Page 113 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“Looks like we don’t need to go over to the cottage to see Harper.She’s almost here.”

Shelley peered out through the window and smiled when she saw Harper’s rental car.

“We talked about going car shopping for her one day soon,” she told him.“She can’t keep that rental for much longer.And she’s decided—no, she’s gotten it into her head—that she wants a pickup truck.”

Trip chuckled.“What is it, a fashion statement?”

Shelley laughed with him.“No.It seems to me that from all the friends she’s making, it might actually come in handy.Jim signed her up to help with egg deliveries, and I’m sure she’ll get involved in another project or two before too long.”

“What about you?”he asked.“Would you drive a pickup?”

She made a face.“I have a car.”

“I know, but it’s not exactly the best for these roads, is it?”

“No.But I can’t see myself ever needing a pickup.So in my case, I think it would feel like a fashion accessory.”

“Maybe an SUV like mine,” he suggested.

“I don’t think I’d need anything as big as yours, but yeah—maybe a small one.”

She glanced back out the window.“She’s just pulling up.Do you want to let her in and I’ll put fresh coffee on?”

She slipped down from the stool.“How about I put the coffee on—since you made breakfast and cleaned up?And Harper doesn’t need letting in.She…”

Harper proved her point by tapping on the kitchen door, peering through the glass at them, and then coming in.

“Hey, guys.I hope you don’t mind me stopping by.”

“I was expecting you,” said Trip.

Shelley gave him a puzzled look.“You were?”

Harper laughed.“I’ll let him explain.”She turned back to Trip.“But would I be right if I guessed that you did it?”

Trip glanced at Shelley and said, “Yes.”

Shelley laughed.“Oh, right.”She turned to Harper.“You told him to ask me to move in with him?”

She felt bad when Harper looked stricken—she’d only been joking—but Trip saved them both when he came to Shelley and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“I think you know us both better than that.Harper encouraged me; she didn’t tell me.And you know damn well that I wanted to ask you anyway.”He looked more serious as he met her gaze and added, “And if I hadn’t wanted to ask, not even Harper would have been able to talk me into it.”

She smiled and patted his cheek.“I know.That came out wrong.I’m sorry.”

“Oh, get over it, the pair of you,” said Harper with a laugh.“I’m just glad you finally got there.And judging by the way you two are mooning over each other, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that there may have been three little words involved.”

Shelley didn’t need anyone to explain that to her.She nodded happily.“There were—I finally got to tell this wonderful man that I love him.”

The smile on Trip’s face was more than enough reward for being more open than she might otherwise have been.The way Harper clasped her hands over her heart was simply an added bonus.

They were all standing there smiling at each other when the sound of Trip’s phone ringing made Shelley jump as it cut through the moment.

Harper laughed, and Trip gave them a rueful smile as he reached for his phone.“I’d better take this,” he said.“It’s Trav.”

As he answered the call and left the kitchen, Harper came to Shelley and wrapped her arms around her, squeezing her tightly.

“Yay,” she said, more quietly than usual.“I’m so happy for you, Shelley-bells.”

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