Second Chance Rancher by Patricia Thayer Read Free Book Online Page B

mother met them halfway.
    â€œHello, Laurel,” Kase greeted.
    Her heart raced. “Hi, Kase. Gus.”
    Gus nodded and looked at her mother. “It’s nice to see you again, Diane.”
    â€œGood to see you, too, Gus. It’s been too long.”
    Kase turned to her mother. “How are you, Mrs. Quinn?”
    Laurel watched as her mother blushed. “Oh, please, Kase, call me Diane.”
    He nodded, but Addy said, “I get to call her Mimi, Daddy.”
    The blush deepened. “I wasn’t sure what to have her call me.”
    â€œThat’s okay, as long as she’s respectful.”
    â€œShe’s been nothing but polite, and a sweetheart.”
    â€œDid she talk you to death?”
    Diane smiled brightly. “I’m used to it.” She hugged her daughter. “I raised this little chatterbox.”
    Laughter rang out in the group.
    Addy touched her dad’s face and made him turn toward her. “We made peanut butter cookies. I got to make the crisscross marks on top.”
    â€œWow, it sounds like you had fun today.”
    Diane looked at Gus, leaning on his cane. “Gus, please come up to the porch and sit down.”
    â€œWe should go,” Kase said. “I’ve already taken advantage of your and Laurel’s time.”
    â€œNonsense,” Diane said. “In fact, I’d like to extend an invitation for supper.”
    Laurel froze. What was her mother doing?
    Kase spoke up first. “Oh, Mrs.... Diane, we can’t intrude.”
    â€œYou’re not intruding at all. It’s just a big pot of beef stew and some homemade bread.”
    Gus groaned. “And peanut butter cookies for dessert?”
    Addy nodded. “Daddy, I want to stay. I didn’t get to play with Laurel. She had to work all day.”
    Laurel caught the mischief in Kase’s eyes before he turned to his daughter. “Maybe Laurel’s too tired to play.”
    All eyes turned to her. What was she to do? As much as she didn’t need to get involved in Kase’s life, she couldn’t seem to help herself. “Maybe we can play for a little bit before supper.”
    â€œYeah.” Little Addy grinned at getting her way. She squirmed out of her daddy’s arms and walked ahead with Laurel’s mother and Gus.
    He reached out and touched Laurel’s forearm. “I truly didn’t mean to tie up your entire day.”
    She looked at his incredible eyes. Her breath locked in her lungs and she glanced away to gather herself. “Not a problem.”
    She started toward the house. “Come on, they’ll wonder where we are.”
    No matter how much fun she had with Addy today, it was not good to get any more involved with a man who’d already broken her heart once. But here she was back in line to let it happen again.

Chapter Five
    After two heaping bowls of Diane Quinn’s beef stew, Kase had been easily convinced to go out to have a look at one of Laurel’s mares. Even suspicious that his dad was playing matchmaker, he followed Laurel out the door, leaving Addy happily occupied by Diane, Rory and Gus.
    Kase stepped inside the immaculate barn with only a faint scent of horses and hay. Impressive. He looked around to see several enclosed stalls and the tack hung neatly on the wall. With Laurel’s arrival, he heard several equine whinnies.
    He followed her as she greeted her horses. Suddenly she stopped and he ran into her. Trying to keep his balance, he quickly grabbed her waist. But the close connection made him very aware of those once-familiar curves.
    â€œWhoa there.” Feeling the softness under his hands, it was impossible not to react, or to let her go. It had been a long time since he’d had any interest in a woman. Johanna had made sure of that.
    Laurel quickly pulled away. “Sorry.” She didn’t look at him, just walked to one of the stalls, where the horse came to greet her. The rogue