Page 68 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“What?”she asked with a laugh.

“He’s not just hot—he’s sizzling!And from what I’ve seen so far, he’s not the exception to the rule.They must breed them that way out here—all tall and muscular and … I have to tell you, I never understood the appeal of a cowboy hat and boots before, but I do now.Does your Trip wear all that getup sometimes?I mean, I love the office look on him—especially topped off with the hat like that—but is he part cowboy too?”

“He does dress that way sometimes.I told you he owns a ranch; well, it turns out it’s a cattle ranch and he has a herd of cows and cowboys and everything.He claims that he doesn’t know much, and that his foreman runs everything for him, but from what the girls were telling me on Sunday, he’s not as clueless as he makes out—he could give up doctoring tomorrow and be just as cowboy as the rest of them.”

“Ooh!Go you!You not only got yourself a cowboy—you also got one who’s multitalented!”

Shelley considered that.

“Should I have said that you not only got yourself a doctor—you also got yourself a sexy cowboy?”

Shelley laughed.“You can say it any way you want to.I’m just happy that I met him.”

“Me too.”Harper looked around the reception area.“I’m not so sure that I approve of this, though.I mean, I get being able to spend more time with him this way, but a doctor’s receptionist—seriously?I mean, it’s a great job for some people, but it’s not you, is it?”

Shelley blew out a sigh.“It’s how I met him.He needed the help, and I was happy to have a job to keep me occupied and …” She shrugged.“It’s not my idea of fun, as you well know.”

Harper nodded, looking more serious.“Do you need to do anything before we go, or can you close up and get out of here?”

“Just let me forward the phone, then we can go to lunch.Want me to show you around and we can have lunch in one of the cafés—or would you rather come see the house and unpack?”

Harper linked her arm through Shelley’s.“How about I follow you to the house, and we can dump my bag and leave my rental car there—then you can give me a tour of this little town of yours.”

As she drove home with Harper close on her fender, Shelley reflected on what Harper had said—this little town of yours.She had come to think of the place ashertown—and it surprised her in the best possible way.

~ ~ ~

Trip was glad to be able to leave the hospital not long after six.It had been a busy afternoon, but at least he wasn’t going to be here all evening again.He blew out a sigh as he walked across the parking lot to his SUV.Maybe it’d be better if he were needed here—it’d mean that he wouldn’t have to go home and get used to spending his evenings without Shelley again.

“Hey, Trip!”

He turned and smiled when he saw Emmett waving from across the parking lot.

“Emmett!How’s it going?”His smile faded.“What are you doing here?”

Emmett looked puzzled for a moment and then laughed.“You mean at the hospital?I’m not really here.I just parked in the lot while I wait for Alana.”

“What’s she up to?”

Emmett rolled his eyes.“Auditioning for a part in some musical they’re putting on.I shouldn’t complain—she’s better off getting into theatre than boys—but if she gets the part, I’m going to be driving up and down the valley every night and twice on weekends.”

Trip smiled.He loved Emmett’s daughters.Alana and her sister Tanya were only small when their mom died.Emmett had done a great job of raising them by himself.

“What about Brooke, is she still helping you out?”

“Yeah, she does what she can when she can, but now the girls are that much older I can’t give her as many hours.And you know what she’s like—always doing whatever she can to earn a buck or two.”

“Well, I’m happy to help whenever I can.I’ll be no good to you on Tuesdays, but I wouldn’t mind giving Alana a ride up here some other evenings.”

“Thanks, Trip.I might have to take you up on that if she gets the part—there’s no way I’ll be able to do it all.”

“Only a few more years till they have their own licenses, and you won’t need to worry about being a dad-taxi, huh?”

Emmett shook his head rapidly.“I’d rather be a twenty-four-seven taxi service than worry about them on the roads.”He shuddered.“No, I’m not even going to think about it yet; I’ve got enough on my plate today without looking ahead to any of that.”

Trip laughed and clasped his shoulder.“True.All in good time.I’ll give you a call in a day or two to see if she got the part—and remind you that I’m happy to drive her when I can.Maybe we can set up a roster.I know the other guys wouldn’t mind helping.”

He held his friend’s gaze.“We’ve always wanted to help.”