Second Chance Rancher (17 page)

She knelt down. “Oh, no, honey. Your daddy didn't do anything wrong. He just wants to make sure you get to stay with him.” She put on a smile. “Just wait. He'll be here.”

No sooner than she said the words, she heard her name called. She looked up and saw Sam and Kase rushing toward them. Her heart started racing. “See, Addy, I told you your daddy would be here.”

The little girl took off and threw herself into Kase's arms. She watched the emotions play out on his face as he held his daughter close. He finally looked at Laurel. When his gaze locked on hers, she felt her body warm. The need for this man was overwhelming. He set Addy down and he and Laurel walked toward each other.

He pulled her close and brushed his mouth over hers. “It's over, Laurel,” he breathed. “I have permanent custody of Addy.”

She released a breath. “Thank God.”

“Thank you for all you did, too.”

“I couldn't let Ben take your daughter. I know a little bit about being separated from family.” She couldn't help but think about Brooke. She'd never gotten to know her twin until last year. “Addy needs you.” She wanted to add,
I need you, too
.

“Why don't we go have a late lunch and celebrate? Then we can head home.”

She loved the sound of that. “I'd like nothing more.”

“Me, too,” Addy cheered.

Kase turned to his friend. “Sam, come with us.”

Sam shook his head. “Sorry. As much as I'd like to, I have another client to see today. I only wanted to say goodbye to Addy.” He hugged the girl, then turned to Laurel and embraced her, too. “I hope I get the chance to know you better. I've heard so much about how great you are at training quarter horses.”

She was touched that Kase had talked about her. “You're welcome on the Bucking Q anytime.”

“I just might show up one day.” He turned back to Kase. “Don't wait until you get into trouble to call me.” He shook his hand and turned serious. “And think about my offer. You're too good a lawyer not to think about practicing law again.”

Laurel froze. Practice law? A sudden ache settled in her stomach. Kase was thinking about going back to Denver?

Chapter Seventeen

Since returning from Denver two days ago, Laurel had been working from sunrise to sunset with her horses. She hadn't realized how much time she'd spent away from her normal routine until she climbed back in the saddle. She had Chet to thank for his help. And since she hadn't been called in at the accounting office, she could concentrate on doing her real job.

She missed the time she'd gotten to spend with Addy. But the child was in school most days, and Kase was busy doing his thing.

Did that include thinking about going back to practicing law? She didn't know. On their ride home from Denver, she'd hoped he might say something about Sam's offer. But not a word.

She'd gotten a call from him yesterday. He'd invited her to the house for dinner, saying he wanted to thank her for all she'd done for them.

She needed some time and space to think about his possible return to Denver. She'd turned down the invitation, saying she needed to put in extra training time with Ruby. This morning, the local florist arrived with a large spring bouquet, with a card that read “Thank you for everything you did. You're so special to us. Love, Kase and Addy.”

* * *

L
AUREL
SAT
UP
on the large roan mare, going through the reining movements, starting with the circles, then she rode around the arena and into the flying lead change, the rundown and sliding stop. After Ruby backed up in a perfectly straight line, Laurel praised her.

“My good girl.” She rubbed the mare's neck and repeated, “Such a good girl.”

She heard cheers and looked over to the corral fence to see her sister. Laurel rode over to Brooke.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Dad-and-daughters night, remember? We haven't gone out since before Chris was born.”

She'd forgotten completely. “Speaking of my nephew, where is he?”

Brooke laughed. “Hey, doesn't anyone want to see me anymore?”

“Sorry, how are you doing?”

“I'm fine. Chris has been sleeping longer, so I'm getting more rest.”

“You look great,” Laurel said, amazed how Brooke managed to get into a pair of jeans when her baby was barely a month old.

“I'm eating like a horse. Breast feeding makes me so hungry.” A big smile appeared. “But I love having that special connection with my baby.”

Laurel felt tears threatening. What was wrong with her? She hated being envious of her sister because she had a husband...and a child. “You're so lucky,” she told her and climbed down from Ruby. Brooke hadn't had an easy life. “You deserve it all.”

“I count my blessings every day.” Her sister studied her a moment. “Now, tell me what's bothering you.”

Ruby was getting restless and Laurel called to Calvin, the new ranch hand. After Laurel's care instructions, he took the mare into the barn. “Just a little tired, I guess,” she admitted. “I've been pretty busy.”

Brooke waited until Laurel walked through the corral gate. It was true she hadn't known her twin long. In fact, it hadn't been a year yet since she came to the Bucking Q to meet Laurel.

“I know we're still new at being sisters, Laurel, but you can tell me anything. I won't even share with Trent.”

Laurel made a face. “As much as I love that guy, he can be a little overprotective.”

Brooke smiled. That was one of the many things she loved about her husband. “That's because Trent loves you.”

“Yeah, he's the brother I never had,” Laurel said.

Brooke frowned. “You don't think of Kase that way.”

Laurel glanced away.

Brooke continued to prod. “I thought you'd be happy that Kase won the custody suit.”

“I am. He never should have had to go through this.”

“Then what's the problem? You two were getting pretty close, right? From where I stand, it looks like the man is crazy about you. Did you fight?”

“No. I just need to catch up with some training.”

Brooke didn't like this. “What could be more important than being with the man you love? I seem to remember a certain sister who wouldn't let me give up on Trent.”

They started walking toward the house. “That was different.”

“How so? Have you talked with Kase about how you feel?”

Laurel stopped at the back door. “Look, Brooke, I think Kase is moving back to Denver.” She went on to explain about Sam's job offer.

“Whoa, just because someone offered Kase a job doesn't mean he's going to take it. Gus is here, and Addy is settled into school.”

“Yeah, but Kase couldn't leave fast enough ten years ago. Maybe he's tired of small-town living again.”

* * *

K
ASE
WASN
'
T
IN
the mood to go out to dinner tonight. Not without Laurel anyway. But when he talked to her this morning, she let him know how busy she'd be the next few days. He hated that he'd taken so much of her time, so he let it go.

He looked down at his daughter. He saw how much more relaxed the child had been since coming back from Denver.

Now they could all move on, plan their lives, their futures. He only needed to convince Laurel.

They walked into the noisy atmosphere at Joe's Barbecue Smokehouse. Even for the middle of the week the place was crowded.

“Daddy!” His daughter tugged on his arm. “Look, Laurel's here. So is Pops and Brooke. I'm gonna go see them.”

As usual, Addy took off running toward the table. He paused, seeing Laurel's big smile at Addy's arrival. Her arms went around his child and pulled her close, then the rest of the Quinns hugged her. That was what he wanted for his child. A family.

Gus came up to him. “You might want to avoid Laurel, but your daughter isn't going to let you.”

“I'm not avoiding her. She's just busy.”

“Don't give up, son.” The older man shook his head.

Kase suddenly became determined. “I don't plan on it. Come on, we're crashing a family dinner.”

“That's my boy.”

Kase led the way and was ready to give Laurel a small piece of his mind when she turned to him. Her smile wavered, and her eyes filled. What was going on here?

“Hello, Kase.”

“Hello, Laurel.” He leaned down and kissed her on the mouth, lingering a little longer than for just a friendly kiss. “I've missed you,” he whispered.

Before she could answer, he looked around the table. “Good to see you, Rory.” The men shook hands, then he turned to Laurel's sister. “Brooke, you look wonderful. Motherhood agrees with you.”

“Thank you.”

“Daddy, Brooke didn't bring Christopher with her because it's a princess party.”

Brooke answered, “That's because Chris needs to be in bed. If Trent is lucky, our son is sound asleep by now.”

Gus was chatting with Rory when the waitress showed up and asked, “Will they be joining you?”

“Of course,” Rory said. “Please, join us for supper.”

Kase looked right at Laurel. “Thank you, we'd like that.” He got Addy situated next to Brooke and he took the chair beside Laurel. The waitress took their orders, and when the beers came, the conversation got interesting.

“I heard about your trip to Denver,” Rory said. “Glad things worked out.” He raised his beer. “To having your daughter where she belongs.”

“I'll drink to that,” Kase said, feeling Laurel's thigh brush his. He got a little distracted but worked to refocus. “It's thanks to your daughter, Rory. Let's say she stumbled onto some information that helped the case.”

Addy looked up at her dad. “Laurel helped me so I didn't have to go live with Grandpa Ben. He doesn't have any horsies like Papa Gus. And soon, I'm getting my own pony when I'm five years old.” She held up her fingers. “How soon is that, Daddy?”

“Your birthday is this summer, in July.”

“Oh, yeah. On fireworks day.”

Everyone laughed, and Rory said, “Why am I not surprised? You are a little firecracker.”

Addy's eyes rounded. “Maybe that's what I can call my pony.”

Under the table, Kase took hold of Laurel's hand and squeezed it. She finally turned and smiled at him. “I want to see you,” he said, his voice low.

“I'm pretty busy, Kase. I have an early morning.”

He shook his head. “I'll be over tonight.”

* * *

T
WO
HOURS
LATER
, Laurel paced her apartment. She wasn't ready to talk to Kase. She needed some more time. Maybe he wasn't going to return to Denver, but everything in her gut told her he would leave Hidden Springs. He was a top-notch lawyer who spent a lot of years in school to get his degree. And now that Addy's trust had been depleted of funds, maybe he felt he needed to make a larger income.

There was a knock on the door. She released a breath and went to answer it. A thrill raced through her seeing Kase standing there. Smiling, he stepped forward, pulled her into his arms. “I need this more than my next breath.”

His mouth covered hers in a kiss that started out slow and easy but quickly began building her hunger. He parted her lips and she groaned as he slipped inside and tasted her.

Her arms found their way around his neck, and she tilted her head so he could deepen the kiss.

Kase finally pulled back, placing his forehead against hers. “I need you so much, Laurel.” He kissed her again, then again. He finally picked her up and carried her to the bed.

She was weak when it came to this man, and she couldn't resist him. She needed him, too.

He laid her down on the mattress. She reached up to him. “Make love to me, Kase.”

“I plan to,” he said. He joined her, and she pushed aside the rest of the world and her problems for a little while. All that was important was loving Kase.

* * *

K
ASE
PULLED
L
AUREL
CLOSER
. Why was he so afraid he was losing her? Ever since they left Denver, she'd been distant. Even making love, she held back from him.

He rolled over and looked down at her. “Look, Laurel, I didn't mean to walk in here and practically attack you.”

She forced a smile. “I seemed to be a willing participant.”

“What I wanted to do tonight was talk and find out what is wrong.”

“I told you, nothing. I just have a lot of catching up to do. I've decided to ride Ruby Ridge in the Summer Slide Futurity in July.”

He grinned. “That's wonderful. I'm so proud of you for following through on this new venture.”

She shrugged. “I know I'm a good trainer, but I also have a great horse. I've been lucky with Ruby. Now, Wind I'm not so sure of.”

He kissed her lips. “It's not that I don't want to hear about your horses, but another time. This is you-and-me time. I want to talk about the future.”

She sat up on the bed, then reached for his shirt off the floor and slipped it on. “Maybe it's not a good idea right now.”

“Why? Things are settled with Addy.”

“But they aren't resolved with Jack, and the money I owe my dad and Trent.” She shook her head. “We can't think about anything right now. Besides, you aren't ready.”

He got up, too, grabbed his jeans and slipped them on. Walking to the window, he turned her around. “Who says I'm not ready?”

“I do. You haven't been home long enough to know what you want.”

Kase stood back and folded his arms across his chest. “Really? You don't believe that I came home to make a life here?”

“You left before, Kase. You're a big-time lawyer who's lived a pretty exciting life. In ten years, you achieved a lot in Denver. I don't blame you for wanting to go back. You had a beautiful home, money and a law practice. Not everyone is cut out for small-town living.”

Did she really think he wanted his old life back? “What suddenly brought this on?”

She shrugged. “I overheard Sam offer you a job.”

She must not have heard all of the conversation. “So you just assume that I'm going back to Denver?”

She looked at him. “You tell me, Kase. Are you moving back?”

Kase was angry. How could she think that he'd just pick up and leave her? Maybe because he'd done it before. “Laurel...”

Her cell phone suddenly went off. She went to the table and picked it up. “Oh, no, it's the same number from before,” she told him. “Jack...”

Kase went to her side. “Answer it on Speaker, and if he asks why, tell him you're in the car.”

Laurel was shaky when she finally pressed the button. “Jack?”

“Sorry, Laurel, but I had to talk to you again.” His words were slurred. “I'm leaving for a long...long time.”

“He's been drinking,” she mouthed. Kase motioned for her to keep him talking.

“Where are you going, Jack?”

“Doesn't matter,” Jack said. “I just wanted to tell you...I'm so sorry, Laurel. Sweet Laurel. I shouldn't have ever taken the money. So I'm gonna give it back.”

Kase signaled for her to keep talking. “Really, Jack? Why should I believe you?”

“Because, dammit! I never wanted to steal it, but people were threatening me.”

“What about me, Jack? I was going to be your wife, or was I part of the ruse, too?”

There was a long pause and he finally said, “Leaving you was the hardest part, Laurel. But everything fell apart. I had no choice.”

Before Laurel could think of anything to say, Jack announced, “I want to see you, Laurel, before I go away. I promise I won't bother you ever again. I'll be at the Branding Iron, in the parking lot until twelve o'clock. If you don't come, I'll understand.”

Before she could answer, Jack hung up.