Second Chance Rancher by Patricia Thayer Page B

that Laurel was around so much. “Yeah. I don’t want to disappoint either one of them again.”
    His father studied him. “You won’t, son. Just don’t walk away from what you really want.”
    * * *
    W ITH THE DISHES FINISHED , Gus settled in front of the television and Kase went upstairs to see what was taking the girls so long. Once he got to the bathroom door, he heard the giggling and splashing.
    He smiled, loving his daughter’s joyful sounds. He opened the door a crack and peaked inside. He froze when he saw Addy’s reflection in the mirror. She was barely visible in the pile of bubbles, and she wasn’t alone, either. On the other end of the claw-foot tub, also buried in suds, was Laurel.
    Her blond curls were piled on her head, exposing her long neck and shoulders, and the top of her breasts. He swallowed the sudden dryness in his throat as a need stirred in his gut. Dear God, she was beautiful.
    Laurel couldn’t help but smile at the antics of this child. She loved her honest approach to everything, and her innocence. Although she hadn’t planned to take a shared bath with the four-year-old, Addy convinced her it would be fun.
    â€œWill my chest get big like yours?” The child looked down at her own flat chest.
    Strange, but Laurel didn’t feel the least bit self-conscious about the question. “Yes, and one day when you have a baby, you’ll need to feed her or him.”
    â€œYou mean like horsies do?”
    â€œYes, like when the mare feeds her foal.”
    Addy smiled. “Are you going to have a baby someday?”
    The familiar yearning stirred in her chest. “I hope so.” She would love to have a child like Addy, and a good man in her life. “Just not real soon.”
    â€œBut why not? I know, you can marry Daddy.”
    Before Laurel could recover from the shock of Addy’s suggestion, there was a loud knock on the door. “Hey, are you girls in there?”
    Startled at the sound of Kase’s voice, they both cried out in surprise. “Don’t come in, we’re in the tub,” Laurel said, not expecting to see Kase. A thrill shot through her body, her breathing suddenly labored, thinking about him coming in.
    â€œYeah, Daddy, we’re naked.”
    Laurel couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, so no boys allowed.” She sank deeper into the bubbles along with Addy.
    It had been a long time since she let herself go and have fun. She glanced down at the sweet child, knowing she wanted her as much as she wanted her father.
    * * *
    L AUREL HEARD HER NAME , and she rolled over in the bed to read the clock on the table. Five a.m. She dropped her head back on the pillow. Kase was gone.
    â€œLaurel.” Hearing her name whispered again, she sat up and saw the shadowy figure by the door. “Kase?”
    She threw the blanket back and got out of bed. Dressed in her pajama bottoms and T-shirt, she went to Kase standing in the doorway. A lamp from down the hall silhouetted the man.
    â€œSorry to wake you, but I wanted to see you once more before I left.”
    â€œI’m glad you did.” Her gaze took him in. He was dressed in a pair of dark suit pants and a white shirt, a loose tie around his neck. “I want to wish you a safe trip. Be careful driving.”
    â€œI will. You be careful not to overwork. I only want you to keep an eye on Dad and Addy. I don’t want her to run you ragged.”
    He leaned forward and she could feel his breath against her face. She inhaled the subtle scent of his aftershave.
    She brushed her hair back nervously. “We’ll be fine. She needs to be distracted so as not to worry about you. I’ll take her by the Bucking Q so she can see my mom while I check on my horses.”
    â€œWhat would I do without you?” His gaze locked on hers, causing her heart to race. She felt her nipples harden and she crossed her arms to hide the fact.
    â€œYou