Page 41 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

She looked up at him."Would you mind if we watch the news first?"

"Sure."He handed her the remote."You'll have to find it, though.I tried to steer clear of it most of the time.There's enough shit going on in the world, and since I can't do anything about it, I prefer not to know."

She leaned back and studied his face."Really?You surprise me.”

“I'm not apathetic, if that's what you're thinking.I prefer to consider myself realistic."

She nodded."As a former Navy SEAL, I would never have thought of you as apathetic."

"Exactly.I dedicated my life along with my friends to do everything within my power to make the world a better place.When it comes to the stuff I have no control over, I'd rather not know."

"I can see that."She looked down at the remote in her hand."It doesn't matter–"

"No," he interrupted her."I don't mind watching it with you.I just don't make a habit of it."

"I don't either, normally.I was just curious to see what's going on.And I only mean the local news."

He jerked his chin toward the TV."Turn it on then; let's see what's going on."

When she found the local news channel, Trip leaned back against the sofa and put his feet up on the coffee table.Shelley leaned against him, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.He smirked to himself as the local news team did a segment about potholes on one of the main roads in Bozeman.

"Wow," Shelley exclaimed."And they consider this to be news around here?"

He chuckled."Yeah.That's about the extent of it."

They watched for another ten minutes, learning all about the local sports teams’ achievements and failures.When the commercials came on, he turned to her."I'm guessing that didn't satisfy your need to know what's going on in the world."

"As a matter of fact, it reassured me that there's nothing much going on at all, is there?"She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking thoughtful.

He didn't want to ask, but he had to."Is it too quiet out here for you?Do you need to be in a place where there's more going on?"

She shook her head slowly."I don't.City life is part of what I burned out on."

She looked up at him as if she could hear the questions running through his head."I feel like I need to move on because it's just what I do.At least it's what I've been doing for the last few years.

"I told you that Harper said to say hi to you.What I didn't tell you is that she asked me why I need to move on."

His heart rate picked up as he waited for her to continue.

She gave him a wry smile."The best I can come up with is that it's just become a habit."

He decided to risk it and say, "So there's no good reason that you need to leave?"

Her expression made him backpedal quickly."I'm not saying that your freedom and independence aren't good reasons.Just...you'd still be free and independent here."

"I think you and Harper will get along; she said pretty much the same thing.And as I explained to her, the only real reason that I need to move on is because I can't stay in the house after the end of the month."

He inhaled deeply."It might be a crazy suggestion, but I'm going to make it anyway—I know a place you could stay."

She raised her eyebrows.

"It's a place where there's plenty of room.And from what I hear, the beds are really comfortable."

She pushed at his shoulder."Thanks, Trip."

His heart raced as he waited for her to say more.He was surprised at himself for making the offer.They'd agreed that they were going to play things by ear, and here he was getting ahead of himself again.

When it looked like she wasn't going to say anything else, he added, "No pressure and no strings.Maybe you'll find that you can't bring yourself to leave me, and you want to stay to be with me.And even if you find that you're just not ready to leave the valley yet, and you just want to be friends, there's plenty of room here."

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