Page 92 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

Trip threw his head back and laughed.“Hell no.She knows damn well that as far as I’m concerned, she’s irreplaceable.I meant that I’ll talk to her about Brooke—about what skills she’ll need for the job, and how hard it would be to train her up.To train someone who’s never done that kind of job before, I mean.”

“You’d do that?I mean, it might not work out, but if it does, it could be a good thing all around, don’t you think?”

“I do.”

Trip liked Brooke.She was a hard worker.And even if she didn’t already have the necessary computer and office skills, she was the kind of girl who’d pick them up quickly enough.She was good with people, and everyone in town knew and liked her.

He nodded.“You might be onto something there.Thanks, Emmett.”

~ ~ ~

Shelley was surprised when she noticed the time.She pushed her chair back from the desk and stared at the words on the computer.The ad read well—and it should; she'd been working on it for a while now.

With Trip at the hospital this afternoon, she should have gone home; she could have worked from there.She'd thought about it, but the house in town didn’t feel like a home.And it had felt a little presumptuous to take herself off to Trip's place, even though that was where she felt most at home these days.

She tucked her hair behind her ear as she read over the ad again.She was hoping that it wouldn't take too long to find and hire her replacement.Of course, she'd stick around to make sure that whoever came in was all trained up before she left.But she was looking forward to getting started with Jim.

Harper was excited about moving into the cottage.The place was adorable, and it had plenty of room for both of them.But Shelley didn't think she'd feel any more settled there.She was finally ready to admit to herself that she felt more at home with Trip than she had with anyone else in her life.

Of course, she loved his place, but it wasn't about the house—no matter how grand it might be.It was Trip himself who made her feel at home.

She started guiltily and turned when the front door opened.Ford MacFarland came in and stopped just inside, looking cautious.

She gave him a welcoming smile.She'd noticed that none of the big, tough cowboys around here ever looked at ease if they came in—although not many of them did.

"Hi, it's Ford, isn't it?"she greeted him."How can I help?Do you need to make an appointment?"

He shook his head with a rueful smile as he approached the desk.

"No, I'm good, thanks.I'm not here about an appointment.I..."He reached inside his jacket and pulled a sheath of papers from his pocket."Would you mind asking Trip to pass these on to Brody for me?I said I'd drop them off at the ranch, but I'm not going to have time to get over there before I have to head home.Would that be all right?"

"Of course."Shelley took the papers from him.

"It's just some reading material," he explained.

"Okay, I'll make sure he gets it."

She opened her mouth, about to mention seeing Cash on Sunday, but then she remembered that Cash had asked them not to say anything.He didn't want the family knowing that he'd been in town and not gone down to visit them.

“Thanks.”Ford smiled."I'm glad to hear that you're sticking around.Word has it that you and your friend are moving into Jim's cottage."

She frowned, hoping that he wasn't concerned about Jim—or about her and Harper’s motives.

As if he'd read her mind, he went on, "I think it's great.It'll do Jim good to have someone around other than the cowpokes."

His smile faded."He misses Kitty.We all do."

Shelley relaxed a little."She sounds like a wonderful woman.I wish I could have met her."

"I think she'd be glad to know that you ladies are going to be in the cottage."

Shelley bit down on her bottom lip.She couldn't be more grateful to Jim for the offer, but in her heart, she'd much rather move in with Trip.

Ford gave her a knowing smile."Even if it's only your friend who moves in there, I hear you're going to be working with him.So he'll still have both of you around, right?"

"Right."She felt as though Ford knew exactly what she'd been thinking—and he seemed to approve of that idea, too.

She didn't know what to say, though.It didn’t feel right to talk about the possibility of moving in with Trip with a man she hardly knew, especially when she and Trip hadn't discussed it in any detail themselves.