from her thoughts.

“Daniel?” It came out as a whisper that caught in her throat.

He turned to face her, green eyes alight with amusement. “Tulip cutouts.” He nodded, smiling. “I don’t think there’s a happier flower. The kids must love it. I was hoping you would add one more to the display.” He handed her a yellow construction paper tulip as if months hadn’t passed since they’d last spoken. As if he could walk into this building like anyone else. She automatically reached out and took it without looking at it, not knowing what shocked her more: seeing him, or seeing him inside this school.

“What are you doing here?” She searched his face for signs of pain. Most people would see the handsome smiling face with the twinkle in his eye. But she saw the slight twitch of his lip and the minuscule movement of his eye, the fidgeting of his right foot. His pain was hidden in those movements. But here he stood, inside this school building, waiting to talk to her. She couldn’t help her smile or the feeling of pride she had in him.

“I’m adding to your display—I mean, it’s five years too early, but I wanted to make sure he had a spot in your class.”

Annika had never been more confused, and Daniel was standing there talking to her like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t been away for months.

Like he still loved her.

It must have shown on her face, because he stopped rambling and put his hands into his pockets as he quietly jutted his chin at the flower cutout he had just handed her. His demeanor changed as if he had read her mind and decided that pretending nothing had happened between them was ridiculous.

She indulged him and looked at the tulip cutout in her hand. Aaron. This offered her no clarity. She looked up at him, and he met her eyes and nodded in the direction of the door, indicating she follow him. She sighed and started walking. He walked beside her, and she felt more than saw him glance at her.

“You look amazing.” His voice was low and intimate, and though she knew on some level that she should fight it, she melted into the soft rumble of the voice he used only for her.