Page 91 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

Trip cocked an eyebrow.“You asked Janey about her?”

“No!I… it’s… I didn’t,” Emmett blustered.“Janey was saying how much she likes Shelley, and she said that she met her friend from New York City in the bakery last Friday.Sounded like Jim took a shine to her.”

“He did—in a big way.I hope you don’t have too much of a problem with Harper, because she’s decided that she’s going to be staying in the valley, too.”

Emmett’s eyes grew wide, but he didn’t comment, so Trip continued.

“Jim went and offered them his guest cottage to live in.”

“He did?”Emmett asked, looking incredulous.

Trip chuckled.“Yep.He and Harper hit it off right away.And he’s asked Shelley to help him with some estate planning.”

Emmett frowned.“He’s changing his will?You don’t think that woman—”

“I don’t,” Trip assured him.“And I want to be pissed at you for thinking that way about Shelley’s friend, but you’re not the only one.Deacon was ready to run her out of town the second he saw her and Jim walk into the bakery together.”

“It’s not about her.It’s about Jim.We all look out for him—you know that.”

“I do.I look out for him too, remember?”

Emmett gave him an apologetic smile.“Yeah, I know you do.Sorry.It’s just…” He shook his head.“That woman.”

Trip couldn’t help chuckling.“Are you trying to tell me that woman got to you?”

“What?Hell no.What are you even talking about?Don’t be stupid.Don’t talk crazy.”He shook his head.“And anyway, what do you mean Jim’s offered them the cottage?Is Shelley going to stay there, too?I thought you’d have her moved in with you by now.”

Trip shrugged.“I was working my way up to it, but then Harper came to stay and… we’ll get there.When the time’s right.”

Emmett made a face but didn’t comment.

“And if Shelley’s going to be working for Jim, does that mean she’s not working with you at the clinic anymore?”

Trip nodded.“That’s the plan.We’re going to draw up an ad this week.She says she’ll help me interview and hire a replacement for her.”

“But you don’t want to let her go,” said Emmett.

“Selfishly, no,” said Trip.“But even before Jim asked her to work for him, I knew she wasn’t going to stick around as my receptionist forever.She’s the kind of person who needs to do a job that means more to her.”

“I can understand that,” said Emmett.“And by all accounts, she got you set up and organized while she was there.”

Trip chuckled.“She has.She rescued me.But I’m not looking forward to finding a replacement.You remember all the horror stories from my failed attempts before.”

“Horror stories?They struck me as comedies—from what I heard.Then again, I wasn’t the one who had to live through it.”He paused.“But I reckon Shelley will help you find someone competent.Do they need any kind of special qualifications?”

“Not really.Why?I mean, obviously they need to know how to use a computer, be good on the phone, and good with people.But what are you thinking…”

“I was thinking about Brooke.I told you I’m not giving her as many hours as I used to.She used to take the girls to school and pick them up, but now that they’re that much older, I don’t mind them walking out to the bus stop by themselves.Brooke still comes over in the evenings and weekends sometimes, to do stuff with them and when I’m working late.But other than that, she could do with getting a real job.”

Trip nodded slowly.“You know, that might not be a bad idea—if she wants to do it.Doesn’t she have a bunch of other jobs, though?”

Emmett blew out a sigh.“Yeah.She’s still working at the gas station.Blane put his foot down about her working overnight, but she’s still there late into the evening.And I don’t like it.She was delivering pizzas at one point, too.”He shook his head.“If she could just get herself a decent full-time job…”

He smiled at Trip.“Maybe working as a doctor’s receptionist.”

“Let me talk to Shelley about it.”

Emmett’s eyebrows shot up.“You think she might be worried about you replacing her with some young chick?”