Page 129 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
"No, but that doesn't mean we're not glad we found you," said Harper.
Jim chuckled and said to Shelley, "She's fast on her feet, this one."
"Don't I know it," said Shelley.
"I haven't met many outsiders I've had time for in the last who knows how many years," said Jim."But I got lucky when I ran into the two of you."
"I'd say we're the lucky ones, Jim.And not just because you let us have the cottage," she added with a laugh.
"I'm glad you mentioned that," he said."Would I be right if I thought you wouldn’t need it much longer?"
Harper raised her eyebrows."Do you need it back?"
"Now, don't go thinking that.I told you that you can have it as long as you want it, and I meant it.Just seems to me that you might not need it for much longer."
She had to smile."You might be right there."
"Well, as long as we're straight that I'm in no hurry, I want you to let me know when you're ready, okay?"
"Of course."Harper wanted to ask why, but that seemed pushy.
He chuckled."Look at you, biting your tongue so you don't look too nosy."
She had to laugh with him.
"I don't have someone lined up," he said."I just have an idea in mind."
Banner popped his head out from one of the stalls."He's playing matchmaker," he said with a grin.
"Matchmaker?"Shelley asked."Who for?"
Harper met Banner's gaze, remembering what he'd said about Bree at the bakery.But he shook his head."Not me.I'm talking about Boone.You know, how he's taken a shine to the new vet, Hallie."
Harper didn't know, but she nodded anyway.
"Well, Hallie's going to be needing a place to stay.She took a vacation rental when she first arrived, but now she's going to be here longer term…"
Jim rubbed his ear against his shoulder."Seems to me that history’s repeating itself.The two of you ladies were in a vacation rental when I first met you.That cottage seems to have been something of a good luck charm.Maybe it'll work the same for Hallie."He met Harper's gaze and held it."But she's fine where she is for now.Don't you go hurrying anything along until you're ready."
"Thanks, Jim."
If it were just him, she'd tell him what was going on—that she might not need the cottage anymore in two weeks.But she'd catch him again later, talk to him by herself.That way she'd be able to fill him in better on what was really going on with her and Emmett.
Banner winked at Harper as he said to Jim, "Is there any chance you'd want to set Bree up in the cottage instead?"
Jim rolled his eyes."That girl's just fine where she is."
Shelley gave them a puzzled look."Bree?You mean the one who works at the bakery?"
"That's right," said Jim."She landed on her feet when she came back to town.She's in Deacon's apartment, at his place.Couldn't be safer than with the sheriff downstairs."
Harper chuckled and looked at Banner.It might be a safe place for Bree to live, but she imagined it wasn't ideal for Banner.He shrugged good-naturedly.
"Before you worry about where she's living, you need to work on getting her to say yes to a date with you," Jim told him.
"I'm biding my time," said Banner."In fact… will you ladies be at the bakery on Friday afternoon?"
"I probably won't," said Shelley."I have some appointments in town on Friday."She turned to Harper."Oh, and I kept meaning to tell you—the girls are talking about getting together on Friday night too.You'll come, won't you?"
