The bell above the door had barely stopped ringing when I stepped inside, my smile brighter than the morning sun. It wasn’t just a good mood—it was the best mood. My weekend replayed in my head like a secret film I didn’t want to pause. The laugh, the hands, the heat of a stranger who had felt anything but strange. Rafe, or something like that.

My colleagues noticed instantly. They exchanged glances as though whispering, finally, she’s glowing instead of scowling. Every patient felt like a breeze, every appointment lighter. The day moved fast, my rhythm flawless. Until the moment my assistant pushed open the door with a clipboard in hand.

“Next patient—Mr. Cameron.”

And then he walked in.

Rafe. The same Rafe who had pressed me against cool sheets two nights ago, the one I swore I’d never see again. Except here he was, in my chair, looking annoyingly at ease. My pulse stumbled, but I pasted on my professional smile.

“Any problems today?” My voice came out steady, but my fingers tightened around the pen.

He didn’t answer right away. Just sat down with a lazy smirk that curled like smoke. His eyes locked on mine, and it was suddenly hard to breathe.

God, this wasn’t sexy. This was dental work. Stainless steel, sterile light, latex gloves. I wanted the ground to open. Still, I leaned in, professional mask glued tight.

“You’ll need to open wide,” I said, too briskly. My assistant excused herself to grab supplies, leaving us in a silence so loud it roared in my ears.

That was when he finally spoke, voice low, teasing, laced with memory. “A dentist, huh?” His lips tugged into a grin, like he already owned the moment. “Guess I should’ve asked for your business card.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. My hand froze midair, mirror tool inches from his mouth. Damn him. He was enjoying this—watching me stumble, seeing if I’d break first.

I swallowed, forcing composure back into my spine. “Well, Mr. Cameron,” I whispered, meeting his gaze head-on, “let’s hope your teeth are easier to handle than you are.”

The smirk only deepened, his eyes glinting with something unspoken. The air between us tightened, heavy with tension—not the sterile kind, but the kind that made me wonder if I’d survive the rest of the appointment without losing every ounce of control.