Page 12 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

He was as sexy a man as she’d ever known.

Watching his ass as he bent to get a bowl from one of the cabinets, she questioned what would be so wrong about them getting together.Okay, so neither of them was looking for a relationship.But it wasn’t as though a relationship would be in the cards for them anyway.She’d be leaving in just over a month.

How complicated could things get in that time?

They were both reasonable adults.Even if things went wrong between them, they’d be able to get along until she left.She startled guiltily when he turned around.

“Oh, hey.I didn’t hear you come down.”

“Good morning.I’m sorry I slept so late.”She jerked her chin toward the stove.“I take it you got hungry?”

He gave her a puzzled look.

“I thought I was going to make breakfast.”

“Oh.Right.Yeah.It’s okay.I was awake, so I thought I’d get it started.I take it you slept well?”

“Like a log.I was thinking about stealing that bed, but that might prove too difficult.So, I think I at least need you to tell me what brand of mattress that is.It feels like sleeping on a cloud.”

Trip laughed.“I’m glad you were comfortable.I’ll write down the brand and model for you if you like.I discovered those mattresses when I stayed in a hotel one time.I asked what they were, and as soon as I got home, I ordered one for every bed in the house.”

“I can understand why.”

“Do you want coffee?”

“I’d love one.I can get it.Do you need one?”

“Yeah, my mug’s over there, thanks.”

Shelley rinsed his mug and got one for herself from the cabinet.When she saw that the coffee pot was already half empty, she had to wonder how long he’d been awake.When she’d fixed his drink, she took the mug to him, and he took it with a smile.

“Thanks.”

She took a sip and watched him over the rim of her mug.He met her gaze and held it.The look they exchanged sent a shiver down her spine.

She might have tried to convince herself last night that what felt like overwhelming attraction to him was just the wine talking.But she still felt the same way this morning—no wine needed.

~ ~ ~

After they’d eaten, and Shelley had insisted that she could clean up the kitchen while he took a shower, Trip headed upstairs.He paused at the door to the guest bedroom and smiled when he saw his pajamas folded on the end of the bed.

It had taken him a long time to fall asleep last night, thinking about her just down the hall from him.He’d been tempted to go and check on her, but he’d managed to resist.

He showered as fast as he could since he didn’t know if Shelley was planning to head straight out.He was hoping that she might stick around for a while, since she’d said she didn’t really have any plans for the weekend.

When he got back downstairs, he found her in the den, sitting on the sofa, scrolling through her phone.

She looked up with a smile.“That was quick.”

“I didn’t want to waste any time, since I don’t know how long I get to keep you for.”

She raised her eyebrows, and he realized he should have phrased that differently.

She blew out a sigh.“To be honest, I’ve been thinking about that myself.”

His heart started to pound when he realized that she was talking about more than how long she’d stick around this morning.They’d talked a few times recently about finding a replacement for her at the clinic.

When she’d first arrived, she’d only planned to stay a few weeks.Since then, she’d extended the lease she had on her house in town, but she’d told him that she wouldn’t be able to extend it beyond the end of next month.The owners used it as a vacation rental in the summer season and already had bookings.

---