Page 133 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“I wasn’t worried,” said Shelley.“But now I will be.”

“What do you mean?”Brody asked.

“I’ll worry about you.Maybe letting her slip through your fingers—if you don’t step up.”

He frowned.“It’s not about stepping up.It’s about respecting who she is.”He gave her a small smile.“And who her brother is.”

“Is this a secret I have to keep all to myself?”Shelley asked.

He knew exactly what she meant.“I’d rather you didn’t mention it to Trip.But I don’t want to put you in a position where you feel like you’re keeping secrets from him.”

She smiled.“That’s okay.We already had this discussion, Trip and I.I was concerned that by working with Jim, I’d end up knowing things about his friends that he doesn’t.He assured me that he doesn’t have a problem with it.And he won’t.Keeping confidences is part of my work.I won’t tell.I promise.”She met his gaze.“At least not until you say I can.How about that?”

Brody smiled back.“I’d like to think the day will come when I might have reason not to care who knows about the way I feel for her.But… I doubt it.”

“Well, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you,” said Shelley.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

As she left the ranch and set out down the highway toward Jim’s place a little later, Shelley rolled the windows down and turned up the radio.It was a beautiful day, and as she sang along with a country song, it occurred to her that she felt more free here than she had in a long time—maybe ever.

It was funny how things worked out.For the last few years, she’d felt as if she needed to stay on the road in order to remain free.As it turned out, setting down roots with Trip had given her the kind of freedom she hadn’t known before.

And she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

She felt good about her chat with Brody and wasn’t worried about keeping his secret from Trip.She was confident in her heart that if he knew, Trip would want her to keep Brody’s confidence by excluding him.

But just because she wasn’t going to tell a soul how Brody felt, that didn’t mean she couldn’t quietly figure out how Brooke felt.

Shelley liked them both, and from what she could tell, it seemed like they might be a good match.Then again, maybe she should keep her nose out of their business.She wasn’t one for gossip—certainly not for interfering in people’s lives—but she was starting to understand why small-town communities, though notorious for gossip, weren’t always wrong.And she was starting to feel a little less judgmental about it, too.She could see now that at least some folks might genuinely have the best of intentions when they shared news or interfered in other people’s lives.

She was still thinking about it as she turned onto East River Road and headed south toward Jim’s place.As she approached the property, she saw an SUV pull out of the driveway and speed toward her.She was confused for a moment, wondering if she was in the wrong somehow.Why else would—

Her brain didn’t finish the question.It switched to survival mode.

She swerved automatically to get out of the oncoming vehicle’s path.Her car went off the road and landed in the drainage ditch.Her hands were shaking as she cut the engine and looked around, hoping the other driver was all right.Her heart began to pound when she saw that the other vehicle was fine—and its driver was striding toward her.

Her breath caught in her chest.

It was Gavin.

She reached for the door handle, ready to confront him—but stopped short when he reached her car and kicked the door.

“I’ve told him, and I’ll tell you—you won’t get away with it.He has a perfectly good will in place, and I’m going to make sure it’s upheld.When Jim’s dead, all of this will be mine.It’s rightfully mine, and you can’t stop me.”

Shelley inhaled sharply.Yes, shecouldstop him.And she fully intended to.But she was wise enough to know that reminding him of that right now might not be the wisest move.

He slammed his hand down on the roof of her car.“You won’t get away with it, I’m telling you.They’renot his family.I’mthe only family he has left.”

His jowly cheeks were red, his eyes wild.A stray thought flashed across Shelley’s mind—she wouldn’t be surprised if he died before Jim.He looked like a prime candidate for a heart attack in his current state.

He glowered at her.“I’m his family,” he repeated.“Those three aren’t his blood.And Cash—” He turned and spat on the ground.“I’m going to put a stop to him.He thinks he’s such a big deal.He always did.But you know what?He has his own family, and they have their own ranch.Just because Kitty—”

He stopped short, as if realizing he was saying too much.He ran a hand over his face, then smiled.

“Forgive me,” he said smoothly.“You’re just doing your job.I understand that.This isn’t your fault.”

His scowl returned.“It’s that damn Cash MacFarland.And I’m going to put an end to him.”