Page 33 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

When she reached the classifieds in the back, she scanned the jobs section and blew out a sigh.She really should start drafting an ad for a new receptionist—for her replacement.

She didn’t want to.

But if she at least made a start on it, that would make things easier when the time came.

She felt bad because, apart from anything going on between the two of them, she knew that Trip was more than a little gun-shy about hiring someone new.He’d had some disastrous experiences before she arrived—from what the girls had told her, there had been some hilarious incidents as well.

As if thinking about the girls had summoned them, her phone beeped with a text.

When she opened her messages, she smiled when she saw it was the group chat with Libby, Candy, Ari, and Retta.

Ari: Help me, ladies.I need to get down off this mountain.Can we get together soon?

Candy: I’m down for that.Where do we want to go, and when?

Libby: I won’t be back in town until next week, if you can wait till then.

Retta: I’m watching baby Levi for Callie and Kolby on Friday night.Other than that, I’m open.

Shelley smiled to herself as she watched the replies appear, then started typing when she realized she was the only one who hadn’t answered.

Shelley: I’m easy.Just let me know when, and I’ll be there.

Ari: I can wait until next week for Libby, as long as we all get together at the bakery on Friday afternoon.How does that sound?

Retta: That works for me.

Candy: You know I’ll be there.

Libby: Don’t wait for me if you need a night out before then.

Ari: I’d rather wait a little longer so that you can come.How’s Wednesday for everyone next week?

Shelley: I’ll definitely come out next Wednesday, but I don’t know about the bakery on Friday.

Libby: Tell Trip he needs to take you down there.Even if he can’t finish early, you guys can come after he’s done seeing patients.

Shelley: Maybe.It’s usually too late, though.

Candy: I can do Wednesday.

Libby: Me too.

Retta: And me.

Ari: Awesome.See most of you on Friday, then—and all of you next Wednesday.

~ ~ ~

When Trip arrived back at the clinic, he parked in his spot and cut the engine.Thankfully, the hospital had been quiet this afternoon, and he'd gotten finished a little earlier than usual.He usually hung around when that happened, to chat with the nurses and staff to make sure that he was in the loop with everything that was going on.

But he'd spent enough hours there last night.He'd been eager to come away, and not just because he was tired.He'd wanted to get back here.He peered out through the windshield.He wanted to see Shelley before she left.

He admitted to himself that he didn't just want to see her, he wanted to invite her over for the evening.He didn't know if she'd stay the night.But if she didn't want to, he liked the idea of simply having her over for dinner.He didn't even know if she'd want to do that.He climbed out of his SUV.There was only one way to find out.

He was surprised that she wasn't sitting behind the desk when he walked in.Her computer was still on.He looked around, and when his gaze landed on the screen, his heart sank.She was working on an ad to find her replacement.He jumped guiltily when she spoke behind him.

"Oh, hey.I was just in the back.I thought I heard something.You’re early."