Page 52 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

When he reached her, he closed his arms around her waist.“It was a compliment.I’m saying that I like who you are—in the everyday, and when you’ve had a drink.”

She slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him.“In that case, thank you—and likewise.”

“Likewise?”He cocked an eyebrow.

“I’m saying that I like who you are, too.In the everyday and …” She tapped the side of his head.“Well, I can’t say when you’ve had a drink because I haven’t seen you tipsy yet.And now I need to.”

He laughed.“It doesn’t happen often.”

“Well, it’s going to happen soon.I’ll bet you we all end up more than slightly tipsy at least one night while Harper’s here.”

It was only when the words were out that she realized he didn’t know about her plans with her friend.

“I told you she was thinking about coming to visit, didn’t I?Well, she’s arriving on Tuesday.”

His smile seemed a little forced as he said, “That’s great.It’ll be nice for you to have her visit.You’ve known her since college, haven’t you?”

She sucked in a deep breath.“I have, but don’t shut down on me.I’m not going to drop you while she’s here.”

A small smile played on his lips.“I’m happy to hear it.She’s welcome to come over here anytime you want to bring her.”

“Thanks.I think I gave myself away by saying that we’ll all end up more than tipsy, but I hoped that you’d want to meet her, and we can all hang out.You might have to brace yourself, though—she’s a force of nature.”

“I’ll look forward to getting to know her.”

He stepped back and took her hand.“Want to leave the dishes and go for a walk?”

“I’d love to.I’d much rather get some fresh air tonight than sit in front of the TV.Just let me clean up before we go, though.”

It didn’t take long before they were heading out the back door, and Shelley bit down on her bottom lip when Trip took her hand as they walked.She hadn’t thought of him as the overly affectionate type, but the more time they spent together, the more she was seeing a different side to him.

They followed the driveway up toward the big barn, and Shelley stared at a long, low building she hadn’t been able to see before since it was out of sight from the house.“What’s that place?”she asked.

“The bunkhouse.”

She gave him an inquiring look.

“Where the hands live,” he explained.

“The hands?”

He chuckled.“The wranglers.The cowboys.The guys who work the herd.”

“Oh!You mean you have a herd of cattle?”

He threw his head back and laughed out loud.“That’s exactly what I mean—I thought you knew that.”

“I didn’t.I mean, I knew this was a ranch, but I thought that was just the name for a large spread of land.I didn’t think it necessarily meant a cattle ranch.”

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that, but in my case it does.When my dad was cast as a rancher in a Western movie, he decided that the best way to get into character was to live as a cowboy.He hired a foreman and bought a herd, and the rest, as they say, is history.I’m glad that I’m a doctor because I don’t feel like I’d ever claim to be a cowboy or a cattleman or even a rancher—but technically, I’m all of the above.”

She stopped walking and studied his face closely.“You’re not messing with me?”

He shook his head solemnly.“I’m being serious.”

“Wow, you’re a man of many talents.It looks like I still have a lot to learn about you, Dr.Harvey.Oh, and that reminds me—what did Jim mean when he called you young Jack?He said that in the message that he left this morning, and I didn’t understand; thought maybe he was getting confused.But then he said it to you as well—although you didn’t look too impressed.What’s that about?”

He rolled his eyes in much the same way as she’d seen him do earlier when Jim had called him young Jack.“That’s my name.”