Page 3 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

When she’d first started working for him, it had been hard to ignore the sparks flying between them.They were compatible, no doubt about it, and boy, was there chemistry!But Shelley wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone.She really hadn’t intended to stay here for long.

From what she’d learned, Trip wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone either.

In fact, if she had to describe it, she would have said he blew hot and cold in the beginning.At the time, she was blowing on the hot side herself.As the weeks had gone by, she couldn’t exactly say her interest had cooled—it was more that her logic had kicked in.

It wouldn’t be a good idea.

He gave her a rueful smile.“Just because I don’t have any plans on a Friday night doesn’t mean you don’t, does it?”

She laughed.“It doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing, no.But we both know it’s true; I don’t have anything going on.”

He met her gaze and held it.Looking into his eyes, she couldn’t think of a single reason why she shouldn’t go.

When he raised his eyebrows, she laughed.“Okay, go on then.You talked me into it.”

He grinned.“Great.Are you ready?”

She locked the desk drawer and reached for her purse.“I am.I’ll follow you down there—I can stop at the grocery store and get us a decent bottle of wine.”

He gave her a stern look.“Are you trying to say my wines aren’t decent?”

She rolled her eyes.“No.I’d be a fool to suggest anything of the kind.I just want to feel like I’m contributing something.”

Trip laughed.“You are.Your company—that’s all I want.And besides, it’s not as though I’m going to spend hours cooking for us.It’s all already done.If you think about it, you’re doing both me and Maisie a favor.She’ll be happy to know you enjoyed what she cooked, and I’ll feel better that it’s not going to waste.”

He followed her to the front door and held it open for her.Once they were outside, she waited while he locked up.

“You don’t need to bring anything, Shelley.Just yourself.I’ll see you there.”

With that, he walked her to her car before heading to his SUV.

As she pulled out of the parking lot behind him, she smiled to herself.

She might give in to the occasional daydream about Trip—about what could happen between them—but when it came down to it, she was happy enough just spending an evening in his company.

~ ~ ~

As he approached the house, Trip kept one eye on the rearview mirror and felt himself relax when Shelley’s car emerged from the line of cottonwood trees by the creek.He knew she was following him, but until she crossed the creek, he wasn’t convinced she wouldn’t change her mind and turn around.

He didn’t know why, but he was the same way every time he invited her over.

He pulled around the back of the house and parked near the kitchen door, leaving the closest space for Shelley.When she pulled up next to him, he opened her door for her.

This wasn’t the first time she’d come over to hang out with him after work.They enjoyed each other’s company—she’d become a friend.He’d tried to convince himself that was all there was to it, but he hadn’t succeeded.

She’d thrown him off his stride since the first moment he met her.

He’d never forget seeing her walk into the clinic while he was wrestling with the appointment scheduler, trying to get Dorothea Claiborne set up.He’d felt like a fool, grappling with the computer system, when Shelley breezed in—looking all confident and competent and… Sexy as hell, if he wanted to be honest about it.

He frowned; he didn’t particularly want to be honest about that.

She climbed out of her car and followed him up the steps to the kitchen door.

Once they were inside, he asked, “Do you want a glass of my not-so-decent wine?”

She laughed.“I’d love one—even though we both know it’s far too good for the likes of me.”

He made a face.“That’s not true, andyouknow it.We both know that I have a whole cellar full of the stuff and no one to share it with.At least no one who appreciates it,” he added.“I mean, Travis will have a glass with me every now and then, just out of pity.But you know as well as I do that he’s much happier with a beer.”