Page 17 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“That I only invited you over to help me eat everything Maisie cooked.”

She shrugged.“I kind of do.”

He held her gaze for a long moment, and her heart leaped into her throat when he said, “There’s more to it than that, Shelley.”

She wanted to believe that he meant there was more between them, but she’d learned her lesson last night.He’d said he was only joking when he talked about wanting her to stay.

She laughed.“You mean you want me to help you work your way through the wine cellar, too?I’m down for that.”

He made a face.“Something like that.And since you mention it, do you want to come down there and choose with me again?”

“Okay.”

She followed him down the stairs to the wine cellar, wondering what it must be like to evenhavea wine cellar.

“Any ideas what you’d like?”he asked.

She bit down on her bottom lip.She needed to stop thinking this way.She was so tempted to tell him what she’dreallylike—to spend the nightwithhim.Not just here in his house with him.

She was taking too long to answer, and he gave her a puzzled look.“Is everything all right?”he asked.

“Yeah.Sorry.I guess I just have a lot on my mind.”That wasn’t a lie.

He frowned.“Anything I can help with?”

“No, it’s all good.”That wasn’t exactly a lie either.She might like him to help her out with what she was thinking about, but …

He’d made it clear last night that he didn’t … But no.To be fair, that wasn’t true.

He hadn’t given her any indication that he wasn’t attracted to her.Only that he wasn’t expecting her to stay long term.

She pressed her lips together.Perhaps that would make things easier.Perhaps if they agreed that she was definitely going to leave in a few weeks, it might open the door for them to have some kind of relationship.

Even if only a short, physical one.

He took a step toward her, and her heart started to hammer in her chest.

“What is it, Shelley?”

The concern in his eyes sent a rush of warmth through her veins.

She gave him a rueful smile.“Sorry.It’s nothing.I’m being silly.Let’s choose the wine.What are you thinking—red or white?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to explain?”he asked.

She let out a short laugh.“Wantto?Yeah.Am I going to?No.So… wine.”

He smirked.“Fair enough.If you enjoyed it, I was thinking we could have the Shiraz again.”

She smiled.“That sounds perfect.I did enjoy it.”

~ ~ ~

After they’d eaten, they moved to the den.Shelley took the same spot she’d sat in last night on one end of the sofa.Trip set his glass of wine and the decanter on the coffee table before taking the other end.He pointed the remote at the TV and turned to her with a smile.

“I haven’t forgotten.I promise I’ll stay quiet while you watch the end.”

She laughed.“Thanks.The only trouble is, I don’t know where I was up to before I fell asleep.”

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