Page 135 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“You need to be careful, Miss Shelley,” he told her.Harper nodded in agreement.

Jim shook his head sadly.“I shouldn’t have brought you into this.I hate to think I might’ve put you in danger.”

Shelley went to him and squatted beside his chair, taking his hand.“You haven’t put me in danger, Jim.I’m not just saying it to make you feel better—I honestly believe it.If he’d wanted to hurt me, he had the perfect opportunity out there on the road.Yeah, he screamed at me, but all his anger is directed toward Cash.”

That brought the first hint of a smile to Jim’s lips, and she understood why.

“Just goes to show how stupid he is,” Banner muttered.“If he had any sense at all, Cash would be the last person he went after.”

“I hope he finds him,” Harper said.

Jim chuckled.“I don’t think he’ll need to search too hard,” he said, looking at Banner again.“You said he’s coming?”

“He is.”

Shelley watched their exchange with interest.From everything she and Jim had talked about these last few weeks, she’d wondered how Banner felt about Cash.From the way he was acting, she guessed Banner was the same as everyone else—it seemed like everyone around here looked up to Cash and knew they could turn to him when they had a problem.

As if thinking about him had summoned him, they all turned at the sound of tires crunching to a halt on the gravel outside.A beat of stillness followed, then the sound of heavy footfalls.A moment later, Cash filled the doorway.

The air seemed to crackle around him, as if he were literally bristling with anger.And yet when he met Jim’s gaze, his smile was gentle.His whole demeanor changed.

Shelley got to her feet, and Harper did the same, both of them stepping aside as Cash approached Jim’s chair.He held out his hand without a word, and Jim took it, using it to haul himself up.

Shelley’s throat clogged with emotion as she watched the two men embrace.For a moment, she imagined the same scene forty years ago—Jim strong and stocky, like Cash was now, and Cash just a young man finding his way.

She exchanged a glance with Harper, whose hand had come up to cover her heart.When she looked at Banner, there was no missing the fact that he was choked up, too.He smiled at her and nodded before returning to the doorway—standing guard, it seemed.

She was surprised that Cash’s voice came out as not much more than a croak when he asked, “Are you okay?”

“Aye,” Jim said.“Though I don’t mind telling you, I’m a damn sight better now you’re here.”

Cash hugged him tighter before gently letting go.“That makes two of us.Do I have your permission to deal with this my way?”

Shelley wasn’t surprised when Jim nodded — but she was saddened when he said, “This whole thing has finally gotten through to me that I’m not the man I used to be.”He held his hand up as everyone started to protest.“We can dress it up however you like, but we all know it’s true.”

He grasped Cash’s arm.

“I did what I could to keep you safe and on the right path for as many years as I could.”He looked back at the chair behind him, and Cash gently took his arm and helped him sit again.

His expression broke Shelley’s heart when he added, “Never occurred to me back then that the day would come when I’d have to turn toyouto keepmesafe.But I think it’s arrived.”

Cash’s eyes flashed with fury.

Jim chuckled.“I’m just glad I managed to teach you how to keep a lid on that until you need it.”

Cash smiled.“Yeah, me too.You were right; it’s more powerful when it’s harnessed—focused and directed.”He took a breath before adding, in a lower tone, “And that fucker’s going to be on the receiving end of the full force of it.”

He looked around at them, as if noticing their presence for the first time.“Ladies — are you both okay?”

Shelley nodded, and in the way only she could, Harper broke some of the tension.

“I may be a little hot under the collar after that display of rugged manliness — but other than that, yes, I’m fine, thanks.”

Jim chuckled and added, “But don’t you go getting any ideas, Cash.Harper’s heart’s already spoken for.”

“It is,” Harper agreed, glancing at him.“I love you, Jim.”

“I know,” he replied — then winked at Shelley and added, “But we both know that wasn’t what I was talking about.”