Doug stumbled through the grocery store looking for sour cream and onion chips. He was so adamant about enjoying his favorite chips with his favorite movie that awaited him back at the apartment. With a loaf of bread, a package of turkey and a huge jar of mayo balancing in his arms, he ran into the last person he thought he would.

Doug’s mouth fell open. She sexily leaned over the frozen food freezer with her skirt rising every time she dug deeper. She was just as gorgeous as he remembered…her strawberry-colored hair so untamed and sexy, her cute button nose and those juicy lips that he still dreamt about. He just couldn’t believe it.

“Cassie?” He called out to her.

With her lean body being supported by the freezer, she turned her head to see who sought her attention. “Doug?” Her hazel eyes became wider.

Penhall used the hand that held the loaf to wipe the sweat from his brow. “How ya doing kid?”

She strolled towards him with the same smile that got him in trouble last time. “I’m great. How about you big guy?”

“Oh,” he held up his future purchases. “Just trying to make a decent sandwich, but I can’t find the chips.”

“Never been in a grocery store before?” She grinned. “Try the same aisle you found the bread on.”

He loved her sassiness. It made her even more beautiful. “Okay, I will. Thanks.”

She reached into her basket and handed over her sour cream and onion chips. “Take these so you don’t get lost again.” Doug placed his hand on them with amazement written all over his face. “They might not be the flavor you desired, but these are the best anyway.”

“Believe it or not, this is exactly what I was looking for.” He rested against the row of freezers.

“Well ya see, sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you.” He smiled at her comment – he couldn’t have said it better himself. He walked with her throughout the store, chatting as she continued shopping, as they checked out and while he put her groceries in her car.

“Thanks Doug.” She commented closing the trunk.

“No problem.” Their pause turned into uncomfortable silence. “Well, I guess I’ll head home.”

“I see you have a big date planned.” She tugged at the bag that held his turkey. “Turkey? Most girls prefer chicken, but good luck with that.”

“I don’t have a date planned.” He defended calmly. “I’m just gonna relax at home with a sandwich and a good movie.”

“Oh,” She moved closer to him. “Where’s the Mrs.?”

“With her folks in Colorado…” He swallowed hard.

“Well, I was gonna invite you over for dinner, but since you and the Mrs. are still on, I guess that would be rude.”

“Yeah, very rude, but it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t accept.”

“So you would?” She licked her lips. “You would accept my invitation?”

“Yes I would.” He whispered softly to her. “In a heartbeat.”

She chuckled while shaking her head. “I’ve learned my lesson with you Doug. Your company isn’t good for the heart, at least my heart.” She turned to get into her car, but he wasn’t letting her get away so easily.

“What do you want from me Cassie? Do you wanna hear that I think about you everyday? Or that I wish that you were waiting for me at home instead of Dorothy?”

“I don’t want you to do anything. As long as you know in your heart that you’re making a mistake by letting me go…” Before she could open her car door, Doug took her in his arms and gave her the most delicious kiss she had ever sampled in her entire life. Doug knew in his heart how he felt, so here he was kissing the woman he knew he wanted in the supermarket parking lot.

Tom slid into the booth at Carter’s Saloon balancing two cups of draft beer and two shots of bourbon. He couldn’t believe that he was sitting across from Judith Hoffs. Regardless of how this meeting went, he was gonna enjoy the time he was finally getting to spend with her.

“Oh,” Judy reached for her wallet in her bag. “How much do I owe you?”

Tom pulled off his jean jacket. “It’s on me.”

She smiled nervously as she clutched her wallet. “You know that’s not necessary. I can pay for my own beer.”

“Well, well…” Tom chuckled. “If you insist,” Tom put his hand out to receive her portion of the drinks.

Unfortunately, when she opened her wallet, she only had two grungy dollar bills gawking back at her. “Um, actually, I don’t have any cash.” Tom couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll have to pay you back.”

Tom sat her beer and shot in front of her. “Or you can let me buy you a drink.”

She sighed contentedly. “Thanks Hanson.”

That comment stopped him dead in his tracks. “Hanson? Are we not using first names anymore?” His coffee-colored eyes looked deeply into hers. “So, what should I call you? Hoffs? Officer?”

She wrapped her hands around the cold cup. “I’m not sure. I was kinda hoping to figure that out tonight.” While he sipped his beer through the layer of foam that covered the surface, she braced herself for the ‘big’ question. “What happened to us Tom?”

He reached for her hand. “I screwed up and you left.” He took a deep breath. “You have no idea what I would give to take back everything I did.”

She was touched by his sincerity. “Me too…I’ve tried so many times to block it out of my mind so I could come back to you, but it’s impossible.”

“I know.” He threw the shot glass back and let the brown liquor caress his tongue. “I figured things would never be the same between us again.”

It pained Judy, but she had to ask, “Are you still seeing her?”

Tom thought they would share some laughs and memories, but Judy meant business. He hesitated at first, but lies got him in this, so it was best to tell the truth. “Yeah, I am.”

She downed the shot of bourbon. He would never know how much that damaged her. “I can’t believe that you decided to stay with her after she caused our breakup.”

Tom placed his back against the wall of the booth. “Don’t do this Judy. Please don’t do this.” His immediate frown expressed all the hurt that overcame him. “I didn’t have you, so what was I suppose to do.”

“Maybe you could have waited longer than three weeks before jumping into another relationship.” She was past angry at this point. “I mean, my belongings are still at the apartment.”

“I’m not engaged to her, she hasn’t moved in -- We are just dating and she’s never been to the apartment, ok?”

“Whatever you say Hanson.”

“Stop calling me Hanson!” He snapped back making the group that sat behind them glance their way. “Stop saying it in that tone.”

“What tone would that be? I’m just calling you what the other officers call you. We’re peers, remember?”

“Damn it Judy! Don’t say it like we never loved each other…” He tried to fight the tears. “You know I still love you.” He whispered.

Judy was about to retort another snappy comment until his bold statement. “You still love me?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Of course I do. I’ll always love you.” He reached for her hand. “You’ll always be my Jude.”

“Why did you kiss another woman then?”

“Honestly…” Tom ran his hand through his messy hair and inhaled a deep breath. “I was getting cold feet about us and a beautiful, intelligent woman approached me. I slipped up and I’m sorry.”

His truthfulness was ferocious. “I thought that’s how you felt about me.”

“I did, I mean, I still do.” Without realizing it, his frustration caused a tear to fall from his eye. “Jude, I’d give anything for you to understand what’s going on in my head. I wish you could even explain it to me.”

She ran her finger around the rim of the cup. “Sometimes, it seems so surreal. I expect to wake up next to you and when it rains at night, I wish that you were cuddled next to me….snoring….loudly.” Tom smiled. “But I realize that too much has happened and too much time has gone by.”

“It has only been three weeks.”

“Yeah, but three long weeks, in which, you’ve been sleeping with someone else.”

“I’m not sleeping with her….we are just dating. That means a dinner, a movie, and a kiss here and there.”

“Wait, you two haven’t had sex? I thought…”

Tom cut her off. “No sex.” He sighed. “I’m not a beast, you know.”

“Well Hanson, you had someone to go home to. You cheated remember?”

“I’ll always remember that I caused this and I’ll pay for it for the rest of my life.” Tom took a deep sigh before downing the rest of his beer. “I think it’s time for another beer.” Tom jumped outta the booth and back to the bar.

Judy pondered about this whole situation. She wanted to spend time with him to ask questions and figure it all out, but it was turning into a Tom Hanson clobber fest. They booth knew it was his fault, but she didn’t feel the need to rub his face in it anymore. She was gonna get over this, so she could eventually be his friend.

Tom sat down with the same combination as before. “Do you wanna roll through the spiel again or can I buy you this drink too?”

“Thanks Hanson.” They slapped their shot glasses together and then consumed. “Enough about our failed relationship, tell me about James Janet High. How’s it going?” Tom smirked.

After three hours of talking and two more beers, Judy and Tom tried to find their way to a potential friendship. They gossiped about Captain Fuller’s new girlfriend, Harry and Rachel’s big news and of course, the job. Tom settled into their conversation so easily that he forgot to call Jackie to cancel their dinner plans.

Judy tiredly glanced at her watch. “It’s almost midnight. I better get outta here.” Judy stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. Tom hastily moved from his seat as she led them outside the bar. They faced each other silently while fidgeting in the glare of the streetlight.

Judy broke the quiet. “Thanks for the drinks.”

“Sure, thanks for wanting to talk.” He rubbed the back of his neck before fumbling out his next sentence. “I can walk you to the hotel if you like…”

“I’m okay. It’s just a few blocks away.”

“Are you sure? It’s no big deal.”

“I’m sure Tom.” She smiled.

“Did you just call me Tom? Wow, hell must have frozen over.” He chuckled.

“Oh stop it.” She gave a cute laugh. “It slipped out.”

“Too late! You’ve already messed up.” His boyish smile covered his lips. He moved closer and gently touched her shoulder. “Let me walk you home.” Judy was too nervous to look into those deadly eyes, but she couldn’t resist. “It’d make me feel better knowing you got home okay.”

“Fine.” Her tongue lightly swept across her full lips. “If it will make you sleep better at night, let’s go.”

Judy and Tom walked down the busy intersection. They didn’t say much except for the mentioning of the new Thai restaurant that was opening on the corner. There was so much left to say and they could feel it in the air. They quickly approached the hotel.

“Thanks for walking with me.”

“Thanks for letting me.” Tom placed his hands in his pockets. “I had fun tonight.”

“Me too.” She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Take care of yourself Hanson.”

Tom proceeded to walk back the way they came, and then Judy stopped him. “Tom!” She walked briskly up to him. She grabbed his hand and gazed into his glossy eyes. “I just want you to know that I don’t hate you. I’m just still hurt, but I could never hate you.”

“Thank you Jude. I’m glad you don’t hate me because that’s what I fear the most.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I would give anything to have you love me again.”

A single tear fell down her cheek. “Who says that I don’t still love you?” She placed her hand on his forearm. “I just can’t let you hurt me again.”

Tom tangled his fingers in her hair and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m so sorry for that Judy. I’d give my life to change what happened.” He moved back to glare into her eyes again. “I love you so much.” Tom pressed his soft lips against her luscious mouth. It was a feeling he had longed for since the day she left. He nearly cried listening to her sweet moans as he stole her breath away.

She pulled away from him. “I can’t do this, not again.”

“Please Jude, let’s start over. I can make it up to you…I’ll build your trust again.” He pulled her even closer and engulfed her succulent lips again. He kissed her for what felt like hours until she pulled away for the second time.

Judy stepped away from him and gently touched her lips, caressing the invisible impression he left on them. She couldn’t believe that she had just kissed him. It felt like old times, too much like old times. She wasn’t sure which was more painful, Tom’s deception or watching him bare his heart to her in front of this hotel.

She turned to walk inside. “Jude, look, we can work this out. Don’t you want this to work?” He walked up behind her and grabbed her arms. “Please say something.” He pressed his face into her soft hair. “Please.” He begged again.

She closed her eyes as the tears fell. “Goodnight.” She removed herself from his grasp and walked inside the double doors of the hotel…never looking back at him. She couldn’t.