Page 131 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“Give him a break, would you?”said Ace.“It’s not like he can’t afford it, is it?”

Deacon caught his gaze and gave him a slight nod.It struck Trip as strange but true that Deacon was the first to start this tradition and he understood better than most of them how Trip was feeling.

He might not know how to explain what he was looking for—but he’d know it when he saw something that felt like her.

As soon as Loretta brought out the next tray, Trip spotted the one.Before he even said a word, Travis grinned beside him.

“You found it, didn’t you?Which one is it?”

He pointed at a yellow gold band that sparkled with seven large oval diamonds, each one set beside the next with slim gold bars in between.He knew there was a name for that kind of setting, but he didn’t remember what it was.

It didn’t matter.Thatring was the one.

He laughed as the others all crowded around to see—even Mav and Blane.

“Do you know what size she wears?”Loretta asked.

“I do.Well, at least… I know you’ll be able to tell me.”

He took a folded-up Post-it from his pocket and handed it to her.“The top number is the inside measurement of a ring she doesn’t wear much—because it’s a little too big.The bottom number’s from one she takes off a lot—it’s too tight.So I’d say… whatever size falls in between those two is her perfect size.”

Deacon gave him a puzzled look.“You’ve been sneaking around measuring the inside of her rings?”

He laughed.“I sure have, Chief.”

While Loretta took the measurements and consulted a chart, Cash nudged him in the ribs.“When are you going to give it to her?You going to do it tonight—while we’re all out with everyone?”

Trip shook his head slowly.“I don’t think so.I don’t know yet.I haven’t planned anything.I figured I’ll just know when the moment’s right.I’m not sure if she’d want me to make a big deal out of it—with everyone else there.”

Blane gave him one of his rare smiles.“Hey, if you want to make tonight about your engagement—or whatever you’re calling this—I don’t have a problem with it.Don’t feel like you’re stealing my thunder or anything.”

Mav rolled his eyes.“Of course you don’t mind.You want him to do you a favor and take the attention off of you.But it’s not going to happen—it’s your birthday.We’re celebrating.And who knows?Maybe you’ll find a woman who can put up with you.”

He looked around at the others.“There must be some single women around, right?”

“There’s Shelley’s friend Harper,” Ace suggested.“She’s a lot of fun—but I don’t know, Blane…”

“Hey, Trip—sorry, bud, but I’ve got to go,” Emmett interrupted.

“I’m glad I was here for this.”He met Trip’s gaze and smiled.“Happy for you.But now that you’ve picked the ring, I need to be on my way.”

He nodded at the others before turning and hurrying out of the store.

The others all exchanged puzzled looks, and Cash asked Trip, “Is he okay?”

Trip nodded.He wasn’t about to explain what he thought the reason for Emmett’s hasty departure had been.

“He’s starting to come out of himself a bit more—but he’s not sure of it yet.I think it’s best we let him take off when he needs to… and just hope he keeps coming back around.”

“Yeah,” said Travis.“I know he had stuff to do in town this morning.He was here—that’s what matters.And he’s coming out tonight.Or so he says.”

~ ~ ~

After Trip left, Shelley took her time putzing around the house.She had most of the day to play with, and she knew Harper liked to take her time getting ready to face the world in the morning when she could.

As she folded Trip’s pajamas and put them on top of the laundry basket, she smiled to herself.That first Friday night that he’d let her borrow them, seemed like a lifetime ago now.At the time, she’d wanted a mattress as comfortable as the one in Trip’s spare room… and she hadn’t even dared allow herself to want Trip.

She trotted down the stairs carrying the laundry bag with her.She and Anita, his housekeeper, were figuring things out between them.Shelley was trying to walk the line between not wanting to take over and hating to feel like a burden.Fortunately, Anita was understanding—and at the same time, she was prepared to stand her ground.Even better, when she’d talked to Trip about it, he’d said he’d prefer the two of them figure it out between themselves.

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