Page 16 of Safe With Me

“I’d rather not say anything else.” He sighed. “I don’t want her at the clinic but no other doctor has applied.”

“Whatever you decide.”

When he left Jackson, he found Steph at the car. “I guess that’s it for now.”

She reached out and squeezed his forearm. He felt the touch zing through him. “This is a setback.”

“Yeah. I hate to think of the clinic being prone to break- ins.”

He watched her. He’d been thinking a lot about her lately. So he blurted out, “Jackson’s invited me to a barbeque with guys who painted the clinic. Would you like to go with me?”

Her brows raised. “Um…I guess that would be fun.” She was silent for a few seconds. Then, “Why Pax?”

He gave a casual shrug. “I don’t know exactly.”

She stared hard at him. Then said, “It doesn’t matter. I’d like to go. You’ve got my address.”

On the drive home, he wondered if they both just committed to a date.

* * *

The next day, Pax knew he needed to finalize the staff. He’d hired a nurse and a receptionist but no other doctor had applied. So he made a leap of faith and called Noreen Shannon.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Noreen?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t answer as Dr. Shannon.”

“I’m more than that now, Paxton.”

“I called because no other doctor applied to work at the clinic. Are you still interested in the job?”

“I am. And remember I’m volunteering so no extra funds will be needed to hire me.”

“All right. I’m having a meeting with the rest of the staff later today at four. Can you be there?”

“Waited till the last minute, didn’t you?”

“I guess I did.”

“Don’t worry, Paxton. Working together will be fine.”

He wasn’t so sure. “See you then.” And he disconnected. A chill went through him, a foreboding of some kind. He hoped it wasn’t a mistake hiring Noreen.

Steph was the first to arrive for the staff meeting that afternoon. She wore a light brown suit which made her eyes stand out. And her curves. He said, “Hi, there.”

“Hi. I’m anxious to meet the rest of the staff. Did you get a doctor?”

“Nobody but Noreen Shannon applied. I had to hire her.”

“Couldn’t Jackson find someone else?”

“He might’ve been able to but I’d rather be independent of him as much as possible.”

A man walked into the clinic unexpectedly. “Dr. Barry?”

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