Page 126 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

Trip pursed his lips.He hadn’t thought about it in that much detail yet.He just had it in his mind that he wanted to buy her a ring.Period.

“You should get her an eternity ring,” Tanya declared.“That’s even better than an engagement ring.It means you’re going to love her forever and ever—for eternity.”

He liked the sound of that.“Then that’s what I’ll do,” he told them.“What do they look like?I know engagement rings are like… a solitaire diamond.But what does an eternity ring look like?”

“Uncle Trip!”Alana exclaimed.“Don’t you know anything?I’ll tell you what—when we get home, we can go online and I’ll show you.”

“It wasmyidea,” Tanya declared.“I can show you too!”

“I have my laptop in my bag,” said Trip.“I reckon the three of us can sit together and look at them, don’t you?”

He was relieved when they both nodded their agreement.

They rode in silence for a little while before Alana said, “Did you know that Dad’s letting us hang out by ourselves tomorrow night so he can go to Uncle Blane’s birthday dinner?”

He glanced at her in the rearview mirror again, hoping to get a read on how she felt about that.There was something off about her tone, but he didn’t know what it was.

“I was hoping he’d come, but I wasn’t sure.I know Brooke hangs out with you guys sometimes when he has to be out in the evening—but since it’s Blane’s birthday…”

“Yeah, no—we told him to go,” said Alana.“Promised him we won’t get into any trouble and won’t fight.”

Tanya nodded solemnly in the passenger seat, making Trip want to laugh.

“But he said he’s only going to the dinner.Do you think you can talk him into staying for the rest of the evening?You’ll all go to the saloon after you eat, won’t you?”

Trip deliberately didn’t look at her.“Are you trying to get him out of the way for longer?”

She blew out a sigh.“See, that’s what he thought when I suggested it too.”

“I couldn’t tell him why,” Tanya blurted.“But we want him to go because Harper’s going to be there, isn’t she?”

He shot another glance in the mirror.Alana didn’t look like a scheming teenager trying to get her dad out of the house for the evening.She looked more like a thoughtful young woman who wanted the best for someone she loved—and that someone just happened to be her dad.

“Did you think the two of them got along well then?”he asked cautiously.

Alana laughed out loud.“They haven’t been around each other long enough to get along—but Dadlikesher.You can tell.And from the way she spoke to him on the phone, I think she likes him, too.”

Tanya nodded sagely but didn’t add anything.

“Doyouthink she likes him?”Alana asked.

Trip thought about it for a few moments.He didn’t know what to say.Not only because it was hard to get a read on Harper, but also because he didn’t want to disappoint the girls—or give them false hope.

~ ~ ~

When Jim pushed his chair back from the big oak desk where they were both sitting and said, “I reckon you’d better be getting along, Miss Shelley,” she was shocked to see that it was almost seven already.

“Sorry, Jim.I didn’t realize it had gotten so late.”She gave him a rueful smile.“I did warn you I tend to get something of a one-track mind when I get started.”

“It’s not a problem.I don’t mind.I’ve enjoyed your company.But I reckon Trip will enjoy it more when you get home to him.”He chuckled when his stomach let out a loud rumble.“And as much as I’d like to try to be polite and hide it—I need my dinner.”

She rested her hand on his arm.“I’m so sorry.”

He laughed again.“You don’t need to be.It’ll do me good.It’s been a long time since anything held my interest enough to distract me from my dinner.”

They both looked up when Banner spoke from the doorway.

“He’s not joking, Miss Shelley.I was starting to get worried about the two of you.”He smiled at Jim.“What’s it to be tonight?Do you want some of that casserole or want me to throw some steaks on the grill?”