Page 138 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

She sniffed loudly.“Thanks, Trip.You’ve always been there for me.How about… I’ll see how I feel.Maybe I’ll surprise you and show up tonight, even if it’s only for a quick drink with Blane.Maybe if I wake up tomorrow and feel strong, I’ll show up at your place and surprise everyone.Or maybe I’ll call you on Monday and take you out for a drink—if Shelley doesn’t mind.”

He smiled.“Mind?Shelley won’t mind.She’d be happy about it—she cares about you too, you know.”

“Yeah, I do know.You found yourself a good one there, Trip.I’m happy for you.”She sniffed again.“But I’m going to go now.I’ll see you soon.”

The call ended before he could even say goodbye.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

By the time they arrived at Chico, Trip was still feeling uneasy about Shelley’s encounter with Gavin this afternoon.He was planning to use the way that asshole had run her off the road as his reason to insist that he should buy her a new vehicle—something bigger and safer.But even knowing that she was driving around in a tank wouldn’t be enough to stop him worrying about her—not with Gavin Sheridan out there.

When they got out of his SUV, she came to him and took his hand.

“I promise you I’m fine,” she told him.“And I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about.It’s like I told Jim this afternoon—if Gavin wanted to hurt me, he had the perfect opportunity when he ran me off the road.He didn’t take it.I’m not the one he’s after.He blames Cash, not me.”

Trip nodded, not wanting to tell her again that she should have called him.He understood why she hadn’t; and it wasn’t her fault that he hadn’t been there for her when she needed him.

She tugged on his hand so that he had to stop walking.When she rested her hands on his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his lips, he relaxed a little.

“I’m sorry, honey.”

His heart started to pound when she said, “You should be.”

That used to be Katrina’s standard response whenever he said he was sorry.

But Shelley was different; she smiled as she added, “You’ve been so hung up on Gavin that you haven’t even noticed my dress yet.Harper’s going to be disappointed that it didn’t blow your socks off—she assured me that it would.”

He rested his hands on her hips as he let his gaze travel over her.

“I noticed.It’s fantastic—it didn’t blow my socks off though, you do that all by yourself.”He pressed a kiss to her forehead.“You’re beautiful no matter what you wear, but yeah, you’re a knockout tonight and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that before now.”

She leaned in close, resting her cheek against his, her breath fanning his ear as she said, “It doesn’t matter, I hope you know that.I just want you to be okay—to be happy, and to be able to enjoy tonight with your friends.I hate to think that worrying about me might spoil it for you.”She leaned back to look into his eyes as she added, “Especially when I truly believe that there’s nothing to worry about.”

He kissed her, a longer, deeper kiss than he would normally have allowed himself standing in the parking lot outside the dining room, but he needed her to understand.

The way her eyes shone when he lifted his head made it seem as though he’d gotten his message across.

She confirmed that when she said, “I know; you love me and you’re going to worry about me.But …”

“But I won’t let it spoil tonight.”

“Good.Shall we go in then?I bet they’re all here already.”

He scanned the parking lot.“I don’t see Harper’s car or Jim’s truck.I wish they’d let us go get them.”

“They felt the same way I did—if Gavin had wanted to hurt them, he could have done it this afternoon.He was more interested in going out to search for Cash.”

Trip gave her a grim smile.“I think he’ll regret that if he finds him.”

He kept hold of her hand as he opened the door and smiled when he saw the gang standing around at the bar.It had been a long time since he’d seen Mav and Blane in here, but they were right there with the rest of them.

Mav was chatting with Candy—Trip wondered if that meant that Frankie and Spider were starting to make wedding plans.Blane and Deacon were locked in what seemed to be a serious conversation—although that was hardly surprising.Ace was laughing with Trav, while Retta and Ari chatted with Laney and Brooke.

Trip relaxed a little when he spotted Ford and Brody sitting at the end of the bar, chatting.He’d only had one job—and while he had asked Brody to get Ford to come tonight, like Cash had requested, he hadn’t followed up to make sure he’d actually be here.

He scanned the group, but Cash wasn’t there.

His siblings were.Tanner and Everly were sitting with Ty and Shayna.Kolby and Callie came in from the side door and went to join them.Janey and Rocket were standing chatting with Spider and Wade.He looked around for Wade’s fiancée, Sierra, and smiled when he spotted her.She was coming back from the ladies’ room with her friend, Amelia.