Perfect Love: Mason Creek #3 Read online

  Copyright © 2021 by AM Hargrove

  AM Hargrove LLC—Up All Night Romance (UAN Publishing)

  Perfect Love (Mason Creek #3)

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in form or any manner whatsoever by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or a book review. Scanning, uploading and distribution of the book via the Internet or via any other means without permission is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support for the author’s rights is appreciated. For information address to A.M. Hargrove LLC, UAN Publishing—[email protected]

  All rights reserved.

  Cover By: Sara Paige

  Editing By: My Brother’s Editor

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Other Books

  About The Author

  Acknowledgments

  One

  Jessie

  Gravel crunched as I slammed on the brakes in the Pony Up parking lot. When I got out of the car, dust filled my nostrils. With a savage tug, I swung the door opened and stormed over to my favorite seat at the bar.

  “Jeez. Someone is in a bad mood today.” A beer magically appeared in front of me, and of course, it was my favorite brand.

  Swallowing a swig of the ice-cold brew, I huffed. “He just won’t quit. Java Jitters has soared. I have money now, and more than enough, even after payroll, to make the bills. Still, he thinks I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  My best friend, Emma Hawkins, lent me her kind ears whenever I needed to vent about my father. Pony Up was the local pub in Mason Creek, the town I grew up in and came back to after college. It sat in the heart of Montana and was small town living at its best. Lots of people complained about small town life. Not me. I loved it here. Even when the local gossips, twin sisters Hattie and Hazel Jackson, told you what color underwear your father was wearing that day—not that you wanted to hear about it.

  “Jessie, you’re just going to have to get it through that thick head of yours your father will always think he knows more than you.”

  “Urrgh, it’s hard when I’m the one with the business degree and have put it to good use. I have to listen to—I spent all that money on your college degree, and what do you do? Flush it straight down the toilet.”

  Emma patted my back. “I know. A bitter pill to swallow. But put yourself in his shoes. He’s owned Bumps and Dents for how long now?”

  I slashed a hand through the air. “I don’t even know. Since before I was born.” Bumps and Dents was Dad’s body shop.

  “Exactly. He believes it gives him the right to have a leg up on business knowledge.”

  “All I’m asking is for him to acknowledge that I’ve made a success out of it. Oh, did I tell you I decided to start paying him back for my college? That should send him a message.”

  “Yeah, it should. But will that cause you to run short on funds?”

  “No, I have excess, like I said. By the way, I love the new barstools.”

  Emma’s dad was the owner of Pony Up. It was an established bar that her father owned since way back when. She was working here while she went to the local college part time.

  “Thanks. I love them too. You should’ve seen the ones Dad picked out first. My eyes!”

  “I can only imagine. Probably something Dad would put in Bumps and Dents.”

  “Truth! Our dads are like peas and carrots like that. You ready for another?”

  Her question went unanswered as my attention was diverted. Someone walked in and sat several chairs down from us. This wasn’t just any old someone. It was a someone I’d never seen before and wondered why. He was beautiful, and it was still relatively early, so Emma hadn’t completely dimmed the lights in here. He appeared tall, but I couldn’t tell as I was seated, but his hair was dark and he wore glasses. I stared so long he turned our way. I was smokeshow drunk and it hampered my reflexes. I continued to stare as he looked back. It wasn’t until Emma elbowed me that I jerked my gaze off of the hottie.

  “What the hell, Jess? Obvious much?” Emma whisper-yelled.

  “I swear. I don’t know what got into me. Will you slap me?”

  “You should’ve just gone over and humped his leg or something.”

  “For sure. Where did he come from? I’ve never seen him before.”

  “That’s because you’re married to Java Jitters. He’s the new doctor in town, but don’t get too excited. The rumor is he’s divorced and has sworn off women. Well, the divorced part isn’t a rumor.”

  “Hmm. Interesting.”

  “How is that interesting?”

  “One, who in their right mind would divorce him? And two, maybe she cheated on him or something and that’s why he’s bitter.”

  “Who said anything about him being bitter?”

  “Come on. If a man has sworn off women, they have to be bitter.”

  “Maybe.”

  I eyed the bartender as he served the scorcher a straight whiskey.

  “One thing is true. The man enjoys his liquor.”

  We cackled like two hens in a coop. He turned our way and we shut up. Then, he raised his glass and said, “Ladies.”

  I raised my bottle in return.

  My eyes widened when he asked, “You come here often?”

  “I do since said owner is my best friend, which means, you must be new in town.”

  He shrugged. “Not really. I’ve been here a year and a half. You must not get out much.”

  “Told ya,” Emma said, elbowing my side.

  “I’m married to my business,” I explained.

  “Good luck with that.” He didn’t smile.

  “Thanks, I think. And what about you?”

  “What about me?” Again, no smile or welcoming gesture. Emma was right. The dude was a dud.

  “Shall I spell it out? What do you do for work and play?”

  “You’re looking at the play part, if it isn’t obvious. And for work, I’m the town doctor and also the county coroner.”

  “Ah, so you’re the one who took over old Doc Jenkins’s place. Sounds like fun.” I didn’t add my charming smile this time.

  “Oh, yes, boatloads. Examining dead people usually is.”

  “I thought pathologi
sts did that.”

  “Hmm, aren’t you smart? Wait. Don’t tell me. You love to watch those forensics shows on TV because they are so accurate.”

  Jeez, his sarcastic attitude was getting old. I suppressed an urge to roll my eyes. “I do, actually, when I have time, which isn’t very often.”

  The bartender poured him another drink and after he took a swallow, he said, “Yes, that’s right. You’re married to your job.”

  “Not a job. A business. You should stop in some time. It’s right downtown—Java Jitters. You may have heard of it.”

  “That’s your place?” His brows shot up.

  A huge grin spread across my face. “Yes, it is.” I was very proud of how it had blossomed into what it was.

  He scoffed. “Just what the world needs. Another coffee shop,” he spat.

  My smile flipped upside down. He was the most unpleasant human being I’d ever encountered. “I can’t speak for the world, but my market research and analysis revealed it would be a perfect addition to Mason Creek as the town did not have one. Imagine how thrilled I was to discover I was correct. And with that, I hope you have a good night.” His snarly disposition was enough for me.

  I turned to my friend and said, “Hey, I’m going to head home. I have some numbers to crunch and an early start in the morning.” Then I leaned in and finished, “Good luck with the dud. A more bitter man I have yet to meet.”

  “Yeah, he is pretty dicky, isn’t he?”

  We hugged and I strolled past the dud as I left. I hoped he wasn’t that snarly to his patients or his Mason Creek days could be numbered.

  Two

  Miles

  The Java Jitters owner was a chatty thing. My employees gushed about that place. They had the best coffee, the best cookies, the best baked goods, the best sandwiches, blah, blah, blah. If they spent as much time focusing on their work as they did on that damn coffee shop, the office would run smoother. As it was, I was constantly behind because they were gabbing it up with another employee or patient. I loved small town life, but not this part of it.

  “Marla, will you please put a patient in the room for me?” I huffed out the command.

  “Sure, Doctor. Coming right up.”

  “Why do I have to tell you this every day?”

  She gazed at me like her elevator barely made it off the first floor. “Um, okay.”

  Clenching a fist, I counted to ten. I should never have let my ex-wife manage this office. When I bought out the practice from the other doctor, his staff was included in the package. My ex took over as office manager and began changing things. She claimed the staff was inefficient, but now I see she was sabotaging me. I hired a new office manager after we divorced, only I managed to hire one who was friends with everyone. That didn’t work very well when your employees needed to be upgraded.

  I tapped on her door and entered, slamming the door behind me. “Jennifer, we need to have a discussion about the employees. When you were hired, you promised to oversee the staff and make changes where necessary. Am I correct?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then why do I have to tell Marla every day, every hour, to put patients in exam rooms? And why is the waiting room overflowing? And why is this office running so poorly. This is your job to see that it doesn’t.”

  “I’m sorry.” Then she bawled.

  “No, I’m the one who is sorry. You have a difficult job. It’s impossible to be their friend and boss when uncomfortably difficult conversations need to occur. I want you to schedule a staff meeting for Friday morning at seven-thirty. Everyone must attend unless they’re dead.”

  “But doctor, if they’re dead, how—”

  “It was a joke, Jennifer. Just make sure everyone is there.”

  “Okay. Should I get Java Jitters to cater?”

  There was that damn coffee shop again. “No! This is work, not a social gathering. They can drink the coffee here or bring Java Jitters with them. Listen, almost every employee in this office is lacking in effectiveness. We need to get better at our jobs and fast. I want this office to run like a machine.”

  “You mean like a car?”

  “Oh for Pete’s sake. Never mind. Just set up the meeting.” I was surrounded by a bunch of numbskulls. I rubbed my temples and went to see my next patient. On the way, I told Marla to get hopping and fill up all the rooms.

  “What should I fill them with?”

  “Patients.” I kindly left off, you idiot. She was clearly under qualified.

  By the day’s end, I had, as usual, run myself ragged, doing everyone’s job, including mine. I should fire them all and start over as they were basically warm bodies in the building.

  My buddy, one of the other doctors in the county called that night and I explained my situation. “I have the solution. There’s an agency who can help get your people trained.”

  “Paul, they need new brains. I need to fire them all and start over.”

  “That’s the good news. This agency can see if they can be trained and if not, they’ll find replacements.” He gave me the information so I could call. I’d give my staff until after Friday’s meeting, but they’d be warned.

  Friday rolled around and I showed up at seven. The employees straggled in, beginning at seven twenty-five. Some didn’t arrive, including the office manager, until seven forty-five. She was fifteen minutes late.

  “Good morning, everyone.” Right as I started, a girl wearing a Java Jitters shirt showed up with an order for Marla. She jumped up, greeted the girl, and paid. That got everyone else chatting and asking about ordering. I whistled with my fingers, sending a piercing shrill through the room.

  “This meeting isn’t a social gathering. It’s a work event. It’s not about Java Jitters and what you can, or cannot order. How many of you were here by seven-thirty and before you answer, keep in mind that I was here and saw who entered this room on time.” A show of hands rose in the air.

  “Those of you who were not here on time can leave. This is a business and as a business, I expect you to be at work at the designated time. Not five, ten, or fifteen minutes late. You will receive your final paycheck in the mail.”

  A sea of blank gazes hit me, but then most of their owners got up and left. All but Jennifer. She still sat in the room.

  “Jennifer, what time did you get here?” I asked.

  “Um, I’m not really sure.” She picked at her sleeve.

  “I am, and it was seven forty-five. You can collect your things and leave too. Your final paycheck will be mailed to you.”

  “But—”

  I didn’t give her the chance to explain. “You are not above the rules. In fact, you should have been here early.”

  Without another word, she left.

  That left two people, not including me. “For the rest of you, I will be hiring a new office manager as soon as possible. I’ll also be looking into how many other ancillary employees we need, other than in the lab. As it stands, the three of us were doing most of the work anyway. This is where you come in. I need each of you to do your jobs. Nothing more. Nothing less. If you are unsure of something, come to me. If you need help, come to me. But, the thing we can no longer have is an inefficiently run office. I want our eleven-thirty appointments to be seen at eleven-thirty and not at one or two o’clock. Do you have any questions?”

  “Yes, who will be manning the front today?” one of them asked.

  “Which of you wants to do it?”

  One volunteered. “Great. That leaves you, Bonnie, with me.”

  “Dr. Carlson, I wondered when this would happen.”

  “I probably waited too long. I have an agency coming on Monday to help find some replacements.”

  “You should check with the hospital. They usually have a good pool of candidates.”

  I stuck my finger in the air. “Great idea. Thanks. Now let’s get to work so we can get out of here at a reasonable hour.”

  At lunch, I went into Jennifer’s office and could not make heads
or tails out of anything. I finally left it as is, hoping someone else could pick up the pieces.

  The next week passed and we all worked our butts off. I found someone to take over the office manager’s job and she was starting the following Monday. I still had several nurse positions to fill.

  On Friday, it was late afternoon when the substitute receptionist found Bonnie and Bonnie found me. “Dr. Carlson, we just got a walk-in. She cut her hand while slicing something in the kitchen and it looks pretty bad.”

  I cursed under my breath. “Well, that throws our end of the day for a loop. Put her in the emergency exam room.” That room had everything I needed to suture a patient.

  I finished up with the patient I was with and went to see the hand laceration. I walked into the room and went straight to the sink to scrub my hands and glove up. “Hi, I’m Dr. Carlson and I hear you’ve cut your hand pretty bad.”

  When I turned around, the patient sat on the exam table, her hand wrapped in a blood-soaked towel, and said, “I hope you’re better with a needle and thread than you were at conversing the other night.”

  Three

  Jessie

  Why the heck had I tried to help Poppy with the new pecan pie she was testing out? She’d asked me to chop the pecans, so I did. My skill with knives was lacking, and we both found out how much when I’d chopped my hand instead of the nuts. I should’ve figured out which end of the blade was sharp before pressing down on it.

  “Nuts! Damn! Hell!” I grabbed a towel and ran to the sink, saving the pecans I worked so hard on.