The Sweetest Taboo: An Unconventional Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

pulmonologist to get her asthma under control and handed off care to My most trustworthy residents when I required sleep or had to leave the hospital. I wanted to be sure she was always left in capable hands if I were ever unable to directly oversee her care.
    While she was here, I played it cool. Never once did I breach any boundaries of Doctor-patient rapport, but don’t think I didn’t want to. Professionalism remained at the forefront. I’d wait and feel her out, but I knew one thing for certain: I couldn’t let her leave the hospital without speaking with her alone. Once she signed the discharge papers, the Doctor-patient relationship would be severed. I hoped she would be receptive to My offer.
    I needed her to be receptive to My offer.
    I tapped on the frame of the open door. micah was bent slightly at the waist, putting her things into a hospital bag. The sun shone brightly in the room, making whatever she’d put in her curly hair sparkle like tiny crystals.
    she looked up from her bag and made eye contact with Me as I walked into her room. God, she was beautiful.
    “Afternoon.” I shoved My hands down into the pockets of My lab coat before I did something unprofessional. “Are you all ready to go?”
    she nodded. “Yes, Doctor Thomas. The nurse brought my discharge papers a few hours ago. i was just heading out, but i’m glad You stopped by. i wanted to thank You for Your help.
    “i can’t tell You how humbled i am by Your act of kindness. You saved my life, and i will be forever grateful,” she said as her eyes darted around the room, looking everywhere but at Me. she shoved a sweater into her bag with less care than she took with her other clothing.
    her words were sincere, but for whatever reason, I must have made her nervous, although I wasn’t sure why. she gathered the plastic bag and her purse before quickly brushing past Me and exiting the room.
    This was not how I envisioned things going. I increased My pace and caught up with micah at the nurse’s station. It was all or nothing; I only had a few moments to make an impression.
    “ms. foster? micah?” I called out. I composed Myself as I approached her.
    she slowed her pace, bid farewell to the nurses, then turned in My direction.
    I jumped at the opportunity, unable to wait a moment longer. “ms. foster, I was hoping to speak with you before you left. Once you signed the discharge papers, the Doctor-patient relationship ended. That means I’m no longer your treating Physician and you’re no longer My patient. With that said, I have a question I’d like to ask. Please hear Me out. Don’t take this the wrong way . . .”
    her facial expression was unreadable, so I continued.
    “I’m not trying to be a creep, but I would regret letting you leave today without at least giving this a fair shot. I sincerely apologize if you feel this is inappropriate or too forward, but ms. foster, I’d love your company for a drink or dinner . . . whichever you’d prefer. Will you allow Me to take you out?”
    Waiting for her answer seemed to take an eternity. she didn’t look at My face; instead her gaze landed somewhere around the name embroidered on the left breast pocket of My lab coat. her lower lip found its way between her teeth as she stared, apparently deep in thought. In what seemed to be a delayed reaction, she gawked up at My face, clearly surprised by My question.
    Was she put off by the entire idea or just caught off guard by My request? Either way, her answer would let Me know which way she was leaning. I just hoped to God she wasn’t leaning toward no.
    she finally provided Me a small reprieve. “You want to take me out?”
    “Yes.”
    “Like on a date?”
    “Yes,” I replied again.
    “i’m sorry, Doctor Thomas, but i don’t date,” she said, dismissing Me as she continued to the elevators.
    Oh, she was going to make this interesting. her flippant attitude bothered the hell out of Me, but I was going to see this through. I