CHAPTER NINETY ONE – BLAKE THE NEW GIRL

As Joan hurried out of the office, she could feel the weight of the intern's curious stare on her back. She groaned inwardly, knowing that by tomorrow, the entire clinic would be buzzing with renewed gossip about her and Larry. That evening, as they left work, Larry pulled Joan aside in the parking lot. "We need to talk about what happened today," he said, his voice low and serious. Joan nodded, her stomach churning with anxiety. "I know. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you at work. It was unprofessional and reckless." Larry ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his gesture. "It's not just about the kiss, Joan. We're playing with fire here. If Dr. Mitchell finds out..." "I know, I know," Joan interrupted. "Our jobs could be at risk. But Larry, I can't keep pretending there's nothing between us when we're at work. It's driving me crazy." "And you think it's easy for me?" Larry countered, his voice rising slightly. "I want to be with you all the time, but we have to