Second Chance Courtship

She stepped inside as Missy sped by.

“Don’t just stand there laughing, woman, catch her!” Trey lunged again, sliding on the polished wooden floor in his socks. Then he righted himself and in a few quick steps swept the still-giggling toddler into his arms for a bear hug.

Kara couldn’t help but clap her approval of the child’s antics—and Trey’s agile performance. She should have known a cowboy, once he got the hang of it, could round up a kid as easily as a calf.

Still clutching the shopping bag, butterfly wings hammering against the wall of her stomach, she carefully wiped her boots on the rug by the door. “My mom said I did exactly the same thing in here when I was little.”

A grinning Trey approached, Missy squirming in his arms. “You lived up here?”

“From birth through preschool. This was my folks’ first place in Canyon Springs, right above their new business.”

Trey assessed the space with a critical eye. “Now that Meg’s moved out, does your mom have any plans for it?”

Uh-oh. That sounded like a more-than-casual query. She didn’t want Trey upstairs. Didn’t want him in Canyon Springs at all. Mustering a benign smile, she cut him off at the pass. “She’ll need the extra storage space for inventory expansion. Besides, as you can probably tell, it’s not that well insulated. Cold in the winter and hot in the summer.”

The dark-eyed Missy stretched out a hand to her but she pretended not to notice.

“Meg didn’t have any complaints.” He glanced toward Mary who’d wandered to the far side of the room. He took a step closer to Kara and lowered his voice, apparently wanting to make sure the little girl was out of earshot. “Don’t want to talk about this in front of Mary—”

She tensed. Was he going to call her on the carpet? Right here and now?

“—but I’ve already worn out my welcome at my little brother’s place. They’ll be moving back to the parsonage soon, so I need an office and a place to bunk. This would be just the ticket.”

“Don’t think Mom would go for that.”

The slow smile that still made Kara’s heart skip a beat surfaced. “Why not?”

She glanced at the boots standing at attention by the door. A hat nestled on a bookcase shelf, out of reach of the girls. Then looked him over. Worn jeans. Tooled leather belt with a silver buckle. Western-cut burgundy shirt unbuttoned at the collar. Just like in high school, only a more muscled, more grown-up version of the senior classmate she remembered.

“I don’t think she’d go for, you know, a cowboy type.”

“No cowboys, huh?” He pried Missy’s fingers from his earlobe, but his amused gaze didn’t leave Kara’s face. “That’s discrimination, Kara.”

“What I mean is, if Mom was looking for a renter—which she’s not—she’d be expecting a steady income. A stable tenant who’d stick around awhile.”

“Then we’re in business.” He slapped his left leg, the apparent source of the limp. “Busted myself up so many times my surgeon’s washed his hands of me. Says I’d better not get on another bronc or bull or I could end up in traction the rest of my life. I’m grounded for good. So I’m your man.”

Her breath came a little quicker. Her man? Maybe in her dreams. Unfortunately, cowboying wasn’t the only drawback to Trey Kenton. She might as well be blunt. “Mom will remember you as you were in high school.”

“Boys grow up.” A friendly but assessing gaze slid over her and a smile quirked again. “Girls do, too.”

Their gazes met. How easy it would be to fall back into that old flirtatious teenage banter they used to share. The chemistry had stood the test of time, but she couldn’t risk it.

“Well, since Mom’s not looking to rent—”

“Maybe I’ll give her a call.”

He wouldn’t, would he? She lifted the shopping bag still clutched in her hand and held it out to him. It was time to make her escape.

“I stopped off at the Warehouse and got you a few things. Breakfast cereal and a half gallon of milk. T-shirts for the girls to sleep in. Toothpaste. Toothbrushes. A comb. Razor.”

Eyes twinkling, Trey caressed Missy’s soft cheek with the back of his hand. “Noticed the girls need a shave, did you?”

“Right.” Heart pounding, she handed off the bag and dragged her gaze from the firm jaw that once again showed evidence of a dusky shadow. “Snow’s still dumping, so I need to get going. Bedding’s in the chest over there. Meg said she’d washed it up. Washer and dryer behind the louvered doors.” She glanced at him again, still avoiding Missy, who now leaned forward in his arms, hands outstretched toward her. “Do you need any help with anything?”

She hoped not. But as the hostess for his overnight stay, she had to at least offer.

“No, you’ve been more than generous.” He set the bag on a nearby upholstered chair, the expression in his eyes becoming serious. Searching.

Oh, no. “Well, I’ll see you later then. Sleep tight.”

She turned toward the door, but he stepped forward to catch the upper arm of her coat sleeve.

Not now. I need to apologize. Beg his forgiveness. But not tonight. Not now.

He tugged on her sleeve and she momentarily closed her eyes, willing her heart to quiet. Even ventured a prayer. Then took a quick breath and faced him again.

He released her arm but held her gaze. “I know you need to get going, but I’m sorry Meg put you on the spot—offering the apartment without asking you first.”

“Happy to help out.” Happy? What a liar she was.

He glanced down at the floor, then back at her as if uncertain how to proceed. “Look, Kara, for whatever reason, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot at Meg’s tonight. Maybe even last night in the parking lot at Kit’s.”

She clasped her still-gloved hands. “Guess we were both caught off guard.”

He shifted Missy in his arms and thrust out a hand, his gaze penetrating hers. “What do you say then? Truce?”

Chapter Five

Now. Apologize now.

But she hesitated, her jaw tightening as their gazes held. She nibbled her lower lip, then took a ragged breath.

A truce.

“I guess it all depends.” She lifted her trembling chin.

Trey withdrew his outstretched hand, his expression uncertain. “On what?”

She swallowed. Now. Say it now. “On if you can forgive me for not coming forward after the fire. For not—”

Trey held up a hand to halt her, then nodded to Mary who was now checking out the contents of Kara’s shopping bag only a few feet away.

She’d totally forgotten about the little girl’s presence.

“Honey—” he smiled at his niece “—why don’t you trot on into the bathroom and get ready for bed? Kara’s got something in the bag for you to wear to sleep in. I’ll be in to help you in a few minutes.”

Moving to crouch down by the child and shopping bag, Kara pulled out an adult-size, pink I Love Arizona T-shirt. She’d hoped the girls would like the shimmery trim and the satin ribbon threaded along the hem, a delicate bow tied off to the side. Judging by the delight on Mary’s face when she handed it to her, she’d guessed right.