Read Online The Rancher's Second Chance (Martin's Crossing Book 3) by Brenda Minton - Free Book Online Page A

if Lincoln had found her?
    He answered.
    “Brody, I have a roast. I mean, I know you probably don’t want to join me, but I thought...”
    He sighed, waiting for her to finish. While he waited, he fought off the urge to tell her about his day, about the envelope.
    “Brody?”
    He blinked back to awareness. “I’m here.”
    “I shouldn’t have called.”
    “I don’t mind that you called.”
    “You have a right to keep your distance. I know we can’t go back to the way things were. But I’ve been sitting here alone all day and I’m tired of talking to myself.”
    He grinned. “So you’re saying talking to me is better than talking to yourself.”
    “Something like that. I just need a friend.”
    Yeah, he could admit it, he could use a friend tonight, too. “I’ll be there as soon as I get cleaned up.”
    Thirty minutes later he parked in front of Oregon’s All Things
.
He thought about going back home. He could tell her he just wasn’t up to it tonight. Needing Grace brought back too many memories, some of them good, most of them he didn’t want to revisit. He definitely didn’t want to say goodbye again. And he figured that was where they were heading as soon as she figured out her next move.
    The second he reached to restart his truck, her door opened and she stepped outside. He watched as she swept a hand through her short blond hair, and then that same hand went to her belly. She saw him watching and he imagined she hesitated. Seconds later she headed for his truck, barefoot. She loved to go barefoot.
    Grace opened the passenger door of the truck and leaned in. “Were you thinking about leaving?”
    He pulled the keys out of the ignition. “It might have crossed my mind.”
    “I make a really great roast. Come in. It doesn’t have to be complicated. And I owe you. A lot more than dinner.”
    “I’m coming, Grace.”
    As easy as that, he climbed from the frying pan right into the fire.
    * * *
    Grace reached for his hand as they walked. He looked as if he needed a friend. But he’d always had that look about him. Even when he played the part of the love-’em-and-leave-’em cowboy that most people thought him to be.
    She’d learned from Aunt Jacki that he avoided serious relationships. When she’d met him she’d made it her mission to find out why. What she’d discovered was a man who knew how to be a friend. He knew how to listen. But he didn’t give easily of himself.
    The relationship that had developed between them had frightened her. She hadn’t been looking for anything serious.
    When they entered her apartment she made a beeline to the coffeepot and poured him a cup. It gave her a minute to collect herself. When she turned he was standing at the window looking out, his back straight, stiff. She set the coffee down on the tiny table and rested her hand on his back. She felt him sigh, then relax beneath her touch.
    He turned to face her and she saw that he’d pulled on a plaid shirt over a T-shirt and hadn’t bothered to button it.
    Not thinking, she reached to button it for him. He shook his head and pushed her hands away.
    “Grace, don’t.”
    “Let me help you,” she whispered, leaning in close. Her hands hovered near the top button. “We all need help sometimes. I came to you because I knew you would keep me safe. You’re here, and I don’t think it’s because you wanted roast.”
    “Probably not.”
    She took that as a yes and started with the top button, working her way down. When she finished she reached for his hands. His fingers were red and swollen. She lifted them, rubbed gently.
    “When did this happen?”
    He shrugged. “It started a few days ago but today is the worst. Building the fence probably didn’t help.”
    “No, it probably didn’t. Sit down and tell me what’s going on. And don’t tell me it’s nothing. It would do me good to hear someone else’s problems.”
    “That would help you out, huh?” He grinned and the light filtered back into his