Page 18 of Dr. Sexypants

“I’m not sure how,” Jade mused. “After the huge deal Chad made about hiring a hometown hero.”

Chad Stravinski, the hospital’s CEO, was a good guy but having been a city boy his whole life, he’d been a little too high strung when he’d first come to our small town. Life in Haven Springs had taken some getting used to, but after six years, he seemed to be adjusting.

“Well, in Chad’s defense, he was brand new and didn’t understand that the Haven Springs grapevine was more powerful than any media campaign he could wage.”

“That’s true. He has since learned,” Jade said.

We half-chuckled, half-grimaced in unison. We’d all been the grapevine’s topic of conversation at one point or another in our lives. Jade and Lainey were both currently there again; I didn’t envy them. Not a lot happened in our small town, so it was going to take a while for something else to take their places.

I glanced at my watch. “I need to check on Dora.”

“I thought she has a doggy door?” Lainey asked with furrowed brows.

“She does, but I still need to check on her. She’s getting up there.”

“You should get her a friend.”

“I have a better idea. You should get Conor a puppy, and then we can meet at the park for play dates.”

Not that Dora would play with a puppy. Growl at it, maybe. But she did love little kids, and I couldn’t wait until Conor was old enough to love on my beagle.

“I don’t have time for a dog right now.”

I grabbed my purse and quipped, “That’s why you need to hire more help,” before waltzing toward the door.

“I know, I know!” my BFF called after me.

****

Justin

The sun was high in the sky when I walked out my front door a little after two. Fortunately, my bedroom was equipped with blackout curtains and a separate air conditioner to keep it cool, so I’d been able to sleep soundly. Because my sleep schedule could be so erratic, being able to rest when I laid my head on my pillow was something I placed a premium on.

But now I was anything but tired.

My heart thrummed at the possibility of seeing Kristy.

Hopefully, my disappointment didn’t show when I walked into the bakery to find Jade and Lainey sitting at a small table next to the counter—with no Kristy.

They both had their hair pulled back in ponytails, and if I were to see one of them from a distance, I might have trouble telling which sister it was. Fortunately, the counter was five feet from where they sat and Lainey wore a Beaumont Bakery apron while Jade had on her teal scrubs.

“Happy birthday!” Lainey called cheerfully as she got out of her chair to walk behind the counter.

“Thanks,” I replied absent-mindedly as I perused the selection of baked goods behind the glass. Then a thought occurred to me, and I looked up at the pretty blonde. “Wait. How did you know?”

She pointed at her sister.

“Oh, of course.”

Fucking small towns.

Jade waved from her chair and called, “For the record, I was not a part of your locker decoration.”

“Aw,” I teased. “That was my favorite part.”

Jade didn’t even flinch. “No, it wasn’t. I’ve worked with you too long, Dr. Weaver. I know better.”

“Well, apparently not long enough to call me Justin.”