Page 32 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

"You'll figure it out," Brody told him with a smile."I have faith in you, boss.You figure everything out.You're that kind of guy.If Shelley's the one for you—and I get the impression that she is—you'll find a way to make it work."

As he walked back up to the house a little while later, Trip mulled over what Brody had said.He appreciated the foreman’s faith in him.He just didn't know if Shelleywasthe one for him.

Maybe that wasn't true.

He knew damn well that she could be.He just hadn't thought that he'd ever want to allow a woman into his life again.

Sure, he'd been hoping that she wouldn’t leave, but persuading her to stay was a whole different proposition.

Chapter Seven

"We'll see you on Thursday morning, then, Mrs.Barnes,” said Shelley.

"Thanks.I'm glad you could get us in early.I don’t want Cody missing any school."

"That’s why Dr.Harvey comes in early at least one day every week—so we can fit people in.Either kids like your son before school or people who don’t want to miss work."

Mrs.Barnes laughed into the phone."You can call him Trip, you know, and while you’re at it, call me Sloane.I’ve got to say, you’ve really made a difference at the clinic.Everything seems to run smoother these days—everyone says so—but we don’t stand on formalities around here.We all know him as Trip, not Dr.Harvey."

"Right.Sorry, I forget that."

"Hey, I’m not knocking you for it.I’m just trying to make you feel more at home.I reckon if enough of us talk to you like you’re one of us, you might stay.And we all know Trip needs you."

"Thanks.That’s kind of you to say."

"If you knew me better, you’d know there aren’t many around here who’d describe me as kind.I just say it like it is.Anyway, I’ll quit my blathering and see you on Thursday morning.Thanks again."

"You’re welcome.I’m glad I could help."Shelley ended the call and made sure the appointment was entered into the computer.

She checked her watch.It was only three-thirty, and she was basically sitting here twiddling her thumbs until the end of the day.Trip was working at the hospital this afternoon, and he’d told her she could forward the phone to her cell if she wanted to, but she preferred to stay here.Sometimes people dropped by to make an appointment, and she wanted to be here for them.

If she were honest, she also wanted to be here when Trip stopped in at the end of the day.

She was relieved that there’d been no awkwardness between them after their weekend.They’d both arrived at the clinic at the same time yesterday morning, and she’d been touched to see that he’d stopped at the coffee shack on his way in, bringing coffee for them both along with more of Maisie’s chocolate croissants.

They’d sat in the break room in the back for half an hour, chatting and enjoying their breakfast before they started the day.

She’d barely seen him since then, though.

She had wondered if he might invite her back to his place after work, but that hadn’t happened.He’d been called to the hospital just after four to deal with an emergency.

He’d called her just before five to say that she should close up and go on home.He was going to be at the hospital for at least a few more hours.

And it turned out that he’d been there until after one in the morning.

Even though she’d brought coffee for them this morning, he’d only arrived a few minutes before his first appointment.He’d appreciated the coffee but had to take it into his office with him.

They hadn’t been able to sit and chat.

He’d had back-to-back patients all morning and then left for his regularly scheduled hospital visits at twelve-thirty.

She turned to look out the window at the mountains, wondering if she was crazy to think about maybe staying here after all.

Mrs.Barnes—Sloane—had been right when she said that Shelley had knocked the clinic into shape.But now that things were running smoothly, there wasn’t much for her to do.

She didn’t mind it so much when she got to see Trip throughout the day, but on days like this, she knew there was so much more she could be doing with her life than answering phones and making appointments.

She got up from her desk and picked up today’s newspaper from the top of the pile of magazines.Sitting back down, she leafed through it.It didn’t take long to read.She was fascinated that they still managed to put out a daily newspaper in a town this small.