Second Chance Rancher (18 page)

Kase punched in a number. “Yes, Sheriff. Laurel heard from Aldrich.” He turned away and gave the information to the officer.

Laurel grabbed her clothes and began putting them on. She slipped on her boots, and by the time Kase was off the phone, she was out the door.

“Laurel,” Kase said as he caught her at the base of the steps. “You can't go there. It isn't safe.”

“He won't hurt me. Besides, I'm the reason the money was taken in the first place.”

“No, you're not. Jack knew how to work his victims.”

“There aren't going to be any more victims if I can help it.”

He held her hand tight. “Don't go, Laurel. This man is on the run. That means he's dangerous.”

Kase pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. “I can't lose you again, Laurel.” His heart was beating hard and fast. “It would kill me.”

She raised her head to look at him. “Oh, Kase. You aren't going to lose me.”

“Then stay here, Laurel. The sheriff will get Jack. No amount of money is worth the risk.”

He placed his finger over her lips to stop her argument. “You are too important to me. It's just taken me ten years to realize that. All I ask is a chance to prove it.”

Chapter Eighteen

With help from her parents, Kase managed to keep Laurel from leaving. So for the next two hours, a sullen Laurel sat in the Quinns' kitchen, ignoring him as they all waited for news. The only information they'd gotten about Aldrich had been nothing but sketchy. So all they could do was let law enforcement handle it.

He got up and walked to the back door. Rory followed him. “If you haven't noticed, Laurel has inherited the Quinn stubbornness.”

Kase glanced back at him. “Throw in a little pride and a lot of determination, and disregard for her safety.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Do you know she's hell-bent on paying you back the money Jack stole?”

Rory nodded. “Trent and I haven't been able to convince her that she's not responsible. Hell, we hired Aldrich. Even without Laurel, the man would have figured out how to hack into our account.”

Kase released a breath. “Somehow we have to resolve this, because Laurel isn't going to let it go.” Dammit, she deserved to be free of the jerk.

Suddenly headlights appeared and Kase rushed out as he recognized the sheriff's vehicle. Rory and Laurel followed close behind to meet the fifty-five-year-old sheriff, Ted Carson, as he climbed out of the patrol car.

“Hello, Rory, Laurel. Kase.”

“Sheriff,” Kase greeted him. “Please tell me you have some good news.”

He nodded. “We apprehended Jack Aldrich. He's in custody at the jail.”

“Thank God,” Rory said. “Do you need us to press charges?”

“Yes, but it can wait until tomorrow. I just wanted to come out to ease your mind.” He looked at Laurel. “Would you mind answering some questions tomorrow, too?”

“Sure. Could you tell me if there was any money found on him?” Laurel asked.

Ted paused, then said, “About five thousand, but that's evidence right now.”

Kase suddenly went into lawyer mode. “I'll be with her tomorrow, Sheriff.”

“I have nothing to hide, Kase.”

“I didn't say you did, but it doesn't hurt to have someone with you.” Kase looked at the sheriff. “We'll be there in the morning.”

Ted Carson nodded. “Then I'll expect you in my office at nine o'clock.” He walked back to his car and drove off.

“I didn't think about us having to press charges,” Laurel said.

“Trent and your father were the ones who reported the theft to the sheriff last year,” Kase said. “And, of course, the bank is concerned they allowed an unauthorized person access to the account.”

“No, I'm the reason Jack got my user ID and password,” Laurel announced. “I'm sorry, Dad. If I hadn't been so careless...”

“Stop it,” Rory said. “We all trusted Jack. And after tomorrow we can finally move on and forget that bastard.”

“But what about the money?”

Rory shook his head. “The money has been replaced, then Trent got a new loan, the cabins were completed and they're renting. End of story. Now, I think we can all use some sleep. Good night.” He kissed his daughter, then walked back into the house.

“Come on, Laurel. You need sleep, too.” Kase took her hand and started toward the garage. The stone pathway was well lit, as were the wooden stairs that led up to her second-floor apartment. He hated that he had to leave her now, but he needed to get home to Addy.

“It's okay, Laurel. Jack is going to jail. He isn't going to bother you again.” Kase pulled her into his arms. “This isn't how I wanted to spend tonight, but there's plenty of time to talk now that everything is settled with Aldrich.”

Why didn't he feel as convinced as his words? And after one look at Laurel, he knew she wasn't giving him any encouragement, either.

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
, Kase dropped Addy off at school, then he headed over to the sheriff's office on Main Street. He saw the familiar truck parked at the curb and inside were Rory, Trent and Laurel.

Laurel was dressed in her standard working clothes, jeans, a Henley shirt and boots. He happened to like that look.

Rory greeted him and he glanced at the sheriff, not happy that they'd all spoken without legal representation. “Have you already questioned them?”

Ted frowned. “It wasn't an interrogation, Counselor. Just some basic questions about what happened. Now we're finished, and I'll be taking the prisoner to the courthouse to be arraigned and formally charged.”

Kase nodded and looked over their statements. Everything seemed to be in order. He looked at Laurel. “You okay?”

She put on a smile. “Yeah. Since Jack confessed to the crime, we don't even have to testify.”

Kase was happy about that. “Good. How about I take you all out to breakfast?”

Trent stepped up and said, “I'd like to, but I have to get packed for a fishing trip early tomorrow.”

Rory excused himself, too.

Kase looked back at Laurel. “Looks like it's you and me.”

“They're my ride, Kase.” She started to leave, but he stopped her.

“Laurel, at least let me drive you home. I'd like to finish our discussion from last night.”

She turned away from her father and Trent. “I can't do this right now, Kase,” she said, her voice low. “Besides, you have to think about what you really want, too. For both you and Addy.” She turned and walked out the door.

Kase started to follow her, but stopped. What good would it do? She wasn't ready to listen to anything he had to say. He could be stubborn, too.

He looked at Rory. “I'm not going to give up. I love your daughter.”

Rory arched an eyebrow. “I'm not the one you have to convince, son. Laurel's been hurt more than she lets on. It might take a while.”

“I'm not going anywhere.”

* * *

T
HREE
DAYS
LATER
, Laurel received a bouquet of roses along with a handwritten invitation to dinner with Kase and Addy. The little girl even printed her own name and said to dress as a princess. And a chariot would pick her up at six o'clock. Laurel smiled and frantically searched her closet until she found a suitable dress, one she'd worn in a friend's wedding.

With one last look in the mirror, Laurel was happy with her reflection. The pink satin gown had a fitted bodice and off-the-shoulders sleeves. The tea length showed off a pair of strappy sandals. She wore her hair down in curls. She told herself she was doing this for Addy, but she couldn't wait to see Kase's expression.

Her father came up the stairs. “I believe your prince has arrived.”

If possible, Laurel's heart raced harder. She glanced at her mother.

“Don't think so hard, Laurel,” Diane told her. “Just listen to your heart and to a man who loves you.”

“I tried that before and it didn't work.”

“Forget about the past.” She nodded toward the door. “Your prince awaits.”

“I know, but can I trust him?”

Diane exchanged a special look with her husband. “Sometimes even the best princes make mistakes, but when they come back to you, that's when you know that it's meant to be.”

Laurel knew that her mother was talking about the time before she and Rory were married. They broke up, and that was when Rory met Coralee during the rodeo finals. Then realizing his mistake, he'd come back to the woman he truly loved.

Laurel kissed her parents, accepted a shawl from her mother, then walked out to find Kase standing at the bottom of the stairs.

He was dressed in a fitted black tux and a white pleated shirt and bow tie. He was one gorgeous man. In his hand he held a long-stem red rose.

His silver gaze never left her. “You look incredibly beautiful.” He took hold of her hand, then kissed it.

Laurel took the rose he offered her and inhaled the floral scent. “You look handsome, too,” she managed to say.

“You have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now, but if I do, I won't be able to stop.” He released a shuddered breath and said, “And I promised Addy I'd bring you to the house.”

Laurel nodded, discovering she was a little excited to see what he had planned for her. “Then we should get going.”

The limo driver held the door as Kase helped her into the vehicle. She relaxed against the plush leather seat as Kase opened a bottle of champagne, then poured her a glass.

She accepted the flute. “This is so fancy.”

“I hope to impress you tonight.”

He'd been doing that ever since returning from Denver. She took a sip, enjoying the bubbly drink. “It's not that hard. I've been impressed with you since I was a freshman in high school.” Oh, God. Did she really say that out loud?

He turned to her, showing off that sexy grin that made her body tingle. Suddenly she wished they could keep driving away from all their troubles and distractions.

He touched his glass to hers, then he took a drink and said, “The first time I noticed you, I mean really noticed you, you had on this pretty blue-green sweater and a pair of dark jeans. Your hair was pulled back and nearly hung to your waist. The last bell had just rung and I walked out of the building and saw you waiting for the school bus. It was like a lightning bolt hit me, and it took me a week before I got the nerve to talk to you.”

She blinked. He'd remembered? She took a hearty sip of courage. “Do we need to go through this?”

“I do, Laurel.” He took her hand and pressed it against his thigh. “We were just kids back then, but I knew what I wanted. You.” He touched her chin and made her look at him. “But I was a selfish kid who had something to prove. I pretty much got everything I wished for, then realized I didn't have the right person to share it with.” His voice lowered. “You're what I want, Laurel. I don't think I ever stopped wanting you.”

“Oh, Kase. I never stopped wanting you, either. But we're not those kids any longer. So much has happened...”

He stopped her protest when his mouth covered hers. She couldn't think then, could only feel the intoxicating rush that went through her with his look or touch. She reached around and combed her fingers into his hair. She moaned as he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue past her lips and tasting her.

He tore his mouth away, breathing hard. “Whoa, we'd better slow down.” He pressed his head against hers as the limo came to a stop. “We'll have to continue this later. It's time for a party.”

Kase climbed out, happy the evening air was cool. He took a breath and released it, then reached in and helped Laurel out.

Offering her his arm, he escorted her to the front of the Rawlinses' home. When they reached the porch, the door opened and Gus appeared with a smile. Addy had managed to talk him into wearing a tux this evening, as well. Kase loved his father for playing along.

“Good evening, Princess Laurel. You look especially beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you, Prince Gus,” she returned. “You look mighty handsome yourself.”

Gus bowed. “Princess Addy is waiting for you in the parlor.”

The Rawlins home wasn't large, but there was a small entry that opened into a large living area with a used brick fireplace as the centerpiece. Kase had many improvement plans for his childhood home. But first, he had to convince Laurel to share his life.

The lights had been dimmed, but there was the addition of candlelight. Addy stood in the middle of the room in a long pink princess dress he'd bought in town. He'd also added some sparkly bows to her hair.

“Hello, Addy,” Laurel greeted. “Oh, my, don't you look pretty.” She went over and bent down and hugged her. “Thank you for inviting me tonight.”

Addy giggled. “I wanted to have a princess night like you do with your dad, but with us together.” The child looked over Laurel's dress. “You look like a real princess, too.” Her head full of curls bobbed. “Doesn't she, Daddy?”

“Yes, she does. You both are lovely.” Kase reached in his pocket and took out his phone and took their picture.

Addy said, “Thank you for coming to my dinner.”

“And thank you for sharing your princes with me.”

Addy looked back at her dad. “Tonight, you can have Daddy as your prince, and I have Papa Gus as my prince.”

Kase watched his daughter as she played her part as practiced. Gus came in and took his granddaughter's arm and walked her into the dining room. The table was draped in lace, long tapers sat in the center and there were four place settings. Gus helped Addy into her chair as Kase assisted Laurel.

Then both men went into the kitchen and came out with plates of spaghetti. Kase retrieved a basket of bread and set it on the table. “Addy chose the menu.”

Laurel was generous with her praise toward his daughter. “It's one of my favorite meals.”

Kase sat down at the end of the table with Laurel to his right. They said a short blessing and began to eat.

“This is really good,” Laurel said. “You look so pretty I think next time you should talk your prince into going out to a restaurant.”

Addy giggled. “I know, but this time we wanted to come here to celebrate my coming home for good. Daddy said I never have to go back to Denver.” She smiled. “I want to live here forever and ever. I pretend this is my castle.” She twirled her spaghetti with her fork. “And Daddy is going to make it bigger.”

“Really?”

Addy nodded. “He's going to build more rooms and fix the kitchen and make a bigger corral. Do you like that idea?”

“Well, that's a lot of work.”

“Daddy and Papa Gus want to have more horses, too.” The girl beamed. “And I need a stall for when I get my pony for my birthday.”

“A princess with a pony.” Laurel smiled and took a bite of her food. “What else do you want for your birthday?”

Kase sat back, hoping his daughter wouldn't give away too much. Addy shot a look at him and he placed a finger against his mouth. “Oh, it's a secret.”