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.”
“Wow, 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.”
“We should go,” Kase said. “I’ve already taken advantage of your and Laurel’s time.”
“Nonsense,” 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.”
“You’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.”
“Yeah.” 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.
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.
“Whoa 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 stallion’s bobbing of his large head and familiar wild mane made Kase quickly recognize him.
“You already know Wind,” she said.
He nodded, making eye contact with Laurel, and another zing hit him. “I have a feeling I’ll be seeing those markings on his foal in about eleven months.”
Laurel smiled as she rubbed the horse’s nose. “Would that be so bad?”
He realized her smile had him thinking about something other than horses. “According to my dad, no. And since Gus is the expert, I’ll let him handle Honor’s condition.”
“Isn’t she your horse?”
Kase leaned against the post and nodded. “Gus was the one who suggested I buy Honor. He said she was a good investment, so I went along with him. You and I both know that Dad runs the operation. I’m still learning and adding some backing to jump-start Rawlins Horse Ranch.”
“What about when Gus has his surgery? Who’s going to run things then?”
“Well, there won’t be much training unless I hire someone, but Dad doesn’t want anyone else messing with his horses. That’s why he’s been so stubborn about having surgery. He refuses to be away from the ranch for any length of time.”
“Then why can’t you take over? As I remember, you were pretty good at working his stock.”
He frowned. “I only did what Dad told me, but he did all the intricate training. Besides, who’s going to be caring for Addy while I’m spending time with the horses?” He shook his head. “No, I’ve missed too many years with her. I refuse to hire a babysitter to be her parent. She’s had too much of that already.” He started off down the aisle.
Laurel stood there in shock. He’s missed too many years with her. What did that mean? She wanted to ask him more questions, but it wasn’t her business.
She caught up with him as he reached the next stall. The chestnut horse with a white star on her forehead appeared at the gate and she watched as Kase stroked her forehead. The pregnant mare ate up the attention.
Laurel immediately went to her, letting the horse nuzzle her chest. “This is Starr Gazer, my championship cutting horse. I recently bred her with Wind. She should have her foal in about six months.” Laurel wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck and hugged her close. “Going to be a mama soon, huh, girl?”
“I can see why Dad wanted me to see her. She’s a beauty.” Kase rubbed the animal’s head. “What are your plans for the foal?”
“I’d love to keep her, but I’ll need to sell.”
She didn’t miss his questioning look. “Why not hang on to the foal and train it?”
“Because I can’t afford the time.” She hated that she’d gotten in this position. “I have loans to pay back.”
“That’s rough.” His gaze met hers and immediately her body shuddered, reacting to this gorgeous man. “I’m sure your dad doesn’t expect you to pay him back.”
Laurel glanced away, embarrassed that she’d been so gullible over Jack. “So you’ve heard the gossip in town about my runaway groom.”
He shook his head. “Dad told me. I wondered why you never married.”
She was surprised by his answer. “It seems I’m better off with horses than men.”
His mouth twitched in amusement. “If that’s how you feel, then you’ve been with the wrong men.”
Her gaze shot to his, her throat suddenly dry. A flash of memories of a younger Kase appeared in her mind. That cocky grin, his tempting mouth and his tender touch... She swiftly shook them away. “Seems I have a habit of choosing wrong. You’d think after all these years, I’d learn my lesson.”
Kase saw the hurt on her face, knowing she’d included him in that group. He’d give anything to take away her pain. He wanted to reach out and touch her, remembering how soft and giving she’d always been with him. He ached to find out if her mouth still tasted as sweet...
He pushed aside the image. Now wasn’t the time to rehash the past.
“Look, Laurel, I know we’ve been thrown together these past few days, but if you want me to stay away, I’ll do it.” He