Page 72 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“I’m sure they would, but it’s Shelley I care most about.”She held his gaze.“And we both know you do, too.”

~ ~ ~

When they reached the entrance to Trip’s ranch, Shelley directed Harper to turn off the highway.She couldn’t help laughing as Harper looked all around, wide-eyed.

“You mean to tell me this is his driveway?”she asked.

“Yep,” said Shelley.“But don’t worry—you’ve got a while to get used to it before we reach the house.”

Harper shook her head in wonder as she drove.

Shelley couldn’t wait to see her face when they emerged from the line of cottonwood trees by the creek and the house came into view.

“Holy smokes!Are you kidding me?Is that his house?I know you told me it was impressive, but damn, Shelley-Bells.”

“Isn’t it beautiful?”Shelley asked.

“It’s more than beautiful—it’s amazing.I love it.”

Harper’s smile faded, and Shelley shot her a curious look.“What is it?What’s wrong?”

“I have to ask…” Harper frowned.“From the little bit I’ve gotten to know him in the last few days, I can already tell that Trip’s a great guy.He’s a wonderful person—not to mention good-looking.And now, seeing his house like this, he has to be loaded too, right?”

Shelley nodded, not wanting to comment.She didn’t like to think about him that way.

Harper rolled her eyes.“Yeah, I know it’s not important to you, but my point is that…”

“What?”Shelley asked when it seemed that Harper wasn’t going to continue.“It’s not like you to not get straight to the point.”

“I know, but I’m worried about how this will sound.If Trip’s got so much going for him, how come nobody’s scooped him up already?I mean, he’s a real catch—on paper, at least.”She shot Shelley a puzzled look.“Is there something about him that I don’t know yet?”

Shelley laughed.“No—or at least if there is, I don’t know it yet, either.”

“So, you’re telling me there’s no reason at all why he should still be single?”

Shelley shook her head.“Not the kind of reasons you might be thinking of.He’s still single because his ex-wife did a real number on him.He hasn’t wanted to get involved with anyone since.”

Harper’s smile returned at that.“Oh, okay then.I can see that.”

“You can?”asked Shelley.

“Yeah.I was the same for years after I got divorced, remember?I just didn’t want to know.”

“Didn’t?”Shelley asked.“You’re using the past tense.Does that mean you might consider it these days?”

Harper shrugged.“I know I used to say never again—but these days, I’m more inclined to say never say never.”

Shelley smiled.“Okay, good to know.”

“But back to Trip.I can understand how a bad marriage—or a bad divorce, or both—might have left him gun-shy.And I can also understand how you could be the one person who’d make him reconsider.”

“And why’s that?”Shelley asked.

Harper grinned at her.“Just because you’re you—that’s all.I like the idea that he was saving himself for you—and now you get to be the one who puts a ring on him.”

Shelley inhaled sharply.“Oh, hell no!”

“No?Why not?”