Second Chance Rancher. Patricia Thayer

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СКАЧАТЬ been a long time since Kase left, but yes, he’s still a good-looking man.”

      Her father spoke up. “Back then, you both were too young to be so serious. I’m grateful you both went your separate ways. You both needed to concentrate on college.”

      That had been another sore subject between them. Her parents weren’t happy when Laurel hadn’t finished college. Instead, she decided to come back to breed and train quarter horses.

      “You and Mom fell in love in high school. You didn’t go to college.” Laurel didn’t want to talk about this anymore and raised her hand to stop any further comment from her father. “Let’s go to a safer subject.” She turned to her sister. “Has Trent painted the baby’s room yet?”

      Brooke beamed. “Yes, he finished the nursery yesterday. Tonight, he’s putting together the crib.” She took a drink of her water. “You know the one we both liked? The Child Craft? Trent liked the dark wood. He said it was more masculine for a boy.”

      Laurel had known their neighbor Trent Landry all her life. He’d been like a brother to her, since their parents, Wade Landry and Rory Quinn, had traveled the rodeo circuit in their younger days. After Wade’s death, Trent came home and took over the Lucky Bar L Ranch. Laurel couldn’t have been any happier when Trent and Brooke fell in love last fall. At least sometimes love worked out.

      Suddenly Laurel heard her name, and she turned and searched the crowded room. Then she spotted the familiar little girl running toward her. “Laurel! Laurel!”

      “Addy?” Laurel opened her arms just as the tiny child landed there. “What a surprise.” A shock was more like it. “What are you doing here?”

      Addy stood back. “I did a good job picking up my toys, so Daddy said we could go out to eat, too. He said he needed a break from cooking. Papa Gus, too.” She glanced around the table and saw Brooke, then turned back to Laurel. “She looks just like you.”

      The group laughed. “That’s because she’s my twin sister,” Laurel said. “We look alike, just like your dollies.”

      The child looked around the table. “Hi, I’m Addy and I’m four years old.” She looked at Rory. “Are you Laurel’s prince?”

      Her father seemed to be flustered by the question. “I think I’m too old to be a prince, but she’s my princess. So is my other daughter, Brooke.”

      Brooke waved. “Hi, Addy.”

      Those big blue eyes rounded as she cupped her tiny hands around her mouth and whispered loudly to Laurel. “She has a baby in her tummy.”

      Laurel bit back a smile. “Yes, she does.”

      The little girl walked around to the other side of the table, totally entranced with Brooke’s expanded belly.

      “I’m having a little boy,” Brooke said. “We’re going to name him Christopher.”

      “Oh, I like that name. I have a baby doll named Bobby, and I let Laurel hold him when she came in my room.”

      Brooke’s gaze landed on Laurel’s. “Really? I didn’t know that.”

      Suddenly Laurel began to search the area for Kase. She finally saw him, helping a slower-moving Gus across the restaurant. He didn’t look happy to see where his daughter had gone.

      When they arrived at the table, Laurel couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the man. He had on a pair of dark jeans and a blue oxford dress shirt. His sandy-blond hair was neatly combed, only making her want to mess it up. Whoa. Where did that come from?

      “We seem to keep running into each other.” Kase stated the obvious.

      “This time it isn’t my fault,” she told him, knowing everyone’s eyes were on them. Darn, did the man have to look so good? “My horse is home in the barn.”

      Kase raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”

      Rory was on his feet shaking Gus’s hand. Then he turned to Kase. “Good to see you again, Kase.” He reached out a hand.

      Kase shook his hand. “It’s good to see you, too.”

      Rory glared at his daughter. “I also heard about what happened today.”

      Kase nodded. “Dad assures me that it’ll be fine, no matter what the outcome.” His attention went across the table to Brooke. “Well, so the rumors are true, there is another one. You must be Brooke.”

      Brooke smiled. “Yes, I am. Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Rawlins.”

      “Call me Kase, please. This is my father, Gus.”

      Kase’s father smiled. “You’re a lucky man, Quinn, to have two beautiful daughters.”

      Rory beamed. “That I am. And you have a budding beauty in your granddaughter.”

      Brooke spoke up. “She is precious.”

      Kase’s attention went to the child. “She may be, but I need to work on her running off.”

      “Good luck with that,” Rory said. “Would you like to join us?”

      “Oh, we couldn’t intrude,” Kase said. “We’ve already interrupted your supper.”

      “But, Daddy, I want to stay with Laurel. She’s my friend.”

      Laurel felt tension coming from Kase. This was awkward for all of them. “Addy, I’m having a date with my prince. So why don’t you have a date with your prince, your daddy?”

      The little girl’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “Oh, can we, Daddy?”

      Kase’s gaze went to Laurel. Immediately she felt heat flood through her body. Then too quickly he turned back to his daughter and said, “I would love to be with my princess.” He did a slight bow and held out his hand. “Please allow me to escort you to our table, Princess Addison?”

      Addy giggled, then took her father’s hand and strolled off. That picture of the two caused an ache that circled her heart.

      Laurel turned back to her family. Both her father and her sister were watching her. “What?”

      “Seems you left out a few details about today,” her father said.

      “What, my stallion impregnating a neighbor’s mare wasn’t enough?” Laurel pretended to be interested in her food. Too bad her taste buds weren’t cooperating.

      “You didn’t say anything about that adorable little girl being with him,” Brooke said.

      Laurel was confused. “Where else would she be?”

      “According to Gus, she’d been living with her grandparents, the Chappells, in Denver since her mother’s death. There’s a big custody fight for the child.”

      Laurel didn’t know that. Okay, she needed to get out more and talk to people instead of horses. “What? How can that be? Kase is the father and he has the right to raise his СКАЧАТЬ