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“Is it rented?”
“Yes,” she snapped.
“Will I have nice neighbors?” he asked.
She couldn’t believe his nerve. He wouldn’t be a nice neighbor. How dare he expect better than he’d give?
Griff gave her a quizzical look. Then he answered the doctor’s question. “You bet. Your neighbor is the cream of the crop.”
“Great. Thanks.”
When they were alone again, Griff said, “I gather you didn’t bother to inform him that you live in the other apartment.”
“No. It wasn’t any of his business. He hasn’t rented the apartment yet.” She sighed, then said, “I didn’t mean to be rude. But he wouldn’t even introduce himself. How’s he going to replace sweet old Doc?”
“Doc deserves his retirement.”
“I know, but…you’re right. Hopefully, I won’t get sick in the next four years!”
“I’ll vote for that. Say, can you print those pages so I can take them home and look them over? I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Sure.” As the pages were being printed, Russ came in. After greetings all around, Tori gave Griffin the pages and he said goodbye.
“Anything happen while I was gone?” Russ said as he shrugged out of his jacket.
“Yes. Our lovely new doctor came to see you.”
“Oh? Well, that’s not a surprise. Doc asked me to hold the apartment for him.”
“Well, I think you should rent it to the first drunken cowboy you can find!”
Russ froze, staring at his cousin in astonishment. “Why?”
“Because he’s awful! Cold and stiff. Rude. And he’s leaving in four years, like the people don’t matter!”
“I know. Doc told me. But he’s hoping he’ll decide to stay. Doc figures he will get him married before the time comes for him to go.”
“Fine! Just make sure my name’s not on the potential-wife list!”
“Wow, he really ticked you off, didn’t he?”
“You’d better believe it. I wouldn’t—”
The door opened again. She was grateful she’d stopped when she did. She didn’t like the man, but there was no point in announcing that to him.
“Mr. Randall?” the doctor said, as he closed the door behind him before extending his hand.
“Yes, make it Russ. You’ll soon find there are a lot of Randalls in this neck of the woods,” Russ told him warmly.
Tori kept her gaze down, fighting the urge to tell him not to waste any charm on this jerk.
“Thanks, Russ,” the man replied, his voice as friendly as Russ’s.
Tori stared in surprise. Had he had a personality change in half an hour?
“Your receptionist showed me the apartment and I definitely want it. It’s very nice.”
“Good. I’m glad you liked it. But Tori—” Russ began.
The doctor interrupted. “Could we talk in your office?”
“Sure. This way.” Russ gave Tori an apologetic look over his shoulder.
ONCE THE DOOR to the office was closed, Russ offered his guest the chair in front of his desk. “Please, sit down.”
Jon did so, relaxing. He liked this man. He felt comfortable with him, which was more than he could say about the sexy blonde in the front office.
“Before we go any further,” Russ said, still smiling, “I think I should tell you that Tori is my cousin.”
Jon pursed his lips, glad Russ had made his relationship to the blonde clear. Not that Jon had intended to insult the woman, but he had considered complaining about her behavior. For Russ’s sake. He probably thought the woman was perfect.
Russ wasn’t finished. “And an equal partner in the firm.”
“She’s an accountant?”
“Has her C.P.A. and her broker’s license.”
Jon stared at him, trying to take in that information. And Dr. Jacoby thought these people should do his bookkeeping for him? He thought he’d better find someone else. “Well, that’s wonderful. I definitely want the apartment. Can we discuss terms?”
“Of course.”
Jon appreciated the way the man did business. He told him what he charged for rent, explained all the details and then waited.
“Sold! When can I move in? I’m staying with Dr. Jacoby right now, and I’d like to get settled in.” As he asked that question, he drew out the new checkbook he’d gotten from the bank that morning and began writing a check for the deposit and the first month’s rent.
“The apartment’s ready and I’ll hand you the keys right now. It’s a couple of days until the first, but I’ll throw those days in for free. Welcome to Rawhide, Doctor.”
“Oh, call me Jon. It’s easier.”
“Great, Jon. I think my wife will be one of your first patients.”
“I’ll look forward to meeting her.”
Russ sat there, smiling, as if waiting for something. Had the old doctor told him he’d be doing Jon’s books? Uneasy, Jon stood. “Well, I’ll probably start moving in tomorrow. My things will be here day after tomorrow.”
Russ looked surprised, but he nodded and said, “Let me know if I can help you with anything.”
“Thanks.” Then Jon headed for the door. He’d explain to Dr. Jacoby why he hadn’t hired the Randalls to do his accounting for him. Maybe the older doctor could patch things up with Russ for him.
AFTER THE DOCTOR LEFT, Tori appeared at Russ’s office door. “Well? Did he take it?”
“Of course he did. There’s not much else in town for rent.”
“And are we doing his books like we do Doc’s?”
Russ chuckled. “Like you do Doc’s books. But no, he didn’t mention that. So it looks like you’ll have a little more time for that investment project you wanted to do.”
Tori stared at him. “But who is he going to use? There’s only Abe Forsman. He’s the biggest gossip in town. He’ll blab everyone’s illnesses all over the place! Doc would never—”
Russ held up his hand. “Not our choice, Tori. Besides, we’re not hurting for business. In fact, we’re going to have to hire someone to sit out front and get you set up in the other office. We could use a good secretary.”
“But I don’t know who we’ll get. Most of the high school and college kids have already gotten summer jobs.”
“No, I don’t mean summer jobs. I want us to get someone permanent.”
“But I can’t think of anyone looking for work right now.” She knew most everyone in Rawhide.
“We’ll find someone. Spread the word. Maybe someone has a relative who’d like to move here but is worried about a job.”
“We could take out an ad in the paper, too.”
“Only if you write the ad. I’m not that good with words, just numbers.”
“Ha! You’re just saying that. But I’ll do it. Maybe if I take it over today, Joseph will put it in the weekend paper.”
“Good thinking!”
“Do you want to see it before I take it over?”
“Nope, I trust you, partner. I’m going to be busy modifying the ranching program for Hector Scott’s place.”
“Okay. Oh, by the way, did you tell the good doctor that I live in the other apartment?”
“No, he didn’t ask.” He frowned. “You’re not worried about him living next to you, are you? He seems like an okay kind of guy.”
Tori chuckled. “No, that’s not the problem. I just don’t think he’ll make a pleasant neighbor.”
“I told you Doc’s planning on marrying him off before his four years are up. Are you worried about the women parading in and out of his apartment?” Russ asked with a grin.
Tori had been raised with all her boy cousins. Teasing was nothing new to her. “Not hardly. In fact, please make it clear to all the family that I have no interest in the man.”
“Now, honey, that would be like waving a red flag in front of Uncle Jake’s face. If you’re really not interested in him, you’d better keep that under your hat.”
Russ closed the door to his office, ready to go to work. Tori stood there staring into space. Unfortunately, Russ was right. Uncle Jake wouldn’t rest until he saw all the Randall children married.
So she’d keep her distaste for the doctor secret…as long as her family was around.
But upstairs, Dr. Jon Wilson would feel the brunt of her disdain for a snooty doctor from Chicago.
Chapter Two
Jon left the clinic at noon the next day. He headed to the café in the same block as his apartment and had a quick lunch, keeping his eyes open for the arrival of the rental truck he’d hired. The driver had told him he’d be there at noon.
Over an hour later, he flagged down the driver and directed him to the parking lot behind the building. Jon hoped he’d be able to pay the man a little extra to get him to help carry his belongings upstairs.
“No way, man,” the driver said gruffly when Jon asked him. “I got to return the truck and head for Chicago as soon as I can.” While he was talking, he was unloading Jon’s belongings and setting them down on the gravel of the parking lot. “I could use some help here.”
“But—”
“I’ll hand this out to you,” the man said, ignoring Jon’s attempt to persuade him. In half an hour, Jon stood in the middle of the parking lot, all his belongings around him, watching the truck drive away.
“Great. If I go back to the clinic to ask Doc where I can hire some men, everything will be gone by the time I get back.”
After thinking a couple of minutes, he decided to risk going to the accountants’ office and borrowing their phone.
The blonde, Victoria, was at her desk.
“Uh, may I borrow your phone for a minute?” To his amazement, she slid the phone closer to him without asking any questions.
As he dialed the number to the clinic, Russ Randall came out of his office. “Well, hi, Jon, how are you?”
Since the number he dialed had a busy signal, he hung up the phone. “Frustrated.”
“What’s the problem?”
“All my belongings are sitting in the parking lot. At least they are if they haven’t been stolen. I was calling Doc to see if he knew where I could hire someone to help me, but his line is busy.”
“I should’ve thought to offer. I’ll help. And if you’ll give me a few minutes, I think I can round up some others,” Russ said calmly.
“I can pay—”
“Don’t be silly,” Russ said, and turned to Victoria. “Call Rich. Then try the house. Maybe Toby didn’t ride out today.”
“Sure.” She pulled the phone back toward her and dialed.
Since she wasn’t looking at him, Jon admired her beautiful face. He didn’t know what kind of worker she was, though he was beginning to think she wasn’t like his mother. But he knew for sure she was beautiful.
“Ready?” Russ asked, distracting him.
“Uh, yeah, but I hate to take you away from your work.”
“I can use some exercise,” Russ said, and led the way out of the office.
TORI WATCHED THE TWO MEN go out while she was calling. When Red asked what she needed, she explained the situation. He immediately agreed to find Toby. He also offered one of the chocolate cakes he’d just finished making. When Tori protested, he said he could bake another one before dinner.
She hung up the phone, a smile on her face. Her family was wonderful. They pitched in for everyone.
She started back to work, not thinking about the doctor. She was determined to keep her distance from that man.
