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Biscuit sat immediately at the sound of the word.

Claire handed him one. “He’s part of the day.”

Noah lowered himself onto the blanket beside her. “You planned all of this for me?”

“That has been established.”

“I know. I’m still processing it.”

Claire unwrapped her sandwich. “Please process faster. We have a schedule.”

“There it is.”

“What?”

“The real reason you planned the day. You wanted an excuse to make an itinerary.”

She gasped. “I am doing something kind for you.”

“And I appreciate it.”

“You’re mocking me.”

“I can do both.”

Biscuit pushed his head between them, sniffing toward Noah’s lunch.

“No,” Noah told him.

Biscuit moved toward Claire.

“Also no.”

He rested his chin on her knee and looked up at her.

Claire quietly broke off a tiny piece of turkey.

Noah stared at her. “You are destroying years of training.”

“He’s part of your perfect day.”

“He’s manipulating you.”

Claire gave Biscuit the turkey. “He learned from me.”

Noah laughed and leaned back on one hand.

For a few minutes, they ate in comfortable silence. Boats moved slowly across the river. Biscuit stretched between them, satisfied now that he had successfully stolen part of lunch.

Claire checked the time.

They were eleven minutes behind schedule.

She could recover.

Noah reached over and gently lowered her phone. “Don’t.”

“I was checking the time.”