Page 10 of Lucky in Love

Her eyes are wild and her breathing is fast. She’s shaking when she leans her head on my chest and I wrap my arm around her and pull her closer to me. “You’re okay,” I whisper. “You’re safe.”

She looks up at me, her face just inches from mine and the impulse to pull her into my lap, to press my lips to hers is so strong, for a moment I don’t think I’ll be able to resist. I get control of myself and slowly slide a few inches away.

“Well, if I can handle that, I can handle anything right?” Her voice still sounds a little breathless. “I think you better drive us back though.”

???

“Do you feel okay about driving home?” I ask once we’re back at the ranch.

“I’ll be fine. I’m a little shaken, but the road back to town isn’t nearly as dangerous.”

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault I took you up to that one-lane road.”

“Don’t apologize. I said I needed to be able to drive anywhere in the county and I meant it. Thank you for teaching me.” She smiles and hugs me. Back in the truck, in the heat of the moment, it came naturally to comfort her. I didn’t even think about it. But now that the danger has passed, I’m back to being a statue.

“It’s about dinner time. Do you want to come into town and get something to eat?” She bites her lip and looks at me, waiting for my response and I desperately want to say yes. I picture myself walking into a restaurant and having a meal with this beautiful woman. Then I picture other people in the restaurant. Having to give my order to a waiter. People in town might see me and want to come over and talk. My chest feels tight and I’m short of breath just thinking about it.

“Can’t tonight. Maybe another time.” Her face falls and I feel the familiar feeling of self-loathing. I let her down.

“OK. Well, thanks again. Have a good night,” she says, pulling herself into the cab.

The truck glides down the driveway, turns smoothly through the gate and disappears around the curve of the mountain.

SEVEN

Paige

On Monday morning, as I drive through town, thoughts of my day with Baylor play in my mind. His patience with me while I stalled out and missed gears had me feeling things for him. And the way he held me when we almost went off the edge of that mountain, I knew he was feeling it too. I desperately hoped he was going to kiss me, but he didn’t. And then he turned down my invitation for dinner. I guess maybe the feeling isn’t mutual after all. It’s for the best. I’m on a mission to improve the veterinary care in this county and build a successful business and I don’t need the distraction of pining for a man who isn’t interested.

When I walk in the door, I’m shocked to see a lady with curly gray hair sitting at the desk. For a moment, I think maybe it’s a silver alert situation and she’s wandered off from Evergreen Pines and gotten lost. But when the woman peers at me over the frames of her purple glasses, I see intelligent and capable blue eyes staring back at me.

“You must be the new Doctor O’Brien,” she says, hopping up from the desk with the agility of a twenty-year-old, though she must be pushing eighty. “I’m Pearl Monroe. You can call me Miss Pearl. Everyone does.” She holds out her hand and I’m surprised at the firm handshake.

“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Pearl. But what are you doing here?” I look around the room, trying to find some clue about how this stranger got inside my locked office.

“Honey, I’m filling in as your receptionist until you hire someone. I was Dr. Grandy’s receptionist for over forty years before I retired,” she says tilting her head toward me and pursing her lips.

“Dr. Grandy?”

“He was the only doctor in town until, oh the mid-eighties, honey. Anyway, you’re gonna need me to answer the phones while you’re seeing patients. What if someone calls about the job posting and no one answers the phone?”

“Well, I guess you have a point.” All the old sticky notes are gone and a new calendar sits on the desktop. She seems competent and honestly what harm can it do? I can’t answer the phones while I’m doing exams and I have no idea how that giant answering machine works. I wouldn’t even know how to check the messages if someone calls. “Ok, Miss Pearl. I’m happy to have you here. By the way, how did you know I needed a receptionist?”

“Marla over at the Beauty Nest called me first thing this morning. Now, I know what you’re thinking. A Southern woman ought to know better than to call somebody before 9 a.m.and normally, I’d agree with you. But she considered this an emergency and she knew I would be more than happy to help.”

“Ok.” I look around the lobby, trying to get my bearings after this unexpected turn of events.

“You go on ahead and get ready for your first patient,” she nods.

“First patient?”

“Ginger is coming by with Betty at 9,” she says, tapping the calendar. I peer over and sure enough, she’s got Betty penciled in on today’s date. “She needs her annual checkup and her rabies shot.”

“Ok. Well, let me know if you need anything,” I call out as I walk through the door leading to the exam rooms.

“Ok, but I won’t need anything!” she calls back.

By the time I finish with Betty, I’ve got three more appointments lined up for today and an interview this afternoon.

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