Page 29 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

"Ooh, I like the sound of this!And no, I can't promise that I won't get carried away.Just tell me already.What have you been up to?"

Shelley wandered into the living room and flopped down on the sofa."I spent the weekend with Trip."

"Really?"

Shelley laughed and held the phone away from her ear when Harper squealed.

"Trip's the sexy doctor, right?"

"You know he is," said Shelley.

Harper squealed again."And?"

"And what?"

"You know damn well what—what happened?Did you...?"

"We did."

"Oh my God, Shelley, that's awesome!I'm so happy for you!"

Shelley laughed."Happy for me?That's a strange thing to say."

Harper laughed with her."Not really.Not if you think about it."

Shelley's smile faded."I'm not saying that we got together or anything.I'm not saying that we're starting a relationship or..."

"Hm.I'm not sure I believe that.I know you too well.To be clear, I'm happy for you that you finally got some.I mean, come on, it has to have been years.And I find it hard to believe that this isn't the beginning of a relationship.I mean, like I said, it's been years since you slept with a guy.You don't sleep with someone if you're not emotionally involved with them, too."

Shelley leaned her head back against the sofa.Harper had a point, but this was different.

"Say something," Harper urged after Shelley had been quiet for a few moments.

"I was just trying to figure it out, and I think I have.It's really not the beginning of a relationship.It can't be.I'm only going to be here for another month.And even apart from that, he's not looking for anything.Neither am I.But you're right that I am emotionally involved with him.Just not in a relationship kind of way.I've worked for him for months, remember?We spend most of our days together.And a lot of our free time, too.He's become a friend.A good friend."

Harper sighed."Yeah, I can see all of that, but there's more to it.Are you going to tell me that I'm wrong?"

Shelley blew out a sigh of her own."You know, if you were a lawyer, I'd complain that you're badgering the witness.I'd object."

"So sue me," Harper said with a laugh."But do it after you've answered the question."

"Okay!You already know that I think the world of him."

"And that you find him sexy as—"

"Harper!"Shelley laughed."Why do you always say that?I've never told you that."

"You might not have spelled it out, but you make it obvious in everything you say about the man.You think he's attractive, you think he's a great guy, you call him a friend… so, you know, it begs the question."

"What question?"

"Why isn't this the beginning of a relationship?"

"You know the answer to that."

"Because you're going to be leaving Montana soon?"

"Exactly."