Page 34 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

He forced a smile onto his face even though his heart was pounding."Yeah, things were quiet in there this afternoon."

She smiled."I'm glad.You deserve a break after last night, by the sound of it."

"Yeah."

He stared at her, trying to think of something else to say.He shouldn't be surprised.She'd told him that they needed to work on the ad.But he'd started to think, started to wish, that maybe she'd reconsider.

She gave him a puzzled look."Are you okay?"

"I'm fine.Do you want to get out of here?"

"Sure.You must be tired.I bet you want to get home and take a rest."

He stared at her for a long moment.She'd misunderstood him.He'd intended his words as an invitation, but...He glanced at the computer screen again.What would be the point?He gave her a rueful smile.

"I am tired.Let's close up and call it a day."

He walked her to her car, and she gave him a puzzled look before she got in.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I am.It's like you said.I just need to go home."

As he stood in the parking lot watching her drive away, a heavy feeling settled in his chest.Soon enough, he'd be watching her drive out of his life.

He climbed back into his SUV, deciding that he needed to remember that fact.Even if they did spend more time together in the next few weeks, it would just be as friends.With benefits, maybe, but still just friends.

As he pulled away from the clinic, he had to remind himself that he didn't want a woman in his life anyway.He should be happy.But that feeling in his chest weighed heavy as he drove home.He wasn't happy, not one bit.

When he arrived home, his mood lifted when he rounded the back of his house and saw Travis's truck parked there.As he pulled up, Travis climbed out and greeted him with a grin.He got out of his SUV and smiled at his friend.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

Travis laughed."Is that any way to greet your oldest friend?"

Trip grinned at him."I'm not complaining, just surprised, that's all.What are you doing up here?And where's Retta?"

"I had to come up to town to run a few errands.And she's hanging out with Callie and little Levi."Travis smiled.

"She's enjoying being a grandma, isn't she?"Trip asked.

"That would be an understatement," said Travis."She loves every minute of it.Although to be fair, I can't say anything; I'm just as bad."

Trip grasped his shoulder."I'm happy for you.That kid's lucky to have you as his grandpa."

Travis beamed as they walked up the steps to the kitchen door."You know me.I never felt like I missed out on having kids.But I'm into this being a grandpa thing in a big way."

"It suits you," said Trip."How long can you stay for?Do you want a beer?Want to eat with me?"

"Like I said, Retta will be over there for the evening, so yeah, if you want to feed me, I'll be happy to stick around."

Trip took two beers from the fridge and handed one to Travis."What do you want to eat?"

"What's on offer?"

Trip chuckled."Not as much as usual."

"You mean Maisie hasn't been over cooking for you in a while?"

---