Page 25 of Tumbleweed Temptation
Chapter Six
“What’s going on?” Austinasked as he stepped past her to unlock the door. “You sick?” He really needed to start checking the appointments for the next day so he wouldn't have any surprises.
But she didn't look sick. In fact she looked damn good, her straight blonde hair back in a neat ponytail, her diner uniform replaced with a soft pink t-shirt. He never would have picked her for a girl who liked pink. And her jeans were faded just enough to make them look soft, also. He could almost feel the denim under his hands.
Nope. No. Not going to go there.
“Sofia couldn't make it in to help you this morning, so she sent me.”
Her words snapped him back to his own question. “You’re not working at the diner today?”
“Nope. My day off.”
He gestured for her to precede him into the waiting room, then into the office, willing himself not to follow the gentle sway of her hips in those jeans. Man, he didn't want to have to explain this all over again, after he’d explained it to Sofia.
“Thanks for coming in early so we can get organized before the patients come in,” he said instead of complaining. She was doing him a favor, after all.
He had made a mistake with Sofia, trying to show her what Melissa did instead of just trying to get through the day as simply as possible. So he sat Ginny in the chair at the computer and started her off with the simple solution he had ended up showing Sofia, the paper and pencil notebook.
“You’re kidding, right?” Ginny asked, holding the notebook in one hand.
He pushed a hand over his hair, wishing he had been better prepared for a fresh lesson. “Yeah, really, I just need you to get everyone’s information, and Melissa can input it all when she gets back.”
“I’m not an idiot, Austin. I can do what Melissa does.”
“It took days for Marianne and me to train her, and I’m not even sure I understand it enough to show you in just a few minutes.” He glanced at the clock. The first patient would be here soon. In fact, he couldn’t believe the waiting room hadn’t filled up already like usual. Maybe they’d heard Melissa wasn't here and thought the office would be closed for the day. Maybe he’d have to get Ginny to make some calls to make sure everyone kept their appointments.
But she was giving him a look now, so he leaned past her, trying not to breathe in the clean smell of her, booted up the computer and put in the password he and Melissa had agreed upon so they could both access it.
Damn near holding his breath, he ran through the procedure with Ginny, and was about halfway through when the first patient, Mrs. Paladino, came through the door. He jumped back about a foot, putting distance between himself and Ginny.
Both women looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. Maybe he had.
“Just one minute, Mrs. Paladino, let me finish showing Ginny how to run this thing. If you wouldn't mind filling out the paperwork while you wait.”
“Says here she did it online,” Ginny said, pointing to the screen.
“I may be old, but I do love my computer,” Mrs. Paladino said with a wink, presenting her insurance card and driver’s license.
“Just make a copy of that and we’ll do the insurance submissions when Melissa gets back,” Austin said, straightening and planning to escort Mrs. Paladino into the exam room. “And anyone who walks in without an appointment needs to make an appointment. I think the calendar—”
Ginny waved him away and handed the insurance card back to Mrs. Paladino. “I see it. I’ve got it. Go, do your doctor thing.”
“All right, but make sure it doesn’t get too crazy out here.”
