Page 45 of Unforgettable

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“There’s a sandwich place down the street,” he said. “No knives required.”

Her smile lingered, but her gaze shifted, something more cautious settling in.

“You’re still my doctor,” she said. “And I’m still your patient.”

There it was. Like a line being drawn in the sand. Clear. Defined.

He met her gaze, steady.

“You can always fire me. And besides, next week is your final checkup,” he said. “After that…”

He let the rest sit between them and then, added, quieter—

“I won’t tell if you don’t.”

A flicker of something passed through her expression.

Temptation.

Uncertainty.

Fear.

All of it tangled together. She looked down briefly, then back up at him.

“You’re really not supposed to be doing this,” she said.

“Probably not.”

“And you’re still doing it anyway.”

“Yep.”

No hesitation. No apology. Just charming truth. And something about that—about him—made it harder to hold her ground.

She exhaled slowly, the resistance in her shoulders easing just enough.

She wanted to give in.

Should I?God help me, guide me, something.

Randi reached for her coffee again, her fingers brushing the cup before settling around it.

“Just lunch,” she said again, softer this time.

He nodded.

“Just lunch. Nothing complicated.”

But neither of them believed it anymore.

Relief flickered across his face, subtle but unmistakable.

“Just lunch,” he agreed.

She studied him for one more second, as if weighing something she wasn’t ready to name.

Then she nodded.

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