Page 99 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

She loved the way he kept hold of her hand even while he opened the kitchen door and then closed it again behind them.

"Are you laughing at me again?"he asked as they made their way down the steps from the deck.

"I am not.I'm just noticing another detail.It used to drive me nuts when Jeff wanted to hold my hand; it felt weird."

Trip looked down at their entwined fingers.For a moment, she worried he was about to let go.Instead, he gave her hand a squeeze.

"Yeah, I used to get in trouble over that.I never saw the point in holding hands.And the thing was — it felt like she only ever wanted me to do it when there were people around to see.Turns out, when it’s just for the two of us, I can’t say I get the point...but I can tell you that I love how it feels."

Hearing him use the wordloveset her heart racing.

Laney's words echoed in her head.He’s in love with youandI’d say you feel the same way—even if you don’t know it yet.

As they made their way down the drive toward the barn, two horses came trotting over to greet them.They went straight to Trip, hanging their heads over the fence while he patted their necks and scratched their ears.

"Where did they come from?"Shelley asked.

Trip laughed."They've been in the barn the whole time — or out in the pasture behind it."

She crossed her eyes at him."I'm notthatbad.I knew you had horses, but I’d never seen them out here before."

"Brody rotates the pasture we use for them.I guess he figured it was time to move them out here now."

He laughed when one of the horses shoved him with its nose.

"Yeah, buddy, I know.I've missed you too."He smiled at Shelley."I love it when they’re in this field next to the driveway.They usually come greet the car whenever I get home.Sometimes we race back to the house."

"Oh my gosh, that’s awesome."

Shelley reached out tentatively to touch the second horse.She relaxed a little when it turned big, gentle brown eyes on her and leaned into her touch.

"There you go.See?"Trip said encouragingly."He likes it."

He chuckled as he added, "And I can’t say I blame him.Why wouldn’t he want your hands on him?"

"Are you saying that you want my hands on you, Dr.Harvey?"

He nodded enthusiastically—and the brown horse he was petting let out a knicker that sounded a lot like a chuckle.

Trip laughed."I probably shouldn't say it in front of these guys.They understand everything, you know."

Shelley had to laugh when the gray horse she was petting nodded its head sagely.

"Well, forgive me," she said to the horses."I apologize for being so thoughtless."She turned her smile on Trip."Although I won’t apologize for the offer."

Trip took hold of her hand again.

"In that case—if it was an offer, not just a tease—then it's time we headed back to the house."

Shelley petted the horses one last time before stepping back.

"That sounds like a plan to me.But...do you mind if we stop to see Brody first?"

He gave her a puzzled look."We can, but..."

She laughed."Don't look so worried.It’s just that Ford dropped those papers off for him.I thought we should get them to him before I forget."

Trip tugged on her hand.