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was the only thing that could be done. There would be no stopping now. It would all be so breathtaking.
    He looked the same. Though his hair was a little shorter, he was still so handsome he took my breath away. There was an awkward few seconds of us staring at each other before I walked over with the intent of shaking his hand. Instead, he pulled me into a tight embrace.
    “It’s good to see you, CeeCee. You’re still as beautiful as ever.”
    Holding him and smelling his cologne opened a floodgate of memories, memories I didn’t want to relive. My deepest fears were realized.
    “And you’re still quite the charmer. It’s good to see you too, Michael,” I said quietly, pulling away as quickly as I could.
    Standing there in my doorway, he was dressed casually in khaki pants and a light blue collared shirt. With those piercing green eyes, tan skin, and dazzling smile, his looks mirrored an Olympian ideal. It was very easy to remember how I found myself attracted to him in the first place. It wasn’t just his tall-dark-and-handsome classic looks, but that smile always on his face, as if the world continually amused him. Forcing myself to focus on last night and Eric, I repeated the mantra: Michael is here for business. Summoning my hostess skills, I motioned for him to sit down.
    We spent a little over an hour catching up on the previous year. He had not remarried after his divorce, another result of our relationship, and had only casually dated here and there. His prestigious career kept him from having any social life, which seemed to be fine. The free time he did have he spent with his son, Sean, who was now five.
    “How are you and Eric doing?” He managed to summon a smile.
    “We’re doing well. A little rocky after last year, but we worked it out.”
    I saw a flash of disappointment come over his face, but it was gone before I could comment. I had, naively, assumed after this length of time and with no communication that Michael had long since given up on me. But now I wasn’t so sure. He looked at me the same as he had a year ago. And that unnerved me greatly.
    “Let me get this over with and ask. Were you upset when they made you come and help with the Parker case?”
    Truthfully, I wasn’t sure which answer I wanted. And I wasn’t sure if he would tell me the whole truth.
    His smile now seemed genuine. “CeeCee, I wasn’t made to do anything. I volunteered to come here. You know I’m a sexual homicide expert and profiler, and this is about a dead child,” he said, his smile fading. “Yes, they told me immediately you were the lead on the case. It wasn’t difficult for the news about us to spread around the FBI too, but I know that on a professional level, you and I are a good team. Since you asked, how about you? How did you feel when you found out I was coming?”
    I was quiet for a moment, mulling the best—and safest—answer to give him.
    “Honestly, Michael, it caught me off guard. I really didn’t think we would ever see each other again,” I said. “Last night I had to tell Eric, and as you can imagine, it didn’t go over too well. We’ve had a tough time the past year in many ways.” I stopped and looked down at my desk, twirling a pencil between my fingers before continuing. “I don’t know how I’m feeling right now about you being here, but you’re right about one thing: we’re a good team professionally, and we’ll be fine.” I tried to muster a genuine smile, but I knew Michael would see right through it.
    He walked over to the window, and we stood together, looking out over the city.
    “I’m not going to lie to you, CeeCee. I almost didn’t volunteer because of you. But just the two of us standing here talking right now, it’s as if this year never went by.”
    “But a year did go by, Michael.”
    “I know. I don’t know how I feel about this right now either.”
    For someone who usually looks so self-possessed, my knees were shaking. I can easily deceive