Page 136 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

He was more perceptive than even Shelley had realized — if he knew who had captured Harper’s attention.

Cash went and kissed Harper’s cheek, saying, “And I know, too.”

Then he came to Shelley and touched her arm.“You okay?”

She nodded.“I’m fine.It’s Jim I’m worried about.”

“I’m going to take care of that.”

She watched as he approached Banner — and any lingering concerns she’d had about their relationship evaporated as she saw the two men embrace.Her heart felt heavy as she acknowledged that one day, Cash might be in the position that Jim was now.

She just hoped that if that day came, Banner would step up for him in the same way.

~ ~ ~

When they arrived back at the house, Trip was disappointed not to see Shelley’s car already there.

Travis turned to him with a smile.“If she’s hanging out with Harper, I’d guess she might be a while.”

“Yeah.I know, and I’m glad she has her friend here with her like that.She said she’d asked Retta if she wanted to join them, but she was busy with Callie and the baby.”

“Retta told me about that.She was glad they invited her.I think she was a bit worried at first when she found out Harper was moving here.She feels close to Shelley in a way that she hasn’t yet found with the other women.Not that she isn’t friends with them—they’ve all gone out of their way to include her.But I know she’s glad that Shelley didn’t just drop her once Harper arrived.”

“She wouldn’t,” said Trip.“She said the same thing to me.She gets along with all the women, but she has a soft spot for Retta.”

“Call me soft—most people do—but I love that the two of them gravitated toward each other.Since they’re our ladies.”

Trip grinned.“If that’s soft, then I’m as soft as you are.”

“I love it,” said Travis.“And we’re not soft.It’s just because we’re best buds.And since I’m your best bud, I’m going to leave you now, because I’m sure Shelley will be home soon—and I need to start making the calls about tomorrow.

“I’ll make sure everyone’s going to be here—and that none of the MacFarlands think you’re trying to steal the Sunday lunch thing away from them.”

“I doubt they’d think that.If anything, I’m thinking of my place as more of a backup option.Not everyone has a direct connection at the MacFarlands, so the stragglers can have lunch and hang out here.I’m only making a bigger deal of it tomorrow because Blane and Mav are home.”

Travis’s smile faded.“If nothing else, I guess if you start holding Sunday lunches, Mav and Libby will each have somewhere to go—without things getting awkward.”

Trip blew out a sigh.“I’ll tell you what—if you really don’t mind making the calls and getting everyone else over here, I’ll call Libb.”

“Yeah, you do that.I don’t even know if she’s going to come tonight.Maybe it’s just me, but I sometimes think she doesn’t share as much with me.You know, since I was away with Mav all that time.I think maybe she feels like I’m more loyal to him.”

Travis frowned.“But that’s just not true.I’m loyal to both of them.My deal is—I just want to see them get back together.”

Trip grasped his shoulder.“I know, bud.We all do.And I don’t think she holds anything back from you.I think she treats us all the same way.It’s hard for her, too.For the longest time, she tried to avoid us all, so we wouldn’t have to choose between her and Mav.The thing is—we never did.We never had to.We love both of them.”

He reached for the door handle.“If you’re sure you don’t want to come in, I’ll leave you to it.I’ll give Libb a quick call while I wait for Shelley to get home.”

Travis chuckled.“Yeah, right.You’re just going to sit there and stare at the ring, aren’t you?I don’t blame you.It’s a badass ring.You’ve got me thinking about buying Retta one of those.Do you think she’d have to wear it on the same finger or the other hand?”

Trip laughed.“I have no idea.You’ll have to consult with Alana and Tanya.They’ll set you straight—they did me.”

“Yeah.I might even give them a call.Tell them I want to talk about it next time I get to pick them up.”Travis nodded to himself, apparently liking that idea.

Trip smiled.“It’s funny—you know what Loretta said in the jewelry store this morning?I know she was only joking, but she’s also kind of right.It feels like we are putting the band back together.And not just in terms of getting everyone home.Emmett’s starting to join in more again—and including his girls in things…” He took the ring box out of his pocket and smile.“In the way things are not just changing but evolving …” He nodded.“It feels like things are coming good.”

“It does,” Travis agreed.“All except the biggie—so if you can work some magic and get Mav and Libby to both come to this lunch tomorrow…”

“I’ll do my best,” said Trip—although he suspected it would take a stroke of actual magic to get them both there.