Page 7 of When Forever Stays

“Me too,” she says. There’s an odd flirtiness to her tone that has my hackles rising. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.”

She clicks around on the computer until a screen pops up where she can enter her notes. Felicity gets the blood pressure cuff on him and bats her eyelashes like it’s an Olympic sport.

I grab my phone and scroll through social media to distract myself from his nurse’s unprofessional behavior. I respond to a few comments on my most recent Bible study videos and ignore the creepy messages from military dad bots. When I scroll through my newsfeed, there’s a post about RJ Hemlock, the lead singer and guitarist of my favorite band, Phantom Echoes. I wonder what it could be about because none of the band members have been in the spotlight for years. Naturally, my curiosity gets the best of me.

The post shows a super blurry picture of a man lying on a bed in the hospital wearing an oxygen mask and a woman standing at his side. It looks like they’re holding hands.

The caption reads:

Pictures have just surfaced of RJ Hemlock at JSPC Hospital, where he provided a life-saving transplant to his fifteen-year-old son. According to our anonymous source, the life-saving procedure took place at least a year ago. The specifics of the surgery are unknown. His wife, who he is rumored to have married in a private ceremony after falling from stardom, is pictured beside him. Both RJ and his son are reported to be doing well.

My heart sinks a fraction at the thought of my teenage crush being married. Not that I ever had a chance with him. I silently laugh at myself for even having the ridiculous thought.

Rhett grunts and I drop my phone back in my purse, turning back to face him to make sure he’s okay.I already feel overwhelmed with this unexpected chain of events, but with Rhett’s pretty nurse giggling and blushing every time she touches him, Nurse McFlirty is on my last nerve. My only minor comfort is that Rhett’s gaze never strays far from me. It’s a stupid feeling, especially since Rhett and I are nothing to each other.Not anymore. Maybe not ever.

“Dana, sweetheart,” he calls for me in a voice that sets my insides into a frenzy and removes the bitterness creeping in.

“What?” I ask, tentatively stepping over to him.

“I just need you near me.” He searches my eyes so tenderly I almost melt into the floor. My hands move on their own accord as I brush his hair from his forehead. The movement feels far more natural than it should.

Nurse McFlirty must get the message. She purses her lips into a fake smile and tilts her head to the side haughtily.“Doctor Woodhouse will be in shortly.”

Once she’s out the door, I practically leap away from Rhett, mentally scolding myself for giving in to my jealousy. It’s time to remember why I need to keep my distance and not get pulled into this burning desire to be near him. I need to raise my defensive walls, regardless of how weak they are.

Trying to hide how flustered I am, I bolster my tone. “Well, that took an unexpected turn.” I move my hand to rest on my hip, and his eyes track the motion. A half smile rests on his lips as if he likes seeing me all riled up.

“You didn’t seem to mind coming to my rescue.”That ridiculously attractive smirk pulls up one side of his lips.

I open my mouth and then close it, unable to form an appropriate response.

He gives me a smoldering look, and his voice drops an octave. “And I am not complaining.”

I swallow hard and attempt to calm my racing heart.

Rhett must sense my unease because he says, “She was too flirty for my comfort. Besides, there’s only one woman I want flirting with me.” He winks, then adds, “I figured if she thought my sweetheart was watching it all unfold, she’d back off.”

“You realize I’m not your sweetheart though, right?” I need to make this abundantly clear, to him as well as to myself. I am not Rhett’s. Not now and technically not before. We were just two people wildly attracted to each other with amazing chemistry.

Rhett lifts a shoulder. “Maybe you should be. I may not have my memories, but from where I’m standing, you are exactly the kind of woman any man would want.” His gaze takes me in slowly from head to toe. Equal parts confusion, irritation, and allure spread through me. “I can confidently say I’m interested in exploring what we could be.”

My face catches fire, so I turn and find my purse on the chair to try and find something to keep my mind occupied. Because the flirty version of Rhett is still in there. The one who speaks his mind without holding back. The one who was and continues to be irresistible. I have to find a way to ignore this magnetic pull between us. His abandonment sent me on a downward spiral the first time, and I don’t think my heart could survive that fall again.

“You’re only giving me another pretty side of you to view, Little Siren.” His words push into my thoughts, chasing away my defenses, and brings a deeper burn to my cheeks.

Does he still feel the connection we shared? Is that why he keeps saying things that leave me melting? I shake my head at the thought. There’s no way. It's just my stupid heart aching to be wanted.

Doing my best to ignore his magnetic pull, I ask, “Are you sure you lost your memory? I’ve never heard of a person with amnesia being this flirtatious.” I look at him over my shoulder. Which is a mistake, because the heat in his gaze…well, it remindsme of things I shouldn’t be remembering. Like how good it felt to be held by him and how amazing his lips tasted.

Just when my mind starts wandering back to the night he kissed me senseless, Dr. Woodhouse comes in. As he gives me a knowing look, I pray he doesn’t say anything to make this any more awkward. Many people in the church felt as though Rhett abandoned them too, including Dr. Woodhouse, who’s an elder at my church.

“Well, Mr. Stryker, it’s nice to see you again, just not in these circumstances.”

Rhett’s brow furrows. “You know me?”

“Of course, I know you…” Dr. Woodhouse flips open Rhett’s chart and scans through his papers. “That explains it! You’re my amnesia patient.”

“Dana, could you step out–”

---