Page 115 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

Travis grinned over his shoulder.“To high-five Harper.We knew we’d get there—we just didn’t expect it to be this soon.”

Trip could only laugh as he followed him back into the kitchen.He wasn’t even going to ask what Travis and Harper had been scheming—or even when or how.

He went to Shelley’s side and curled an arm around her waist as they watched Travis and Harper high-five each other enthusiastically.

“What’s going on?”Shelley asked.“What have the two of you been up to?”

“Making sure the two of you made it to this point,” Harper answered happily.

Travis nodded and winked at them.“We make a good team, don’t you think?You’re lucky to have us in your corner.”

Trip knew he was only joking, but at the same time, he couldn’t have spoken a truer word.

Travis met his gaze with a smile.“Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you by going on about it.”

He winked at Harper.“I told you—he doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve the way I do.”

Harper laughed.“And like I told you—Shelley can get a bit embarrassed when it comes to talking about feelings.Not like me,” she added with another laugh.“So we’d better change the subject.What are you doing here, Trav?”

He laughed before explaining.“Retta’s spending the afternoon with Callie and baby Levi.Kolby’s gone up to the big house to grill burgers and drink beers with the brothers—but it seems like most of the girls had something else they wanted to do today, so the brothers figured they’d make the most of it.Wade’s bringing Mateo, and of course Ashton’s right there with Tanner.

Little Maya didn’t want to go shopping in Bozeman with her mom and Janey, so Laney’s taken her over to her place and she’s giving her cowgirl lessons.Frankie and Shayna are riding out from Frankie’s place down into the park.And Everly’s over at my place, hanging out with her dad.”

Trip loved hearing what everyone was up to—but more than anything, he liked that Zeke and Everly were growing closer.

“Are Spider and Rocket hanging out with the MacFarland boys?”Harper asked.

“No, they could have, but they decided to ride their bikes instead.”

“Did they close the bakery for the day?”Shelley asked.“I thought they took it in turns to take days off.”

“They’ve left a new girl in charge for the day.”

“New girl?”Trip asked.

“Yeah—Bree.Do you remember her?She’s Brody’s cousin.”

“Wow.I didn’t know she was back in town.”

“She’s only been here a little while, but she landed a job at the bakery, and it sounds like she’s proved herself—Spider’s okay to leave her in charge.”

“I’ve met her,” said Harper.“She’s great.”

It was warm enough to sit outside, and soon they were all cradling drinks as they sat in the rockers that faced the mountain.Trip had lit the fire pit, even though the temperature didn’t really warrant it — but he knew Shelley loved it.

"What else is going on in your world, bud?"he asked Travis when the conversation lulled.

"You know me — keeping busy, keeping things moving.Mostly dealing with Eli and getting his program set up at the moment.And working with Libby to coordinate the riding program with the therapy."

Travis frowned."Shit.That was one thing I meant to tell you straight away.Libby's organized the roster for us for picking young Alana up from her rehearsals.She reckoned it was easier if we all had a set day — and she gave you guys Wednesdays.You were never in the running for Tuesday, since that’s your hospital day."

"Who got Fridays?"asked Harper."I can do Friday, since that’s the day you all get together at the bakery."

Travis gawked at her."What do you mean,you all?Are you making yourself an outsider now, woman?"

Trip didn’t miss the flash of emotion that crossed Harper’s face before the mask came down again.He hadn’t thought of it that way before — had never considered that a bright smile could be a mask.But it seemed in Harper’s case, it was.

She waved a hand at Travis."I’m doing no such thing.What I’m trying to do is my part.And since most of you guys have so much else going on, and I’m still at a loose end much of the time, it seems logical to me that I should go get her on the days when you’re all free to get together.I have the luxury of being able to flit around and see whomever I like, whenever I like.So...there you go."

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