Page 9 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

He’d lived in town for the first few years after he returned—the years that he was married to Katrina.After his dad died, she’d wanted to move here to the ranch.And if he was honest, that had been the beginning of the end for him.

Their marriage had never been great.

He couldn’t lay all the blame on her.He hadn’t been a great husband—he knew that.But Katrina definitely hadn’t been a great match for him.

Listening to Shelley laugh, he surprised himself with the thought thatshemight be a great match.She was a strong, independent kind of woman.She was confident, competent, self-contained.The kind of woman he admired.

Katrina had been confident enough, but rather than standing on her own two feet, Trip used to feel as though she tried to stand on his shoulders.

She went out of her way to let people know that she was his wife.He might not have minded that so much if it was simply the fact of being married to him that she was so proud of.

He knew better, though.What she really wanted people to know was that she was the daughter-in-law of the great Jack Harvey.

Trip sat up a little straighter.

Why was he giving Katrina any headspace when he should be enjoying his time chilling out with Shelley?He focused on the TV again and was surprised to see that the movie was almost over.He wondered if she’d want to watch another but had to smile when he looked over at her.

Her eyes were closed.

He cleared his throat, but she didn’t seem to notice.

"Shelley?"he asked in a low voice.

She still didn’t respond.

He let out a short laugh.The first time he invited a woman to sleep over in years—and he couldn’t even entertain her enough to keep her awake.

He picked up their glasses and took them to the kitchen.He loaded the dishwasher and wiped down the counters before going back to check on her.She was fast asleep.

"Hey, Shelley."

This time he spoke louder than before.

"Shelley, honey.Do you want to go to bed?"

She opened her eyes and gave him a sleepy smile that hit him right in the chest.

No.He wasn’t going to go thinking about seeing her smile that way at him in bed in the morning.

“Shit.Sorry.Did I fall asleep?"

He chuckled."You did.But there’s nothing for you to apologize for.I should be the one doing that—I’m sorry my company was so stimulating that you dozed off."

She made a face at him."It’s not because of you, and you know it."

She yawned."I think it has more to do with all the good food and wine.I’m awake again now, though.”

“I think it’s probably time to turn in, don’t you?"

"Yeah.Even though I’m awake now, I’ll probably be asleep again in five minutes."

He held out his hand to help her to her feet.She took hold of it and heaved herself up.When she stood toe-to-toe with him, that same prickly feeling raced over his scalp and down the back of his neck.

He should step back, give her some space.But he didn’t want to.Her pupils dilated as she looked into his eyes.

"Thanks," she breathed.

He couldn’t tear his gaze away from hers.It’d be all too easy to ask if she wanted to go to bed—with him.

---